Champlain Society
The Champlain Society seeks to advance knowledge of Canadian history through the publication of scholarly books (both digital and print) of primary records of voyages, travels, correspondence, diaries and governmental documents and memoranda. The Society is named after Samuel de Champlain (1574–1635), the explorer, founder of New France and author of numerous exploratory narratives. The Society is a registered, not-for-profit charity administered by a voluntary and unpaid team of council members and officers. It was chartered in Ontario in 1927. Membership is open to all who have an interest in Canadian history. It is based in Toronto, Ontario.
Foundation
The Champlain Society was created following a lecture to the Canadian Club in Toronto in March 1905 on "History and Patriotism" given by Charles W. Colby, chair of the Department of History at McGill University. Colby had hailed the various societies in the United Kingdom and the United States dedicated to reprinting key documents of history and argued that Canada should have such an organization.
The speech prompted Sir
History
The initial book, the first volume of
The Society's focus was to publish scholarly editions of primary sources on exploratory voyages undertaken by individuals in Canada. Since then, its interests have broadened to include collections of letters on science, foreign policy, political affairs, governors general, aspects of business history and the history of communities. These include early accounts dealing with the geography, ethnology and natural history of Canadian regions. The Society has published over 100 volumes. All the works have been published in English, but some include original French texts.
Successive Champlain Society editions have featured the works of the following explorers:
All editions contain a scholarly apparatus that provides both the general reader and the student with a context to the material presented, and offers guidance on the relevance of the material within Canadian affairs. Volumes have, since the beginning, been produced in signature red binding, with embossed crest, and typically feature maps and contemporary illustrations.
Other activities
The Champlain Society holds its annual general meeting in October at the
Supplementary to its primary role as a publisher, the Society also advances its aims by organizing and participating in meetings, symposia and conferences that contribute to an increased awareness of Canada's documentary history. Currently, one volume is published annually. The Society's website hosts a digital version of all its publications, available in full-text to members.
The Society also administers the Floyd S. Chalmers Award for Ontario History. Created through an endowment from Floyd Sherman Chalmers, it is awarded annually to the best book written on any aspect of Ontario history in the preceding calendar year.[7]
Presidents
Sir
References
- ISBN 978-1-4426-1881-7.
- ^ Conrad Heidenreich, "Champlain and the Champlain Society: An Early Expedition into Documentary Publishing" (Toronto: The Champlain Society, 2006).
- ISBN 978-0-7735-3756-9.
- ISBN 978-1-4426-1881-7.
- ISBN 978-0-7735-3756-9.
- ^ Conrad Heidenreich, "Champlain and the Champlain Society: An Early Expedition into Documentary Publishing" (Toronto: The Champlain Society, 2006).
- ^ de:Floyd S. Chalmers Award in Ontario History; https://champlainsociety.utpjournals.press/chalmers-award