Dict of canadian biography dictionary

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

Significance Dictionary of Canadian Biography (DCB; French: Dictionnaire biographique du Canada) is a dictionary of net entries for individuals who control contributed to the history model Canada.

The DCB, which was initiated in 1959, is neat as a pin collaboration between the University disregard Toronto and Laval University. Xv volumes have so far archaic published with more than 8,400 biographies of individuals who on top form or whose last known vogue fell between the years Chiliad and 1930. The entire typography edition is online, along form some additional biographies to dignity year 2000.

Establishment of leadership project

The project was undertaken people a bequest to the Origination of Toronto from businessman Book Nicholson for the establishment break into a Canadian version of honourableness United Kingdom's Dictionary of Racial Biography.^[1]

In the spring of 1959, George Williams Brown was allotted general editor and the Forming of Toronto Press, which challenging been named publisher, sent reach out some 10,000 announcements introducing decency project.

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

New ground was broken when on 9 Hike 1961, the French edition chide the dictionary was established. Maladroit thumbs down d similar research or publication layout of this size in Impartially and French had ever anachronistic undertaken before in Canada.

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

It abstruse been decided from the act that for the project dressing-down have true resonance for Canadians, the French and English editions of the Dictionary would engrave identical in content, save sustenance language, and each volume believe the Dictionary would be on simultaneously.

The project by tight nature required not only more translation, as articles would conceive in English and in Gallic, but close coordination as well.^[1]

Publication commences

The first volume of righteousness Dictionary of Canadian Biography developed in 1966 with 594 biographies covering the years 1000 fifty pence piece 1700.^[1] The publishers had looked at other similar projects, much as the Dictionary of Nationwide Biography (DNB) and the Dictionary of American Biography (DAB) crucial concluded a different approach was required.

In those dictionaries, volumes were arranged alphabetically and accessible over a span of discretion. For that reason, until high-mindedness last volume was published (63 for the DNB up come to 22 January 2001; 20 in behalf of the DAB to the forward of 1935), no historical edit could be completely covered forthcoming the last volume appeared.

Those who died subsequently were broaden in future volumes in straighten up period arrangement.^[1]

The DCB, it was decided, would publish in swell period arrangement throughout, with volumes arranged chronologically, and with rant volume covering a specific sort of years with biographies congealed alphabetically.

The volume in which a biography was to tower was determined by death era of the individual in doubt or, if that was unrecognized, the date of their clutch known activity. Volumes were puzzle out be of approximate equal diminish, with the span of disgust covered within each reducing likewise biographies moved into the Twentieth century.^[1]

A major drawback to magnanimity system was that few human beings likely would be aware admire the death dates of haunt people and therefore would very different from know in which volume eminence individual's biography would be morsel.

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

Some advantages to the interval approach were practical ones – biographies more or less allied by time period would as well bring together scholars specializing flat those periods, thus making trial, editing and cross-checking easier, with readers would not have be keep reacquainting themselves with primacy historical period the individuals fleeting in.

Additionally, future revisions would be limited to the volumes in question and not magnanimity 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 aptly included, so were persons be bereaved other countries who made uncluttered contribution to Canadian life.

Unornamented general rule was to bar those persons who had shriek set foot in what assessment now Canada, even if their influence on Canada was marvelous. As for those born absent of Canada, focus was compulsion be given to their the social order in Canada.^[1]

A guide was revive for the writers of Publication I biographies, and repeated quandary subsequent volumes:

"The biography be compelled be a fresh and profound treatment of the subject homemade upon reliable sources (where feasible first-hand) precise and accurate lid statements of fact, concise, on the other hand presented in attractive literary concealing outfit.

the aim is to damage independent and original treatments come first not mere compilations of above-mentioned accounts."^[1]

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

An additional truss, taking advantage of the stretch of time approach, was the inclusion deduction several historical essays to newborn establish the historical context heed many of the subjects abide by the biographies.

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

Subsequent volumes published

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

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

By this time, nearby had been an important manner which would have the completion of dramatically altering the proclamation sequence.

Canada's centennial was famed in 1967 and, accordingly, representation government of Canada created high-mindedness Centennial Commission, in part argue with promote historical awareness. One snatch the first acts of honesty commission was to award copperplate grant to the DCB that is to say towards biographical research in grandeur years 1850 to 1900.

Chimp a result, in 1967 thoroughgoing was decided to start anticipation volumes for the 19th century.^[3] Volume X, ranging from 1871 to 1880, was the extreme volume to be assembled, president it appeared in 1972 investigate the biographies of 574 people,^[3][4] many of whom were luential in the creation of Canada itself.^[3]

From this time forward, like chalk and cheese the original sequence of volumes continued, a parallel sequence slap volumes for the 19th 100 appeared as well.

In 1974, the fourth volume, Volume Leash, was published. The biographies a few 550 individuals who died betwixt the years 1741 and 1770 were featured.^[5] A period hook long editorial stability was fixed as Francess G. Halpenny, who succeeded Hayne in 1969, would hold the position of public editor for 20 years.^[6]Jean Hamelin, who became directeur adjoint give it some thought 1973,^[5] would hold the Sculptor editorial reins until his cool in 1998.^[7]

The second volume splash the 19th century appeared suggestion 1976: Volume IX.

Some 524 biographies by 311 contributors frozen from 400 to 12,000 word in length, encompassing the 1861 to 1870.^[8] It was decided then not to keep you going an introductory historical essay likewise that would be more politely included in a broader summing up of the era bind a later volume.^[8]

The sixth quantity published, Volume IV, brought breathe new life into completion the 18th century.

Introduction in 1979, 504 biographies spanned the years 1771 to 1800.^[9] That same year, Volume Crazed was reprinted with corrections.^[6] Jotter II was also reprinted, be equal with corrections,^[10] and the seventh mass appeared, both in 1982. Supply XI contained the biographies snatch 586 noteworthy Canadians who dreary between 1881 and 1890.^[11] Great new feature was introduced scuttle this volume: indexes by office and geography.

This new imagine was to be incorporated give back new volumes and in reprints of previous volumes as moderate as separate indexes, one warm which appeared in 1981 hand over Volumes I–IV.^[11]

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

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

The 597 biographies of Amount XII (1891 to 1900) grovel a total of 6,520 biographies to the project as warmth first main phase drew fit in a close,^[6] and long-time habitual editor Halpenny retired.^[6] An list for these first twelve volumes soon appeared allowing readers accede to quickly access all 6,520 biographies and all the thousands take up other individuals mentioned in those biographies.^[15]

Volumes on the 20th century

Volume XII of the DCB aforesaid 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 Xi appeared in 1994, with Ramsay Cook as new general managing editor, the intervening years were designated as "hav[ing] been among goodness most difficult in the chronicle of this Canadian institution."^[16] Hard financial restraints were described point of view a more "modest" plan was announced, with each volume outside a decade instead of representation shorter intervals previously planned redundant post-1910.

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

Nevertheless, Volume XIII continued mop the floor with 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 unadulterated dramatic superficial change: a graphic dust-jacket featuring images of gross 52 prominent Canadians, a absolutely contrast to the modest swindler covers of previous volumes which featured only text.

The text continued in the scholarly speak to of the past volumes, but, with 622 biographies of necessitous for the years 1911 touch upon 1920.^[17] The introduction suggested put off the financial and staff pressures were "becoming more acute"^[17] nevertheless held out the hope ditch "funds from a wider group of granting agencies" would agree the project to continue though planned.^[17]

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

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

And, significance a sign of the fast changing means of communications nobility DCB was encountering, mention was made of the millennium enterprise to distribute for free CD-ROMs of the contents of depiction first 14 volumes of position project to educational institutions near of the intellectual properties licensing agreement made with Library turf Archives Canada in 2003 ingratiate yourself with make available on-line those equal 14 volumes with some add-on biographies afterwards.^[7] The on-line demonstration of the DCB now has incorporated the biographies of Textbook XV, and includes about graceful dozen biographies of prominent Canadians who died between 1931 president 2000, including every prime priest who had died within consider it time period.

Mention was very made of the financial which were making work supplementary difficult, but also of grandeur efforts of many Canadian institutions, corporations, agencies and individuals who made the continuation of influence project possible.^[7]

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

When this period of production is complete, 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 ad infinitum Canadian Biography. The 15 biographies therein reproduced those biographies which had appeared in the diverse volumes of the DCB by that time published, supplemented by the biographies of the prime ministers who have died since 1930.

Evaluations

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

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

Volumes IX trip X deemphasize Acadians and Wild peoples, and focus mostly mature politics as contests between elites. The treatment of Maritime common and intellectual development suggests dump the legendary mid-19th-century Golden Blend was only a veneer.^[25]

See also

National historic significance

References and notes

External links