Archives News / Nouvelles
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July 25, 2022
Wonderful news! The congregation of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church has generously donated their church building and land to Archives Hemmingford. They previously donated the hall where the Archives are now housed. There are plans underway to hold concerts, exhibits and other cultural events within the former church.
Merveilleuse nouvelle! La congrégation de l'église presbytérienne St. Andrew's a généreusement fait don de son église et de son terrain aux Archives Hemmingford. Ils ont fait don de l'ancienne salle où se trouvent maintenant les Archives. Des projets sont en cours pour organiser des concerts, des expositions et d'autres événements culturels dans l'ancienne église.
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Banners for Hemmingford 1812 - 2012
Summer 2012....
18 impressive banners were created to decorate the village of Hemmingford this summer.
They may be viewed here.
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Help us preserve
Hemmingford’s History
All donations large or small
MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
An archives is all about storage and retrieval of information so that it can be preserved it for future generations. As time goes on, old technology and worn out equipment becomes an increasing disadvantage. In the modern setting of digitized data processing, either we keep up with technology as it changes, or we get left behind.
Without a viable community archives that knows how to preserve its collections, local history is reduced to crumbling documents in basements and attics. Instead of preservation and growth of knowledge about the community’s history, there is steady loss as seniors pass on. Their personal “library” of knowledge and irreplaceable documents are gone forever.
The Hemmingford Archives, completely run by volunteers, is making a concerted effort to modernize its technology so that we can better preserve our collections, and also respond to information requests. We are digitizing data with a special cataloguing program, and want to bring a bright, welcoming, modern look to our Archives space. You can help us do this.
Your generosity in making a donation helps the archives in many ways:
► PROVIDE ARCHIVAL SUPPLIES, FURNISHINGS, AND DISPLAY MATERIALS
► PURCHASE ARCHIVAL QUALITY CABINETS AND SHELVING TO PROTECT OUR COLLECTION
► REPLACE OUTDATED COMPUTER/ PHOTO REPRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
► RESEARCH, ACQUIRE, AND PRODUCE HISTORICAL INFORMATION
► SPONSOR HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY AND PARTICIPATE IN REGIONAL EVENTS
We are a registered non-profit organization and at your request will be happy
to issue charitable receipts for tax purposes
THANK YOU
THE BOARD AND MEMBERS OF THE HEMMINGFORD HISTORICAL ARCHIVES
September 15, 2011
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September 2, 2011
A Voice for the Eight Percent
by Mary Anne Ducharme
Hemmingford Historical Archives
English language is at home in Hemmingford. The historical record in our Archives reflects the early history of this community which was largely settled by Scots, Irish, English, United Empire Loyalists, and Americans. The second wave of immigration was French, arriving in the mid-nineteeth century, and these families also played an important role in the development of the community. Many from all of these backgrounds intermarried, forming an identity uniquely Hemmingford.
As the primary work language in the Township, 775 speak French, and 690 speak English, with many in that number who are more or less conversant in both languages. In the Village, the numbers are nearly even between the two languages, 345 English, and 335 French. In terms of percentages this is far beyond the provincial average of about 8% of English-speaking Quebecers. In fact, English as a minority language is becoming endangered in Quebec because of out-migration.
There are obvious economic and social advantages for Quebec to having vital English-speaking communities, especially near the border where most visitors entering the province do not speak French. Tourism provides a significant customer base for our services and products. We can be a travel waypoint, providing an introduction to the experience of our region, and beyond. In a bilingual atmosphere, more potential residents would be comfortable settling here and contributing to our economic and social vitality.
In Hemmingford’s history, and in all Quebec, the relationships of the French and English communities have not always been smooth, but in our case, we have come to a level of comfort in our daily lives either in French or English and there is a friendly willingness to bridge the gaps in communication for those who are unilingual. When we truly need to speak to each other, we usually find the way, or we do our very best in the attempt.
Because provincial civil service and government agencies enact deliberate policies to discourage the use of English, the language is endangered in the communities of this region. By what ethnical code should English here be silent or covert or subject to discriminatory practices? It should be present in our Municipal affairs, on official websites, on our signs, and in our businesses. What exactly is the wording of any law that clearly forbids the use of English? The politics of language has not been the best chapter in Quebec history, and we can do better than form policies of exclusion on the community level.
For Anglophones, speaking our own language, one of the two official languages of Canada, should not be regarded as somehow disrespectful of our French neighbours, nor should we be made to feel that somehow we are the off-key note in the chorus of this province.
The Archives wishes to encourage history writers and researchers in French to join the history writers and researchers in English! Each in our own language, we tell a fuller and more inclusive story of this community. As to shared knowledge, what we truly want to know, we find the way of learning! If there are differences in interpretation of this history and in cultural perspective, that is all the more enriching, and deeply Canadian.
Let the diversity be there. Let history be what it was. Let now be a new beginning.
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