We are pleased to announce that the AFGS has purchased the Drouin Institute microfilm collection of vital statistics. Specifically, this unique, historical collection contains the following:

- Baptisms, Marriages, and Death Records for the entire Province of Quebec.

- Baptisms, Marriages, and Death Records for those areas of Ontario, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia known to be predominantly French-Canadian.

- Notarial Acts, such as marriage contracts, wills, deeds, and other legal documents for the Province of Quebec.

- Vital Statistics and census records for miscellaneous states and particularly for Louisiana and Rhode Island.

This collection covers each parish from its founding to 1935-1940 when the Drouin Institute produced the microfilm. All parishes, both Catholic and non-Catholic, and some Indian Missions were filmed. This is film of the actual records and will afford members the opportunity to make their own interpretations of the handwritten documents, and in some cases, view the signatures of their ancestors.

The AFGS library is the only source in the United States for this unique collection of microfilm.

-- Roger A. Bartholomy - President    American French Genealogical Society