Though obituaries didn’t become commonplace until the 1800s, they can be wonderful sources of information for genealogists.
Generally, they contain the full name of the deceased, as well as a maiden name if the deceased was a married woman. They also provide birth and death dates and locations. They often name relatives. They might list a person’s occupations and hobbies, places travelled, groups and associations, life achievements and events, and other random, but useful, bits of information. If people are ill for lengthy periods, their obituaries might even name hospitals and doctors. They also frequently indicate funeral homes and cemeteries.
That’s a lot of trails to follow.
Luckily for people researching Campbell River residents, Bob Jamieson – a legend in his own right – has made the death notices of locals more useful than ever. Since the early 1980s, Bob has been clipping obituaries and placing them in scrapbooks along with his own personal recollections of each person.
We’re not talking about just a few people either. Bob, 83 years young, has lived in numerous island communities and worked at a mind-boggling assortment of jobs, so he has known a lot of people, and judging from the stories he tells, he hasn’t forgotten a single one.
So far, Bob has put together six albums. He says he thought he was pretty much done.
“After all, there aren’t too many of us left,” he chuckles.
But every now and then, he sees another obituary for someone he knows, and he’s off and running again.
Bob’s albums are currently being catalogued by Campbell River Genealogy Society, after which time they will be available for public use.
Bob is pleased that he is able to make this contribution to the area’s history. He is also working on a memoir, which he hopes will someday be published. And what does he want in return? Nothing, except eager listeners to share his stories with.
Of course, having a mountain, a park, or even a street named after him might be kind of nice too.
Reminder: Next CRGS meeting is Thursday, Nov. 5, Maritime Heritage Centre, 7 p.m.
Also join us for some dinner theatre fun (They’re at it Again!) at the Royal Coachman on Nov. 7. Dinner at 6 p.m. Show at 7:30. Tickets are $40. See Trish at the Maritime Heritage Centre office.
