Millions of Archival Newspaper Pages Set to Go Online

Millions of Archival Newspaper Pages Set to Go Online


Image:Canada and the First World War|
adapted from LAC CC images

In time for the 100th anniversary of World War One (1914-1918), millions of images from historical newspapers are being digitized to share online. The newspapers hail from hundreds of communities across Saskatchewan, Canada.

Answering a need from communities to have access to archival newspapers, Saskhistoryonline.ca has embarked on a project to digitize historical newspapers starting with the war years. The project was announced via a CBC Radio interview, on May 26, 2014.

For further information follow Sask History on twitter or on facebook. Saskatchewan History Online also uses the social networking of history Pin where you can discover more of the images the project has assembled together about the rich and diverse history of the province. Learn about Saskatchewan history online which is supported by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education and the University of Saskatchewan University Library. Galleries, libraries, archives, and museums are assisted in digitizing their collections by the Saskatchewan History Online technical infrastructure which are then documented on the What's new pages of the website.

Saskatchewan History Online is a dynamic, and committed organisation dedicated to preserving the heritage left by the many early residents in the province of Saskatchewan. Each and every image left an imprint on the community which preserved the heritage in galleries, libraries, archives, and museums. Current residents are truly indebted to Saskatchewan History Online which has now initiated many projects who document the courage of our ancestral forefathers. By the digitization process and easy access to these records it is hoped that future generations will indeed appreciate the many efforts made by their predecessors.

Canada was committed to the war effort on August 4, 1914. Within two months, the Canadian Expeditionary Force had recruited 33,000 who departed for service overseas on October 3. The digitized collection will not be up and running by August of 2014, but organizers are hoping to have the website available for November 11, 2014, Remembrance Day.

The Saskatchewan Virtual War Memorial lists 6,438 who gave the ultimate sacrifice during World War I. The Roll of Honour lists the World War I casualties by name on the SVWM. During the Great War, the Historical Atlas of Canada> tallies 59,544 casualties from the Canadian army alone. Enlistees for the Canadian Expeditionary Force from Saskatchewan made up 10.8% of the Canadian war casualties.

The 1922-1923 Canada Year Book records that there were 757,510 persons residing in Saskatchewan, and 8,788,483 in Canada during the census year, 1921. This is in contrast to the 1911 census year which reports 492,432 persons in Saskatchewan, and 7,206,643 residents of Canada. Saskatchewan residents provided 6.8% of the Canadian population in 1911 and 8.6% in 1921.

As a great tribute to preserving the information from archival newspapers, the digitization process brings history to life. These newspapers reveal information about the war era, however head lines did not exclusively focus on the Great War. Local news, occasions and events also made headlines during these years.

Chronicling the war years through Saskatchewan historic newspapers will be a treasure trove of data, and a true preservation repository which honours the commitment of Saskatchewan residents during the Great War. The finished web pages will indeed showcase the culture, opinions, hopes and fears of the fledgling province, as told by her gallant reporters.

"Along came nineteen fourteen and our nation then appealed
For men to fight on Vimy Ridge and go to Flander's Field.

They were gunners, fought in horse brigades, and in the infantry
they served their country well and they brought back the victory.

Joan Keeler"

Author Julia Adamson

For More Information:

1922-1923 Canada Year Book Statistics Canada. 2009-06-09. Date accessed May 26, 2014.

Adamson, Julia Saskatchewan Gen Web - Military Resources. Date Accessed May 26, 2014.

Adamson, Julia. Saskatchewan Gen Web Newspaper Magazine Resources Date accessed May 26, 2014.

Barry, Bill. Saskatchewan Virtual War Memorial Date accessed May 26, 2014.

Canada and the First World War Library and Archives on Flickr. Date accessed May 26, 2014.

CBC Radio CBC May 26, 2014. 2014 Date accessed May 26, 2014.

Celebrate Saskatchewan 1980 Committee Vanscoy and District History. They plowed the way and we followed. Friesen Printers. Altona, MB. Vanscoy, Saskatchewan. Page vii.

Family Search Digital Historical Newspapers

Google News Archive - Search hundreds of newspapers -
including the following Saskatchewan Newspapers:

• The Saskatoon Phoenix 2,655 issues Oct 17, 1902 to Sept 29,1928
• Saskatoon Star-Phoenix 11,048 issues Jul 4, 1851 - May 31, 1967
• The Regina Leader 153 issues Oct 18, 1887 - Sep 30, 1890
• The Regina Standard 47 issues Oct 4, 1905 - Sep 5, 1906
• Prince Albert Times 184 issues Nov 1, 1882 - Feb 10, 1888
• Qu'Appelle Progress 767 issues Nov 27, 1885 - Dec 27, 1990
• Qu'Appelle Vidette 499 issues Oct 23, 1884 - Oct 18, 1894
• Yorkton This Week & Enterprise 26 issues Oct 4,1995 - Dec 30, 1995
• The Centinel of the North-Western Territory 100 issues Nov 9, 1793 - May 14, 1796

Heritage.Canadiana.ca Canadiana. Canadian Research Knowledge Network. Library and Archives Canada.

Kerr, D.G.G., editor. Historical Atlas of Canada. Canadian Historical Associations Committee on a Historical Atlas of Canada. 1960. Thomas Nelson and Sons (Canada) ltd. Library of Congress catalog card number 60-9189.

Le patriote de l'Ouest, Duck Lake, Saskatchewan 1910-1941 Newspaper online by Peel's Prairie Provinces. University of Alberta

Library and Archives Canada images on Flickr. Set of images: Canada and the First World War.

Moose Jaw Herald Times 1890-1899 Newspaper Online at Peel's Prairie Provinces. University of Alberta

Prince Albert Times 1882-1912 Newspaper Online at Peel's Prairie Provinces. University of Alberta

Saskatchewan Genealogy Web : Sask Gen Web E-Magazine

Saskhistoryonline.ca

Wikipedia List of Online Newspaper Archives



Saskatchewan Genealogy Web : Sask Gen Web E-Magazine
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Bert McKay of Moosomin

• “A healthy social life is found only, when in the mirror of each soul the whole community finds its reflection, and when in the whole community the virtue of each one is living”
  Rudolf Steiner

Publishing a story in The Miner-Journal, Placenames, Bert McKay delves into the tale of the origins of eleven school districts of Saskatchewan in his column "From Bert's Notebook" in the year 1939. Bert McKay, was very active in the publishing realm, being "editor and publisher of the Moosomin World-Spectator, The Wapella Post, Esterhazy Miner, Langenburg Journal and Maryfield News." McKay served also as the president of the Prairie Publishers Co-operative in 1962.

• "A newspaper is the center of a community, it's one of the tent poles of the community, and that's not going to be replaced by Web sites and blogs."
  Michael Connelly

It was in August of 1971, that McKay of Moosomin, president of McKay Publications, merged the Langenburg Journal with the Esterhazy Miner to develop a weekly newspaper known as the Potashville Miner serving Esterhazy, Langenburg and Churchbridge areas of Saskatchewan. Although The Esterhazy Miner had been sold in 1965, it had been acquired again by McKay publishing for the merger. It is interesting to note that the Esterhazy Miner began publication in 1907 under the name of the Esterhazy and Pheasant Hills Observer under Arthur Ford. It was under Bert McKay's ownership in 1952, that the name of the weekly newspaper was changed from the Esterhazy Observer to the Esterhazy Miner.

• "A world community can only exist with world communication, which means something more than extensive software facilities scattered about he globe. It means common understanding, a common tradition, common idea's and common ideals."
  Robert M. Hutchins

McKay was the publisher of the Langenburg Journal since 1956, and in 1960 took over publication of the Wapella Post operating out of Moosomin, SK. The Moosomin World-Spectator, The Esterhazy Miner, The Wapella Post, The Langenburg Journal and The Maryfield News were weekly newspapers published by McKay Publications. In 1972, Mr. and Mrs. McKay sold The Moosomin World-Spectator to John C. Meen of Moosomin, the previous editor. McKay had been part owner of the Moosomin World-Spectator since 1936, and became the sole owner five years later. As well, The Potashville Miner-Journal was sold to Robert (Bob) Koskie of Fleming Saskatchewan.

It was in the Jubilee year, 1955. that Phil Flude of the Indian Head News and Bert McKay attested to being the province's oldest newspaper. Both newspapers began publication in October of 1884. The Moosomin weekly newspaper first started publication in 1884, making it the oldest provincial newspaper in continuous publication.

• "To me, the newspaper business was a way to learn about life and how things worked in the real world and how people spoke. You learn all the skills - you learn to listen, you learn to take notes - everything you use later as a novelist was valuable training in the newspaper world."
  Carl Hiaasen

The private library collection of McKay was consulted by Kenneth Bagnell when researching The Little Immigrants: The Orphans Who Came To Canada.Besides being consulted, McKay, in his own right, authored books himself; Tennyson at Moosomin 1883-1899 reached the book shelves in 1976; History of Moosomin United (Methodist) Church, 1889-1929, c1975; The "Peanut"
Reston-Wolseley C. P. R., 1906-1961 in 1976 Moosomin and the Mounted: A History of the Force at Moosomin 1882 to 1973 was published in 1974 researching through archival materials at the provincial archives, as well as the newspapers of McKay Publications.

McKay, active in community work was also president of the citizen's organization, Keep Our Doctors, ; secretary Moosomin Agricultural Society; secretary of the Moosomin-Pipestone Lake Resort authority and director of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce. McKay pointed out that the KOD committee was acting as a support group for information and inquiries regarding the dispute between the province and doctors in light of the proposed compulsory medical care plan of 1962. McKay felt that, "in a measure we have lost the battle," as physicians were seeking practice outside of the province. McKay, was a proud supporter of the potash industry, Saskatchewan communities and local needs. In 1973 McKay was present at the dedication ceremony for the Rocanville 23 foot high oil can by the Chamber of Commerce who paid tribute to Ernie Symon's efforts as "Rocanville's Oil King."

• "A good newspaper, I suppose, is a nation talking to itself".
  Arthur Miller

The community newspapers represent the lifeblood of the community. McKay was known for saying that one may find flyers in the garbage pail, but not the community newspaper which was relevant, and always read.

• "We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community... Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own."
  Cesar Chavez

Further Information:

One Room Schoolhouse Project

Newspaper and Magazine Resources. Saskatchewan Gen Web Project

Bibliography for this article

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Thank you for stopping by, your comments are much appreciated. All rights reserved. Images copyright © Aum Kleem; Article copyright © J Adamson. All my images and text are protected under international authors copyright laws and Canadian photography laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written explicit permission. They may be licensed through Getty images. Peace and love be with you. Namaste. All Rights Reserved

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