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Barbara Wilson Obituary
Passed away peacefully, March 21, 2014, in her 83rd year. Daughter of the late William B. and Olive Wilson, of Ottawa. Barbara will be fondly missed by her friend and companion, Caesar, the cat, special friend, Mary Code (England), cousins, Nancy Macneil, Jim Wilson (Gail), Judy Ripley (Robert), Christopher Wilson, and John Little (Lorraine) and many other good friends. She had a long distinguished career at the Public/National Archives of Canada. Special thanks to Nilde Morielaz and Gabrielle Blais for their wonderful care over the last few months and to the caring staff at the Heart Institute in Ottawa. Memorial Service to be held on Wednesday, March 26 at St. Barnabas Church, 70 James Street, Ottawa at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a charity of your choice.
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20 Entries
Roger Little
August 29, 2025
Reading these messages I feel keenly aware of the great interest and kinship expressed by those who knew and had worked with Barbara. I can well imagine what an adventure this could undoubtedly have been. For myself, I should like to add to my original post on her death that my memories of Barbara are many and almost entirely familial although I did appreciate occasions when she would patiently and kindly respond to an historical observation on my part suggesting a different line of thought or perhaps a reminder of the all important detail or fact to the issue under discussion. I knew her for as long as I can remember as Barbara was a first cousin to my father, the painter John Little, 'Nemo' as she called him. They were fond of one another and over many years I was accustomed to weekend visits to Ottawa. It was fascinating to listen to my parents and Barbara chatting away with our hostess holding forth without restraint and with all the charisma of a great actress. Kate Reid comes to mind by way of possible similarity. Much of Barbara's talk would recall the childhood she shared with my father, stories of which I always enjoyed and which I appreciate more and more as time passes and especially now that I have recently lost my father. I now gather and bring order to his papers recording and noting fragments of the past in a nod to posterity and to honour those now absent.
Roger Little
Roger Little
August 29, 2025
Gary Mitchell
January 27, 2015
What an archivist! The lessons she taught me during the hectic summer of 1983 have guided me my entire career; rest in peace.
Thank your Barbara!
Richard Laughton
July 12, 2014
It was only today from a posting from one of our members that we learnt of the passing of Barbara this Spring (http://cefresearch.ca/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11866).
All of us at the Canadian Expeditionary Force Study Group (CEFSG) use Barbara's resources on a daily basis. I am so sorry that we missed the announcement of her passing and that we could not have been present. The family and friends should know that Barbara is in our minds every day as that is how often we use the wonderful legacy that she left behind. Thank you Barbara for your gift to the CEFSG and others. We will make sure that your legacy is perpetuated forever, as we do for the men and women of the Canadian Expeditionary Force.
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Dawn Monroe
April 14, 2014
Sad to hear of Barbara's death. She was a valued colleague and admirable archivist and historian.
Dawn Monroe
March 28, 2014
Barbara was a terrific archivist and a good colleague. John Smart
R. Little
March 27, 2014
We have lost a passionate historian and a charismatically pungent personality! Never to be forgotten.
André Martineau
March 27, 2014
Barbara was a great archivist and a great colleague. She was very helpful when I started at the Public Archives in 1968. Also as my knowledge of the language of Shakespeare was minimal,she taught me how to pronounce English names properly with of course her sense of humour.
André Martineau, Gatineau
Richie Allen
March 27, 2014
Barbara leaves a living legacy at Library and Archives Canada through her fabulous archival work and finding aids to military materials. She created these in much earlier technological times and deserves our deep appreciation. I remember her as a pleasant and thorough mentor.
Mona & Michael Harb
March 26, 2014
Barbara will be greatly missed by us and many friends; We will miss her very much.
Erin and Cynthia
March 26, 2014
Barbara was a wonderful lady. She will be greatly missed.
Robert McIntosh
March 25, 2014
Barbara was a model archivist - deeply knowledgeable, strongly committed to the records under her custody and to sharing her knowledge with researchers. I'm not convinced that there is anything about Canada's military history that she did not know. She was also a very witty and engaging companion for Chinese lunch. I will miss her.
Carmel Wrinn
March 25, 2014
So sorry to hear of Barbara's passing. She was a rare gem.
March 24, 2014
Barbara was an early mentor of mine. I learned so very much from her. She was a friend to my children when young. I enjoyed all our coffee breaks and will always remember her fondly.
Glenn Wright
March 24, 2014
As an early mentor of mine, Barbara steered me in the right direction on all matters archival. Her knowledge of our military history and the records of that history was simply amazing and over several decades, she made a significant contribution to our understanding of the past - through her own publications and in assisting others, so many others, with their research and writing. I always found her helpful and while our paths took different directions in recent years, I will always recognize and remember Barbara as the one who encouraged my interest in the Great War.
Warren Mizener
March 24, 2014
Barbara was my first mentor when I came on staff in the old Archives building at 330 Sussex and remained a faithful and supportive ccolleague throughout the period (1964-1972) that I served at the Public Archives of Canada. She will be missed by all who knew her.
Bob, Sylvia & family Duquette
March 24, 2014
Barbara was a wonderful next-door neighbour - always great to talk to and so wonderful to our family, including our late dog. Great sense of humour, smart and never afraid to speak her mind - she will be sorely missed.
Karin Lambrecht
March 24, 2014
We will miss you very much our dear friend. Karin and Paul
Brian Beaven
March 24, 2014
I was very sorry to hear that Barbara succumbed to complications. I admired her as a colleague and scholar over many years and, in more recent years, came to share that distinct communion that is the Church of St Barnabas. She was a a formiddable intellect and personality.
Daniel German
March 24, 2014
Barbara was one of the leading figures in the field of Canadian military history, a master of the records, a well-respected colleague, who will be missed
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