Call for papers for "African Roots in Canada" Workshop, Toronto Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society

CALL FOR PAPERS

“African Roots in Canada” Workshop
9 August 2008
North York Central Library Auditorium
5120 Yonge Street, Toronto

The Ontario Genealogical Society, Toronto Branch and the Canadiana Department of the North York Central Library will be co-hosting a one-day workshop on family history research for Canadians with ancestral ties to Africa, and the African Diaspora in Canada, the USA, West Indies, and throughout the world.

We are looking for speakers who would like to be part of the workshop.

Although a one-day event can’t hope to be comprehensive, the workshop theme encompasses those people of African origin or descent who may have arrived in Ontario as early as the 18th century (earlier in Quebec and Atlantic Canada), and 19th and 20th century immigrants. The emphasis will be on individuals or groups who arrived in Canada prior to 1970.

You are invited to submit proposals for lectures on any aspect of African genealogical or social history research in Canada and/or the country of origin or intermediate settlement including (but not limited to) sources, research techniques, historical background, African migration or settlement in Canada or other parts of the world, libraries, archives, and online resources.

Workshop attendees will be most interested in lectures emphasizing sources and research techniques that might be useful in their own research. We are looking for both very focused, and more general presentations, at various skill levels. Each session will be one hour long, including five or ten minutes for questions. Presentations should be illustrated—we can provide a computer projector or an overhead projector. Speakers will also be expected to provide a handout of supporting material (up to four pages) which we will copy for all registrants.

Speakers will be paid an honorarium of $100 per lecture, plus modest expenses for travel and accommodation.

Please submit your lecture proposals by e-mail. Please keep them brief and informal, at this point. (We may ask for more details later.) Be sure to include your mailing address, phone number, and a brief bio.

DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: MONDAY, MAY 5, 2008

To submit proposals or ask a question about the event, please contact Jane MacNamara at info@torontofamilyhistory.org.