British Isles Family History Society of Quebec

British Isles Family History Society of Quebec
Name	British Isles Family History Society of Quebec
Formation	1978
Type	Genealogical society
Headquarters	Montreal, Quebec
Region served	Quebec, Canada
Language	English, French

British Isles Family History Society of Quebec The British Isles Family History Society of Quebec is a genealogical organization based in Montreal that promotes research into ancestry from the British Isles in Quebec and eastern Canada. It supports family historians tracing roots in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Isle of Man through meetings, publications, databases, and archival access. The society interfaces with archives, libraries, and heritage bodies to facilitate primary-source discovery for descendants of migrants linked to notable figures and institutions across the British Isles.

History

Founded in 1978 amid growing interest in genealogy following the bicentennial and heritage movements in North America, the society emerged as a counterpart to provincial and national bodies such as the Genealogical Society of Victoria model and contemporaries like the Ontario Genealogical Society and British Isles Family History Society. Early leaders included community organizers with ties to the Anglican Church of Canada, St. Patrick's Basilica, and Scottish cultural groups such as the Caledonian Society of Montreal. Its development paralleled the expansion of archival initiatives at institutions like the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec and the Library and Archives Canada, and drew on transatlantic research links with repositories in London, Edinburgh, Dublin, and Belfast. Over subsequent decades the society adapted to digital transitions influenced by platforms such as Ancestry.com, Findmypast, and the National Archives (UK), while maintaining ties with immigrant aid organizations including the St. Andrew’s Society and the Irish Protestant Benevolent Society.

Mission and Activities

The society's mission emphasizes preservation, education, and access: preserving records related to migrants from the British Isles, educating members about research methods tied to repositories like the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, and providing access to transcribed materials from parishes such as St. George's, London and civil registries in Belfast. Activities include training in paleography relevant to documents from the Tithe Commutation Act era, guidance on interpreting records produced under statutes such as the Registration Act 1836 (UK), and workshops addressing migration waves connected to events like the Irish Potato Famine, the Highland Clearances, and industrial movements around the Industrial Revolution. The society also supports inquiries relating to military ancestors who served during the First World War and Second World War and to maritime records linked to ports like Liverpool and Glasgow.

Membership and Governance

Membership comprises genealogists, amateur historians, librarians, and descendants of migrants from regions including Cornwall, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Wales, County Cork, and County Antrim. The governance structure follows a volunteer board model with positions such as President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Committee Chairs, operating under bylaws influenced by nonprofit practices seen at organizations like the Canadian Museums Association and the Société historique de Montréal. Annual general meetings echo procedures of bodies such as the Montreal Historical Society and include elections, budget approvals, and strategic planning that prioritize digitization, outreach, and bilingual communications reflecting Quebec's linguistic context with links to institutions like McGill University and Concordia University.

Publications and Resources

Regular publications include a quarterly journal and newsletters featuring transcriptions, pedigree charts, and articles on methodology comparable in scope to publications produced by the New England Historical Genealogical Society and the Federation of Family History Societies. The society maintains indexed databases of baptismal, marriage, and burial entries drawn from church registers such as those of the Church of England and the Church of Scotland, as well as civil records influenced by legislation akin to the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1837 (UK). It curates surname files, electoral lists, and cemetery transcriptions for regions around Montreal, Quebec City, and eastern townships with cross-references to passenger lists arriving at Grosse-Île and shipping records from Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Events and Programs

Programs include monthly meetings, guest lectures, and workshops on topics like probate research tied to practices at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, land records referencing the Registry of Deeds (Ireland), and DNA interpretation in the context of databases operated by companies such as 23andMe and FamilyTreeDNA. The society organizes field trips to repositories like the Drouin Institute and cemetery surveys in coordination with groups such as the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and local heritage organizations including the Old Montreal Association. It also runs beginners' courses that mirror curricula offered by the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies.

Collaborations and Partnerships

The society partners with archives and societies across Canada and the British Isles, including formal collaborations with Library and Archives Canada, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, the National Library of Scotland, and county record offices such as the Essex Record Office and the Bristol Archives. It engages with cultural organizations like the Irish Canadian Cultural Centre and the Scottish Cultural Centre (Quebec) to support outreach, and with academic programs at institutions such as Université de Montréal to facilitate student research and internships. Cooperative indexing projects have been undertaken with volunteer networks modeled on initiatives by the UK National Trust and international data-sharing practices promoted by the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies.

Archives and Research Services

The society operates a local research service offering lookups, surname queries, and access to microfilm and digitized collections comparable to holdings at the Anglo-Celtic Foundation and regional archives. Holdings include parish transcriptions, ship manifests, naturalization records, and scanned tombstone rubbings linked to communities in Outaouais, Eastern Townships, and Montérégie. Researchers are assisted in using catalogues similar to those of the National Archives (UK) and in requesting copies from repositories such as the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland and the General Register Office for Scotland. The society also advises on preservation standards influenced by guidelines from the Canadian Conservation Institute.

Category:Genealogical societies in Canada