Calling all genealogists; beginners or seasoned researchers! The Yorkton branch of the SGS (Saskatchewan Genealogical Society) meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM at the Yorkton Public Library. Meetings usually have a featured topic or speaker, and genealogists at any stage of research are welcome. Whether you are just beginning to trace your family tree or have been researching for a long time, you will find conversations and experiences that will help you on your family quest. There is no better time to record your family history than right now, so join us at the next meeting on Tuesday, October 10. Share in the genealogy discussion, and hear about the group’s latest genealogy road-trip.
If you are making researching your family tree a project for this winter, you might want to know about two helpful books that are available through the SGS. Starting with good basic tools will make your research much easier, and these books contain valuable genealogical sources. They are: “Tracing Your Ancestors in Saskatchewan: A Guide to the Records and How to Use Them,” and “Tracing Your Aboriginal Ancestors in the Prairie Provinces.” Visit their site at www.saskgenealogy.com or contact them at Saskatchewan Genealogical Library
1870 Lorne Street, Post Office Box 1894, Regina, Saskatchewan, S4P 3E1. Their telephone number is (306) 780-9207 and fax number is (306) 781-6021.
Once you have collected whatever information you can, beginning with family members’ names and dates of births, marriages and deaths, the provincial archives, http://saskarchives.com is a great place to continue your search. This wonderful site has a wealth of information on many aspects of life in Saskatchewan, from personal to public.
If you are wondering how the archives began, click on the tab “About The Archives” and read about Arthur Silver Morton. Mr. Morton arrived in Saskatchewan in 1914, and realized the great importance and need to save documents for future generations. His work towards this goal continued for decades, and in 1937 Mr. Morton proposed that the province needed a place where these important documents could be collected and cared for. His efforts resulted in the Historical Public Record Office being established.
Still the struggle forward continued: Mr. Morton fought for funding and continued support for the archives, in 1945 the Archives Act came into being.
When you visit this site, click on the tab along the top that says “Using The Archives”, then click on the tab on the left sidebar that says “Family History Research”. From here you can check out land records; birth, death and marriage records; church records and much more.
This amazing site offers an in-depth and thorough collection of documents that will help your family history research and give you added insight into the life and times of the province.
Your family history is important. It speaks of past generations who came here for a new life, new opportunity, or religious freedom. While some families may go back a long way, in a timeline, your family coming here from whatever “old country” to the present day may be less than 150 years. What astonishing changes have occurred in that time! Record not only dates and names but events in your family. They are treasured and important pieces of your family’s puzzle. Every family has a story; discover yours with the Yorkton branch of the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society!
submitted by
Debbie Hayward
