Exploring Library and Archives Canada Online

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is the largest genealogy repository in the Mid-Atlantic. Its collections include over 21 million items ranging from manuscript collections to books and photographs—many of which are useful to genealogists with Pennsylvania ancestry, and most of which cannot be found anywhere else.

Nova Scotia (New Scotland) is a land steeped in the History of the Scots who settled in the late 18th Century through to the early 20th century. Will be discussing this history as well as the tools and resources that are available to family historians to help them trace those early settlers whose descendants would go on to make a mark on the world, whether they and their descendants stayed in the province or moved.

The South of Ireland was in dire straits at the end of the 18th century and on several occasions was on the verge of civil war. The Whiteboys developed as a secret oath-bound society among the poor. Their operations were chiefly in the counties of Waterford, Cork, Limerick, and Tipperary and were not directed against the government, but rather against local landlords. No amount of legislation seemed to tame the anger which had led to many “disturbances”. As a means of removing some of the rebels, offering them a new life and free land in Upper Canada, and hopefully settling the anger back home in Ireland, the government decide to pay for families to be resettled at the expense of the government. Peter Robinson, brother of John Beverley Robinson, was tasked with finding and settling the emigrants. In this presentation we will look at the history and politics that led to what has become known as the Peter Robinson’s Settlement Scheme. We will also take an in-depth look at the various resources available for researching your Peter Robinson Settler ancestors.

The National Records Personnel Center in St. Louis has many records pertinent to your soldier's service. OMPFs, Official Military Personnel Files, monthly regimental rolls, hospital records, military court-martials and graves registration service files all offer clues into your veteran's military experience. NPRC also houses civilian and government employment files as well. Was your grandfather in the Civilian Conservation Corps? Was your mother Postmaster? These records are available as well! Tina will describe the types of information to be found in these records and how you can access them in person.