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WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1978, PAGE 5 Archivespopularity icreasing By BRIAN WINTER Staff Writer Ever since the success of the television series "Roots," two years ago, an increasing number of people have become interested in genealogy, the study of one's family tree. The number of people seeking their "roots" in Whitby- has increased steadily during the' past three years, as indicated by records kept by the Whitby Historical Society Archives. In 1976 there were 37 inquires made to the archives, of which 22 were for genealogy. In 1977 there were 44 requests, of which 27 were for genealogy. Up to July 31, 1978, there have been 45 requests, 25 being for genealogy. This year the archives bas surpassed, last year's figures in only seven months, and the demand for family information is continuing to grow. Many of the family researchers are from ^the United States, who h1ad ancestors living in Whitby as far back as the first decade. of the l9th century. A sample of places heard from since January 1977 includes Halifax, Nova Scotia; Bridgenorth, Ontario; Meagan's Grant, Nova Scotia; Oceanside, California; North Bay, Ontario; London, Ontario; Thedford, Ontario; Windsor, Ontario; San Diego, Califor- nia; Owen Sound, Ontario; Stanbridge East, Québec; Raymond, Alberta; Hlamilton, Ontario; Orinda, California; Kitchener, Ontario; Toledo, Ohio; Orwigsbur, Pennsylvania; Suco, Maine;,Winona Lake, Indiana; Jensen Beach, Florida; Orillia, Ontario; Rockford, Michigan; Houston, Texas; Seneca, Illinois; Berkeley, Califor- nia; St. Paul Minnisota; Fullerton, California; Springfield, Illinois, Royal Oak, Michigan; and Glen- wood, Minnesota. One neyer knows where letters will corne from next. The sudden popularity of genealogy bas caused the historical socîety to take a number of steps to obtain information that would be useful to family tree researchers. About two years ago, a biography file on Whitby families was started., and work has been carrieci out on a continuing basis over the past year to build up this file. A separate file folder is set up for each pioneer Whitby family, and ail information WINNERS 0F WHITBY MINOR SOCCER ORAW lst Prize - Microweve Oven- Mr'. Ferry, 120 Ferguson Ave., Whitby. 2nd prIze ½h Beef - Mr. K. Donueil, 703 Florian St., Oshawa. 3rd prize M50.00 - Michelle Moshella. 131 Annes St., wlilty. Seller Of Lucky ticket.- Grant Mardi. Seller of Muet tickets G roDeias. started in 1914. One particu.. larly valuable source of biographies is "Canadian Men and Wome n of the Time," edited by Henry James Morgan, published in 1898 and updated in 1912. All these collected biography books have been thoroughly searched for names of people connected with Whitby, and copies of their biographical 'sketches placed in the archives., Another valuable source of genealogical information is obituaries. During the pastr two years, as archiviest 'of the Whitby Historical Society I have been copying obituaries of, Whitby resi- dents from old newspapers and adding them to 'the respective family files. Collecting.obituaries may seem to be a rather unusual passtime, but this project serves several useful purposes. Through these obituaries one can find out the birth and death dates of people who were residents of Whitby, and also in some cases, marriage dates. One also can find out where they were born , and died. This is particularly important, as* official records do not exist before 1882 for the old Township of Whitby and 1895 for the Town of Whitby. The obituaries also outlîne the careers of many interesting personalities connected with Whitby, and have formed the basis of most of the "Historical Whitby" columns published in the Free Press since November 1975. Without thes§è obituaries, we would not know mucb about many important pioneers of our town. It is expected it will take another two or three years at least before a complete collection of obituaries of former Whitby residents will be installed in the archives, covering the years 1946 to the present day. -Newspapers from 1918 to 1945 have been destroyed, 50 'there is a gap for this period, but work is being done to collect obituaries from the 1880s to 1917, years for which a number of papers still exist. Lest it seem that too much emphasis is put on ol4ituaries, the historical society prefers to calthe collection a "biography file" rather than an "obituary file." It provides a rare and bistorically valuable record of the lives of those who have contributed to the progress and development of Whitby since the town was founded. In addition to the bio- ,,rraphy collection, work is eing done to record .nscriptions on grave stones în Whitby's pioheer cemeteries, also to aid the genealogist. This work began eight years ago and is continuing during the summer montbs. The genealogists who have inade use of the archives, ihave in many cases, resented copies of their ;îmily records to the Histor- cal Society. Recently a five-volume set f books on the history of the Arksey family was pre- sented to the archives by two. researchers fromf St. Paul, Vinnisota and, Granton, Ontario. A history of the Coakwell family of Brooklin was presented to the histor- ical society this year, and also a number of photo- graphs of members of the Wolfenden family in the 19th dentury. In one case, a researcher in Edinburgh Scotland pro- vided a genealogy of the Tweedie family back to 1664, which links up with other work done on this Whitby pioneer family by a woman in Toronto. She provided excerpt from'diaries of 1867- 68 published in the Scarbo- rough Historical Society Newsletter to the Whitby Historical Society Archives. Genealogical research is a tWo-way street, and the Whitby Historical Society bas received many valuable records in exchange for the information it has been able to supply to researchers. Although tbe records of the Whitby Historical Society are far from complete, a continuing effort is being made to add to the biography collection in the coniing years. As the work progresses, it will likely become one of the Most comprehensive collec- tions of its kind possessed by any small historical society. in Ontario. Already in its unfinished state, the Whitby Historical' Society's biography collect- ion bas assisted many a genealogist. A recent visitor fromn Toledo, Ohio was able to trace bis family back three generations in Canada through the biography collection. Anyone wishing to obtain information from the bio- graphy collection, may write Brian Winter, Whitby H-istorical Society, Archivist, Whitby Centennial Building, 416 Centre Street South, Whitby. It is requested that ail inquiries be miade in writing s0 the historicai society will bave a record of wbat is being researched. DENTURE THERAPY CLINC 111 DUNDAS ST., W. WIIITBY 668-146 Cuêitom cuting and shaping for women, with emphasis on individuality.. Cali for an 668-3621 109 BYRON St. S, AN EXTRA ONE MILLION DOLM 100BONUS PRIZES. 90 $10*i VAC Wintario tickets for the Aug. 31 draw have two sets of numbers. WbRiar oticket number ~~ withserls nuber.For five cha nces at $100, 000a nd more than 90,000 other tax-free Prizes. ~ 0 Eght-digit Bonus t- Drw number. If the bonus number on your ticket corres- ponds exactly with one of 100o special bonus numbers drawn, you win $10.000 tax-free.' ABUCK,AMYNOtM 1 OI BORD 8Based on 96 sertes of tckets GETY'OUMRTIoTNYW For this speciat Bonus Draw, ticket sales wîiI stop at 6:00 P. m., Thursday, August 3 1, 1978. to accommodate the advanrce bonus draWî*Wn. Tickets are going fast, so dont wait. Get yours now, And don't miss the special one- hou r Wintario show live on TV from the Monmouth Township Arena. Wl berforce, at 9-b0 p m -One year cia#msng oeod No sub)s;dtfry onizes -- ---*-- LI*11-1=611 appointmentt GUIDA &'DINO' INSTITUTE 0F BEDOUTY 6.686 J' P ASSPO RT PICTURES WHILE YOU WAIT. "Your Travel is Our Business" AI& I inda Russell RUSSELL TRAVEL 116 BROCK ST. S., WHITBY 668-5000 HOURS: Mon - Fri 9- 5 Pm, Sat 9 - 12 CORPORATION 0F THE TOWN 0F WHITBY Planning a " Wedding Reception " Anniversary Party " Bowling Banquet, Etc. Cnt Ilam«d ses WbIt..y mon et IqsIsPm*k Co.pbxo or toebpI.64-7765.