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• Webinar: Spirit Photography

  • When
    October 09, 2025
  •  
    1:30 PM - 2:15 PM
  • Location
    Zoom

  Register

  Spirit Photography Virtual Webinar

  Dr. Brian Hubner

  12:30 CT (10:30 PT / 1:30 ET )

  In this webinar, Dr. Brian Hubner, NAAB Regional Director for the Prairies and Acquisition and Access Archivist with the University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections (UMASC), will lead a discussion about the market and history of a unique type of archival material: Spirit Photography.

  Spirit photography, also called ghost photography or séance photography, is a type of photographic work which aims to capture images of ghosts and other spiritual entities. In the July 2025 issue of Évaluation, the NAAB Newsletter, Dr. Hubner writes: “Spirit photographs are among the most interesting and valuable photographic items which are found at auction. There is no strict definition of what a spirit photograph is but generally it is an image which was taken roughly in the period 1860-1940, with the participation of a medium, which depict ghosts or spirits of loved ones crossing over from the spirit world. Not the same, but closely related are the photos of white, billowy, ectoplasms, also coming from spirit world which extrude form the mouth or nose of a medium.”

  Drawing from the extensive Hamilton Family fonds held at UMASC, Dr. Hubner will share his vast knowledge on the market context of spirit photography and provide insights on the acquisition of the varied materials in the fonds.

  This webinar is free for NAAB members. Non-members can register for $25.00 + tax.

  
  

  Hamilton Family fonds - University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections

  University of Manitoba Digital Collections: Hamilton Family fonds

  Manitoba Archival Information Network: Hamilton Family fonds

  Further reading

  University of Manitoba exhibition: The Undead Archive: 100 Years of Photographing Ghosts

  
  

  Brian Hubner is currently the Acquisition and Access Archivist with the University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections (UMASC). He has a Bachelor of Arts in History (Honours), a Master of Arts (History) from the University of Saskatchewan, and a Master of Arts (History, in Archival Studies) from the University of Manitoba. He received a PhD in Archives from the U of Amsterdam in 2020. In 1994, he co-wrote The Cypress Hills: The Land and Its People, a book dealing mainly with the Indigenous people of southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, with a revised 2nd edition issued in 2007. Brian has published articles on archival subjects including: "This is the Whiteman's Law": Aboriginal Resistance, Bureaucratic Change and the Census of Canada, 1830-2006" in Archival Science (2007), which focused on government records of Indigenous peoples, and has presented many conference papers. He has studied the history of the market for archival documents created, and associated, by Louis Riel. Brian currently appraises archival material and books for a variety of clients including the Canada Museum for Human Rights and the Societe historique de Saint-Boniface (SHSB), the University of Saskatchewan Archives and Special Collections, and the Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan. Brian also appraises many collections for the UMASC.

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• Professional Development Committee meeting - Réunion du comité de développement professionel

  • When
    October 16, 2025
  •  
    12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
  • Location
    Zoom

  Regular meeting of the Professional Development Committee.

  Réunion ordinaire du comité de développement professionel.

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• Board of Directors meeting - Réunion du Conseil d'administration

  • When
    October 20, 2025
  •  
    1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom

  Regular meeting of NAAB's Board of Directors.

  Réunion ordinaire du Conseil d'administration du CNÉA.

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• Research Committee meeting - Réunion du comité de recherche

  • When
    October 21, 2025
  •  
    1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom

  Regular meeting of the Research Committee.

  Réunion ordinaire du comité de recherche.

  
  

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• Masterclass - Winnipeg Session

  • Start
    November 17, 2025
  •  
    9:00 AM
  • End
    November 20, 2025
  •  
    3:00 PM
  • Location
    University of Manitoba Archives

  Register

  Pathway 1 to become a Practising NAAB Appraiser (PNA): 

  MASTERCLASS

  This innovative four-day intensive and hands-on training program, delivered by leading experts in archival monetary appraisal, will leverage your own extensive archival and heritage expertise, leading you through the policies and practices required to undertake both NAAB and independent archival monetary appraisal, through NAAB and independently.

  This session, hosted at the University of Manitoba Archives, will be taught in English by Simon Rogers, Chair of the NAAB Board of Directors, Brian Hubner, NAAB Regional Director for the Prairies, and Brock Silversides, Practising NAAB Appraiser. The session will be hybrid; registrants can choose to participate in person or remotely. The session will consist of three full days of courses followed by one day dedicated to consulting archival materials and preparing for the final assessment: the appraisal report. On the final day, participants will have the choice of working on site to consult archival material in preparation for their final assessment, or to work remotely on a digitized collection. The instructors will be available to answer questions both in person and remotely.

  The Masterclass puts in place the critical pieces of the archival monetary appraisal puzzle and, in a straightforward way, enhances your skills, increases your understanding about monetary appraisal processes and improves your ability to undertake effective archival monetary appraisals. Case studies will be used to illustrate and deepen the lessons learned. On the final day of the Masterclass, participants will inspect archival material for their summative assignment – a full archival monetary appraisal and a written monetary appraisal report – due on 4 December 2025. Upon successful completion of the summative assignment participants will become eligible to be designated as a Practising NAAB Appraiser.

  Other benefits: Take this knowledge back to your workplace. Bring immediate benefit to your archival institution by conducting small and medium dollar value in-house archival monetary appraisals. Earn extra income or share your expertise with the broader heritage community by participating on NAAB panels in your region. Develop your leadership abilities in archival monetary appraisal and help shape and sustain the future of the archival monetary appraisal landscape in Canada – become a PNA!

  To participate in the Masterclass you should be a seasoned mid to late career or retired archivist, librarian, museum curator or other heritage professional and meet the following minimum requirements:

  1.  Become a member in good standing with NAAB (Associate fee is included in the registration fee). You can pay online via credit card or please contact CCA/NAAB by email to have an invoice sent to your institution.
  Registration Fee: $1,650 for participants
  

  2.  Complete the Registration and agree to adhere to the Practising NAAB Appraiser Standards of Ethical Conduct and Professional Responsibility.

  3.  Submit a detailed CV that demonstrates the appropriate minimum educational and experience requirements:

  · An undergraduate degree from a recognized university and five (5) years of experience working in an archival institution or related field.
        OR
  · Successfully completed two (2) years of post secondary education in a discipline relevant to culture and heritage, and seven (7) years of relevant experience
        OR
  · Exceptional educational and professional circumstances may also be considered

  4. Receive official approval of registration by NAAB

  Notes: 

  • Participants are required to bring a laptop with wifi capabilities to the Masterclass. All assignments will be completed electronically.  Wifi access will be provided to each participant. Technical support will not be available. 
  • Registration will be limited and preference will be given to those with archival experience (processing records).
  • For participants without institutional support, customized payment arrangements can be made by contacting pna-ece@archivescanada.ca. 
  • Are you wondering what skills and knowledge the ideal participant might have?  NAAB has created a sample self assessment to help guide your registration decision. Please note, the experience and knowledge of each application for registration will be considered on its own merits. Individual results may vary and minor variances may not preclude your participation in the Masterclass.  Disclaimer: This sample document is provided to you as guidance only. A minimum of 5 to 10 years of heritage experience would be an asset for Masterclass participants.  Each professional m may have unique experiences, enhanced skills or minor knowledge gaps that may or may not be reflected within this assessment sample.

  
  The Masterclass is delivered in partnership with:
  

  Canadian Council of Archives/Conseil canadien des archives
  Secretariat and Registrar for the National Archival Appraisal Board (NAAB) 
  / Secrétariat et registraire du Conseil national d’évaluation des archives (CNÉA)
  130 Albert, Suite 1912
  Ottawa, ON   K1P 5G4
  613-565-1222
  naab@archivescanada.ca
  www.naab.ca

  
  

  
  

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