*The Museum is working to arrange new meeting times for all the guest speakers that did not get to present in the Spring of 2020. Keep an eye to this page for the 2020/2021 Genealogy Schedule. Cancelled presenters include Genevieve Carter with the Huronia Museum & Huron Ouendat Village and Lori Oschefski, British Home Children in Canada.

2020/2021 Genealogy Club Schedule

September 9th, 2020 - Passed Down: Stories from Wasauksing

Join us in welcoming Waubgeshig Rice, author, journalist and past CBC broadcaster from Wasauksing! Rice will discuss how stories are passed down in Anishinaabe culture and how those stories are preserved for generations. For more information on Waubgeshig you can visit www.waub.ca. 

October 14th, 2020 - Tracking Family Movement 

The Museum has been working on a new project! With help from some of our Genealogy Club members, we have created a genealogy map tracking family lineage into Parry Sound. We are excited to showcase our map, while also teaching you how to use Google's My Maps to document your family history. Join us as we discuss the map and future plans to use it for all club members.

November 11th, 2020 - All We Cherish: The LittleFamily During WWI & WWII

To commemorate Remembrance Day, Parry Sound resident, Roger Little, will be sharing his family's history and their involvement in the First and Second World War. Through written correspondence sent home by his relatives during the wars, Roger has been able to capture their journey and preserve their story.

*Please note that this month's meeting will be held over Zoom. If you would like to receive the link to the meeting, RSVP to Karen Albrecht communications@museumontowerhill.com before Tuesday, November 10th, 2020.

December 9th, 2020 - Uncovering Family

Local Parry Sounder, Alexis Freeman, will be sharing her personal experience in investigating a family member's birth parents. Alexis will discuss the various resources she has been using, and share her success & struggles with uncovering this family mystery.

*Please note that this month's meeting will be held over Zoom. If you would like to receive the link to the meeting, RSVP to Karen Albrecht communications@museumontowerhill.com before Tuesday, December 8th, 2020.

February 10th, 2021- Bed Turning

What is a bed turning? In the 19th century, bed turnings were a social gathering of women that took place at one woman's home. The event allowed women to show off their collection of quilts, explain how they were made and speak to their significance. Today, we host bed turnings for a lot of the same reasons, although they have now become large public displays. Join us to hear the history behind our quilts and explanations of creative process.

How can you help? Do you have a quilt at home with an interesting story - We would love to include it in the Genealogy Club presentation! Individuals that would like to contribute a quilt will be asked to provide a description on what makes the quilt special, who made it, how/why it was created and any other interesting anecdotes. Please contact Amy Sultana at collections@museumontowerhill.com if you would like to contribute a quilt for February's meeting.

March 10th, 2021- TBD

April 14th, 2021- TBD

May 12th, 2021- TBD

June 9th, 2021 - TBD

2019/2020 Genealogy Club - Bonus Summer Zoom Meetings!

 July 8th, 2020 - What Gravestones Can Tell You About Your Ancestors

Join the Museum in welcoming Laura Suchan, Executive Director at the Oshawa Museum, will be presenting on her work with gravestones in Ontario. In an era when illiteracy was common, carvers relied on the symbols to convey messages of morality and spirituality to those unable to read. Themes relating to life, death and the hope for everlasting life are just some of the messages protrayed on the stones. Discover the clues and information that gravestones can reveal about your ancestors and the world in which they lived.

August 12th, 2020 - Before They're Gone: Documenting Living History

Welcome back University of Toronto, Linguistics professor, Dr. Sali A. Tagliamonte. Sali will be presenting her research showing that dialects all over Ontario are dying, with them are also fading away the old line small mixed farm culture and history, the pulp and paper industry that was documented so well by John Macfie. To learn more about Sali and her research, follow the link! http://ontariodialects.chass.utoronto.ca