OxHS AGM – Wednesday, February 23, 2022

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Gordon Stanley Boswell stacking wheat.
Photo courtesy of Brenda Boswell

Please join us on Wednesday, February 23, 2022 for our Annual General Meeting, via Zoom at 6:30pm. Zoom instructions are listed at the bottom of this post.

At this meeting all paying members will have a chance to vote for this year’s Executive.

The following lists the current board members:

President: Kathie Richards
Past President: Jim Groulx
Vice President: Vacant
Treasurer/Research: Dr. Elaine Becker
Secretary: Laura Centore
Communications and Newsletter: Laura Centore
Membership: Judy Klages
Archives/Architecture: Eleanor Gardhouse
Board Members at Large: Jim Groulx, Don Wilson
Museum Liaison: Karen Houston

We encourage all members to consider serving on our executive. If you would like to serve on the board email the OxHS at info@oxhs.ca. We are accepting nominations until Saturday, February 12, 2022.

Our speaker for tonight will be Brenda Boswell, presenting
Harvest Excursions: Featuring the Story of Gordon Stanley Boswell

This excerpt is from Brenda’s presentation:

‘Between the 1890’s and 1930 thousands of men participated in the fall wheat harvest in Western Canada.  Organized by the CPR and local government, call outs were made annually to Eastern Canada, the northern United States and Britain.  Tens of thousands of men would converge in Winnipeg over a 2 week period answering the call.

The stories of the Harvest Excursions stories vary between a crusade, an adventure, a binge, hard work, good money, hooliganism and violence.  The excursions were a noisy, colourful and important part of Canada’s history, but little was recorded at the time.  Gordon Stanley Boswell joined the excursion in 1923 with other members of his Woodstock baseball team Snowy’s Snowbirds.    His daughter Brenda Boswell recorded his story for a Canadian history project in 1972 and is proud to share it with the Historical Society.’

Due to Covid-19 restrictions the Oxford Historical Society is currently holding all meetings via Zoom.

For all Zoom meetings use this ID#: 81906248857, no password is required.

George Leslie Mackay International Symposium June 24, 2022

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Hello Everyone,

This guest post is provided by Michael Stainton, from the Canadian Mackay Committee.

The Canadian Mackay Committee, along with co-organizers from the Knox College Centre for Asian-Canadian Theology & Ministry, and York Centre for Asian Research are hosting a one-day George Leslie Mackay symposium in honour of his founding of the of the Canada Presbyterian mission in north Formosa on March 9, 1872.

There is a call for papers and presentations from scholars, students, communities and non-academics. The symposium will have both in person and virtual presentations and will be open to the public. The deadline for submission is Friday, February 18, 2022.

For more information about the event and to contact the organizers please download the attached document: GL Mackay June 24, 2022 Symposium

2022 OxHS Membership and AGM!

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Otterville ON – Winter Street Scene
From the J. Gruszka postcard collection, property of the OxHS

Happy New Year and welcome to 2022!

We are working on lining up speakers for this year, either via Zoom or in person. If you or anyone you know would be interested in presenting at a meeting please send an email to info@oxhs.ca.

It’s that time of year again when the annual membership fees are due.

Membership fees are $25.00 for an individual and $30.00 for a family membership.

Fees can be paid by cheque to the Oxford Historical Society, or by e-Transfer to purchases@oxhs.ca. If paying by e-Transfer please send you membership form in a separate email.

Click here to download the 2022 OxHS Membership Form and include it with your payment.

Our mailing address is:

Oxford Historical Society
PO Box 20091
Woodstock ON N4S 8X8

Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 23, 2022 at 6:30pm via Zoom. During the meeting all paying members may vote for this year’s executive board.

The following lists the current board members:

President: Kathie Richards
Past President: Jim Groulx
Vice President: Vacant
Treasurer/Research: Dr. Elaine Becker
Secretary: Laura Centore
Communications and Newsletter: Laura Centore
Membership: Judy Klages
Archives/Architecture: Eleanor Gardhouse
Board Members at Large: Jim Groulx, Don Wilson
Museum Liaison: Karen Houston

We encourage all members to consider serving on our executive. If you would like to serve on the board email the OxHS at info@oxhs.ca. We are accepting nominations until Saturday, February 12, 2022.

The speaker will be Brenda Boswell, her topic will be Harvest Excursion. Harvest Excursion looks is about the men who went out west in the fall to assist with their harvest season. More information about our AGM and Brenda’s presentation will be posted at a later date.