Ryan Taylor, genealogical librarian at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana, took a trip to Toronto. A body found in the Niagara River on Monday morning has been tentatively identified as that of Ryan Taylor. He went missing from his hotel room in Toronto on Sunday. He had been in Toronto for the taping of his television show, Ancestors in the Attic.
The following is from his bio at the Interlink Bookshop, written before his disappearance:
Ryan Taylor was born in Oshawa, Ontario and educated at Carleton University and the University of Ottawa. He has been a librarian since 1972 in Manitoba, Ontario and Indiana. In 1994, after working in the Kitchener Public Library, in Kitchener, Ontario, he became a genealogical librarian at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Ryan first became interested in genealogy in 1964.
He has written extensively on genealogical and historical topics. Since 1993 he has written the "Tracing Your Roots" feature in The Record (Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario) and has an online column. He was the founding editor of the newsletter of the Canadian Federation of Genealogical and Family History Societies (1988-90) and a regular columnist in Kitchener Downtown Alive.
Since 1982, he has been active in the Ontario Genealogical Society, serving as chairman of Waterloo-Wellington branch in 1984-85 and as editor of its newsletter. He became reviews editor of Families, the OGS journal in 1984 and was its overall editor from 1988 to 1997.
In 1981 he founded the oral history program of the Kitchener library. In its first decade, the program recorded the memories of more than 600 Waterloo County individuals. He broadcast "Bookmark", a review programme, on CFCA-FM in Kitchener from 1983 to 1992, and was co-host of "Branching Out", a genealogical phone-in television show in Fort Wayne, from 1997 to 1999.
Ryan is the English family history instructor at the British Institute of the International Society for British Genealogy and Family History in Salt Lake City.
He is on the faculty of the National Institute of Genealogical Studies, whose courses are given online through the extension program of the Faculty of Library and Information Science, University of Toronto.
He lectures extensively on genealogical and historical topics, particularly British and Ontario research and methodology. As well as accepting speaking engagements in Canada from St. John’s to Campbell River, he has spoken at American national conferences and in several states.
Ryan is one of the hosts of Ancestors in the Attic, a History Television show scheduled to premiere on Oct. 18, 2006.
In his spare time, Taylor is interested in reading fiction and biography, listening to vocal music, and enjoying the obituaries in the London Times.
The following was written by Louise St Denis and Brenda Dougall Merriman of the National Institute for Genealogical Studies:
Thank you to everyone who expressed concern after receiving our e-mail about Ryan Taylor's disappearance.
Authorities are waiting for an official confirmation of identification, therefore we can give no further details.
Ryan will be greatly missed by the genealogical community. He has been an instructor at The National Institute for Genealogical Studies in the Canadian Studies program for several years. A genealogy librarian by profession, Ryan was noted for his eclectic interests and making friendships during his lecture tours. He was the author of over a dozen books. Many students will also remember an enjoyable week spent with Ryan at our first Research Academy in Salt Lake City when he directed the English program.
A memorial service will be held for Ryan. If you would like to be notified of the details when the family has them finalized, please send us an e-mail.
Should you wish to offer your condolences to the family, you can reply directly to this e-mail. You could include your fondest memories of Ryan, anything that makes you smile when you think of him --- maybe comments about how he helped you solve a genealogical 'brickwall'! Since Ryan enjoyed books so much, we will gather your comments and present them to his family in the format of a memory book.
If you would like to read a biography about Ryan, and view his picture, a man with a great smile, please go to www.genealogicalstudies.com; click on INSTITUTE; click on FACULTY & CONSULTANTS; Scroll down to his name.
In sadness......
The National Institute for Genealogical Studies
Louise St Denis
Managing Director
and
Brenda Dougall Merriman
Director, Canadian Studies
