The Fédération québécoise des sociétés de généalogie (Quebec Federation of Genealogy Societies) has awarded its first Roland J. Auger Literary Prize to André LaRose for his book, Joseph Barthélémy Robert et son cercle familial, 1826-1951. Portrait d’une famille d’entrepreneurs de Beauharnois.
The prize was created to be awarded annually to a member of a genealogical society. Its purpose is to promote works on family histories, ancestor biographies and parish monographs, and to interest the public in them. The recipient receives a $1,000 grant.
Mr. LaRose’s book, published in 2023, is about two generations of the family of Joseph Barthélémy Robert, from 1826 to 1951. It is the story of a family of entrepreneurs from the town of Beauharnois, southwest of Montreal.
In its decision, the jury highlighted the quality of the sources consulted to document this family history.
Joseph Barthélemy Robert was a successful manufacturer who specialized in woollens. He was also a pioneer in the field of hydroelectricity and the man behind the electrification of the town of Beauharnois and the founder of Beauharnois Light, Heat and Power, which was eventually sold by his heirs for $3 million in 1927.
Joseph Barthélemy Robert was a French Canadian Catholic and his wife, Sarah Roberts, was an English Canadian Presbyterian. After their marriage in 1855 at Montreal’s Anglican Christ Church Cathedral, the couple settled in Beauharnois.
The couple had five children baptized in the Catholic religion. They gave their children French first names, but raised them in English and as Presbyterians.
Unfortunately, the Robert family left no descendants. Their only grandson died at a young age.
Mr. La Rose, who is originally from Beauharnois, is an historian by training, and a translator and editor by trade. He is also a specialist in the history of the seigneury of Beauharnois, which was the subject of his doctoral thesis.
In the 1970s, Mr. LaRose became interested in genealogy while working for the Programme de recherche en démographie historique (Historical Demography Research Program) — also known as PRDH.
