Festival of Postcards - Geography - Loch Callater

This postcard shows a scene from Loch Callater, Scotland. It is located six miles south of Braemar. My father sent it to his mother during the Second World War after he had returned from a leave in Scotland. He "had a swell time on Leave".

I have never been to Scotland but it is one place I would like to visit for the beauty of the scenery and it is also homeland of some of my maternal ancestors.

This is posted  as part of the Festival of Postcards - 8th Edition - Geography.

Libraries and Genealogy

 It is less than a month away until the Ontario Genealogical Society Conference. This year it is in Toronto (near the airport).

Thursday, May 13 has a special day planned with an event called Libraries and Genealogy. Although of primary interest to any library staff who gets asked questions about genealogy, family history and local history, others who are interested are welcome to attend.

There is a special rate for Ontario Library Association members as well as for those who are Ontario Genealogical Society members. Lunch is not included in the price but there are some tasty snacks planned.

I am very pleased to be part of the planning committee. You will also find me at the Gallery Walk.

Check out the line up for the day here. Don't delay in registering. The count down is on.

© 2010 Janet Iles

Carnival of Canadian Genealogy - Fashion

Whether Canadian fashion differs from American fashion or that of other areas I do not know. I am sure before the days of television and popular fashion magazines, Canadian fashion likely lagged behind some other countries.  I suspect that those living in rural communities didn't keep up with the current fashions as they needed more practical clothing, but I have no evidence to support this.

In most of Canada, we have four distinct seasons where the changes in weather gives rise to at least warm and cold weather appropriate clothing.

I have never been one to have any of the extremes in clothing. I wore short skirts but never the extreme mini skirts. When I look at photographs of my early days working in the children's section of the library, I was of course, much younger; my skirts were short. This made it challenging to retrieve books off the top or bottom shelves. I was happy when the hemlines went below the knees.

When I was little my mother made many of my dresses.  My mother did smocking. Did your mother?  My sister and I had some very pretty dresses. I once tried a modified form of smocking.

 My mom (Marion), me (Janet) and my sister (Nancy) in 1951.

I am fortunate to have photos of my mother as a young woman. She was a smart dresser. Her are some examples.

Photos were taken between 1941 and 1945. Note the contrast in shoes -- granny shoes and spectator pumps. I am not sure the name of the boat she is travelling on. Is she headed to Manitoulin or returning to Tobermory? The second photo was taken in front of Artistic Ladies Wear in Owen Sound.


© 2010 Janet Iles

Wordless Wednesday - Edith Iles and Emily Dyson

Edith Iles (1883-1950) daughter of
George Iles and Emily Pugh
and her niece
Emily Dyson (1912-1984) daughter of Alice Iles and James Robert Dyson

© 2010 Janet Iles

Wordless Wednesday - Madeline and Bill

 Madeline Litherland (daughter of Jack and May (Iles) Litherland) and Bill Iles (son of William and Lily Iles). Madeline would be the niece of Bill.
My cousin and uncle.

 photos from my father's photograph album in my possession. photo taken March 1930.
© 2010 Janet Iles

52 weeks to better Genealogy - Cyndislist

I am a little late on this one but I decided I wanted to do a brief article on Cyndislist over at www.cyndislist.com 

When I worked on the reference desk at the public library, this is one site that I routinely suggested to anyone looking for genealogical websites, especially to beginners and to anyone venturing into a new area.


Well, I had forgotten my own advice. It has been awhile since I had spent much time on the site. When last week's challenge was posted it triggered in my head a message. "Go check cyndislist."

Although my client work and personal research centers on Ontario records, it doesn't take long before a research  question leads you away from the familiar sources and away from your regular areas of research. What sources are out there? Are there new ones that are not listed in my favorites or in delicious (under researchergal)?

Be prepared to spend some time when you are exploring this site. I get easily sidetracked. Today I thought, I will look at Ontario sites. I browsed through the list - I found a listing for St. Joseph Island so I clicked on that and saw family stories. I wonder what is listed there. You can request any digital file that is listed. Let see now - is there anything of interest? I found a listing for the obituary for my landlady with whom I lived in 1971-1972 when I taught French for the Central Algoma Board of Education.  I have requested her obituary.

Last week, I was looking for some help with a client project and was reminded about Genweb for English counties. I often use Genuki but I found some useful information on the Genweb site. When doing research in a new area, you need all the help and hints that you can find.

Thanks Cyndi for your great website.

Update: I received a copy of my Landlady's obituary. I will put a copy of it with my photos taken when I was teaching and living there. 
© 2010 Janet Iles