Passing of Rev. Dr. Bernard O’Connor
The members of the Ferguson Foundation were saddened to hear of the recent passing of Rev. O'Connor.
He donated the proceeds of his extensive collection to the Foundation August 26, 2009 following its sale by auction in the amount of $546,712.
The Sydney Mines native, born March 13, 1951, passed away in hospital Sunday May 10, 2015 in Mishawaka, Ind., at the age of 64 after experiencing
declining health in recent months. He began his schooling at St. Francis Xavier University and later attended several universities where he
studied theology and spirituality. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1977.
In 2004, Father Bernie, as he was known, was called to the Vatican to serve the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. He was also a fellow
and professor of theology and ecclesial mediation at the Graduate Theological Foundation in Indiana, where he served from 1996 to this year.
A renowned expert on papal diplomacy, he authored two books on the subject. He had previously taught summer courses at the University of Oxford
and the University of Cambridge.
O'Connor was also a personal acquaintance to Pope Benedict XVI, having co-authored an article with him when the former pontiff was known as
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger.
More complete information is available from
The Chronicle Herald.
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2014 Annual Meeting of the Foundation
The Annual Meeting of the J.D. Ferguson Historical Research Foundation's Board of Directors was held on Friday August 15, 2014 during
the R.C.N.A. Convention.
The Foundation's prime objective is to give financial
support to a broad range of activities aimed at preserving our heritage
as it relates to early historical currency, banks and other issuers of
money, coins, tokens, medals and paper money issued throughout Canada.
The following business items were discussed during the proceedings:
- The Foundation continues with a solid financial status thanks to the work of the Investment Committee.
- The Foundation is once again assisting the R.C.N.A. with a $3,000 grant in support of colour and improved quality of their CN Journal.
- Six proposals for publications have been received with the expectation that two could be ready for production by next year.
- Four scholarships of $3,000 were awarded from the Rev. O'Connor Scholarship Fund in what has proven to be a very successful initiative.
- Reincorporation of the Foundation in compliance with the Federal Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act was discussed and articles of continuance and revised by-laws were passed by the directors.
- A $100 payment was made to the 2014 R.C.N.A. convention to defray the cost of our meeting room.
Effective 16 August 2014, Christopher Faulkner will be the Chairman of the Foundation.
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Board members pictured are (left to right):
Robert Forbes, David Bergeron, Dick Dunn, Graham Esler, Len Buth, Ted Leitch, Paul Petch, Robert Graham,
Geoff Bell, Chairman, Dorte Brace, Christopher Faulkner, Scott Douglas, Rick Craig, Bret Evans (ex-officio RCNA), Ronald Greene, Paul Johnson
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July 2014 Board Membership Announcements
Geoffrey Bell, Chairman of the J. Douglas Ferguson Historical Research Foundation, recently announced several changes to the Foundation's Board.
Mr. Bell, who was appointed Board Chairman in 1999 by the late William MacDonald, is stepping down in August, 2014 and
Prof. Christopher Faulkner will be assuming the chairmanship. Faulkner is well known in Canadian numismatics as a prolific researcher and writer.
His most recent award-winning work was on the Holey Dollars of Prince Edward Island. Mr. Bell will continue as a Board member.
Calgary chartered accountant, Neil Probert will assume the Treasurer's job at the end of this fiscal year in March, 2015.
Len Buth, the current Treasurer, is leaving the position after many years of faithful service.
Mr. Buth will continue to serve the Board.
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Mr. David Bergeron has been named to the Board as a new member. David has been Curator of the National Currency Collection of the Bank of Canada
since 2002. As Curator, he is responsible for the development and maintenance of the collection, its library and supporting services and
making the collection accessible to the public through various media. Bergeron holds a Master's degree in History from the
University of Ottawa and has had experience as a coin dealer and as a collector himself. He was appointed a
Fellow of the Canadian Numismatic Research Society in 2009.
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Mr. Scott Douglas has been also been appointed to the Board of Directors. Douglas has served as President of several Ontario
coin clubs and the Buffalo Numismatic Association south of the border. Currently archivist of the
Toronto Coin Club and the Buffalo club, Scott has been a regular contributor to the
Royal Canadian Numismatic Association Journal and numerous other numismatic
publications with well written pieces of research. Douglas is currently President of the
Canadian Numismatic Research Society and was responsible for that group's first medal.
His 58 page booklet on Early Canadian Numismatists and their Tokens won him the Fred Bowman literary award.
He was awarded the RCNA Presidential plaque in 2008, the award of Merit by the
Ontario Numismatic Association in 2010 and was elected a Fellow of the ONA in 2013.
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2013 Annual Meeting of the Foundation
As Mr. Geoffrey Bell, Chairman of the J.D. Ferguson Historical Research
Foundation, continues to recover from a medial condition, Deputy Chairman Mr. Christopher Faulkner chaired
the annual meeting of the Foundation on July 26, 2013 during the R.C.N.A. convention in Winnipeg.
The Foundation was established in 1971 as a non-profit organization.
It fills a need in Canada for financing research and study and for providing
funds for publishing and related activities in the numismatic field.
The Foundation is an incorporated body and issues tax receipts for financial donations.
Our thanks are extended to the Vancouver
Numismatic Society for their recent generous donation made during the Winnipeg convention.
One such Foundation project was a $3000 grant to the RCNA to help upgrade the Journal with color, etc.
The Foundation financed the publishing costs of Christopher Faulkner's book
The Holey Dollars and Dumps of Prince Edward Island.
Information about purchasing this book is available here.
An important initiative of the Foundation
is the offer of four $3000 scholarships at four Canadian universities enabling students to study
numismatics or related studies. One student at Laval University is doing an
archaeological dig at Three Rivers to study early commerce there through the discovery of coins, tokens, etc.
The decision was taken at this meeting to support and procede with the production of a computer CD to
accompany the Canadian Numismatic Bibliography published with Foundation support in 2007.
A small committee will endeavour to complete the task over the next few months. Owners of the publication
will be contacted to be made aware of the CD's availability.
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Board of Directors Membership Appointments
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Geoffrey Bell, Chairman of the J. Douglas Ferguson Foundation, announced on November 30, 2012 that two new Directors have agreed to
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Jared Stapleton holds a business degree in enterprise development. He is owner and manager of
the Toronto Coin Expo. He is a passionate collector focusing on error banknotes and Canadian chartered banknotes.
Stapleton is currently First Vice President of the Canadian Paper Money Society and serves on the pricing panel of the
Charlton Standard Catalogue for Canadian Government Paper Money.
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The second appointment is Henry Nienhuis. He founded the Canadian Errors and Varieties Numismatic Association
and writes a regular column on the topic in the RCNA Journal. Nienhuis is currently on the executives of the Ontario
Numismatic Association, the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association and the Canadian Association for Numismatic
Education. He has been honored by being made a Fellow of the RCNA, ONA and CNRS. He is co-chair of the RCNA
2014 convention.
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Bell expressed his thanks to Jean Donato and Brian Cornwell for their many years of service to the Board. Both are
leaving and Bell noted their volunteer contributions are greatly appreciated.
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At the same time, it was also announced that Prof. Christopher Faulkner is appointed Deputy Chairman of the Foundation, replacing Paul Berry who remains on the
Board but whose important work for the Bank of Canada's National Currency Collection has been demanding more of his attention.
The P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation has recently selected Prof. Faulkner as their chosen recipient for a 2013
Heritage Award for his book The Holey Dollars and Dumps of Prince Edward Island. The Board is proud to have played a part in the
publication of this book and extends its congratulations to Prof. Faulkner.
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The Holey Dollars and Dumps of Prince Edward Island Is Released
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The J. Douglas Ferguson Historical Research Foundation is pleased to announce the release of
The Holey Dollars and Dumps of Prince Edward Island by Christopher Faulkner.
This is the first book-length study to be devoted to Canada's most exotic and celebrated colonial-era coin.
With a basis in twenty years worth of research
in international archives, libraries, and private and institutional collections,
from as far afield as Charlottetown and Puerto Rico, Vancouver and London, this book uncovers the
origins and history of a coin that has been shrouded in mystery for two hundred years.
The Holey Dollars and Dumps of Prince Edward Island is published by Spink, London, with the financial support
of the J. Douglas Ferguson Historical Research Foundation.
Information about purchasing this book is available here.
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2012 Annual Meeting of the Foundation
Mr. Geoffrey Bell, Chairman of the J.D. Ferguson Historical Research
Foundation issued a press release on August 20, 2012 reporting on the
operation of the Foundation:
The J.D. Ferguson Historical Research Foundation recently held its
Annual Meeting. The Foundation's prime objective is to give financial
support to a broad range of activities aimed at preserving our heritage
as it relates to early historical currency, banks and other issuers of
money, coins, tokens, medals and paper money issued throughout Canada.
It was announced that the book authored by Christopher Faulkner entitled
"The Holey Dollars and Dumps of Prince Edward Island"
is
currently at Spinks and slated to be released early fall 2012. The
Foundation is underwriting the total cost of publication. The Board
also agreed to donate its extensive inventory of books to the Royal
Canadian Numismatic Association for presentation to juniors and new
members. The RCNA is also going to receive a donation from the
Foundation of $3000 to upgrade its journal with additional color.
Awards of four scholarships of $3000 to Canadian universities were
approved for numismatic study at the post-graduate level. Funds are
provided from the Rev. Dr. Bernard J. O'Connor Scholarship Fund. The
universities selected were Memorial of St. John's, Laval of Quebec
City, Carleton of Ottawa and the University of British Columbia,
Vancouver.
In order to increase the amount of its financial support to various
numismatic activities, the Foundation needs to increase its investment
portfolio. Donations of cash and numismatic and archival material are
urgently sought and will be gratefully received at any time. All
donations are tax-exempt under the income tax act and an official
receipt will be issued. Our thanks are extended to the Vancouver
Numismatic Society for their recent generous donation.
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Board members pictured are: foreground - Chairman Geoffrey Bell
around the table from left - Dorte Brace, Paul Petch, Ted Leitch, Neil Probert,
Michael Zigler (ex-officio CPMS), Dick Dunn, Ronald Greene, Robert Forbes,
Len Buth, Rick Craig, Peter Moogk, William Waychison (ex-officio RCNA)
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2011 Annual Meeting of the Foundation
The Board
of Directors of the J. Douglas Ferguson Historical Research Foundation met on
July 15, 2011 during the R.C.N.A. Convention in Windsor, Ontario.
During this meeting Christopher Faulkner reported on progress with the
Prince Edward Island Holey Dollar book.
Having met with the Spink's book editor in London, he commented that copies are
currently expected in the fall of 2011.
Christopher Faulkner also reported on options and recommendations for awarding scholarships from the Rev. Dr. Bernard O’Connor
fund. He will chair a committee that will make available four scholarships of $3,000 to be awarded by designated
universities for a trial period of three years.
In 2009, the Rev. Dr. Bernard O’Connor donated $546,000 to the
Foundation following the sale of his wonderful collection.
Foundation Treasurer Len Buth presented the financial statements as at 31 March, 2011.
The Ferguson Foundation has distributed over $286,000 since 1980 to authors
putting together book projects, essay projects and grants to national
organizations. The 21 member Board of Directors representing experienced, reputable
individuals from many walks of life administers the Foundation. The
Presidents of both the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association and the Canadian
Paper Money Society are ex-officio members allowing close contact with both
national bodies.
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Board members pictured are: head table - Chairman Geoffrey Bell
left table back to front - Robert Forbes, Ronald Greene, Len Buth, Christopher Faulkner, Dan Gosling,
right table back to front - Robert Graham, Cliffe Beattie, Graham Esler, Michael Zigler, Dorte Brace,
front table left to right - Paul Johnson, Paul Petch, Ted Leitch,
not pictured - Paul Berry, Dick Dunn
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William H. McDonald, 1924-2011 by James R. Bakes, CMNS, Toronto

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It was with a strong feeling of the passing of an era that the death of William H. (Bill) McDonald
was announced on Saturday, May 14, 2011. Bill was a huge force in Canadian numismatics,
founder of the CPMS (Canadian Paper Money Society), the CMNS (Classical and Medieval
Numismatic Society) and the J. Douglas Ferguson Historical Research Foundation.
Bill, born in Winnipeg in 1924 into a large family, left home to join the Navy in 1943. (He spoke of
picking apples in the Annapolis Valley, a task used by the military to keep their young recruits
busy, and of a train trip to the west coast where he was to take up ship. Passing through his
hometown, his father met the train and slipped him a flask of whiskey: "You're a man now, Bill.")
He joined the RCNVR and for the duration of the World War II sailed on patrol and trade missions
in the south Pacific. After the war, Bill left the west for Ottawa and Gwen joined him a year later
where they were married in 1950. Bill now began his long career as a banker, eventually joining
the Bank of Nova Scotia in Toronto, the city which remained his much-loved home for the rest of
his life.
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Bill's career climbed with the explosive growth of the post-war city; he was involved in mortgage
writing for the developers of the old Henry Farm for example, which became a fine planned
community and the site of the McDonalds' family home.
It was his banking career that first sparked his primary collecting interest: paper money, and
specifically banknotes. His collection of these grew to enormous proportions. At one time a
display of his collection at the Toronto-Dominion Centre encompassed seventy showcases. In a
demonstration of the numismatic adage to buy the book before the coin, Bill put together a
collection of books on banking history that filled three walls of his home library. Bill was always
interested in the learning aspect of numismatics and to further spread his own commitment to
paper money he founded the CPMS and with it, its publication which is still operating today.
The J. Douglas Ferguson Historical Research Foundation was set up in 1971 by Bill and numismatic
friends to support educational activity in the field of numismatics. All funds were tax deductible
and kept in perpetuity. The Foundation is a legacy to Bill's progressive and forward thinking as
the Foundation has given over $200,000 to numismatic research since its inception. Bill was the
founding Chair and continued in that capacity until 1999. He believed so strongly in the
Foundation that he gave large donations in his family name to the Foundation over many years
After his retirement from banking, Bill felt the need of another challenge. He turned to a small
collection of ancient coins he had bought and put away years before and for information about
them developed a friendship with Bruce Brace, the foremost ancient numismatist of his day in
Canada. Bruce introduced Bill to the rest of the ancient coin spectrum and suggested he limit
himself to one facet of this very wide field. Bill wisely chose the period from 100 BC to AD 100
and for the rest of his collecting career stuck pretty closely to that.
As in the case of paper money, Bill wanted to spread information on his new interest. To this end
he founded the Classical and Medieval Numismatic Society, in partnership with Bruce Brace in
1991. This was accompanied by a pair of publications: the annual Picus and the quarterly
newsletter Anvil. In 2000 these two publications were replaced by a card-covered quarterly, the
CMNS Journal, which contained both scholarly and general interest articles. Four issues a year
were mailed from an 'assembly line' around the McDonald dining room table and the 'world-wide
distribution centre' staff then made their way to the post office with 300 copies to be mailed from
Toronto to Tehran, Athens to Australia. After that, the mailing team (same as the editorial team
and the office staff) made their way to the Fish House for a well deserved post-publication dinner.
At one time Bill and Gwen even ran a mail order book business from their home. Called Marlcourt
Books, it carried most publications in print for ancient numismatics and sent out many rare and
out-of-print resources too.
Bill would be happy to know he is so much remembered for his dissemination of numismatic
information. Whether it was the founding of societies, publications, books or seminars Bill was a
giant in Canadian numismatics and he will be long remembered for that.
He leaves his wife Gwen, their daughter Barb and her family, close friends in the Chedoke
Numismatic Society of Hamilton Ontario, Feathers (a numismatic club named for the pub it
started in) and thousands in the larger numismatic world for whom the contributions of Bill
McDonald are now fond memories.
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Prof. Christopher Faulkner Joins the Foundation

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Geoffrey Bell,
Chairman of the J. Douglas Ferguson Historical Research Foundation, recently
announced that Christopher Faulkner of Ottawa has been appointed to its Board.
Faulkner is Distinguished Research Professor at Carleton University in Ottawa.
He is the author of four books and numerous articles on French cinema. In the
field of numismatics, his primary area of research interest is the circulating
specie of pre-Confederation Canada. He is presently completing an authoritative
book on Prince Edward Island Holey Dollars to be published in 2011. Faulkner is
a member of the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association and is a Fellow of the
Canadian Numismatic Research Society.
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2010 Annual Meeting of the Foundation
The Board
of Directors of the J. Douglas Ferguson Historical Research Foundation met on
July 16, 2010 during the R.C.N.A. Convention in Saint John, New Brunswick.
During this meeting the Board approved funding for the Prince Edward Island
Holey Dollar book by Christopher Faulkner. Long in development and anticipated by
students of this series, this monumental work will be published in 2011.
Foundation Treasurer Len Buth and Foundation Investment Chair Rick Craig
reviewed the finances indicating $750,000 was invested in low risk instruments.
Foundation projects are enabled through donations that are held in perpetuity
with only interest earned used for grants. Strict investment criteria with
precise by-laws, combined with professional advice, ensure maximum return on
all investments. In 2009, the Rev. Dr. Bernard O’Connor donated $546,000 to the
Foundation following the sale of his wonderful collection.
The Ferguson Foundation has distributed over $286,000 since 1980 to authors
putting together book projects, essay projects and grants to national
organizations. The 20 member Board of Directors representing experienced, reputable
individuals from many walks of life administers the Foundation. The
Presidents of both the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association and the Canadian
Paper Money Society are ex-officio members allowing close contact with both
national bodies.
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Board members
pictured are (from left):
Dick Dunn, Ted Leitch, Graham Esler, Rick Craig, Len Buth, Robert
Graham,
Chairman Geoffrey Bell, Paul Petch, Dorte Brace, Ronald Greene, Cliffe
Beattie |
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Robert Forbes Joins the Foundation

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Geoffrey Bell, Chairman of the J. Douglas Ferguson
Historical Research Foundation, announced on July 16, 2010 that Robert
Forbes has
joined the Board of the Foundation. Forbes is a prominent Toronto
lawyer and
partner in the law firm Miller Thomson. He is an adjunct professor at
Osgoode
Law School, has co-authored 3 legal textbooks and is the Royal Canadian
Numismatic Association Director for Central Ontario. Forbes is a
longtime collector of
Canadian decimal, Atlantic Provinces coins and French regime Royal
portrait
coinage. Bell stated, “I am thrilled to have Bob on board as we will be
negotiating several new book projects in the upcoming months and Bob’s
expertise will be invaluable”.
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Rev. O’Connor Donates To J. Douglas
Ferguson Historical Research Foundation

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Reverend
Dr. Bernie O’Connor donated the proceeds of his extensive collection to
the JD Ferguson Historical Research Foundation August 26, 2009 in
Sydney,
Nova Scotia.
Geoffrey Bell Auctions recently sold his entire collection in Halifax
realizing $546,712 for the Foundation.
Geoff Bell, Foundation
Chairman, was all smiles
with the announced donation.
“The Foundation is obviously thrilled to get this wonderful gift.
It will allow us to help numismatic scholars and writers publish works
that may not be commercially viable but valuable nevertheless.”
Rev. O’Connor was a
long-time collector putting
together an outstanding eclectic collection that featured a near
complete Breton token collection
supplemented by wonderful banknotes, medals and decimal coins.
There also was a fine representation of classical and medieval coins,
foreign notes, document, autographs, etc.
Provision has been made for a
Scholarship Fund to be established using this donation, with guidelines
for its access detailed on this web site under Projects.
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Bill McDonald presents a cheque to
Dorte Brace as the Classical and Medieval Numismatic Society concludes
formal operations.

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On Thursday, 16
April 2009 a cheque for nearly $5000. was presented by Bill
McDonald on behalf of the CMNS to Dorte Brace representing the J.
Douglas Ferguson Historical Research Foundation. This money will
establish the 'Bruce Brace Fund for
Classical and Medieval Numismatics' within the Ferguson Foundation itself and may
be accessed by anyone interested in funding help for a project
involving ancient or medieval coins.
Though this closes the
bank account for the CMNS, the Society continues
to be a presence at the New York International every January, the RCNA
summer convention, this year in Edmonton AB, and the three Torexes held
each year in Toronto.
CMNS members and those
interested in
classical numismatics are encouraged to support the 'Bruce Brace Fund'
with their donations.
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