Do you have an "information expert" in your family? Someone who keeps track of the weddings, the funerals, the baptisms? Someone who knows where Cousin Ned moved to after he left the farm back in 1938, or how many children your second cousin Sally had? These "family historians" are precious, and can be so valuable to assist you in beginning or filling out your family tree. When you go to visit them, take along a notebook and a pencil and record all the information that you can! Don't wait to try and find out missing information about your family, record it as soon as possible.
On a provincial level, there's a great source of information at the Saskatchewan Archives. The Archives contain all kinds of records that can educate us not only about the history of the province but the people who settled here. The very history of the Archives shows the visionary recognition of how important it is to preserve information about the province. Even though the Archives became an official agency in 1945, preservation was already in full swing since 1909 with the Legislative Library. The Government of Saskatchewan and the University of Saskatchewan worked together to amalgamate all this information at the Historical Public Records Office at the University, but at that point, the effort still lacked an organized system of what to keep. Thankfully, the dream of saving all these precious records was secured with The Archives Act that was responsible for now including information about any Saskatchewan residents, not just "famous" people; for recognizing all points of view as important to the overall Saskatchewan picture; and that the process of preservation should be ongoing. Luckily for us, this results in a richly textured historical quilt of information about the province and the hard-working and determined people who helped to make it what it is today.
February 5 - 11, 2012, is Saskatchewan Archives Week, so log on to www.saskarchives.com and see all that this great site has to offer. Closer to home, you can visit the City of Yorkton archives at www.yorkton.ca/history and learn about the fascinating story of our own community from 1882 on to the present day, or visit the archives to see the vast collection of photos, letters, postcards, newspapers, and so much more.
If you're interested in family or community history, you're invited to join the Yorkton Branch of the Saskatchewan Genealogy Society. New members are always welcome. Stop in at the Yorkton Public Library for their Open House on Thursday, February 16, and see the Genealogy Society's display. The Genealogy Society will also be at Heritage Day at the Western Development Museum on February 19 from 2 - 5 p.m. Talk to any member and find out more about how to begin or continue your research into the past.
"After much poetic concentration on the future, the people of Saskatchewan realize the past is important too." Hilda Neatby, the first editor of" Saskatchewan History" magazine, made this observation; and as the world moves forward at break-neck speed, we see that more than ever it is time to preserve and chronicle the past. Every family has a story: discover yours with the Yorkton Branch of the Saskatchewan Genealogy Society! For more information call Glenn at 782-7969 or Dave at 783-1093.
