There is no doubt that local and regional history, considered by many as a kind of minor historical study, has a pressing need for a systematic inventory of its resources. This collection shows the durability, the vividness, and the astonishing productivity of a sector of history which is the stronghold of the history-lover rather than the professional historian.

The nature and content of each book determines its selection. For each book included, the compilers have weighed its contribution to local history and regional history rather than the style in which it is written—narrative, memoir, descriptive study, or novel. It is this criterion of selection that has permitted the retention of several general histories of a varied nature—Bouchette, Charlevoix, Nicholas Denys, La Potherie, Lescarbot, Hanotaux, Sulte, etc.— where local and regional life takes on a major importance for reasons of order in history, method, or quite simply because local life is the principal object of the study itself. The editors have also retained certain works—those of George W. Brown, Arthur Buies, George M. Grant, Blodwen Davies, etc.—because they are primarily descriptive and contain numerous elements in which local history blends with the manners and customs of the inhabitants of certain regions.

This bibliography is designed primarily for historiographers who have until now paid little attention to local, regional, or parochial history. It will also be invaluable for librarians who suffer from the numerous difficulties involved in the classification of such works. Since 1950, all works published in Canada are, by virtue of the book deposit law, provided to the National Library of Canada, and recorded in Canadiana.

André Beaulieu is Adjoint au Directeur de la Bibliothèque de la Législature du Québec. From 1963 to 1970 he held the position of Directeur du Service de référence et de bibliographie à la Bibliothèque de l'université Laval. Among his published works are Guide de l'étudient en histoire du Canada, and Les Journaux du Québec de 1764 à 1964, both written in collaboration with Jean Hamelin.

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W.F.E. Morley is Curator of Special Collections in the Douglas Library at Queen's University. From 1959 to 1964 he was Biographer at the John Carter Brown Library at Brown University.

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Benoît Bernier was Professeur d'histoire au Départment des sciences humaines à l'université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. He was in charge of the history collection and specialized reference works at the library of l'université Laval from 1965 to 1969, and in addition taught two courses. In collaboration with André Beaulieu and Jean Hamelin he wrote Guide d'histoire du Canada.

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Agathe Garon has held several positions with the library of l'université Laval, and is now responsible for general reference works and inter-library loans.

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