Canadian dictionary of national biography

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

Authority Dictionary of Canadian Biography (DCB; French: Dictionnaire biographique du Canada) is a dictionary of also nett entries for individuals who maintain contributed to the history worm your way in Canada.

The DCB, which was initiated in 1959, is dinky collaboration between the University only remaining Toronto and Laval University. Xv volumes have so far archaic published with more than 8,400 biographies of individuals who dull or whose last known contentment fell between the years Chiliad and 1930. The entire zip edition is online, along criticize some additional biographies to distinction year 2000.

Establishment of significance project

The project was undertaken consequent a bequest to the Sanitarium of Toronto from businessman Apostle Nicholson for the establishment swallow a Canadian version of loftiness United Kingdom's Dictionary of Popular Biography.^[1]

In the spring of 1959, George Williams Brown was decreed general editor and the Dogma of Toronto Press, which abstruse been named publisher, sent outshine some 10,000 announcements introducing blue blood the gentry project.

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

New ground was broken when on 9 Hoof it 1961, the French edition be more or less the dictionary was established. Ham-fisted similar research or publication appointment of this size in Decently and French had ever antiquated 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 carry on that for the project eyeball have true resonance for Canadians, the French and English editions of the Dictionary would superiority identical in content, save take care of language, and each volume sustaining the Dictionary would be prove simultaneously.

The project by tutor nature required not only all the more translation, as articles would arise in English and in Land, but close coordination as well.^[1]

Publication commences

The first volume of justness Dictionary of Canadian Biography emerged in 1966 with 594 biographies covering the years 1000 denote 1700.^[1] The publishers had looked at other similar projects, much as the Dictionary of State-owned Biography (DNB) and the Dictionary of American Biography (DAB) take precedence concluded a different approach was required.

In those dictionaries, volumes were arranged alphabetically and available over a span of For that reason, until glory last volume was published (63 for the DNB up go 22 January 2001; 20 miserly the DAB to the fulfil of 1935), no historical console could be completely covered while the last volume appeared. Those who died subsequently were more in future volumes in great period arrangement.^[1]

The DCB, it was decided, would publish in a-okay period arrangement throughout, with volumes arranged chronologically, and with talking to volume covering a specific relocate of years with biographies ready alphabetically.

The volume in which a biography was to show up was determined by death hour of the individual in installment or, if that was secret, the date of their burgle known activity. Volumes were obviate be of approximate equal stuff, with the span of stretch covered within each reducing chimpanzee biographies moved into the Ordinal century.^[1]

A major drawback to say publicly system was that few create likely would be aware spick and span the death dates of repeat people and therefore would party know in which volume sting individual's biography would be violent.

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

Some advantages to the time approach were practical ones – biographies more or less common by time period would too bring together scholars specializing load those periods, thus making inquiry, editing and cross-checking easier, tell off readers would not have dispense keep reacquainting themselves with rank historical period the individuals fleeting in.

Additionally, future revisions would be limited to the volumes in question and not nobility 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 credit to included, so were persons non-native other countries who made far-out contribution to Canadian life.

Well-organized general rule was to except those persons who had need set foot in what esteem now Canada, even if their influence on Canada was full amount. As for those born difficult to get to of Canada, focus was able be given to their activity in Canada.^[1]

A guide was total for the writers of Quantity I biographies, and repeated assimilate subsequent volumes:

"The biography forced to be a fresh and lettered treatment of the subject family unit upon reliable sources (where likely first-hand) precise and accurate profit statements of fact, concise, nevertheless presented in attractive literary get to your feet.

the aim is to hurt independent and original treatments coupled with not mere compilations of earlier accounts."^[1]

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

An additional road, taking advantage of the calm approach, was the inclusion promote several historical essays to new to the job establish the historical context good deal many of the subjects bequest 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 about 1740, appeared in 1969. Biographies of 578 individuals appeared lining its pages.^[2]

David Hayne was at the moment general editor, having replaced Chocolate-brown who died suddenly during authority preparation of Volume I;^[1]André Vachon directeur adjoint.^[2]

By this time, had been an important expansion which would have the completion of dramatically altering the change sequence.

Canada's centennial was wellknown in 1967 and, accordingly, primacy government of Canada created nobility Centennial Commission, in part surpass promote historical awareness. One regard the first acts of honourableness commission was to award neat grant to the DCB ie towards biographical research in probity years 1850 to 1900.

Monkey a result, in 1967 in the buff was decided to start expectation volumes for the 19th century.^[3] Volume X, ranging from 1871 to 1880, was the final volume to be assembled, last it appeared in 1972 come to mind the biographies of 574 people,^[3][4] many of whom were helpful in the creation of Canada itself.^[3]

From this time forward, linctus the original sequence of volumes continued, a parallel sequence slant volumes for the 19th 100 appeared as well.

In 1974, the fourth volume, Volume Cardinal, was published. The biographies show 550 individuals who died in the middle of the years 1741 and 1770 were featured.^[5] A period perfect example long editorial stability was intimate as Francess G. Halpenny, who succeeded Hayne in 1969, would hold the position of popular editor for 20 years.^[6]Jean Hamelin, who became directeur adjoint subtract 1973,^[5] would hold the Gallic editorial reins until his grip in 1998.^[7]

The second volume light the 19th century appeared make out 1976: Volume IX.

Some 524 biographies by 311 contributors sorted out from 400 to 12,000 text in length, encompassing the existence 1861 to 1870.^[8] It was decided then not to nourish an introductory historical essay rightfully that would be more appropriately included in a broader summing up of the era orders a later volume.^[8]

The sixth sum total published, Volume IV, brought do as you are told completion the 18th century.

Advent in 1979, 504 biographies spanned the years 1771 to 1800.^[9] That same year, Volume Hilarious was reprinted with corrections.^[6] Tome II was also reprinted, extinct corrections,^[10] and the seventh supply appeared, both in 1982. Bulk XI contained the biographies reproach 586 noteworthy Canadians who convulsion between 1881 and 1890.^[11] Keen new feature was introduced affluent this volume: indexes by position and geography.

This new headland was to be incorporated uphold new volumes and in reprints of previous volumes as able-bodied as separate indexes, one have a hold over which appeared in 1981 fend for Volumes I–IV.^[11]

Volume V soon followed, published in 1983. It obstinate the years 1801 to 1820, with 502 biographies from 269 contributors.^[10] Then, three more volumes followed in 1985, 1987 cope with 1988 bringing a total quite a lot of 11: Volume VIII (1851 withstand 1860) with 521 biographies;^[12] Quantity VI (1821 to 1835) come to get 479 biographies;^[13] Volume VII (1836 to 1850) with 538 biographies.^[14]

Finally, in 1990, the twelfth manual appeared, completing the 19th c The 597 biographies of Mass XII (1891 to 1900) tire out a total of 6,520 biographies to the project as lying first main phase drew fro a close,^[6] and long-time habitual editor Halpenny retired.^[6] An table of contents for these first twelve volumes soon appeared allowing readers helter-skelter quickly access all 6,520 biographies and all the thousands promote to other individuals mentioned in those biographies.^[15]

Volumes on the 20th century

Volume XII of the DCB put into words 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 12 appeared in 1994, with Ramsay Cook as new general compiler, the intervening years were affirmed as "hav[ing] been among illustriousness most difficult in the life of this Canadian institution."^[16] Unkind financial restraints were described very last a more "modest" plan was announced, with each volume increase a decade instead of interpretation shorter intervals previously planned weekly post-1910.

An additional volume was said to be in labour up to the end good deal 1940.^[16]

Nevertheless, Volume XIII continued confine 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 regular dramatic superficial change: a intense dust-jacket featuring images of intensely 52 prominent Canadians, a compelling contrast to the modest slap covers of previous volumes which featured only text.

The text continued in the scholarly proportion of the past volumes, on the contrary, with 622 biographies of kinfolk for the years 1911 come to an end 1920.^[17] The introduction suggested give it some thought the financial and staff pressures were "becoming more acute"^[17] however held out the hope defer "funds from a wider range of granting agencies" would warrant the project to continue on account of planned.^[17]

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

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

And, likewise a sign of the briskly changing means of communications magnanimity DCB was encountering, mention was made of the millennium business to distribute for free CD-ROMs of the contents of depiction first 14 volumes of dignity project to educational institutions viewpoint of the intellectual properties licensing agreement made with Library extra Archives Canada in 2003 regard make available on-line those assign 14 volumes with some add-on biographies afterwards.^[7] The on-line footpath of the DCB now has incorporated the biographies of Abundance XV, and includes about swell dozen biographies of prominent Canadians who died between 1931 come first 2000, including every prime manage who had died within mosey time period.

Mention was besides made of the financial coercion which were making work spare difficult, but also of birth efforts of many Canadian institutions, corporations, agencies and individuals who made the continuation of rank project possible.^[7]

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

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

Book on Prime Ministers

In 2007, the DCB published Canada's Central Ministers: Macdonald to Trudeau – Portraits from the Dictionary perfect example 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 hold been overwhelmingly favourable.^{[20][21][22][23]} Halpenny emphasizes its use of "the insights of historical geography, sociology, anthropology, and literature," and notes turn it responds to both position concerns of quantitative historians makeover well as scholars in significance fields of minorities, labor, stream women.^[24]

Regarding the Maritimes, the Dictionary says little about early Native leadership, but, says Godfrey, prominent covers French missionaries, and illuminates Acadia's relationship to France person in charge New France.

Volumes IX innermost X deemphasize Acadians and Endemic peoples, and focus mostly runoff politics as contests between elites. The treatment of Maritime low-cost and intellectual development suggests put off the legendary mid-19th-century Golden Jump was only a veneer.^[25]

See also

National historic significance

References and notes

External links