To all:- The following LONG message should be printed and I have combined two messages together, rather than post two different ones. Gordon and I have had many queries -- and although we want to find our people ASAP, let's get organized over the weekend -- let's just be thankful it is only electrical maintenance! Muriel M. Davidson muriel_davidson@sympatico.ca Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gordon A. Watts" <gordon_watts@telus.net> To: "Canada Census Campaign" <CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2005 2:37 PM Subject: Post 1901 Census -- Accessing 1911 Census records of Canada Message No. 1:- Greetings All. Library and Archives Canada, without any formal announcement or fanfare, made records of the 1911 National Census of Canada accessible online on 21 July 2005. Since posting to the mail lists regarding this Muriel and I have received many messages of thanks and congratulations, and stories of success in finding family that had until now eluded 'capture'. We look forward to hearing of many more successes. In the last 24 hours however, messages have changed to ones of complaint about being unable to access the LAC website, or once having accessed the website, being unable to access the schedules they want. The major reason for the problems of access people are having is that the servers housing these webpages are VERY, VERY BUSY!!! If you are getting responses that "The page connot be displayed", there is little point in sitting there continuing to try. The best advice we can give when this happens is to go away, give it some time, and try again later -- perhaps late in the evening or early in the morning. Remember that we are not dealing here with only people in Canada and the time zones they live in, but others from many other countries and time zones. It may be difficult to do after the long wait we have had, but I suggest having a little patience! One lister reported that servers were down because of power problems that were being worked on. I do not know where this information came from, but this morning I have been able to access the main pages of LAC without problem, although I have yet to successfully access any of the schedules that interest me. In my view this is due entirely to the large volume of people trying to access the records. Other questions are "How do I ......?"; "Where do I find......?"; "Why can't I.......?". In their haste to go straight to the scanned images and start searching for relatives, it would seem that most people are ignoring the very good information LAC has provided to assist those searching the records. Most of the questions we are being asked are answered in this information if only searchers take the time to read it. In my view, LAC has outdone themselves in the information they have provided to make it easy for us. On the main page for the 1911 Census at http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/1911/index-e.html there is a link to "Introduction and Contextual Help". There is a wealth of information there to advise how to search the records, how to interpret the records (including an excellent explanation of the column headings), and a MrSid Help page. Before asking Muriel or myself "How do I.....?", we ask that you PLEASE read the information provided by LAC. MrSID vs PDF For the 1911 Census LAC has provided scans in both MrSID and PDF formats. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. While the images in both can be enlarged for easier viewing, many are complaining that when enlarging PDF images, they are not clear -- being fuzzy in appearance. Be aware that in PDF format, enlarging the image does only that -- it enlarges the image without changing the resolution. As a result, if the original image is fuzzy to start with, enlarging it does nothing to eliminate the fuzziness. On the other hand, MrSID changes the resolution when enlarging the image and so may on occasion be the better image to view. I can only suggest trying both, and use whichever image you find is better for you. Importing the image into a graphics/photographic program may allow you to enhance an otherwise poor quality image. Most of these programs will allow you to adjust the brightness, contrast and sharpness of an image and doing so may make it more readable. This is something that you are going to have to do for yourself -- do not expect LAC to do it -- it won't happen. INDEXING THE 1911 The 1911 Census records, as with the 1901 and 1906 records, are not searchable by name. They are searchable only by geographic locations. Nominal indexing is not something that will be done by LAC. A number of genealogy societies and groups have indicated intentions to compile nominal indexes for their area of interest. For example, the Alberta Family History Society ((http://www.afhs.ab.ca/) and the Alberta Genealogy Society (http://abgensoc.ca/) have indicated they will work together to index the 1911 Census for Alberta. While they have not announced it, I assume the British Columbia Genealogical Society (of which I am a member) will be indexing the BC records and very likely the OGS and/or its many chapters will be getting on board for Ontario. Others have indicated indexing/transcribing the records for their own area of interest. For the 1901 and 1906 Census records, the only place that I know of that did a nominal index of the ENTIRE Census was Automated Genealogy. As with other indexing projects this was accomplished by the use of a great many volunteers. I am aware that Automated Genealogy has indicated their intention to do the same for the 1911 Census, however as I write this I have not yet found any reference to getting started on their website at http://www.automatedgenealogy.com/index.html For those interested in volunteering to do indexing/transcribing for their own specific area I would suggest contacting the genealogy society for your area of interest. Message #2:- Subsequent to my earlier post regarding online access to 1911 Census records I have been contacted by the lister who stated that there were power problems at LAC and that is why there has been difficulty accessing these records. Vivian advises that she made a telephone call to Library and Archives Canada and was told by staff there that electricity in the building housing the Census servers would be turned off on 23 and 24 July and as a result none of the online Census records will be available on those days. It will likely affect other databases as well. My suggestion to all is to take the time to enjoy the weekend -- go to the beach, have a picnic, go for a drive in the country -- and try again on Monday. Once again in closing -- have a little patience -- you will eventually get connected to the records you seek. Enjoy the Census! Gordon A. Watts gordon_watts@telus.net Co-chair Canada Census Committee Port Coquitlam, BC http://www.globalgenealogy.com/Census en francais http://www.globalgenealogy.com/Census/Index_f.htm Permission to forward without notice is granted