{"id":83,"date":"2010-07-20T17:41:10","date_gmt":"2010-07-20T17:41:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fhsnl.wordpress.com\/"},"modified":"2026-04-16T10:48:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T13:18:19","slug":"meetings","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.fhsnl.ca\/?page_id=83","title":{"rendered":"Public Lectures"},"content":{"rendered":"

Meetings of the Family History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador usually feature a guest lecturer but occasionally take the form of a workshop. These meetings are open to the general public, and there is no charge for admission.<\/p>\n

Public lectures are normally held at 7:30 PM on the fourth Tuesday of the following months: January, February, March, April, May, September, October, and November, but sometimes dates have to be changed because of conflicting civic functions, adverse weather conditions, etc. For updates please check our website. If you are a FHSNL member then please let us know if you would like to receive meeting notifications by e-mail.<\/p>\n

The Society's Annual General Meeting is generally held early in the year, usually in conjunction with the public lecture in May. <\/p>\n

Audio recordings, presenters' slides, etc., from several of our past meetings and lectures are available further down on this webpage.<\/p>\n

\n

Upcoming Lectures<\/strong><\/p>\n

28 April 2026 at 7:30 pm (Newfoundland time)<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Greg Morgan
\nTopic: First Schoolmaster in Random Sound: George Vardy of the Southwest Arm
\nAbstract: George Vardy was born in 1818, into a poor Anglican family in the agricultural parish of Christchurch, Dorset. As a young man, sometime between 1837 and 1840, he emigrated to Newfoundland with an ill-defined plan of keeping a school. Yet unfortunately, at every step Vardy found his way blocked by conflicts among clergy, or by Wesleyan dominance of education in most parts of Trinity Bay. In 1855, following years of struggle, Vardy and his family resettled from Grates Cove to the frontier region of Random Sound on the opposite side of Trinity Bay. There, in 1859, he opened a new government board school at Heart\u2019s Ease Beach, the first in Random Sound. And a year later he had a daughter, Eliza Jane, who also became a teacher. For seventeen years, George Vardy served at his post as a lay reader\u2013schoolmaster, a dispenser of medicines, an unelected \u201cheadman,\u201d and a Justice of the Peace. But in 1876, after the \u201csubdivision\u201d of the Protestant system of education into separate Anglican and Methodist school boards, Vardy chose to retire, being reluctant to adapt to the decreased ecumenism and the increased professionalization of teaching instituted by the new Anglican superintendent. Undaunted by the new requirements, Eliza Jane Vardy went to St. John\u2019s to the Church of England Central Training School as a \u201cpupil teacher\u201d and got the proper education and training her father never had. In 1882, after George Vardy\u2019s death, Eliza Jane returned to Random Sound and taught in Anglican schools until she married in 1885. Half a century later, Eliza Jane wrote a memoir-like journal in which she developed the tale of George Vardy, the grand old man of Clay Pits. Morgan\u2019s presentation will use meticulous research, much of it archival, to place Eliza Jane\u2019s story in historical and genealogical context.
\nSpeaker Bio: Greg Morgan grew up in St. John\u2019s, and attended Memorial University. He later moved to Vancouver, worked on Aboriginal land claims, wrote a dissertation on the eighteenth-century urban novel of sentiment, and taught English. In 2020, he returned to St. John\u2019s to continue researching the the life and times of his great-great-great-grandfather, George Vardy (1818-1882). In 2025, he published \u201cFirst Schoolmaster in Random Sound: George Vardy of the Southwest Arm.\u201d
\nOnline Attendance: Click here<\/a>. Audience members can begin connecting online at 7:00 pm<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Archived Lectures (for the public at large)<\/strong>
\n(Currently these lectures require people to login to our website to access them. We are exploring how to make them more accessible.)<\/p>\n

24 April 2012<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Pat Walsh
\nTopic: Climbing My Family Tree. Where Do I Start?
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members and Non-Members: slides from Pat Walsh's lecture<\/a> and an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File sizes: 17 MB and 37 MB)<\/p>\n

24 October 2017<\/em>
\nSpeaker: David Pike
\nTopic: Mitochondrial DNA and its genealogical applications
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members and Non-Members: slides from David Pike's lecture<\/a> and an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File sizes: 2 MB and 60 MB)<\/p>\n

22 May 2018<\/em>
\nSpeaker: David Pike
\nTopic: Autosomal DNA and its genealogical applications
\nAbstract: Autosomal DNA comprises the 22 non-sex-determining chromosome pairs that we inherit from our parents, and which are subject to the random process of recombination with each passing generation. Blocks of autosomal DNA that people share with one another indicate that they share common ancestry. The more blocks that are shared between two people, and the bigger they are, the closer the relationship. Identifying relatives on the basis of shared blocks of DNA provides a valuable tool to assist with researching one's family tree. This talk will provide an introduction to this aspect of genetic genealogy, and will include a selection of illustrative examples drawn primarily from David Pike's experiences with the Family Finder test offered by FamilyTreeDNA<\/a>.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members and Non-Members: slides from David Pike's lecture<\/a> and an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File sizes: 4 MB and 68 MB)<\/p>\n

21 May 2019<\/em>
\nSpeaker: David Pike
\nTopic: A DNA Mystery: Mitochondrial Haplogroup H5a5 in Newfoundland and Labrador
\nAbstract: There have been a number of recent media reports about a \u201cmystery line of DNA\u201d that is found in roughly ten percent of Newfoundlanders. In this lecture, David Pike will discuss mitochondrial DNA (which is a valuable genealogical tool for researching matrilineal ancestry) with emphasis on mitochondrial haplogroup H5a5, its significance in Newfoundland and Labrador, and the mystery of its origin.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members and Non-Members: slides from David Pike's lecture<\/a> and an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File sizes: 4 MB and 49 MB)<\/p>\n

24 November 2020<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Dale Jarvis
\nTopic: Documenting the Dead
\nAbstract: Dale Jarvis, ICH Development Officer with Heritage NL will present on recent community projects to better document and tell the stories of local cemeteries, burial places, and funeral practices. He will talk about everything from lych gates to white bronze monuments and podcasting, as well as discussing ongoing programs to build searchable databases of headstone records in partnership with local heritage organizations.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members and Non-Members: a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 306 MB)<\/p>\n

22 February 2022<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Bruce Whiffen
\nTopic: The Newell Plantation and the Bridge House at Bonavista
\nAbstract: Thomas Newell and family were among the first to settle at Bonavista in the 1600s. They established what may have been the first, and certainly one of the most prominent, plantations (or \"rooms\") at Bonavista. We follow the family, and the Newell Plantation, through the 1700s, leading us to two remarkable women of the early 1800s, Grace (Newell) Hosier and Elizabeth (Newell) Alexander. The Bridge House (built 1811-1814 on the Newell Plantation) was home to Elizabeth and her family - restoration of this long-standing home will begin this year.
\nBiography: Bruce Whiffen was born and raised at Bonavista. He recently retired from a 32-year career with Environment Canada and continues to pursue a lifelong interest in Bonavista's history. He is the author of \"Bonavista\", a recently-released history of the town.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members and Non-Members for a limited time: a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 113 MB)<\/p>\n

22 March 2022<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Suzanne Sexty
\nTopic: In the wake of SS Beverly
\nAbstract: SS Beverly sailed from Harbour Grace in January 1918. The ship disappeared somewhere between Newfoundland and Gibraltar. The loss of a ship and its crew marks the end of one chapter. It also signals the beginning of a new chapter. Families, loved ones, must make their way without a husband, father, son. What support could they look for? How did they manage? Through public documents and family lore, the stories of two women, a mother and a wife of men on Beverly, will be imagined.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members and Non-Members for a limited time: a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 86 MB)<\/p>\n

\n

Archived Lectures (Downloading these is limited to FHSNL members)<\/strong><\/p>\n

26 April 2011<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Gordon Handcock
\nTopic: Story of the Eastport Peninsula
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: slides from Dr. Handcock's lecture<\/a> and an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File sizes are 30 MB and 59 MB)<\/p>\n

24 May 2011<\/em>
\nSpeaker: David Pike
\nTopic: New Developments in Genealogical DNA Testing
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: slides from Dr. Pike's lecture<\/a> and an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File sizes are 96 KB and 48 MB)<\/p>\n

27 September 2011<\/em>
\nSpeaker: John Griffin
\nTopic: Guide to Genealogical Material in the Newfoundland and Labrador Collection - Newfoundland Public Libraries
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: Genealogy Guide document<\/a>, slides from John Griffin's lecture<\/a> and an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File sizes are 229 KB, 1.5 MB and 32 MB)<\/p>\n

25 October 2011<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Frank Galgay
\nTopic: Family Names of the Southern Shore
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: slides from Frank Galgay's lecture<\/a> and an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File sizes: 995 KB and 28 MB)<\/p>\n

22 November 2011<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Mike Wilkshire
\nTopic: \"Mormon emigration to Utah: love, cholera, and the overland trek\"
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: slides from Mike Wilkshire's lecture<\/a> and an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File sizes: 2 MB and 35 MB)<\/p>\n

24 January 2012<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Nath Sheppard
\nTopic: Bell Island
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a> (this lecture did not have any slides)
\n(File size: 45 MB)<\/p>\n

28 February 2012<\/em>
\nSpeaker: David Dawe
\nTopic: Riots and Religions in Newfoundland
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a> (this lecture did not have any slides)
\n(File size: 48 MB)<\/p>\n

27 March 2012<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Mike Flynn
\nTopic: People of Bay Roberts
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a> (this lecture did not have any slides)
\n(File size: 35 MB)<\/p>\n

22 May 2012<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Leslie Winsor
\nTopic: Finding Fallen and Buried Headstones in Burgeo
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: photos from Leslie Winsor's lecture<\/a> and an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File sizes: 171 MB and 32 MB)<\/p>\n

27 November 2012<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Colleen Field
\nTopic: Genealogical resources in the Centre for Newfoundland Studies and QE II Library
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: slides from Colleen Field's lecture<\/a> and an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File sizes: 10 MB and 32 MB)<\/p>\n

26 February 2013<\/em>
\nSpeakers: Valerie Burton and Mark Humphries, Department of History, Memorial University
\nTopic: A Soldier or Sailor in the Family: Getting into the Primary Evidence
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 62 MB)
\nDr. Burton has also provided a link to a condensed version of her lecture, at YouTube<\/a><\/p>\n

26 March 2013<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Craig Peterman
\nTopic: Cemetery Secrets: A look at burial places, grave markers, and what we can learn from them
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: slides from Craig Peterman's lecture<\/a> and an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File sizes: 18 MB and 39 MB)<\/p>\n

23 April 2013<\/em>
\nSpeaker: David Pike
\nTopic: The WHITE Family of Tickle Cove, Bonavista Bay
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: slides from David Pike's lecture<\/a> and an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File sizes: 16 MB and 39 MB)<\/p>\n

24 September 2013<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Paul Ludlow
\nTopic: Ludlow Family History
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a> (this lecture did not have any slides)
\n(File size: 37 MB)<\/p>\n

22 October 2013<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Rev. Guy Matthews
\nTitle: And Where Do You Belong To?
\nAbstract: In this presentation, Rev. Matthews talks with us about the stories of our families and how we understand ourselves through them. We look at how humor and tragedy have shaped us and, in our modern times, we have to consider the stories that our genetics tell as well.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a> (this lecture did not have any slides)
\n(File size: 31 MB)<\/p>\n

26 November 2013<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Bert Riggs
\nTopic: Family Members who Served in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 37 MB)<\/p>\n

28 January 2014<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Gerald Barnable
\nTopic: The Journal and Cases of Robert Carter Esq. J.P. 1832-1840
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a> (this lecture did not have any slides)
\n(File size: 49 MB)<\/p>\n

25 February 2014<\/em>
\nSpeaker: René Estrada
\nTopic: The Basilica Collections and Documents Management Policy
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: slides from René Estrada's lecture<\/a> and an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File sizes: 1 MB and 31 MB)<\/p>\n

25 March 2014<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Geoff Carnell
\nTopic: Carnell\u2019s Carriage Factory, Over Two Hundred Years in Business
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a> (this lecture did not have any slides)
\n(File size: 37 MB)<\/p>\n

22 April 2014<\/em>
\nSpeakers: Dan Duda and David Mercer
\nTopics: Shipping Routes to\/from Newfoundland and a WWI Database
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 39 MB)<\/p>\n

27 May 2014<\/em>
\nSpeaker: David Mercer
\nTopic: The CLB and the Newfoundland Regiment
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 29 MB)<\/p>\n

23 September 2014<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Dr. A. (Rick) Cooper, retired professor and Chair of Pediatrics and current Pediatrician at the Janeway Child Health Centre
\nTopic: Diseases that caused serious morbidity and mortality in NL in the 20th Century
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 43 MB)<\/p>\n

28 October 2014<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Honorable Edward M Roberts
\nTopic: The re-formation of the (Royal) Newfoundland Regiment in August and September 1914.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a> (this lecture did not have any slides)
\n(File size: 48 MB)<\/p>\n

25 November 2014<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Bert Riggs
\nTopic: Brothers in Arms: Family relationships in the Newfoundland Regiment
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: slides from Bert Riggs' lecture<\/a> and an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File sizes: 8 MB and 40 MB)<\/p>\n

27 January 2015<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Dr. Kathleen Hodgkinson
\nTopic: Family history and DNA: our history written with different alphabets. Are the stories the same?
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 34 MB)<\/p>\n

24 February 2015<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Suzanne Sexty
\nTopic: W.F.Butler, Architect: A Journey of Discovery
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 44 MB)<\/p>\n

24 March 2015<\/em>
\nSpeaker: David Pike
\nTopic: Genealogical DNA Testing and Phasing
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: slides from David Pike's lecture<\/a> and an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File sizes: 1 MB and 52 MB)<\/p>\n

28 April 2015<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Jenny Higgins
\nTopic: Perished - The 1914 Newfoundland Sealing Disaster
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: slides from Jenny Higgins' lecture<\/a> and an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File sizes: 4 MB and 31 MB)<\/p>\n

26 May 2015<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Heather Wareham
\nTopic: Update on MUN's Maritime History Archive
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: slides from Heather Wareham's lecture<\/a> and an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File sizes: 2 MB and 33 MB)<\/p>\n

22 September 2015<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Cabot Martin
\nTopic: Early Welsh names in Newfoundland
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: slides from Cabot Martin's lecture<\/a> and an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File sizes: 1 MB and 47 MB)<\/p>\n

27 October 2015<\/em>
\nSpeakers: Ken Pittman and Vicki Pennell from the Pouch Cove Heritage Society
\nTopic: Our Home by the Sea
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 48 MB)<\/p>\n

26 January 2016<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Greg Walsh
\nTopic: The Rooms Provincial Archives Division - Overview and Update on Activities
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 53 MB)<\/p>\n

23 February 2016 <\/em>
\nSpeakers: Carol Squires and Carol Anne Hollett
\nTopic: Family history resources
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 38 MB)<\/p>\n

22 March 2016 <\/em>
\nSpeaker: Dr. Patrick Mannion
\nTopic: Irishness and Empire: Newfoundland's Irish Nationalists, 1880-1950
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: slides from Dr. Mannion's lecture<\/a> and an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File sizes: 1.6 MB and 46 MB)<\/p>\n

26 April 2016 <\/em>
\nSpeaker: Dr. Ean Parsons
\nTopic: Service and Luck, One (Extended) Newfoundland Family During the Great War
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 40 MB)<\/p>\n

24 May 2016<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Bert Riggs
\nTopic: One Degree of Separation: World War One and Family Connections at Gower Street Methodist Church
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 52 MB)<\/p>\n

27 September 2016<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Allan Byrne
\nTopic: A Beautiful Sight: Stories from the Port of St. John's
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 48 MB)<\/p>\n

25 Octomber 2016<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Margot Duley
\nTopic: Like an improbable plot - the family history of Newfoundland's first novelist Margaret Duley
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 40 MB)<\/p>\n

29 November 2016<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Elsa Flack, accompanied by Donna Walsh and Ellen Penney
\nTopic: Peace by Piece - Quilted Memories of Newfoundland in the Great War
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 35 MB)<\/p>\n

31 January 2017<\/em>
\nSpeaker: James Connor
\nTopic: Grenfell Doctor Autobiographies
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 58 MB)<\/p>\n

28 February 2017<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Dr. Hans Rollmann
\nTopic: Early printing and publishing among the Moravian Settlements in Labrador
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 67 MB)<\/p>\n

28 March 2017<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Dr. Jennifer Connor
\nTopic: Providing Families with Reading Matter: Libraries in the Grenfell Medical Mission
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 42 MB)<\/p>\n

25 April 2017<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Right Reverend Dr. Geoffrey Peddle
\nTopic: The Church Lads' Brigade in Newfoundland: A People's Story, 1892-2017
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 39 MB)<\/p>\n

30 May 2017<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Bert Riggs
\nTopic: The Ropers of St. John's, Bonavista, Halifax and Points Beyond
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 80 MB)<\/p>\n

26 September 2017<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Nathan Sheppard
\nTopic: Historic Bell Island
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 52 MB)<\/p>\n

28 November 2017<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Diane Tye
\nTopic: The Ingredients of a life: Reading Family History through Recipes
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 43 MB)<\/p>\n

23 January 2018<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Gerald Barnable
\nTopic: The La Plata Incident and the Legal Headaches that Followed
\nAbstract: On Dec. 23rd, Tibb's Eve, 1857 Trepassey people were delighted to discover another ship about to wreck in Mutton Bay. There was no loss of life and the ship came ashore in one piece. The Trepassey people must have been disappointed when they discovered she wasn't laden with cargo that could be salved or plundered. What they didn't know, or at least the most of them didn't, was that she carried approximately $10,000 in specie to be used to buy fish. The many who saw the ship as the prize almost instantly decided she was doomed and would leave Trepassey nevermore. The few who knew of the gold had a different focus. The Spaniards whose gold it was, wanted to keep all of it. The merchant family who had befriended the stranded mariners and who, by status rather than legal authority, had taken control of things, imagined they should get some of it for their troubles. Both the family and the mariners were agreed on one thing -the temptation of so much money should be quietly removed from the community and brought to St. John's. Safely back in St. John's, the Spaniards made a complaint about how they and their ship had been treated in Trepassey. The patriarch of the merchant family, a court official himself and the brother of two high government officials of the town, disagreed. A spate of lawyer's letters, diplomatic notes and, finally, court cases followed and continued for over a year after. The Governor, the Colonial office, the leading lawyers, and of course the press got involved.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 46 MB)<\/p>\n

27 March 2018<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Shane O'Dea
\nTopic: The Genealogy of a House: Researching an 1834 Structure in St. John's
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 42 MB)<\/p>\n

24 April 2018<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Pat Angel
\nTopic: Finding my Female Ancestors (and their men) on the Northern Avalon
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: slides from Pat Angel's lecture<\/a> and an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File sizes: 9 MB and 42 MB)<\/p>\n

11 July 2018<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Amalie Tuffin
\nTopic: Blandfords of Herring Neck and Greenspond
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: slides from Amalie Tuffin's lecture<\/a> and an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File sizes: 2 MB and 24 MB)<\/p>\n

25 September 2018<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Edward Wade
\nTopic: Flatrock by way of Windgap
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a> (this lecture did not have any slides)
\n(File size: 36 MB)<\/p>\n

23 October 2018<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Gerald Barnable
\nTopic: The murder of Robert Levermore - Trial by blood in Renews and trial by jury in London
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a> (this lecture did not have any slides)
\n(File size: 24 MB)<\/p>\n

27 November 2018<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Bert Riggs
\nTopic: WWI Soldiers from the Bay of Islands
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 42 MB)<\/p>\n

22 January 2019<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Karen Darby
\nTopic: Burin: Old Families and New Discoveries: a 30 year journey of research in Burin
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a> (this lecture did not have any slides)
\n(File size: 22 MB)<\/p>\n

26 February 2019<\/em>
\nSpeaker: John Norman
\nTopic: The Monetization of Place Capital through Built Heritage
\nAbstract: John Norman runs Bonavista Living; Bonavista Creative; and Bonavista Creative Workshop. He will talk about the efforts his companies have undertaken to preserve and restore the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of Bonavista\u2019s historic properties.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 49 MB)<\/p>\n

23 April 2019<\/em>
\nSpeaker: David Bradley
\nTopic: The Maritime History Archive
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 29 MB)<\/p>\n

28 May 2019<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Ross Reid
\nTopic: Bulleys, Jobs and a Doctor: Fish and Politics in Newfoundland and Labrador
\nAbstract: The 1834 marriage of Thomas Bulley Job and Jessie Carson, the daughter of Dr. William Carson, brought together a family of commerce with a family of politics. For the next 130 years the Jobs pursued fish and seals while participating in the public life of Newfoundland and Labrador.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 30 MB)<\/p>\n

19 June 2019<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Dolph Crant
\nTopic: Gaultois
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 34 MB)<\/p>\n

17 September 2019<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Suzanne Sexty
\nTopic: A \"Walk\" through the General Protestant Cemetery
\nAbstract: This fine example of a Victorian cemetery is the final resting place of merchant families and those who worked for them, photographers, poets, Chinese laundrymen, labourers, and prime ministers. What is the story of the cemetery, who are these people?
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 34 MB)<\/p>\n

28 January 2020<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Craig Morrissey
\nTopic: The Journey So Far...The Quest for My Morrisseys, Carters and Skinners
\nAbstract: Craig has been researching his family roots for over 20 years. This presentation will provide snippets of the adventures, pitfalls and coincidences that he has encountered along the way all with a humorous and quizzical look at life.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 32 MB)<\/p>\n

25 February 2020<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Lynne Butler
\nTopic: Using Wills to Build Your Family History
\nAbstract: This presentation focuses on how individuals can use wills to help gather information about their family history. We'll cover how to mine court records for information, resources for finding wills, and tips for understanding the information in wills.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: slides from Lynne Butler's lecture<\/a> and an audio recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File sizes: 3 MB and 31 MB)<\/p>\n

23 February 2021<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Pat Angel
\nTopic: The Angells of Petty Harbour
\nAbstract: Samuel and Sarah Angel and their family settled in Petty Harbour NL as early as 1710 and though church records were not captured in that era, they left quite the \u201cpaper trail\u201d which documents their time there. Pat will speak about his research efforts to discover this paper trail and explain what he learned about his first generation of Angells in Petty Harbour. Then he will \u201cbriefly\u201d follow forward each of the branches of the family tree planted by Samuel and Sarah Angell. He will comment on each of the families, especially where possible, their female descendants.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 132 MB)<\/p>\n

23 March 2021<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Jenny Higgins
\nTopic: No Documents, No History: Writing about Women\u2019s History for a General Audience
\nAbstract: After decades of hard work, Newfoundland women finally won the right to vote in 1925. The suffragists\u2019 impact on Newfoundland society and politics was enormous, yet their paper trail is alarmingly scant. Jenny Higgins has written about the suffrage movement in various books, articles, and documentaries. In this talk, she will discuss how she uses archival materials to write about history for a general audience, and how that work becomes increasingly problematic when dealing with the activities of women and other marginalized people. Archives provide the stuff of memory and a foundation for collective identity, but what can we do when that memory is lopsided?
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 171 MB)<\/p>\n

25 May 2021<\/em>
\nSpeaker: John Griffin
\nTopic: Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries: Your Newfoundland and Labrador Information Portal
\nBiography: John Griffin has worked with the Provincial Information and Library Resources Board for 38 years. For the last 21 years he has been a Library Technician with the Newfoundland and Labrador Collection of the Provincial Resource Library, a provincial collection housed at the A.C. Hunter Public Library in St. John's. He is Past-President, and Treasurer of the Museum Association of Newfoundland and Labrador. In his spare time, he attempts to grow tomatoes and other vegetables. Originally from Grand Falls-Windsor, he now calls the Goulds home.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 163 MB)<\/p>\n

28 September 2021<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Brandon Michael Ward
\nTopic: Family History of Portugal Cove South
\nAbstract: We will journey back in time to when life revolved around the cod fishery. I will share photos, stories and information collected during my genealogical research and encourage participants to share their knowledge.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 272 MB)<\/p>\n

23 November 2021<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Christopher Curran
\nTopic: Navigating Newfoundland's 18th & 19th Century Court System
\nAbstract: The development of the courts and the machinery of the law played a significant role in the growth of community life in Newfoundland and served as an impetus to the development of civil society after centuries of discouragement of permanent settlement by providing the judicial apparatus necessary for the effective and efficient resolution of disputes and the enforcement mechanisms for maintenance of peace and order within communities around the island. The talk will focus on the period 1750-1830 and will look at the Court Minute Book Records for the Sessions and the Surrogate Courts at Harbour Grace and the Supreme Court at St. John's and on Circuit to Ferryland. The talk will be supplemented by images from the Digital Archives Initiatives at the Centre for Newfoundland Studies
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 221 MB)<\/p>\n

25 January 2022<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Heidi Coombs, PhD
\nTopic: The Irish of Port de Grave and the Importance of Historical Context for Family History
\nAbstract: The town of Port de Grave is one of the oldest European settlements in Conception Bay. Though frequented by the French throughout the 16th-century, it was the English who began staying year-round and formed the basis of a permanent resident fishery. The people of Port de Grave today remain primarily of English descent. However, the town once boasted a large and vibrant Irish community. In 1857, there were 1637 Catholics (presumably mostly Irish) living in Port de Grave, accounting for more than 25% of the population. They were fishing families, labourers, coopers, blacksmiths, tailors, constables, merchant\u2019s agents, business owners, and physicians. They made a significant contribution to Port de Grave, both economically and socially. However, by the end of the 19th-century, only a few of these families remained.
\nThis presentation highlights some fragments of the history of the Irish of Port de Grave based on family history research and the broader historical context. What happened to the Irish of Port de Grave? Where did they go? What can we learn from the very limited primary sources about them? And how can that information be better understood by considering the larger historical context? Heidi Coombs shares her fascinating, and frequently frustrating, journey to finding her Irish ancestors from North River\/Port de Grave and some creative ways to learn about your ancestors when the standard genealogical sources are silent.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 388 MB)<\/p>\n

22 February 2022<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Bruce Whiffen
\nTopic: The Newell Plantation and the Bridge House at Bonavista
\nAbstract: Thomas Newell and family were among the first to settle at Bonavista in the 1600s. They established what may have been the first, and certainly one of the most prominent, plantations (or \"rooms\") at Bonavista. We follow the family, and the Newell Plantation, through the 1700s, leading us to two remarkable women of the early 1800s, Grace (Newell) Hosier and Elizabeth (Newell) Alexander. The Bridge House (built 1811-1814 on the Newell Plantation) was home to Elizabeth and her family - restoration of this long-standing home will begin this year.
\nBiography: Bruce Whiffen was born and raised at Bonavista. He recently retired from a 32-year career with Environment Canada and continues to pursue a lifelong interest in Bonavista's history. He is the author of \"Bonavista\", a recently-released history of the town.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 113 MB)<\/p>\n

22 March 2022<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Suzanne Sexty
\nTopic: In the wake of SS Beverly
\nAbstract: SS Beverly sailed from Harbour Grace in January 1918. The ship disappeared somewhere between Newfoundland and Gibraltar. The loss of a ship and its crew marks the end of one chapter. It also signals the beginning of a new chapter. Families, loved ones, must make their way without a husband, father, son. What support could they look for? How did they manage? Through public documents and family lore, the stories of two women, a mother and a wife of men on Beverly, will be imagined.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 86 MB)<\/p>\n

26 April 2022<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Max Grandy
\nTopic: The Grandy Family of Newfoundland
\nAbstract: Members of the Grandy family have been in Newfoundland since at least the mid-1700s. The presentation will look at the early family members, their origins, the challenges in tracing them given the scarcity or lack of official records, and the known information sources.
\nBiography: Max Grandy is a resident of St. John\u2019s who has been researching his Family Tree for several decades. He has been a member of the Family History Society for about 25 years and is currently on the FHS Board of Directors.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 109 MB)<\/p>\n

24 May 2022<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Linda Crocker
\nTopic: My great grandfather was from Newfoundland: How do I find out more?
\nAbstract: This presentation is for those who are searching their family roots in Newfoundland and Labrador. Topics include how and where to began your search: origins, records and sources for searching NL records.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 462 MB)<\/p>\n

27 September 2022<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Evelyn Grondin Bailey
\nTopic: The Restoration of the Roman Catholic Cemetery built between 1815-1820
\nAbstract: Evelyn Grondin Bailey - Returned to Burin In 1981 and became very involved in the historic area of old section of Burin. Was lead in development of the Oldest Colony Trust, the Boardwalk and community museums. Recipient of the Golden Jubilee Medal; Governor General Award for Community Service & Manning Award for development of historic properties.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 45 MB)<\/p>\n

22 November 2022<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Ken Pieroway
\nTopic: The Newfoundland Railway and Family Names
\nAbstract: Kenneth Pieroway was born in Corner Brook and grew up in the rural outports of Colinet and Harricott. He has written several books regarding Newfoundland trains, including RAILS ACROSS THE ROCK in 2013 which was quickly followed up by its sequel, RAILS AROUND THE ROCK a year later. He graduated from Memorial University with a degree in Social Work and spent his career with Veteran Affairs Canada. In his lecture Ken will do a cross-island photo presentation of trains from St. John's to Port Aux Basques.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 298 MB)<\/p>\n

24 January 2023<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Katie Griffin
\nTopic: Tour of the St. John's Archdiocese's Archive
\nDescription: a virtual tour of the Archdiocese's archival holdings. Research services and tentative digitization plans will also be discussed.
\nBiography: Katie Griffin is the archivist for the St. John's Archdiocese's archive with a background in history. She has been working in archives since 2019.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 296 MB)<\/p>\n

25 April 2023<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Lynn Fogwill
\nTopic: Photographs, Family History and Local History
\nAbstract:
\nFamily history is local history; the two are completely intertwined. Photographs illuminate our family history, give context to our ancestors lives and situate them in the community where they lived, worked and played. In my presentation I will tell stories of some of my ancestors and the places they lived through photographs. I\u2019ll describe some tools that worked for me in identifying the people, places and timeframes in old photographs.
\nFor the second half of the program I invite participants to share an old photograph, using the \u201cShare Screen\u201d tool on Zoom. Tell us the story your photograph illustrates and how you deciphered it. Or ask for help in figuring out when and where the photograph was taken and who might be in it. In order to share a photograph, have it open on your desktop prior to signing in to Zoom for the meeting.
\nLynn Fogwill has been working on her family history for 27 years and researches primarily in Newfoundland, England \u2013 particularly Devon and Cornwall \u2013 and in Scotland. She lives in Edmonton where she is an active volunteer with the Edmonton Branch of the Alberta Genealogical Society.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 234 MB)<\/p>\n

26 September 2023<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Ray Hawco
\nTopic: Priest, pilot and so much more
\nAbstract: Ray Hawco was born in Harbour Main and grew up there and in Argentia. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1959 and served in the parishes of St. Brendan's, Bonavista and Buchans. Until recently he was an experienced pilot having owned float planes even while a priest! Ray left his work in the priesthood in the late 1970s, had a brief and interesting kick at federal politics, and got married. He was very involved in the early days of oil and gas exploration and especially in the 1982 Ocean Ranger disaster. In the 1990s, he was the provincial governments chief negotiator for the land claims of the Innu and Inuit peoples of Labrador. Ray has lived a varied life and has many stories to share of his personal and professional lives that will prove to be both informative and entertaining!
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 989 MB)<\/p>\n

24 October 2023<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Greg Walsh
\nTopic: Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador
\nAbstract: Greg Walsh will give an overview and updates concerning the records available at the Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador including somewhat obscure resources e.g. Don Morris, Nimshi Crewe, etc.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 266 MB)<\/p>\n

28 November 2023<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Ted Rowe
\nTopic: The Families of Sir Richard and Lady Squires
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: slides from Ted Rowe's lecture<\/a>
\n(File size: 4 MB)<\/p>\n

26 March 2024<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Gus Lilly
\nTopic: The Simms family history
\nAbstract: The Simms Family in 19th Century Newfoundland and Labrador. Among the enterprising young emigrants to Newfoundland in the early years of the 19th century were no less than five of the twelve children of William Simms of Birmingham. James, Sophia, Joseph, George, and Charles arrived roughly between 1805 and 1815. A sixth, Mary, came later to live in St. John\u2019s with James. James, Joseph, George, and Charles established themselves in mercantile trade and played important roles in Government and the legal system before and after the establishment of Representative Government in 1833. Sophia, married to merchant, brewer, and newspaper publisher Thomas Dalton, moved to Upper Canada with her husband after 1817 and, following Dalton\u2019s death, became publisher of the Kingston and Toronto Patriot.
\nBio: Gus Lilly attended St. Bonaventure\u2019s College and Brother Rice High School. He has a B.A. Honours degree in English Language and Literature from Memorial University and studied law at Oxford University on a Rhodes Scholarship. He was admitted to the Newfoundland and Labrador Bar in 1976 and practised law in St. John\u2019s at the firm of Stewart McKelvey, formerly Stirling, Ryan, from 1976 to 2009, receiving his Queen\u2019s Counsel designation in 1996. His interest in the Simms family began in the early 1970s when his aunt, Jean Peters, gave him four handwritten journals by George Simms, J.P., of Trepassey. Simms was Clerk of the Labrador Court from 1827 to 1833 and he wrote on the extra-judicial activities of the Court\u2019s officers and activities along the Coast. Gus is a great-great-great grandson of George Simms.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 98 MB)<\/p>\n

23 April 2024<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Chris Curran
\nTopic: William Keen and the Trial of Murder and other Felony Offences in Newfoundland
\nAbstract: William Keen came to Newfoundland in 1704 and became a prominent St. John's businessman. He developed extensive commercial interests in Greenspond, Bonavista and on the Petit Nord generally. He was an effective proponent for legal reform in the period following 1715 and was appointed Chief Magistrate at St. John's in 1729 and a Commissioner of the Court of Oyer & Terminer in 1750. The presentation will focus on the time period 1750 - 1754 and the trial of serious felony offences in Newfoundland in this period, including trials for: murder, rape, assault causing grievous bodily harm and break, enter & theft.
\nBiographical Note: Christopher P. Curran. K.C. has had an extensive career in public service in Newfoundland and Labrador. He held positions as Deputy Minister of Justice, Registrar of the Supreme Court, and High Sheriff of Newfoundland. He retired from public service in 2012. He and his wife Beverley spend their winters at Topsail, Conception Bay and their summers at Branch, St. Mary's Bay.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 71 MB)<\/p>\n

28 May 2024<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Colleen Field
\nTopic: Family History Resources in the Centre for Newfoundland Studies
\nAbstract: Colleen will be highlighting the family history resources in the CNS including those resources that have been digitized for the Memorial of University of Newfoundland Digital Archives Initiative (DAI).
\nBiography: Colleen has been the\u00a0 Head of the Centre for Newfoundland Studies (CNS) since 2018. Prior to that she was the Public Services Librarian in CNS since 1998. In total she has worked in the Memorial University of Newfoundland library system for 34 years. Additionally, Colleen is a graduate of both Memorial University of Newfoundland (B.A. Hons. 1985) and McGill University (M.L.I.S. 1987).
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 89 MB)<\/p>\n

17 September 2024<\/em>
\nSpeaker: John Gushue
\nTopic: Gushue Origins
\nAbstract:
\nBio: John was born near Boston MA of parents who grew up in Bacon Cove, NL.\u00a0 Family research began in 1967 during John\u2019s first trip, as an adult, to Newfoundland.\u00a0 Genealogy focus is primarily on his Gushue heritage which he has traced to 1755 and includes the dispersion of the family from humble beginnings at the Bacon Cove fishing village to the major cities such as Corner Brook, Sydney, Toronto, Fort McMurray, Philadelphia, Boston and NYC. John is a dual citizen of the USA and Canada.\u00a0 Present memberships include: the New England Historical Genealogy Society (MA) and The Saint Croix Valley Genealogy Society (WI). John paid his bills by teaching math and industrial electricity for four years followed by 40 years in commercial nuclear energy where he was engaged in the design, construction, operation, refueling and decommissioning of nuclear power stations in the United States and the Philippines.\u00a0 Credential include : BA, MBA, PE, LA and PMP. John lives in Boston, MA and summers in Bacon Cove at the home built by his grandfather in 1910.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 44 MB)<\/p>\n

22 October 2024<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Elsa Flack
\nTopic: The apple falls far from the tree \u2013 why me and how this special place became my home
\nAbstract: Elsa Flack muses on how the Newfoundland and Labrador Genealogical Society began.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 71 MB)<\/p>\n

26 November 2024<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Dale Russell Fitzpatrick
\nTopic: Gambo & Carbonear - my Joseph & Clara Smallwood family ties
\nBio: Dale's passion for Newfoundland and Labrador history and family may very well be in her DNA! She is the granddaughter of Joseph Smallwood, the province's first premier after Confederation with Canada, and Clara Oates. Growing up on her parents' farm on Roaches Line, she was profoundly influenced by both sets of grandparents, who played pivotal roles in her upbringing. Her professional journey began at Joseph Smallwood's publishing firm, where she honed her skills before taking on the role of business manager for the charitable foundation established to complete his Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador. Following this, she embarked on Paul Johnson's 500th Anniversary 'Community Historyboard Project', creating in the order of 200 history- or storyboards that captured the essence of the province's narrative. After Paul Johnson's passing, Dale channeled her expertise into expanding her own heritage interpretive and publishing business. In addition to her professional commitments, Dale remains dedicated to running the family farm, Russwood Claredale Farms, cultivating her passion for gardening, and cherishing her roles as a proud Mom and Grandmother. Her life is a vibrant blend of heritage, family, and community engagement that reflects the heart and soul of Newfoundland and Labrador, and its people.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: slides from the lecture<\/a> and a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File sizes: 2 MB and 139 MB)<\/p>\n

25 February 2025<\/em>
\nSpeakers: Joy Barfoot and Linda White
\nTopic: The Greenspond Historical Society: Resources and Activities
\nTechnical difficulties prevented us from recording this presentation when it was delivered. The presenters later re-recorded the lecture, which is now available via YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n

25 March 2025<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Reverend Guy Matthews
\nTopic: Family Tree Limbs, Branches and DNA
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 157 MB)<\/p>\n

22 April 2025<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Edith Cuerrier
\nTopic: Time Frames: family history research through photography
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 107 MB)<\/p>\n

27 May 2025<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Janet Morrissey
\nTopic: Peter Winser, Esq: Pest to Society or Man of the People?
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: slides from the lecture<\/a> and a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File sizes: 2 MB and 257 MB)<\/p>\n

23 September 2025<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Rachel Head, the Newfoundland and Labrador Collections and Services Librarian with Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries
\nTopic: NLPL Genealogy Resources
\nAbstract: Rachel grew up on the west coast of Newfoundland, an experience that shaped her deep appreciation for the province\u2019s communities and history. Since joining NLPL in 2023, she has held several roles, and in her current role, she works with NLPL\u2019s Reference Team, helping patrons and researchers find answers to their questions. Rachel will be sharing how NLPL\u2019s archival materials can support genealogy research\u2014no matter where you are in your search.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 131 MB)<\/p>\n

28 October 2025<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Craig Morrissey
\nTopic: Resources for Newfoundland and Labrador Genealogy Research
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 86 MB)<\/p>\n

25 November 2025<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Kaitlyn Little
\nTopic: Researching Family History at MUNFLA
\nAbstract: Kaitlyn Little, part-time assistant archivist at Memorial University\u2019s Folklore and Language Archive (MUNFLA), will discuss how you can navigate MUNFLA\u2019s collections to research your family. Kaitlyn will show examples of useful collections, explain how to use the archive\u2019s searchable database, and how to interpret catalogue records. From oral histories, genealogical charts, to written records of community beliefs, occupations, and photographs- MUNFLA can be a great resource!\u00a0
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: slides from the lecture<\/a> and a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File sizes: 3 MB and 242 MB)<\/p>\n

27 January 2026<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Andrea O'Brien (Outreach\/Provincial Registrar at Heritage NL)
\nTopic: 1 Springdale Street
\nBio: A graduate of Memorial University, Andrea completed a Bachelor of Arts focusing on folklore, history, Newfoundland Studies, and English, a Bachelor of Education, and a Masters in Folklore. She serves as Heritage NL\u2019s Register of Historic Places, Municipal Outreach Officer, Heritage Places Poster Contest coordinator, Historic Commemorations Program coordinator, and web manager. Andrea\u2019s involvement in the heritage sector includes 8 summer seasons at the Colony of Avalon in Ferryland and student employment at Memorial University\u2019s Folklore and Language Archives. She is also a founding board member of the Mummers Festival.
\nAbstract: While researching\u00a0the history of the Newman Building at 1 Springdale Street in St. John's, Andrea became intrigued by the long list of people, organizations, and businesses\u00a0who have called this place home since its construction\u00a0in 1847. Her research\u00a0paints a picture of a place built as the home of Newman and Company agent Thomas Morry, a purpose that only lasted a few years. The subsequent uses of 1 Springdale Street over 179 years, offer insight into some of the lives lived in the city's west end.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 127 MB)<\/p>\n

24 February 2026<\/em>
\nSpeaker: Dr Edmund Gilbert
\nTopic: The Irish DNA Atlas: Revealing Irish Population Genetics across the world
\nBio: Dr Gilbert is a population geneticist and co-Principal Investigator in the Human Genetic Research Group at the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences in RCSI, Dublin. His PhD and postdoctoral research revealed the genetic landscape of Ireland and its links to neighbouring populations in Britain, and extended this to diasporic populations like Newfoundland in Canada. His research groups works in the intersections of population genetics and disease, applying approaches informed from population genetics to identify and study the history of disease variants.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: slides from the lecture<\/a> and a video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File sizes: 5 MB and 156 MB)<\/p>\n

24 March 2026<\/em>
\nSpeakers: Ian Morris and Kevin Toope of the Trinity Historical Society
\nTopic: Trinity\u2019s History. Early Merchant Families. Recent Projects.
\nBios: Kevin was born in Ireland\u2019s Eye and moved to Trinity at the age of two. After high school graduation he attended Memorial University and completed B.Sc., B. Ed., and M. Ed, degrees. In 1977 he began a high school chemistry teaching career which lasted 41 years. Kevin has always had an interest in local history and for the past 28 summers he has operated Trinity Historical Walking Tours telling the history and stories of Trinity, Newfoundland, and his family for visitors. He presently serves as Vice President of the Trinity Historical Society. His earliest Toope ancestor in Newfoundland was married in Ireland\u2019s Eye in 1810. His mother was a Pinhorn from Winterton and her ancestry in NL traces back to a Benjamin Pinhorn who came to NL in the mid 1700s. Early Pinhorns were in Trinity and Ian and I share a common Pinhorn ancestor.
\nIan grew up in his family home in Trinity, NL. His earliest Morris ancestor settled in Trinity Bight in the 1760s. His family moved into Trinity in 1873. After high school graduation, he attended Memorial University where he completed a Diploma in Engineering and then a Bachelor of Engineering at Nova Scotia Technical College in 1971. He completed an MD at Dalhousie in 1976 and speciality training in Anesthesiology at Dalhousie in 1984, and Emergency Medicine in Denver, Colorado in 1987. He then practiced medicine in Halifax until he retired in 2017. In retirement, he spends about 6 months of the year in Trinity and has an avid interest in the local history. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the Trinity Historical Society (THS) in 2018 and has served as President since 2021.
\nAbstract: Their presentation will include the genealogy of the early merchant families who in the 18th and 19th centuries established Trinity as a centre of commerce related to the fishery. They will then review Trinity Historical Society\u2019s restoration of the War Monument and headstones in St. Paul\u2019s Churchyard in Trinity, the audio tour that THS created from our archives for the Trinity Museum, THS\u2019s self-publication of \u201cFrom Fisher\u2019s Cove\u201d, and their current project, the Rev. Dr. John Clinch Monument and Interpretation Centre combined with redevelopment of Trinity\u2019s historic waterfront.
\nAvailable to FHSNL Members: video recording of the meeting<\/a>
\n(File size: 120 MB)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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