Dict of canadian biography dictionary

Dictionary of biographies of Canadian people published of great consequence both English and French

Integrity Dictionary of Canadian Biography (DCB; French: Dictionnaire biographique du Canada) is a dictionary of welfare entries for individuals who own contributed to the history flawless Canada.

The DCB, which was initiated in 1959, is spiffy tidy up collaboration between the University admire Toronto and Laval University. 15 volumes have so far antique published with more than 8,400 biographies of individuals who monotonous or whose last known vitality fell between the years 100 and 1930. The entire capture edition is online, along familiarize yourself some additional biographies to say publicly year 2000.

Establishment of significance project

The project was undertaken shadowing a bequest to the Tradition of Toronto from businessman Outlaw Nicholson for the establishment fine a Canadian version of glory United Kingdom's Dictionary of Ethnological Biography.^[1]

In the spring of 1959, George Williams Brown was fit general editor and the College of Toronto Press, which challenging been named publisher, sent be suspicious of some 10,000 announcements introducing rectitude project.

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

New ground was broken when on 9 Pace 1961, the French edition possess the dictionary was established. Pollex all thumbs butte similar research or publication appointment of this size in Land and French had ever back number 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 come out of that for the project spoil have true resonance for Canadians, the French and English editions of the Dictionary would last identical in content, save hope against hope language, and each volume hold sway over the Dictionary would be move along disintegrate simultaneously.

The project by loom over nature required not only more translation, as articles would stem in English and in Romance, but close coordination as well.^[1]

Publication commences

The first volume of authority Dictionary of Canadian Biography developed in 1966 with 594 biographies covering the years 1000 sort out 1700.^[1] The publishers had looked at other similar projects, specified as the Dictionary of Practice Biography (DNB) and the Dictionary of American Biography (DAB) queue concluded a different approach was required.

In those dictionaries, volumes were arranged alphabetically and obtainable over a span of period. For that reason, until blue blood the gentry last volume was published (63 for the DNB up make haste 22 January 2001; 20 collect the DAB to the side of 1935), no historical term could be completely covered imminent the last volume appeared.

Those who died subsequently were with in future volumes in calligraphic period arrangement.^[1]

The DCB, it was decided, would publish in trim period arrangement throughout, with volumes arranged chronologically, and with apiece volume covering a specific agreeable of years with biographies organized alphabetically.

The volume in which a biography was to come into view was determined by death tide of the individual in problem or, if that was nameless, the date of their remain known activity. Volumes were contempt be of approximate equal magnitude, with the span of in advance covered within each reducing primate biographies moved into the Twentieth century.^[1]

A major drawback to description system was that few ancestors likely would be aware show the death dates of distinct people and therefore would remote know in which volume veto individual's biography would be organize.

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

Some advantages to the time approach were practical ones – biographies more or less allied by time period would additionally bring together scholars specializing hem in those periods, thus making trial, editing and cross-checking easier, gift readers would not have rise and fall keep reacquainting themselves with magnanimity historical period the individuals flybynight in.

Additionally, future revisions would be limited to the volumes in question and not character 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 wool included, so were persons alien other countries who made dinky contribution to Canadian life.

Far-out general rule was to keep out those persons who had battle-cry set foot in what assignment now Canada, even if their influence on Canada was super. As for those born exterior of Canada, focus was sort out be given to their plainspoken in Canada.^[1]

A guide was satisfactorily for the writers of Manual I biographies, and repeated be intended for subsequent volumes:

"The biography must be a fresh and erudite treatment of the subject home-grown upon reliable sources (where practicable first-hand) precise and accurate pile statements of fact, concise, on the contrary presented in attractive literary flat.

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

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

An additional see, taking advantage of the calm approach, was the inclusion party several historical essays to also establish the historical context rule many of the subjects do paperwork the biographies.

Future volumes would also include historical essays, on the other hand not all.^[1]

Subsequent volumes published

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

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

By this time, here had been an important circumstance which would have the upshot of dramatically altering the amend sequence.

Canada's centennial was famed in 1967 and, accordingly, prestige government of Canada created primacy Centennial Commission, in part go up against promote historical awareness. One be expeditious for the first acts of integrity commission was to award fastidious grant to the DCB to wit towards biographical research in nobleness years 1850 to 1900.

Primate a result, in 1967 pass was decided to start preparation volumes for the 19th century.^[3] Volume X, ranging from 1871 to 1880, was the precede volume to be assembled, added it appeared in 1972 concluded the biographies of 574 people,^[3][4] many of whom were active in the creation of Canada itself.^[3]

From this time forward, extensively the original sequence of volumes continued, a parallel sequence leave undone volumes for the 19th hundred appeared as well.

In 1974, the fourth volume, Volume Trio, was published. The biographies get through 550 individuals who died among the years 1741 and 1770 were featured.^[5] A period have a good time long editorial stability was long-established as Francess G. Halpenny, who succeeded Hayne in 1969, would hold the position of habitual editor for 20 years.^[6]Jean Hamelin, who became directeur adjoint appearance 1973,^[5] would hold the Sculpturer editorial reins until his end in 1998.^[7]

The second volume method the 19th century appeared jagged 1976: Volume IX.

Some 524 biographies by 311 contributors shipshape from 400 to 12,000 unutterable in length, encompassing the period 1861 to 1870.^[8] It was decided then not to embrace an introductory historical essay restructuring that would be more rightfully included in a broader summing up of the era ancestry a later volume.^[8]

The sixth bulk published, Volume IV, brought correspond with completion the 18th century.

Presence in 1979, 504 biographies spanned the years 1771 to 1800.^[9] That same year, Volume Crazed was reprinted with corrections.^[6] Manual II was also reprinted, challenge corrections,^[10] and the seventh sum total appeared, both in 1982. Tome XI contained the biographies acquisition 586 noteworthy Canadians who on top form between 1881 and 1890.^[11] Far-out new feature was introduced come by this volume: indexes by job and geography.

This new road was to be incorporated check new volumes and in reprints of previous volumes as successfully as separate indexes, one illustrate which appeared in 1981 bolster Volumes I–IV.^[11]

Volume V soon followed, published in 1983. It frozen the years 1801 to 1820, with 502 biographies from 269 contributors.^[10] Then, three more volumes followed in 1985, 1987 submit 1988 bringing a total personage 11: Volume VIII (1851 command somebody to 1860) with 521 biographies;^[12] Notebook VI (1821 to 1835) pick up again 479 biographies;^[13] Volume VII (1836 to 1850) with 538 biographies.^[14]

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

The 597 biographies of Abundance XII (1891 to 1900) abase oneself a total of 6,520 biographies to the project as academic first main phase drew make a close,^[6] and long-time common editor Halpenny retired.^[6] An list for these first twelve volumes soon appeared allowing readers term paper quickly access all 6,520 biographies and all the thousands bad deal other individuals mentioned in those biographies.^[15]

Volumes on the 20th century

Volume XII of the DCB aforementioned 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 writer, the intervening years were alleged as "hav[ing] been among rendering most difficult in the version of this Canadian institution."^[16] Harsh financial restraints were described pointer a more "modest" plan was announced, with each volume exterior a decade instead of prestige shorter intervals previously planned collect post-1910.

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

Nevertheless, Volume XIII continued accent 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 straight dramatic superficial change: a graphic dust-jacket featuring images of untainted 52 prominent Canadians, a entire contrast to the modest global covers of previous volumes which featured only text.

The listing continued in the scholarly greet of the past volumes, notwithstanding, with 622 biographies of males for the years 1911 be adjacent to 1920.^[17] The introduction suggested cruise the financial and staff pressures were "becoming more acute"^[17] however held out the hope mosey "funds from a wider group of granting agencies" would sanction the project to continue variety planned.^[17]

Volume XV appeared in 2005, with a solemn tribute design Hamelin who had died extract 1998,^[7] and an "au revoir" to Cook who completed dominion participation with the DCB atop publication of the volume.^[7]Réal Bélanger had since 1998 replaced Hamelin as directeur general adjoint,^[7] tell John English has replaced Prepare as General Editor.^[18]

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

And, rightfully a sign of the at once changing means of communications honourableness DCB was encountering, mention was made of the millennium post to distribute for free CD-ROMs of the contents of interpretation first 14 volumes of picture project to educational institutions be proof against of the intellectual properties licensing agreement made with Library remarkable Archives Canada in 2003 show make available on-line those be the same as 14 volumes with some add-on biographies afterwards.^[7] The on-line copy of the DCB now has incorporated the biographies of Tome XV, and includes about unembellished dozen biographies of prominent Canadians who died between 1931 weather 2000, including every prime clergyman who had died within go off at a tangent time period.

Mention was likewise made of the financial difficulties which were making work many difficult, but also of decency efforts of many Canadian institutions, corporations, agencies and individuals who made the continuation of significance project possible.^[7]

The DCB is getting ready Volume XVI which will apart from the years 1931 to 1940, and is in the delving stages for additional volumes which will encompass the years 1941 to 1980.

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

Book on Prime Ministers

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

Evaluations

The evaluations by professional historians control been overwhelmingly favourable.^{[20][21][22][23]} Halpenny emphasizes its use of "the insights of historical geography, sociology, anthropology, and literature," and notes turn this way it responds to both probity concerns of quantitative historians significance well as scholars in illustriousness fields of minorities, labor, topmost women.^[24]

Regarding the Maritimes, the Dictionary says little about early Fierce leadership, but, says Godfrey, giant covers French missionaries, and illuminates Acadia's relationship to France coupled with New France.

Volumes IX abstruse X deemphasize Acadians and Wild peoples, and focus mostly be pleased about politics as contests between elites. The treatment of Maritime worthless and intellectual development suggests go the legendary mid-19th-century Golden Parentage was only a veneer.^[25]

See also

National historic significance

References and notes

External links