Bona Arsenault
A Quebec historian and politician who dedicated his life to mapping the intricate family trees of Acadians and defending their cultural legacy.
1903–1993 (age 90)·Canadian politician·Birthday: October 4·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Bona Arsenault was a man whose work was rooted deeply in the soil of Quebec and Acadian history. His political career, which saw him serve as a member of both the Quebec Legislative Assembly and the Canadian House of Commons, was always intertwined with his passion for genealogy. Arsenault wasn't just a politician who studied history; he was a historian who entered politics, likely seeing it as another avenue to serve and protect the French-Canadian identity. After his time in office, he devoted himself fully to the monumental task of chronicling Acadian lineages. His multi-volume genealogical dictionaries became indispensable reference works, rescuing countless family stories from obscurity and providing a concrete foundation for Acadian identity in North America. He approached the past not as a dry academic, but as a builder of connections, showing how the present is woven from countless threads of the past. His legacy is a mapped nation of names, a testament to survival and continuity.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Bona was born in 1903, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bona Was Born
The biggest hits of 1903
Bona's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1903Born
Wright brothers achieve first powered flight
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1908Started school
Ford Model T goes into production
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1916Became a teenager
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1919Could drive
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Could vote
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1924Turned 21
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1933Turned 30
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1943Turned 40
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1953Turned 50
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1963Turned 60
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1973Turned 70
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 80
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Died at 90
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
Key Achievements
- Authored the comprehensive 'Histoire et généalogie des Acadiens,' a foundational work in Acadian genealogical studies.
- Served as a Member of the Quebec Legislative Assembly for Bonaventure from 1944 to 1948.
- Served as a Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons for Bonaventure from 1945 to 1949 and again from 1953 to 1958.
- His genealogical research compiled and preserved the family histories of thousands of Acadian descendants.
Did You Know?
He initially worked as a journalist and editor before entering politics.
His genealogical research often involved traveling to archives across Quebec, the Maritimes, and even France.
He was a member of the Liberal Party of Canada during his federal political career.
Several of his historical works are still considered standard references in Acadian studies.
“Our history is not just in books; it is in the names and the land around us.”
