ERIK WHITE, "REMAINING LOYAL TO HISTORY," NIAGARA FALLS REVIEW  (APRIL 21, 2003).

Copyright Niagara Falls Review 2003

ST. CATHARINES - While most people will likely never see them, Edward Scott believes having a complete collection of Loyalist documents in Canada will have a significant effect on how the refugees of the American Revolution are remembered.

"It will help preserve the story and preserve the loyalist heritage and help people better understand the contribution made to Canada by the loyalists," he said.

The Welland man heads a fledgling charitable organization called the Friends of the Loyalist Collection at Brock University, trying to establish a definitive bank of loyalist information.

Scott, a past president of the United Empire Loyalists Association of Canada, said the idea was kicked around at a meeting of Niagara loyalists and the small organization was formed last year.

Through donations and government grants, they hope to pull together $150,000 over the next five years to purchase copies of about 1,000 rolls of microfilm from the National Archives of Canada and the United Kingdom Public Record Office.

Included in the documents will be the personal papers of Sir Frederick Haldimand and Sir Guy Carleton, the governors of Quebec during the American revolution and subsequent migration of loyal British subjects, as well as the rosters of loyalist regiments who served during the war.

"It's really the history of the loyalists, written in that day," Scott said.

It's thought that such a collection will make Brock's James A. Gibson Library a destination for academic researchers from across the country, as well as genealogists.

"Preserving this distinctive collection at Brock University will provide ready access to important historical documents," said Brock president David Atkinson. "That these documents will be located at the university is exceedingly appropriate, given the United Empire Loyalists' and Brock's role in preserving an important part of our history."