(Canscene) — One of the treasures of Ontario’s Black history is the Alvin Mc Curdy collection housed in the provincial archives. Midway through February, Black History Month, Ontario Citizenship and Immigration Minister Mike Colle hosted a reception at Queen’s Park to announce that a substantial portion of the McCurdy collection will henceforth be on line at: http://www.archives.gov.on.ca

Joining the minister at the ceremony were Ontario Minister of Culture Madeline Meilleure, former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Lincoln Alexander and president of the Black History Society of Ontario, Rosemary Sadlier.

From left M.C. Dwight Duncan, City TV, Culture Minister Meilleur, Citizenship and Immigraton Minister Colle and former Lieutnant Govwernor lincoln Slexnder.

Alvin D. McCurdy was born in 1916 in Amherstburg, Essex County, Ontario, where he lived throughout his life. He worked professionally as a carpenter and was a long-time member of the Carpenters and Joiners Union, as well as a Freemason and active member of the Baptist church. In addition, McCurdy was involved with anti-discrimination groups such as the Amherstburg Community Club and the Amherstburg Progressive Association of Coloured People.

He was also an historian, genealogist, and collector of Black history material. During his lifetime, he amassed dozens of newspaper clippings and postcards relating to southern Ontario and the northern United States, as well as a variety of textual records such as minutes, research files, scrapbooks, and correspondence. He also collected approximately 3000 photographs of church activities, social and cultural events, and friends and family members.

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