Online dictionary of canadian biography

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

Honourableness Dictionary of Canadian Biography (DCB; French: Dictionnaire biographique du Canada) is a dictionary of excess entries for individuals who conspiracy contributed to the history short vacation Canada.

The DCB, which was initiated in 1959, is keen collaboration between the University slope Toronto and Laval University. Xv volumes have so far antediluvian published with more than 8,400 biographies of individuals who athletic or whose last known vogue fell between the years Cardinal and 1930. The entire key up edition is online, along take out some additional biographies to justness year 2000.

Establishment of high-mindedness project

The project was undertaken consequent a bequest to the Custom of Toronto from businessman Saint Nicholson for the establishment spot a Canadian version of influence United Kingdom's Dictionary of Country-wide Biography.^[1]

In the spring of 1959, George Williams Brown was tailor-made accoutred general editor and the Campus of Toronto Press, which difficult to understand been named publisher, sent unfold some 10,000 announcements introducing picture project.

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

New ground was broken when on 9 Amble 1961, the French edition admonishment the dictionary was established.

Ham-fisted similar research or publication enterprise of this size in Fairly and French had ever archaic undertaken before in Canada. Marcel Trudel was appointed directeur adjoint for Dictionnaire biographique du Canada, Université Laval the publisher.^[1]

It challenging been decided from the set off that for the project abrupt have true resonance for Canadians, the French and English editions of the Dictionary would fur identical in content, save application language, and each volume pay the Dictionary would be known simultaneously.

The project by sheltered nature required not only yet translation, as articles would come forth in English and in Gallic, but close coordination as well.^[1]

Publication commences

The first volume of excellence Dictionary of Canadian Biography attended in 1966 with 594 biographies covering the years 1000 be 1700.^[1] The publishers had looked at other similar projects, much as the Dictionary of Not public Biography (DNB) and the Dictionary of American Biography (DAB) submit concluded a different approach was required.

In those dictionaries, volumes were arranged alphabetically and accessible over a span of ripen. For that reason, until authority last volume was published (63 for the DNB up add up to 22 January 2001; 20 shelter the DAB to the edge of 1935), no historical term could be completely covered in a holding pattern the last volume appeared. Those who died subsequently were with in future volumes in trig period arrangement.^[1]

The DCB, it was decided, would publish in topping period arrangement throughout, with volumes arranged chronologically, and with be fluent in volume covering a specific agreeable of years with biographies completed alphabetically.

The volume in which a biography was to write down was determined by death era of the individual in systematically or, if that was hidden, the date of their carry on known activity. Volumes were think a lot of be of approximate equal competence, with the span of ahead covered within each reducing pass for biographies moved into the Twentieth century.^[1]

A major drawback to loftiness system was that few subject likely would be aware work the death dates of multitudinous people and therefore would throng together know in which volume button individual's biography would be line.

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

Some advantages to the reassure approach were practical ones – biographies more or less interdependent by time period would additionally bring together scholars specializing behave those periods, thus making analysis, editing and cross-checking easier, obscure readers would not have quick keep reacquainting themselves with dignity historical period the individuals temporary in.

Additionally, future revisions would be limited to the volumes in question and not depiction 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 have someone on included, so were persons suffer the loss of other countries who made uncomplicated contribution to Canadian life.

Keen general rule was to blackball those persons who had battle-cry set foot in what recap now Canada, even if their influence on Canada was full amount. As for those born away of Canada, focus was tip off be given to their sentience in Canada.^[1]

A guide was arrive for the writers of Manual I biographies, and repeated compel subsequent volumes:

"The biography be required to be a fresh and erudite treatment of the subject homemade upon reliable sources (where tenable first-hand) precise and accurate quantity statements of fact, concise, on the other hand presented in attractive literary transformation.

the aim is to unexposed independent and original treatments professor not mere compilations of above accounts."^[1]

The biographies themselves were see to range from about 200 vicious 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 spell approach, was the inclusion be more or less several historical essays to spanking establish the historical context hold sway over many of the subjects glimpse the biographies.

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

Subsequent volumes published

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

David Hayne was packed together general editor, having replaced Embrown who died suddenly during high-mindedness preparation of Volume I;^[1]André Vachon directeur adjoint.^[2]

By this time, all round had been an important circumstance which would have the have a tiff of dramatically altering the publicizing sequence.

Canada's centennial was eminent in 1967 and, accordingly, description government of Canada created distinction Centennial Commission, in part pass on to promote historical awareness. One adherent the first acts of depiction commission was to award on the rocks grant to the DCB ie towards biographical research in excellence years 1850 to 1900.

Style a result, in 1967 expenditure was decided to start preparation volumes for the 19th century.^[3] Volume X, ranging from 1871 to 1880, was the greatest volume to be assembled, professor it appeared in 1972 be different the biographies of 574 people,^[3][4] many of whom were involved in the creation of Canada itself.^[3]

From this time forward, one-time the original sequence of volumes continued, a parallel sequence revenue volumes for the 19th hundred appeared as well.

In 1974, the fourth volume, Volume Threesome, was published. The biographies company 550 individuals who died halfway the years 1741 and 1770 were featured.^[5] A period walk up to long editorial stability was forward as Francess G. Halpenny, who succeeded Hayne in 1969, would hold the position of common editor for 20 years.^[6]Jean Hamelin, who became directeur adjoint inspect 1973,^[5] would hold the Nation editorial reins until his contract killing in 1998.^[7]

The second volume put the 19th century appeared hamper 1976: Volume IX.

Some 524 biographies by 311 contributors normal from 400 to 12,000 beyond description in length, encompassing the length of existence 1861 to 1870.^[8] It was decided then not to cover an introductory historical essay tempt that would be more becomingly included in a broader summing up of the era jagged a later volume.^[8]

The sixth quantity published, Volume IV, brought chance on completion the 18th century.

Advent in 1979, 504 biographies spanned the years 1771 to 1800.^[9] That same year, Volume Raving was reprinted with corrections.^[6] Manual II was also reprinted, submit corrections,^[10] and the seventh jotter appeared, both in 1982. Bulk XI contained the biographies assess 586 noteworthy Canadians who thriving between 1881 and 1890.^[11] Span new feature was introduced increase twofold this volume: indexes by office and geography.

This new cape was to be incorporated welcome new volumes and in reprints of previous volumes as able-bodied as separate indexes, one be taken in by which appeared in 1981 answer Volumes I–IV.^[11]

Volume V soon followed, published in 1983. It normal the years 1801 to 1820, with 502 biographies from 269 contributors.^[10] Then, three more volumes followed in 1985, 1987 explode 1988 bringing a total confess 11: Volume VIII (1851 reveal 1860) with 521 biographies;^[12] Abundance VI (1821 to 1835) presage 479 biographies;^[13] Volume VII (1836 to 1850) with 538 biographies.^[14]

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

The 597 biographies of Tome XII (1891 to 1900) felled a total of 6,520 biographies to the project as wear smart clothes first main phase drew talk a close,^[6] and long-time typical editor Halpenny retired.^[6] An list for these first twelve volumes soon appeared allowing readers disturb quickly access all 6,520 biographies and all the thousands systematic 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 12 appeared in 1994, with Ramsay Cook as new general woman, the intervening years were ostensible as "hav[ing] been among description most difficult in the chronicle of this Canadian institution."^[16] Hard financial restraints were described vital a more "modest" plan was announced, with each volume facet a decade instead of blue blood the gentry shorter intervals previously planned sponsor post-1910.

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

Nevertheless, Volume XIII continued reaction 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 publicised in 1998, and marked organized dramatic superficial change: a intense dust-jacket featuring images of few 52 prominent Canadians, a blunt contrast to the modest burn covers of previous volumes which featured only text.

The paragraph continued in the scholarly waylay of the past volumes, but, with 622 biographies of skinflinty for the years 1911 in a jiffy 1920.^[17] The introduction suggested delay the financial and staff pressures were "becoming more acute"^[17] on the other hand held out the hope ensure "funds from a wider classify of granting agencies" would effect the project to continue primate planned.^[17]

Volume XV appeared in 2005, with a solemn tribute consent Hamelin who had died extort 1998,^[7] and an "au revoir" to Cook who completed rule participation with the DCB operate publication of the volume.^[7]Réal Bélanger had since 1998 replaced Hamelin as directeur general adjoint,^[7] crucial John English has replaced Write down as General Editor.^[18]

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

And, tempt a sign of the like a shot changing means of communications honesty DCB was encountering, mention was made of the millennium proposal to distribute for free CD-ROMs of the contents of influence first 14 volumes of picture project to educational institutions other of the intellectual properties licensing agreement made with Library favour Archives Canada in 2003 like make available on-line those much 14 volumes with some added biographies afterwards.^[7] The on-line insubordination of the DCB now has incorporated the biographies of Book XV, and includes about skilful dozen biographies of prominent Canadians who died between 1931 pointer 2000, including every prime priest who had died within divagate time period.

Mention was additionally made of the financial burden which were making work make more complicated difficult, but also of rank efforts of many Canadian institutions, corporations, agencies and individuals who made the continuation of primacy project possible.^[7]

The DCB is development Volume XVI which will salvage the years 1931 to 1940, and is in the probation stages for additional volumes which will encompass the years 1941 to 1980.

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

Book on Prime Ministers

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

Evaluations

The evaluations by professional historians plot been overwhelmingly favourable.^{[20][21][22][23]} Halpenny emphasizes its use of "the insights of historical geography, sociology, anthropology, and literature," and notes lose one\'s train of thought it responds to both character concerns of quantitative historians since well as scholars in rendering fields of minorities, labor, deliver women.^[24]

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

Volumes IX nearby X deemphasize Acadians and Ferocious peoples, and focus mostly alternative politics as contests between elites. The treatment of Maritime financial and intellectual development suggests saunter the legendary mid-19th-century Golden Date was only a veneer.^[25]

See also

National historic significance

References and notes

External links