National Library News February 1999 Vol. 31, no. 2

Decentralized Program for Canadian Newspapers (DPCN): Western and Northern Canada Updates

"Update on the Decentralized Program for Canadian Newspapers (DPCN)"(National Library News, vol. 29, no. 10, October 1997, pp. 8-9) focused on national accomplishments. A second article focused on provincial contributions and future developments of the DPCN on the East Coast ("East Coast Updates", National Library News, vol. 30, no. 6, June 1998, pp. 14-16). This article examines the role of the provinces and territories in the program and reports on recent developments in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan and the Yukon. The information was received from DPCN contacts in 1997 and taken from 1998 reports, as well as recent updates from some of the contacts.

In 1982, the National Library of Canada adopted a framework for national and provincial/territorial responsibilities with regard to the collection, preservation and accessibility of Canadian newspapers. Some 17 years later, much has been accomplished by the National Library of Canada in coordination with the provincial/territorial contacts who attended the first National Newspaper Colloquium in 1985.

The DPCN was intended to be voluntary and decentralized, with specific roles and players. The key element was that the onus was to be placed on local organizations to initiate specific programs within each province and territory. ¹ The provincial/territorial responsibility was to plan newspaper collection and preservation within each jurisdiction and to ensure availability and access within each province/territory through lending, location and reference services. The National Library of Canada was to provide initial assistance in financing the preparation of plans and checklists. The Library also agreed to buy a copy of the microfilmed newspapers, as resources permitted. Since the publication of provincial and territorial lists of newspapers, which began in 1992, the following activities have been initiated. The material below is drawn from responses provided by provincial contacts to questions posed in June 1997. Credits are listed in the endnotes.

In 1997, Assistant Legislature Librarian Karen L. Powell reported on newspaper microfilming activities at the Legislature Library of Alberta, as follows:

The collection of Alberta newspapers in print form now numbers over 4 110 000 printed pages with a growth of approximately 240 000 pages per year. Since 1976, the Library has filmed parts of the weekly newspapers in its collection to preserve fragile material and provide continued access to its contents.

As the Provincial Archives was not able to secure the required funding for the microfilming of newspapers, the Glenbow Archives microfilms all Southern Alberta newspapers as funding becomes available and the Legislature Library concentrates on newspapers published in Central and Northern Alberta. ²

Where community funding can be provided for a jointly funded project, the Legislature Library arranges for filming priority to be given to these titles. Since 1976, 241 newspaper titles from 82 communities have been filmed. Most print issues of the weeklies are then returned to the place of provenance. The Legislature Library has also purchased sets of 93 additional titles in 60 communities, mainly filmed by the Glenbow Archives, with some filmed through local community efforts and grants. The peak year was 1985, when 196 911 pages were filmed. By contrast, only 75 068 pages were filmed in 1996/1997. In 1993, a cost estimate of $721 209 was placed on filming the existing collection of print newspapers. An additional $31 000 was estimated for processing currently received issues. Because of the high cost, any large filming projects are unlikely to be undertaken without community funding. The Library is giving priority to filming titles published before 1950. ³

Some of the titles filmed in 1996/1997 include: the Clive News Record, 1914 to 1918; the Erskine Review, 1917 to 1921; and the Hardisty World, 1924 to 1952. As the Olds Historical Society, the Olds Gazette publisher and the Glenbow Archives were able to contribute to the Olds Gazette microfilming, all the newspapers available from 1907 to 1992 were also filmed. The newspapers from Clive, Hardisty, Hay Lakes, Olds and Stirling were returned to the communities after filming was completed. In addition, a master microfilm storage project has been undertaken with the Alberta Records Centre, through which the masters are transferred there for safekeeping and a duplicate set is housed in the Legislature Library for patrons to use.

In March 1997, M.J. Harper, the publisher of the Olds Gazette, reported to the executive board of the Alberta Weekly Newspaper Association on the Legislature Library’s microfilming program, in an effort to stimulate interest and support in future filming projects. The newspapers from Crossfield were also to be sent to the Glenbow Archives for filming. In 1997/1998, newspapers from Clyde, Jarrow, Lake Saskatoon, Millet, New Sarepta, Ribstone (Dunn), Ryley, Sangudo, and Waterhole (Fairview) were prepared for filming. A project, developed with assistance from community groups, was also organized to film Wetaskiwin newspapers from 1963 to the present. The remaining newspapers to be filmed in Alberta communities represent 139 retrospective titles from 74 communities. ⁴

Access to Alberta newspapers in the collection of the Alberta Legislature Library may be found on both the main library catalogue at: www.assembly.ab.ca/lao/library/library.htm via telnet and the Legislature Library’s Union List of Serials. The intention is to have all newspaper titles and holdings current on the database by the end of 1998. ⁵ The Legislature Library also hopes to update or create a supplement to the valuable Alberta Newspapers, 1880-1982: An Historical Directory by Gloria M. Strathern. [Edmonton: The University of Alberta Press, 1988. 568 pp. 0-88864-137-0 (cloth); 0-88864-138-9 (paper)]. ⁶

A list of current weekly newspapers may be viewed at the Alberta Weekly Newspaper Association site at: www.awna.ab.ca/. The Alberta Family Histories Society has produced some indexes on its Internet site: www.calcna.ab.ca/afhs/publish.html#vital which include birth, marriage and death notices from the Calgary Herald and the Calgary Tribune.

No digitization project is underway at the Legislative Library at present. The Assistant Legislature Librarian is interested in any ongoing Canadian digitization/scanning projects for newspapers to garner information or advice for Alberta newspaper proposals.

In 1997, the Legislative Library approved a new B.C. Newspaper Microfilming and Retention policy which was also accepted by the British Columbia Information Management Services (formerly the British Columbia Provincial Archives). The Legislative Library of British Columbia continues to purchase paper copies of all British Columbia newspapers which are retained for two years; however, the filming program has been curtailed since 1995. In 1997, filming was reduced from 158 titles to 37. The in-house filming program ceased in March 1997 with the retirement of the in-house microfilmer. The rest of the filming has been contracted out to Deines Microfilm Services Ltd. with 30 current newspapers retained for continued filming based on geographic coverage, quality of content, uniqueness of relevant information, editorial comment and historical significance. In 1997, 54 rolls of film containing 32 current B.C. newspaper titles were filmed. For 1997, seven retrospective titles were filmed before March. After this, filming priorities switched to current titles. A project to update all online records in the British Columbia Legislative Library’s database was completed in 1997 and a project to update old and minimal bibliographic records is likely to be completed in 1999. A list of titles is available at: http://www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/library/newspapr/newspapr.htm. ⁷ The 41 commercially filmed titles are still being acquired for both Legislative Library and Archives researchers. British Columbia Information Management Services maintains the retrospective newspaper collection on microfilm and in print. A list of titles may be found on the Internet at: www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/library/newspapr/newspapr.htm. ⁸

The newspapers are filmed from titles to which the Legislative Library subscribes. It arranges for the filming and transfer of the film to the Archives. Approximately 11 000 reels of microfilm are available. Although the titles are not obtainable on interlibrary loan, they may be consulted on site. The major dailies are available from public and university libraries in Vancouver and Victoria.

The Legislative Library also provides selective indexing of the Victoria Times Colonist, the Vancouver Sun and the Vancouver Province and the index has been available via the online catalogue since 1991.

Researchers should also note the newspaper clippings files available at the City of Vancouver Archives at: www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/ctyclerk/archives/g_geneal.html-ssi for genealogy guides. These include the J.S. Matthews fonds of news clippings from 1886 to 1970, indexed via card files, and the City of Vancouver Archives files from 1972 to the present as well as two Pacific Press news binders from 1930 to 1985. The City of Victoria Archives at: www.city.victoria.bc.ca/archives/genogy.htm has newspaper indexes for the Victoria Times, 1901 to 1939, marriage and obituary notices, and the Times Colonist 1985 to June 1993, obituary notices and extensive City of Victoria clipping files. An interesting paper on the history of early West Coast newspapers, The First Newspapers on Canada's West Coast: 1858-1863 by Hugh Doherty (a research paper prepared at the University of Victoria graduate history department in 1973) may be found at: <members.tripod.com/~Hughdoherty/index.htm> .

There have been two updates to the Manitoba section of the article that appeared in The Serials Librarian (vol. 26, no. 3/4, 1995, pp. 55-83). Although the Manitoba Library Association’s ad hoc committee on newspaper preservation did not develop a formal resource-sharing plan among its participants (the Legislative Library, the Winnipeg Public Library, the University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba), by 1996/1997, the majority of rural newspapers had been filmed to the end of 1994. The single-copy masters now number over 5000 reels with 200 new reels produced annually. ⁹

Through a legal-deposit stipulation, the Manitoba Legislative Library is still able to acquire all newspapers published in Manitoba. A second subscription is purchased to ensure that an intact copy exists for filming. The Legislative Library also purchases commercially produced microfilm and arranges filming for non-commercial community newspapers through the services of a private company. Although the microfilming budget has been reduced over the last several years, the microfilming program continues. The Manitoba Newspaper Checklist database and master printout have also been maintained and updated since they were first produced in 1986; however, holdings of libraries other than the Legislative Library have not been updated since 1989. There are plans to digitize the Checklist after updating non-Legislative Library holdings. ¹⁰ The Legislative Library also subscribes to electronic editions of Manitoba newspapers (where available). The Web page, A List of Current Manitoba Newspapers at the Legislative Library, may be found at: www.gov.mb.ca/leg-lib/webnwsp.html.

The original newspapers are retained and stored at the Legislative Library with the exception of the major dailies, the Winnipeg Free Press, the Winnipeg Sun, the Brandon Sun, and the Portage La Prairie Daily Graphic. Only current issues of these newspapers are retained. The rest are discarded when the microfilm arrives. (The National Library of Canada has kept the Winnipeg Free Press in print form since 1967 as one of the 12 newspapers retained and stored permanently). The storage facility for newspaper retention has an approximate timespan of eight more years before full capacity is reached.

Four indexes have been noted.

• The Boissevain Recorder indexed for the years 1899 to 1909 by the Manitoba Newspaper Committee of the Manitoba Library Association in 1988 to test the Guidelines for Indexing Newspapers with the Manitoba Subject Headings List;

• An Index of Birth, Marriage and Death Notices from Manitoba Newspapers by Kathleen Rooke Stokes et al. of the Manitoba Genealogical Society, Inc. in 1986 for the years 1859 to 1881 (vol. 1, marriages and deaths only); 1882 to 1884 (vol. 2); and 1885 (vol. 3);

• Manitoba Notices: Selected Births, Marriages, Anniversaries and Deaths Extracted from the "Winnipeg Free Press", November 1984 to February 1986 by John G. De Groot, covering November 1984 to February 1986 on individuals of French origin with accompanying photographs, 1991;

• The Winnipeg Tribune Subject Clipping Research Files: Microfilm Master Index by Mary Pallet produced for the University of Manitoba Libraries’ Department of Archives and Special Collections in 1986, a microfilm collection of 167 reels of clippings arranged alphabetically by subject and subdivided chronologically. The Legislative Library has no plans for future indexing projects but it does maintain subject clipping files on topics related to provincial government programs.

At present, the Manitoba Legislative Library is still the major player in newspaper collection and preservation in Manitoba. The long-term intention is to integrate the newspaper holdings into its electronic catalogue via MAPLIN at: <pls.chc.gov.mb.ca:8080/pls/pls.htm>. Although the ad hoc committee on newspapers through the Manitoba Library Association is no longer active, the cooperation between the adjoining Legislative Library and Provincial Archives ensures that researchers have easy access to both published and primary newspaper materials. ¹¹

A number of native newspapers from Western Canada are available at the home page of the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society (AMMSA) at: www.ammsa.com/ammsa.html. Other native media links may be found at: www.mb.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/~asw/files/alink_ef.html, the home page of the Aboriginal Single Window Initiative, a cooperative effort by the Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba.

In 1993, the National Library of Canada acquired the master microfilm and a positive copy of a large number of Northwest Territories newspapers including the following titles (names at time of publication are used):

• Aklavik Aklavik Journal November 1955 to May 1957;
• Arctic Bay Arctic Bay News=Ikpiarjukmit pivaliayuik November 15, 1991 to December 13, 1991;
• Cape Dorset Cape Dorset News May 14, 1974 to July 26, 1974;

Cape Dorset NWT Newsletter April 22, 1974;

• Chesterfield Inlet Chesterfield Hi-lites September 1963 to April 1964;

Kisark May 1966;

Kisaut December 1966 to May 20, 1969;

• Eskimo Point Arviat Nipinga May 1971 to April 16/30, 1976;

Tusautit August 2, 1966 to July 1, 1970;

• Fort Good Hope Dene Express January 1975 to 1997;

Hare Express, June 9, 1969 to December 1974;

• Fort McPherson Peel River Press September 15, 1970 to 1971;

Tulita Spring 1973; October 1973 to December 1973; February 1974; June 1974 and November 1974;

• Fort Providence Goondee Cho March 1971 to April 1972;
• Fort Simpson Confluence February 4 to July 23, 1977;
• Fort Smith Fort Smith Journal August 12 to December 16, 1978;

The Mackenzie Pilot January 18, 1973 to August 21, 1975; September 3, 1975 to January 15, 1976; April 1, 1976 to March 31, 1977;

The Norther January 13, 1963 to September 30, 1971;

• Frosbisher Bay/Iqaluit The Eastern Arctic Newsweek October 28, 1968 to May 22, 1969;

Eastern Arctic Star October 17, 1969 to January 17, 1972;

Nunatsiaq News on microfiche from the Ontario Community Newspaper Association from 1985 to 1997;

Tusaqvik=Listening Post July/August 1968 to November 1971;

• Hay River Hay River News March 8, 1967 to May 4, 1972;

Hay River Optimist May 14, 1963 to 1973;

The Mackenzie Press February 22, 1962 to July 19, 1963;

• Igloolik Igloolik Weekly Newsletter June 27, 1972 to September 30, 1972;

Iklulik Qakutikut=The Igloolik Irregular March 1975;

Midnight Sun April 1969 to April 1974;

• Inuvik Mackenzie Drift April 3, 1979 to August 27, 1980;
• Pangnirtung Pangnirtung October 4 to November 3, 1971

Pangnirtung News November 1986

Tusarasapit Nutat September/October 1972 to January 16, 1974

Tusautit Tusarasat=Tusautit Newsletter November 25, 1983 to March 1986

Ukalimagat=News and Views December 1971 to April/May 1972

• Pine Point The Pine Pointer May 1965 to June 15, 1987
• Pond Inlet Piasuarusirmi Pivatlaiyat Mitimatalikmi = Newsweek of Pond Inlet January 21, 1972 to April 1973 in two editions

Suvagug February 1974 to October 1975; March 1976 to June 1, 1978

• Rankin Inlet Kagikliniap Pikkusigit=Rankin Times October 5, 1973 to June 4, 1975; March 4 to March 22, 1976

Rankin Inlet Newsletter December 1972 to January 1973

• Resolute Bay Arctic Antics October 31 to November 16, 1966
• Yellowknife Northern Star January 5, 1994 .

Two other newspaper collections of note are those northern newspapers which are part of the Dick Hill Northern Collection at the Inuvik Centennial Library at: http://www.inuvik.net/icl/dick.htm, the Canadian Circumpolar Institute Library at: www.library.ualberta.ca/library_html/libraries/ccl.html; The Northern News Services at: www.nnsl.com/ops/pub/publish.html and Nunatsiaq News at: www.nunatsiaq.com/.

Saskatchewan Legislative Library newspaper titles are available at their onsite catalogue at: <pleis.lib.sk.ca/pleis/logon/leg.htm> which is part of the PLEIS (Saskatchewan's province-wide Library Electronic Information System). The Library retains the current five years of the microfilmed daily papers. After five years, the microfilm is transferred to the Saskatchewan Archives where the public may consult it. The daily papers from Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw and Prince Albert are retained only until they are replaced by microfilm (approximately two to three months for Regina and Saskatoon, four to six months for Moose Jaw and Prince Albert). The Legislative Library also subscribes to all currently published Saskatchewan local newspapers with the exception of local "shopper" publications whose primary purpose is to disseminate advertising and sales information. The Library retains only the current year of each weekly newspaper. At the end of the year, the paper copies are sent to the Saskatchewan Archives where they are microfilmed. The Library does not have microfilm of the weekly papers. These are available from the Saskatchewan Archives Board. ¹²

The Saskatchewan News Index Project was initiated in 1992 by Darlene Fichter of the University of Saskatchewan Libraries. In the initial phase, article citations from the Saskatoon Star Phoenix, the Regina Leader Post and the Western Producer were sent to the University of Saskatchewan Libraries and made available on the Internet. The successful conversion of the 1987 print volume of the Star Phoenix set the stage for future digital projects. Subsequent phases of the project have been produced by the University of Saskatchewan Libraries, Main and Education Libraries with funding provided by Schoolnet Digital Collections, Industry Canada. The index was produced from a number of print and electronic indexes held by Saskatoon Public Library, Saskatchewan Provincial Library, Regina Public Library, Legislative Library of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Archives Board. It contains stories originating mainly from Saskatchewan, including top news stories on agriculture, beginnings and landmarks, health, higher education, heroes and outlaws, arts, science and technology, sports, conflict and struggle, politics and the development of Saskatchewan newspapers. ¹³

Newspapers and coverage include: Index to the Regina Leader 1883 - 1903 & 1904 - 1920; Index to the Saskatoon Phoenix 1902 - 1908; Index to the Morning Leader, Regina January, 1921 - April, 1930 and the Leader-Post (evening edition) April, 1930 - December, 1934; Index to the Regina Leader-Post January 1, 1935 - December 31, 1943 (copyright for all is held by the Saskatchewan Archives Board); Saskatchewan Newspaper Index, 1935 - 1965, which includes items of Saskatchewan interest contained in the four daily newspapers of the province (Regina Leader Post, Moose Jaw Times Herald, Prince Albert Daily Herald, Saskatoon Star Phoenix), and the weekly Western Producer (the Saskatchewan Legislative Library retains copyright in this database); Saskatoon Newspaper Index, 1981 - December 31, 1997 containing citations from volume I to volume VII 1981 to 1986) and items found in the Star Phoenix (Saskatoon), The Saskatoon Sun, The Saskatoon Mirror, and The Saskatoon Shopper (the Saskatoon Public Library retains copyright to these citations); The Western Producer, 1991 to 1994, which includes over 90 percent of the content (excluding classifieds) of The Western Producer and Western People for the period January 1991 to August 1994 (the citations were provided in electronic format by the Saskatchewan Provincial Library which compiles and retains copyright); and the Regina Leader Post, 1992 to 1995 with citations from the Regina Leader Post for the period 1992 to September 1995, and the Regina Sun, beginning January 1995 included in the online index (the citations were provided in electronic format by Regina Public Library which retains copyright). ⁷ The Legislative Library also retains clipping files from 1984 to 1987 inclusive on 16 mm microfilm and clipping files from 1988 to 1990 on microfiche, in the reference department. The remaining files are housed in a storage area in the Legislative building and can be retrieved on request. The individual clipping files are not listed in the Library's online catalogue at this time, nor do they circulate outside the Library. ¹⁴

The Yukon Archives, which is a program of the Department of Education of the Government of the Yukon, maintains responsibility for the filming and preservation of Yukon newspapers. The Archives has over 50 titles, including the Dawson News, 1899 to 1953; Klondike Nugget, 1898 to 1903; Yukon Sun, 1899 to 1904; Whitehorse Star, 1901 to date, and other early Yukon newspapers in their original form and on microfilm.

The Archives also maintains a large number of gold-rush newspapers from the United States and over 40 northern-oriented current newspapers including Yukon community newspapers. The microfilmed newspapers are available on interlibrary loan with a priority given to Yukon libraries. The Archives is working on a Web version of its microfilm catalogue. ¹⁵

Two newspaper indexes of note are: The Yukon Sun, 1898-1905 : Index and Summary compiled by Helen Dobrowlsky, Rob Ingram and Felicitas Tangermann; prepared for Heritage Branch, Department of Tourism, Government of the Yukon, Whitehorse: The Branch, 1994 and Dawson Daily News, 1899-1920 : Index and Summary ; [Whitehorse, Yukon]: Heritage Branch, Government of Yukon, 1991. The Yukon News is available on the Internet at: www.yukon-news.com/ and the Whitehorse Star is

available at: www.whitehorsestar.com/. Both have archival databases which may be searched at the above-noted sites.

Any comments or additions are welcome, and should be sent to:

Sandra Burrows
Newspaper Specialist
Reference and Information Services
National Library of Canada
395 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0N4
Telephone: (613) 996-1342
Fax: (613) 943-1112
E-mail: sandra.burrows@nlc-bnc.ca

____________________

12 The Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Legislative Library, Legislative Library Collections Unique and Interesting Subcollections page at: www.legassembly.sk.ca/LegLibrary/library/libcolun.htm See Sask. Weekly Newspapers.

15 The Yukon Archives Web page at: www.yukoncollege.yk.ca/archives/yukarch.html.