Fall Launches

Several projects launched in September.

The Fall 2020 issue of British Columbia History magazine is out. It includes cover art and interview by Abbotsford Artist Manjit Singh Sandhu; “The Kitagawa Family: A farming legacy in south Langley” reflections by Akiko Oshiro and Sumiye Iwasa; “Warp Weft Weave: Joining generations” by Jenn Ashton; “The Washboard Legacy” by Emma Quan; “An Ode to Mom, COVID, and the Internment” by Laura Saimoto; “My Discovery of the Mainland: Boyhood Rambles” by Barry Gough; and “The Scabbler: A solution to a serious cow comfort problem” by Mike Yusko.

It is interesting to read “Stories of Objects: The Iron Lung” and think about similarities with the current COVID situation.

Over the years at British Columbia History, I have had the pleasure of getting acquainted with numerous authors. Chatting with Jenn Ashton has led to a collaboration, Study Guide: Balancing History: Warp Weft Weave: Joining Generations. This study guide has been prepared to accompany the British Columbia History magazine article “Warp Weft Weave: Joining Generations” (Vol 53, Issue 3, Fall 2020) by award-winning author and visual artist Jenn Ashton. The focus of the study guide, aimed at grades 8 through 12, is intended to encourage students to dig deeper into history to find a voice that was quieted or unheard. The guide will deepen understanding and knowledge of colonial histories and the current realities of Indigenous People, as well as, an understanding of social injustices and discriminatory policies in Canada (including Residential Schools, the head tax, the legal system, disenfranchisement, and internments).

In the works for the past year was a project to update the publication guidelines for the British Columbia Historical Federation to match the practice and to make them more user friendly for authors. Get Published: BCHF Submission Guidelines for Authors is intended to support authors as they write about the evolving understanding of the history of British Columbia, Canada, and our world. The guidelines include checklists intended to make the publication process easier for authors by ensuring they have everything in place prior to submitting an article. If you are a history author, you will find the guidelines a useful resource, whether you intend to write for the British Columbia Historical Federation or not.

For the past several years I have been working with M. Anne Wyness as a researcher, editor, coach, and image harvester for her book, The Larder of the Wise: The Story of Vancouver's James Inglis Reid Ltd. by M. Anne Wyness. 

The Larder of the Wise: The Story of Vancouver’s James Inglis Reid Ltd. is the human story of the iconic store whose traditional Scottish fare and well-remembered hallmarks of “We hae meat that ye can eat” and “Value always” earned the following of devoted customers from inside and outside of the city for almost eighty years.

If you attended a Robbie Burns event before 1986, it is likely that the haggis came from James Inglis Reid's shop.

The book is available through your local book stores. Check out a review of the book on Vancouver is Awesome.

On a more personal front, I have completed the Editing Certificate through Simon Fraser University Continuing Studies. I am just waiting for the certificate to hang on my wall.

There are some other projects on the horizon for the fall and a whole new chapter!

 

Using Inflation Calculators to tell your Family Story

Have you ever used an inflation calculator when researching your family history? Inflation calculators use historic consumer price index data to show changes in the cost of a fixed "basket" of consumer purchases. These include food, shelter, furniture, clothing, transportation, and recreation.

I highly recommend using inflation calculators as it can change the narrative of the story.

Recently, I watched one of those wonderful genealogy shows. The ancestor in question had "arrived in the United States in 1910 with $100 in his pocket". It made for a romantic story of triumph over a poor start, but it was it true? One hundred dollars in 1910 is equal to $2721.54 in 2018 according to one inflation calculator. Almost $3,000 in his pocket is not a fortune but it is likely enough to rent a place to live and eat until he found work. The inflation calculator goes on to indicate that "if you were to buy exactly the same products in 2018 and 1910, they would cost you $100 and $3.61 respectively."

You would need to do more research into the cost of food and housing to really get a good picture.

At a recent talk I gave on "Prison and Court Records" there was a discussion of an ancestor who was hung in the 1860s in England for stealing £20. If you use the Bank of England Inflation Calculator £20 is equal to about £2,388.82. Then, using a foreign exchange calculator, converting to CDN dollars, about $4,000. Suddenly the theft story changes from being petty theft to something more serious.

Thu, Feb 13, 1919 – Page 2 · The Chilliwack Progress (Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada) · Newspapers.com You can use inflation calculators to convert the cost of everyday items. "Tomato Catsup" (size unknown) sold at Ashwell's Grocery for 25¢ in 1919.

Using the Bank of Canada Inflation Calculator that works out to $3.51 in 2019 money.

Looking through my flyers, I can purchase a 375 ml bottle of Heinz Tomato Ketchup for $3.99. So, the price in essentially the same.

Obviously, to get a full picture you need to do some number crunching on wages and housing and so forth. However, it is a good reminder to do some quick calculations before we start romanticising the past and wishing that a hamburger cost only 15¢ today.

Copyright and the Family Historian

I frequently read items that imply that copyright is a new concept. In fact, copyright dates back to 1710 and The Statute of Anne, also known as the Copyright Act 1710. However, it was not until 1842, and Copyright Act 1842 that copyright could belong to an author, rather than a publisher.

As family historians we are directly affected by copyright. As researchers we want access to records. Often, we are self-publishers and educators.

In 2018 the Federal government started a review of Canada’s copyright laws with the aim for completion in early 2019. Members of the Family History Group submitted a brief on December 12, 2018 to the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology and our Member of Parliament, Dan Ruimy for the Statutory Review of the Copyright Act to promote awareness in the Committee regarding the needs and concerns of family historians about the copyright constraints that govern our work in telling Canada’s story.

This submission addresses the confusion that surrounds the use of previously published materials and unpublished original and copied documents and images, with particular concern for the changes proposed by the US Mexico Canada Agreement.

We support Canadian creators, publishers, libraries and archival institutions but also understand that copyright should strike a balance between protecting a creator’s income while, at the same time, allowing for the freedom for new works to be created using previously created materials.

We feel strongly that copyright law should be accessible and easily understood by the general public and not require legal advice to ensure compliance.

I encourage you to educate yourself about copyright get involved in the discussion.

Judy G. Russell and the Legal Genealogist is a good blog to follow but Canadians need to keep in mind that is from an American perspective and our copyright laws are different in Canada.