Welcome! We are the Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, a not-for-profit organization of family historians with almost 800 members in Toronto and worldwide.

Next Meeting
30 January 2012 - 7:30 p.m

Origins of Funeral Customs

Susan Smart
Have you ever wondered why it’s customary to wear black at a funeral? Or why a coffin looks the way it does? The rituals around burying the dead have very ancient roots and have developed over the centuries in different ways depending on religion and geographic area. This talk will describe the origins of some of the funeral customs found in nineteenth-century Ontario and explain how they evolved through the century. Wakes, hearses, flowers and food, clothing, coffins and tombstones will all be discussed.

Mini-presentation: Stephen Low: A Little Latin for Genealogists

There will be a selection of OGS/Dundurn Genealogy titles for sale at this meeting, including the speaker's recent publication A Better Place-- Death and Burial in Nineteenth Century Ontario. Cash or cheques only.

For names of speakers and details on this and future meetings

NEW
Finding Your Great War Ancestors Workshop Saturday, March 31, 2012
For the schedule and other information about this informative day, click here

Winter Courses

Special Interest Groups

We welcome suggestions for additional material you would find useful. Do let us know if there are any errors or broken links. Email webmaster@torontofamilyhistory.org

© Toronto Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society. Last Updated January 2012