The Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN) and the University of Alberta Library have collaborated to add 36 volumes of the Irish University Press Series of British Parliamentary Papers to Canadiana. These volumes, comprising the “Colonies, Canada” and “Colonies, Canadian boundary” series, were selected based on their relevance to Canadian history, and cover topics related to Great Britain’s administration of Canada from 1802-1899. Digitization was completed by CRKN from volumes held at the University of Alberta Library, with one additional volume generously lent by the University of Ottawa Library.
The Irish University Press Series of British Parliamentary Papers was published between 1968-71 and comprises 1,000 volumes in total. The University of Alberta Library is one of the few known institutions to hold the entire collection, which contains invaluable information about British colonization and the administration of the British Empire in the 19th century. The “Colonies: Canada” and “Colonies: Canadian Boundary” volumes from the collection are regularly used by researchers and faculty at the University of Alberta, and will now be available to researchers globally through their availability on Canadiana.
This collection joins several other recent additions to Canadiana from CRKN member collections, including issues of the RCMP Quarterly digitized from the collection of the University of Regina, and the McGill University Library Map Collection.
CRKN thanks the University of Alberta Library and the University of Ottawa Library for their collaboration on this project. For more information, please contact Francesca Brzezicki, Heritage Engagement Officer, at fbrzezicki@crkn.ca.
Examples of material in the British Parliamentary Papers collection. From left to right: letters to British government officials, papers regarding the Red River Settlement, and summaries of British exports to Newfoundland.