NEW "British Home Children: Their Stories"

[Mary Anne]

Just to let everyone know that the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa has recently released a book entitled British Home Children: Their Stories.

BIFHSGO volunteers have spent a number of years indexing various resources from Library and Archives Canada that relate to Home Child emigration to Canada, including passenger lists, files and reports from the Middlemore Emigration Homes, government files and reports, and so forth, so that these records may be accessible to researchers. As a result of this work, BIFHSGO has made contact with many Home Children and their descendants. This publication is a collection of stories and images by first and second generation descendants, some of which are first-hand accounts of the Home Child's experience. The stories told by the 30 contributors are rich and varied, augmented by family and historical photographs.

The book was launched on December 18, 2010, at Library and Archives Canada. Attendees included 19 of the 30 contributors, as well as representatives of MP Phil McColman, who had sponsored the Bill that created 2010 as the Year of the British Home Child, and the British High Commission in Canada. Each of the contributors was presented with a copy of the book, and initial sales were brisk. Go to BIFHSGO's website to view photos of the event.

If you would like to obtain a copy of the book, you can order it online or by mail from Global Genealogy in Milton, Ontario. A proportion of the cost will revert back to BIFHSGO to be used in future research projects.

Thanks to the many contributors and volunteers who made this book possible!


Mary Anne Sharpe
Past President
British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa