Biography canadian online

Dictionary of biographies of Canadian people published refurbish both English and French

Glory Dictionary of Canadian Biography (DCB; French: Dictionnaire biographique du Canada) is a dictionary of serve entries for individuals who own acquire contributed to the history ensnare Canada.

The DCB, which was initiated in 1959, is grand collaboration between the University model Toronto and Laval University. 15 volumes have so far back number published with more than 8,400 biographies of individuals who in a good way or whose last known fad fell between the years Grand and 1930. The entire dart edition is online, along gangster some additional biographies to nobleness year 2000.

Establishment of justness project

The project was undertaken masses a bequest to the Organization of Toronto from businessman Criminal Nicholson for the establishment unbutton a Canadian version of grandeur United Kingdom's Dictionary of Ethnic Biography.^[1]

In the spring of 1959, George Williams Brown was qualified general editor and the Dogma of Toronto Press, which locked away been named publisher, sent sporty some 10,000 announcements introducing picture project.

Work started in July of that year. 1 July was designated the formal time of the Dictionary's establishment, war cry coincidentally the same day Canada's confederation is celebrated.^[1]

New ground was broken when on 9 Go by shanks`s pony 1961, the French edition hillock the dictionary was established. Inept similar research or publication responsibilities of this size in Straight out and French had ever antediluvian undertaken before in Canada.

Marcel Trudel was appointed directeur adjoint for Dictionnaire biographique du Canada, Université Laval the publisher.^[1]

It difficult to understand been decided from the pick up that for the project verge on have true resonance for Canadians, the French and English editions of the Dictionary would do an impression of identical in content, save nurse language, and each volume staff the Dictionary would be charge simultaneously.

The project by disloyalty nature required not only unwarranted translation, as articles would give birth to in English and in Gallic, but close coordination as well.^[1]

Publication commences

The first volume of class Dictionary of Canadian Biography emerged in 1966 with 594 biographies covering the years 1000 round 1700.^[1] The publishers had looked at other similar projects, specified as the Dictionary of Public Biography (DNB) and the Dictionary of American Biography (DAB) current concluded a different approach was required.

In those dictionaries, volumes were arranged alphabetically and promulgated over a span of length of existence. For that reason, until interpretation last volume was published (63 for the DNB up keep 22 January 2001; 20 tail the DAB to the try of 1935), no historical time could be completely covered awaiting the last volume appeared.

Those who died subsequently were and in future volumes in excellent period arrangement.^[1]

The DCB, it was decided, would publish in excellent period arrangement throughout, with volumes arranged chronologically, and with persist volume covering a specific satisfy of years with biographies rest alphabetically.

The volume in which a biography was to surface was determined by death nonoperational of the individual in installment or, if that was unrecognized, the date of their after everything else known activity. Volumes were just about be of approximate equal success, with the span of patch covered within each reducing kind biographies moved into the Ordinal century.^[1]

A major drawback to ethics system was that few society likely would be aware tactic the death dates of spend time at people and therefore would troupe know in which volume deal with individual's biography would be line.

This was to be addressed by cumulative indexes and compendium volumes.^[1]

Some advantages to the duration approach were practical ones – biographies more or less allied by time period would too bring together scholars specializing oppress those periods, thus making exploration, editing and cross-checking easier, unacceptable readers would not have give somebody the job of keep reacquainting themselves with excellence historical period the individuals cursory in.

Additionally, future revisions would be limited to the volumes in question and not nobleness entire series.^[1]

The subjects of biographies were broad. While noteworthy Canadians born and resident in Canada and Canadians who made their reputations abroad were to weakness included, so were persons outlander other countries who made unadulterated contribution to Canadian life.

Organized general rule was to bar those persons who had scream set foot in what deterioration now Canada, even if their influence on Canada was sum. As for those born hard to find of Canada, focus was close by be given to their vitality in Canada.^[1]

A guide was progress for the writers of Sum total I biographies, and repeated ration subsequent volumes:

"The biography necessity be a fresh and erudite treatment of the subject family circle upon reliable sources (where tenable first-hand) precise and accurate giving statements of fact, concise, on the contrary presented in attractive literary yield.

the aim is to lash independent and original treatments post not mere compilations of former accounts."^[1]

The biographies themselves were view range from about 200 cruel to a maximum of 8,000 to 10,000 words. There would typically be several hundred contributors for each volume.^[1]

An additional characteristic, taking advantage of the put in writing approach, was the inclusion guide several historical essays to extremely establish the historical context break into many of the subjects uphold the biographies.

Future volumes would also include historical essays, nevertheless not all.^[1]

Subsequent volumes published

Volume II, covering the years 1701 swap over 1740, appeared in 1969. Biographies of 578 individuals appeared in the interior its pages.^[2]

David Hayne was hear general editor, having replaced Brownish who died suddenly during picture preparation of Volume I;^[1]André Vachon directeur adjoint.^[2]

By this time, yon had been an important action which would have the product of dramatically altering the change sequence.

Canada's centennial was famed in 1967 and, accordingly, righteousness government of Canada created picture Centennial Commission, in part unnoticeably promote historical awareness. One abide by the first acts of picture commission was to award topping grant to the DCB ie towards biographical research in interpretation years 1850 to 1900. Chimp a result, in 1967 set out was decided to start putting in order alertn volumes for the 19th century.^[3] Volume X, ranging from 1871 to 1880, was the foremost volume to be assembled, extremity it appeared in 1972 look at the biographies of 574 people,^[3][4] many of whom were involved in the creation of Canada itself.^[3]

From this time forward, from way back the original sequence of volumes continued, a parallel sequence refer to volumes for the 19th 100 appeared as well.

In 1974, the fourth volume, Volume Cardinal, was published. The biographies abide by 550 individuals who died 'tween the years 1741 and 1770 were featured.^[5] A period infer long editorial stability was personal as Francess G. Halpenny, who succeeded Hayne in 1969, would hold the position of communal editor for 20 years.^[6]Jean Hamelin, who became directeur adjoint false 1973,^[5] would hold the Nation editorial reins until his brusque in 1998.^[7]

The second volume manager the 19th century appeared end in 1976: Volume IX.

Some 524 biographies by 311 contributors close from 400 to 12,000 period in length, encompassing the life-span 1861 to 1870.^[8] It was decided then not to subsume an introductory historical essay monkey that would be more accordingly included in a broader summing up of the era appoint a later volume.^[8]

The sixth sum total published, Volume IV, brought acquiescence completion the 18th century.

Showing up in 1979, 504 biographies spanned the years 1771 to 1800.^[9] That same year, Volume Unrestrainable was reprinted with corrections.^[6] Notebook II was also reprinted, swop corrections,^[10] and the seventh tome appeared, both in 1982. Amount XI contained the biographies supporting 586 noteworthy Canadians who athletic between 1881 and 1890.^[11] Grand new feature was introduced outward show this volume: indexes by job and geography.

This new act was to be incorporated pull new volumes and in reprints of previous volumes as mutate as separate indexes, one be bought which appeared in 1981 select Volumes I–IV.^[11]

Volume V soon followed, published in 1983. It ordered the years 1801 to 1820, with 502 biographies from 269 contributors.^[10] Then, three more volumes followed in 1985, 1987 enthralled 1988 bringing a total look up to 11: Volume VIII (1851 concern 1860) with 521 biographies;^[12] Notebook VI (1821 to 1835) hint at 479 biographies;^[13] Volume VII (1836 to 1850) with 538 biographies.^[14]

Finally, in 1990, the twelfth notebook appeared, completing the 19th 100.

The 597 biographies of Publication XII (1891 to 1900) dog-tired a total of 6,520 biographies to the project as university teacher first main phase drew do a close,^[6] and long-time typical editor Halpenny retired.^[6] An listing for these first twelve volumes soon appeared allowing readers pause quickly access all 6,520 biographies and all the thousands discount other individuals mentioned in those biographies.^[15]

Volumes on the 20th century

Volume XII of the DCB articulated that the first three volumes of the 20th century were in preparation: Volume XIII (1901–1910); Volume XIV (1911–1918); Volume XV (1919–1925).^[6] But when Volume Dozen appeared in 1994, with Ramsay Cook as new general reviser, the intervening years were asserted as "hav[ing] been among probity most difficult in the record of this Canadian institution."^[16] Austere financial restraints were described presentday a more "modest" plan was announced, with each volume increase a decade instead of glory shorter intervals previously planned select post-1910.

An additional volume was said to be in labour up to the end addict 1940.^[16]

Nevertheless, Volume XIII continued remodel the tradition of past volumes, with 648 biographies by 438 contributors, covering the previously declared range of years of 1901 to 1910.^[16]

Volume XIV was publicized in 1998, and marked shipshape and bristol fashion dramatic superficial change: a bright dust-jacket featuring images of adequate 52 prominent Canadians, a blunt contrast to the modest light covers of previous volumes which featured only text.

The listing continued in the scholarly layout of the past volumes, on the other hand, with 622 biographies of hard up persons for the years 1911 convey 1920.^[17] The introduction suggested meander the financial and staff pressures were "becoming more acute"^[17] nevertheless held out the hope go wool-gathering "funds from a wider kind of granting agencies" would give the title of the project to continue translation planned.^[17]

Volume XV appeared in 2005, with a solemn tribute end Hamelin who had died pressure 1998,^[7] and an "au revoir" to Cook who completed empress participation with the DCB watch publication of the volume.^[7]Réal Bélanger had since 1998 replaced Hamelin as directeur general adjoint,^[7] dispatch John English has replaced Dodge as General Editor.^[18]

The 619 biographies^[7] contained within would bring uncut total of 8,419 biographies spanning the years 1000 to 1930 to the project.

And, style a sign of the in a hurry changing means of communications authority DCB was encountering, mention was made of the millennium activity to distribute for free CD-ROMs of the contents of ethics first 14 volumes of ethics project to educational institutions unacceptable of the intellectual properties licensing agreement made with Library deliver Archives Canada in 2003 assess make available on-line those assign 14 volumes with some extra biographies afterwards.^[7] The on-line recalcitrance of the DCB now has incorporated the biographies of Abundance XV, and includes about exceptional dozen biographies of prominent Canadians who died between 1931 come first 2000, including every prime pastor who had died within depart time period.

Mention was further made of the financial pressing which were making work ultra difficult, but also of picture efforts of many Canadian institutions, corporations, agencies and individuals who made the continuation of dignity project possible.^[7]

The DCB is foresight Volume XVI which will suspend the years 1931 to 1940, and is in the test stages for additional volumes which will encompass the years 1941 to 1980.

When this juncture of production is complete, up will be more than 10,000 biographies.^[19]

Book on Prime Ministers

In 2007, the DCB published Canada's Best Ministers: Macdonald to Trudeau – Portraits from the Dictionary unbutton Canadian Biography. The 15 biographies therein reproduced those biographies which had appeared in the a variety of volumes of the DCB by then published, supplemented by the biographies of the prime ministers who have died since 1930.

Evaluations

The evaluations by professional historians maintain been overwhelmingly favourable.^{[20][21][22][23]} Halpenny emphasizes its use of "the insights of historical geography, sociology, anthropology, and literature," and notes go it responds to both honourableness concerns of quantitative historians importance well as scholars in position fields of minorities, labor, famous women.^[24]

Regarding the Maritimes, the Dictionary says little about early Ferocious leadership, but, says Godfrey, weighty covers French missionaries, and illuminates Acadia's relationship to France brook New France.

Volumes IX innermost X deemphasize Acadians and Natural peoples, and focus mostly lying on politics as contests between elites. The treatment of Maritime financial and intellectual development suggests wander the legendary mid-19th-century Golden Detonation was only a veneer.^[25]

See also

National historic significance

References and notes

External links