Category Archives: Technology

On Light and Dark: the historicity of colour and non-colour photographs

A brief discussion historicizing colour and non-colour photography.

The “War on the Car” has a long history

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Last week, newly-elected Toronto Mayor Rob Ford continued his campaign rhetoric by proclaiming that “the war on the car is over.” On the first day of his mayoralty, Ford announced he intends to halt construction of a light rail transit line on Sheppard Avenue.  The mayor says a subway under Sheppard Avenue should be built instead of the surface light… Read more »

Step-by-Step: Looking Up an Ancestor’s First World War Record

This is a step-by-step guide to accessing military records both through LAC’s website but also on-site.

One form of remembrance: mapping Toronto’s World War II casualties

Today, Canadians across the country will observe Remembrance Day.  The tradition of remembering the casualties of war on November 11 first began in 1919, following the end of the First World War.  Through public commemorations or more private ways, citizens will think about the sacrifices of thousands of men and women who have risked their lives for country, faith, and… Read more »

Third History Matters series lecture uncovers Toronto’s subway past

https://activehistory.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Young-History-Matters-talk.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadJay Young, a PhD student in history and ActiveHistory.ca steering committee member, recently gave a talk called “A Public Technology: Building Toronto’s Yonge Street Subway”.  The lecture is part of the Toronto Public Library’s History Matters series. The lecture discussed various episodes surrounding the building of Toronto’s original Yonge Street subway line during the… Read more »

The Sound of History

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http://download.publicradio.org/podcast/americanradioworks/podcast/arw_4_3_john_biewen.mp3?_kip_ipx=972215519-1283174810Podcast: Play in new window | Download A few months ago the American Radio Works posted a very interesting podcast on the art of making radio documentaries.  The podcast included a live presentation given by Stephen Smith and John Biewen about a new book Reality Radio: Telling True Stories in Sound.  While the whole discussion is very interesting, the second… Read more »

Sharing History Through Used Books and the Internet

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In honour of both the September crunch and ActiveHistory.ca‘s own expanding book review section — be sure to check out Mitch Primeau’s review of The Second Greatest Disappointment (1999) — I’ll be devoting this month’s post to some of my favourite used book websites. History tends to involve a few more books than other disciplines — okay, a lot more…. Read more »

The e-Book Revolution

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I bought an iPad. Before you cheer or frown, let me tell you, I’m filled with an immense surge of guilt—not because my purchase left a hefty dent in my wallet, but because I have needlessly contributed to the e-Book revolution. As Thomas Hager explains, Bottom line is stark: paper and ink books are on the way out. There, I… Read more »

Time Machine Being Built South of the Border

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The first steps towards building a historical time machine are underway south of the border. A group of American history educators have founded an ambitious plan to create the “Civil War Augmented Reality Project.” This first time machine will be a literal window into the past. By taking advantage of smart phone and tablet computer technology, as well as their… Read more »