Researching Charles Evans

He attended public and high schools in Mount Forest, and graduated from a two-year program at British American College.

Evans participated in municipal politics at Piapot, Saskatchewan as a school trustee and as a councillor.

He was first elected to Parliament at the Maple Creek riding in the 1935 general election and was re-elected for a second term in the 1940 election. After completing this term, Evans left federal politics and did not seek re-election in 1945.

Evans was named one of American Libraries 100 most important library and information science leaders of the 20th century. Evans is most well known as the bibliographer and compiler of the first 12 volumes of his book, American Bibliography: A Chronological Dictionary of All Books, Pamphlets, and Periodical Publications Printed in the United States of America from the Genesis of Printing in 1639 Down to and Including the Year 1830, with Bibliographical and Biographical Notes. He was also a founder of the American Library Association along with Melvil Dewey.

Evans was a chorister under Dr. Edmund Ayrton, and in 1808 a gentleman of the Chapel Royal. His name appears among the alto singers in the chorus of the "Ancient Concerts" of 1798, and he took part with John Braham and others in the music performed at Weber's funeral in 1826.

Four of Evans's part-songs gained prizes from the Glee and Catch Clubs, namely: Beauties, have you seen a toy? (1811); Fill all the glasses (1812); Ode to the Memory of Samuel Webbe (1817), for Samuel Webbe; and Great Bacchus (1821). Subsequently he became a catholic and a member of the choir of the chapel of the Portuguese embassy. Evans wrote a Magnificat and some motets, contained in books iv. and v. of Alfred Novello's "Collection of Motets". He was also the composer of many songs.