NEWSLETTER. Summer 2007 Volume 26 Number 4 ISSN, CONTINUITY AND CHANGE Michael Gourlie, Executive Director/Archives Advisor

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1 Summer 2007 Vlume 26 Number 4 ISSN, Executive Directr/Archives Advisr 1 ANA News 2 70 Days in the Cld Vault 4 Techncracy 6 Archives Institute 7 S Many fnds; S Little Time 8 Archives Week 9 Fall Wrkshp Ntice 10 Peple and Places 11 Review: Letters frm Battle River 11 NEWSLETTER CONTINUITY AND CHANGE Michael Gurlie, Executive Directr/Archives Advisr After yu ve spent several years in any cmmunity, yu begin t ntice patterns in the grwth and develpment f that cmmunity. While ne culd argue that Alberta s archival cmmunity is t diverse t identify specific trends, a case can be put frward that the prvince s archival cmmunity prvides examples f change and cntinuity in their best measures. On the side f change, the mst remarkable aspect is the cmmitment n the part f spnsring agencies t prvide updated facilities fr archival institutins. While the new building fr the Prvincial Archives f Alberta may be the grandest archives structure in the prvince, the new facilities fr the Esplanade in Medicine Hat and the Galt Museum & Archives in Lethbridge are striking examples f buildings that prvide the archival recrds (and archivists) f thse cmmunities with excellent accmmdatins. Smaller cmmunities and rganizatins are develping archival facilities that meet minimum standards and prvide a starting pint t expand. While there will likely always be an rganizatin which has a new building just ut f reach, it is heartening t see the number f archival facilities either newly-built r renvated, a situatin that des nt ccur frequently in ther prvinces. On the side f cntinuity, ne can pint t the members f the archival cmmunity itself. Of curse, there are the inevitable retirements and mvements ut f the prvince that fit int the change clumn, but, fr the mst part, many Alberta archivists have spent several years wrking at ne archival institutin. It is difficult t quantify the beneficial effect that the accumulated wisdm f these years brings t the prcess f appraisal, descriptin and reference services, but certainly the receipt f grants, reduced backlgs, increased nline cntent, innvative public cntinued n page 3 Archives Sciety f Alberta Newsletter 1 Vl. 26 N. 4 / Summer 2007

2 ARCHIVES NETWORK OF ALBERTA NEWS Janet McMaster, System Administratr, Archives Netwrk f Alberta What s new in the ANA Databases? Bard f Directrs President Garth Clarke Vice President Judy Kvacs Secretary Susan Stantn Treasurer Glynys Hhmann Institutinal Member-at-Large Debby Shctr Individual Member-at-Large Karen Buckley Cmmittee Chairs Grants Debby Shctr Educatin Terry Reilly Cmmunicatins Anna Gibsn ANA Janet McMaster Finance Glynys Hhmann Newsletter Advertising, Design & Layut Carrie Herrick Website Design Janet McMaster ASA Staff Executive Directr/ Archives Advisr Michael Gurlie Administrative Crdinatr Carrie Herrick Financial Crdinatr Mandi Wisheu System Administratr Archives Netwrk f Alberta/ Webmaster Janet McMaster The Archives Sciety f Alberta is supprted in part by a grant frm the Alberta Histrical Resurces Fundatin. 1. Archives Netwrk f Alberta (ANA) Database The ANA database cntains ver 10,600 fnds level descriptins frm 40 archival institutins thrughut the prvince f Alberta. Several institutins have cntributed new descriptins recently, including Athabasca Archives, Lutheran Histrical Institute, Jasper Yellwhead Museum and Archives, and the Prvincial Archives f Alberta. Esplanade Archives (frmerly Medicine Hat Museum and Art Gallery) recently cmpleted a review f their fnds level descriptins in ANA. This review cnsisted f revising and updating their existing 400+ descriptins, as well as submitting ver 25 new descriptins. New cntributins frm Jasper Yellwhead Museum and Archives include: Gillett family fnds, that cntains recrds pertaining t early railrad emplyees and the day-t-day life and activities f Jasper residents in the mid-t-late twenties; Harld Allen fnds, that tells the stry f ne yung Canadian s jurney t Jasper t enlist fr military service during Wrld War I; and Rbert Dwling fnds, that cntains recrds generated by a well- respected MLA and active member f the Jasper cmmunity. Since April, the Glenbw Archives have added ver 50 links frm their existing fnds level descriptins t new n-line finding aids. Links t n-line finding aids have recently been added t the Calgary Allied Arts Cuncil fnds, Pumphuse Theatre fnds, Alberta Prvincial Wman s Christian Temperance Unin fnds, Hurst Cnstructin fnds, CFCN News Ftage fnds, Pincher Creek Schl Divisin fnds, and The Riley Family fnds. 2. Alberta InSight Database The Alberta InSight database cntains ver 32,000 scanned images frm 20 ASA institutinal members. Suth Peace Reginal Archives and Jasper Yellwhead Museum and Archives have recently cntributed new material t Alberta InSight. The Nrman C. Lindhjem fnds frm Jasper cntains ver ne hundred unique images and rare film ftage f the 87 th Muntain Infantry Detachment and their activities (military training) in Jasper Natinal Park during Wrld War II, including images f a Studebaker test prgram fr a secret military vehicle knwn as the Weasel. Jasper has als recently added phtgraphs and prgrams frm live perfrmances frm the 1960s by the Jasper Senir High Schl Dramatic Sciety. Archives Sciety f Alberta Newsletter 2 Vl. 26 N. 4 / Summer 2007

3 3. Alberta InWrd The Alberta InWrd database cntains ver 90,000 scanned pages frm 10 different institutinal members. Recent additins submitted by the Glenbw Archives include: F.R. Sctt s clsing speech at the Cperative Cmmnwealth Federatin (CCF) cnventin in Regina (1933); Reprt t the Indian Assciatin f Alberta abut Natinal Indian Brtherhd plitical actin in Lndn, England (1981); and Letters and reminiscences written by Phil Weinard abut his life as a suthern Alberta rancher. The ANA databases are available t all f the ASA s institutinal members. Training is als prvided at n cst t members wh wish t cntribute new material r wh have questins abut revising their existing material. If yu have any questins abut the databases, r wuld like t arrange fr training, please cntact me by at jmcmast@shaw.ca, r by phne at (403) CONTINUITY AND CHANGE... prgramming and numerus satisfied researchers are sme indicatrs. It seems likely that the capital expenditure and specific designs necessary fr the new facilities is an additinal benefit f the skilful lbbying and reputatin f the lcal archivist. Attendance at the ASA s Archives Institute and special tpics wrkshps and requests fr additinal wrkshps shws that the cmmunity cntinues t upgrade their skills in a variety f new and challenging tpics. While each archivist will have his r her wn particular perspective n issues, it seems that the archival cmmunity as a whle is rughly n the same page, allwing it t mve frward n issues f cmmn interest and benefit. Awareness f archives and the archival prfessin will be a cntinuing theme as well as an nging struggle. Then there are the unfreseen challenges that n ne can predict. But Alberta s archival cmmunity is mre than equal t these tasks, weathering the cming strms with the usual mixture f practicality, hard wrk, and innvatin fr which it is famus. Maintaining this healthy balance between cntinuity and change may be difficult in the cming years. As mre experienced archivists mve ut f prvince r retire, recruiting new archivists t fill these gaps will require sme luck and a successin plan that includes prfessinal develpment pprtunities t bring them up t speed n the existing and upcming needs f the institutin. Once-new buildings will require maintenance and upgrading, a tugh sell when ther seemingly mre imprtant rganizatinal needs present themselves. Archives Sciety f Alberta Newsletter 3 Vl. 26 N. 4 / Summer 2007

4 70 Days in the Cld Vault Marlena Wyman, Audi/Visual Archivist, Prvincial Archives f Alberta The Prvincial Archives f Alberta is pleased t annunce that a recent Mving Image Preservatin Assessment was cmpleted with the generus financial assistance f the Natinal Archival Develpment Prgram. The cntractr wh cmpleted this prject was media specialist, lcal filmmaker, and wner f the Edmntn Film Schl, Tm Bernier. Tm braved the glacial cnditins f the cld vault, the ickiness f sticky shed syndrme, the acridity f vinegar syndrme, the vexatin f trn sprckets and mre in his search t identify shrt, medium and lng term preservatin recmmendatins fr the mving image cllectin. Tm created an Excel master database that prvides infrmatin regarding the age, frmats, existence f preservatin and access cpies, and ntes n physical cnditin f the films and vides in the hldings f the Prvincial Archives f Alberta. The database is expandable and searchable and therefre, any number f subsets f infrmatin may be accessed thrugh a custm search. All the relevant data that existed was lcated and a data base f 8,599 accessin numbers has been created t date. A few f the many recmmendatins include: The lder, the smaller and the mre bscure the frmat, the mre the risk f deteriratin increases. The age and relatively limited number f videtapes prduced in the 1960s and 1970s dictates that these tapes shuld be the first pririty. A vide inspectin reprt shuld be created and filled ut fr each vide in the cllectin as well as n a regular inspectin schedule. Inspectin reprts shuld als be filled ut fr each vide as acquired. A basic vide inspectin wuld include making nte f any physical damage t the cntainer and the tape, identifying the videtape base, nting any tape pack deficiencies, rewinding, and filling ut the vide inspectin reprt. It is necessary t play at least the first few minutes f the tapes t determine cnditin f the picture and sund and nte this n the inspectin reprt. A basic film inspectin wuld include the remval any nnarchival tape and paper, repairing r making nte f any physical damage, identifying the film base, determining the manufacture date frm edge cdes where pssible, cnducting a shrinkage meter test and nting results, winding ff the reel and nt a large archival cre, and filling ut the film inspectin reprt. In terms f preservatin pririty fr film, f specific nte are any films that have magnetic sund, whether full cat mag stck r magnetic strip n film. The magnetic sund and the film shuld nt be stred tgether. It is recmmended that magnetic media shuld nt be stred belw 8 degrees C. Much f the film cllectin is acetate based, which is prne t vinegar syndrme. Identificatin f film base, whether acetate r the mre stable plyester, shuld be carried ut n a regular basis, alng with a reprt f stage f deteriratin. In the meantime, cld strage will slw dwn deteriratin. Archives Sciety f Alberta Newsletter 4 Vl. 26 N. 4 / Summer 2007

5 An nging effrt must be devted t the maintenance f the equipment, acquisitin f new and bslete equipment, and the inventry and surplusing f equipment. Maintenance f the database is required t ensure precise infrmatin regarding dates f migratin and prjected dates f remigratin. This becmes even mre urgent as the Archives mves int the acquisitin f digitally brn mving images. This database will allw the Prvincial Archives t fcus ur future cnservatin treatment effrts n thse items deemed t be at mst risk. This database will be especially useful fr the Prvincial Archives f Alberta s new Audi/Visual Cnservatr, Terry O Rirdan in his wrk. Welcme Terry, t the Prvincial Archives, and keep yur winter cat handy fr thse cld vault visits, even in the summer! REMINDER The Archives Sciety f Alberta is lking t reduce the amunt f paper used t prduce and mail the newsletter, s the ASA will be transitining its quarterly newsletter int an electrnic newsletter. The first electrnic newsletter will be available fr the winter 2008 issue. Please cntact the Administrative Crdinatr at (780) r at cherrick@shaw.ca shuld yu wish t receive the print versin. Museums Cnservatin Archives Archival Carr Mclean has cmmitted t ffer ur custmers the mst cmprehensive selectin f cnservatin prducts available frm a single Canadian supplier. Call Fax Online Archives Sciety f Alberta Newsletter 5 Vl. 26 N. 4 / Summer 2007

6 TECHNOCRACY Raymnd Frgner, University f Alberta The University f Alberta Archives (U.A.A) wishes t annunce the cmpletin f its prject t research, write, and digitize a file-level descriptive inventry f the recrds f the Techncracy mvement held at the University f Alberta Archives. Techncracy s sweeping perspective means the mvement hlds value fr several research cnstituencies. Beginning in 1919 when the term was cined, Techncracy was a respnse t the scial, ecnmic, and plitical strms buffeting Western demcracies after the First Wrld War. The difficult pst-war plitical and ecnmic envirnment was a hthuse fr sweeping scial mvements such as scialism, anarchism and fascism. In a less vilent fashin (witness the mvement s symbl, the Mnad, an ancient generic symbl signifying balance and harmny between nature and science), Techncracy essentially prmted mdernism s emphasis n scientific analysis and technlgical slutins t the ills f humanity. The bjectives f the new rganizatin were: t carry ut a prgram f ecnmic research; t bring techncratic thery t the attentin f the public; t prvide a skeletn rganizatin capable f frming the Technate, (a sciety premised n techncracies scientific guidelines in Nrth America in the event f a final cllapse f the scial and ecnmic rder based n the price system). Frm the beginning the mvement disavwed revlutinary and plitical activities. The mvement was funded by Hward Sctt, an American engineer. Sctt and a number f ther scientists and engineers rganized a grup knwn as the Technical Alliance in a bid t reprduce the results f the mbilizatin f resurces and prductin during the First Wrld War. With Sctt elected Chief Engineer the Technical Alliance studied all facets f the American scial and ecnmic system t design a new system f prductin and distributin fr cntinental Nrth America that wuld prvide a better standard f living, cnserve nn-renewable resurces, and ensure an ecnmy f abundance. The Technical Alliance was renamed Techncracy in 1930 and in 1932 and it began t publish its basic findings. In the fall f 1933, Techncracy was incrprated in New Yrk State as a nnsectarian, educatinal-research membership rganizatin (Techncracy Digest, N. 231, pp 4). As sciety grasped fr slutins t the ecnmic and scial prblems f the interwar perid, the mvement gained strength but in 1940, due t its stated ppsitin t the Secnd Wrld War, it was banned in Canada. The ban was lifted in 1943 when Techncracy mdified their ppsitin t the war and sectins were refrmed accrdingly. Hwever, the pst-war years, perhaps due t cntinued ecnmic prsperity saw membership and interest in Techncracy decrease. The Techncracy papers reflect the ppular interwar currents f thught in Nrth America regarding the plitical and ecnmic rganizatin f sciety. In this sense, the Techncracy mvement is significant in the same manner that many prairie ppulist mvements hld histrical research value. Thugh relatively insignificant tday, the mvement has cntinued int the early years f the 21 st century. Their magazine The Techncrat is still published. Fr students f the histry f science, plitical science, the histry f ideas, scial histry, and ecnmics, the recrds f Techncracy are a valuable resurce. The Techncracy fnds at the U.A.A. cntains the recrds f the Edmntn and Calgary chapters f Techncracy Inc. The predminant prtin f the fnds is cmprised f newsletters, pamphlets and bklets, articles, peridicals, crrespndence and writings f individual members, and bks. Individual members als wrte papers n a variety f Techncracy tpics, and submitted their writings t CHQ (Crprate Headquarters) fr cmment and apprval befre cnsidering wider distributin. Als included are ther articles, papers, theses and bks that write abut Techncracy as a tpic r abut subject- Archives Sciety f Alberta Newsletter 6 Vl. 26 N. 4 / Summer 2007

7 matter f interest t Techncracy members. A published series f lessns discussing Techncracy dctrine was published by Techncracy, Inc. and titled Techncracy Study Curse ; varius editins f the Study Curse publicatins are fund in this fnds. The Techncracy fnds arrived at the University f Alberta Archives in fur separate accessins. Walt Fryars f the Edmntn Chapter f Techncracy dnated the Accessin (1.8 m f textual recrds) in April Dr. Helen Diament f the Calgary Chapter dnated Accessin (1.5 m f textual recrds) in April Dug Tmlinsn f the Edmntn Chapter dnated Accessin (1 cm f textual recrds) in May Walter Fryars dnated Accessin (2.8 m f textual recrds) in The descriptive inventry can be viewed n line at the fllwing address: Techncracy/techncracy.html 2007 ARCHIVES INSTITUTE The Archives Sciety f Alberta held its eighth Archives Institute at the University f Calgary frm June 4-9, Nineteen participants attended this year s Institute, with peple travelling frm acrss Alberta and Manitba t attend the curse. Frm the newly hired t thse seeking a mre cmprehensive verview f archival thery and practice, the participants brught eclectic backgrunds and experiences in cmmunity, crprate, gvernment, military, religius and university archives that came ut during classrm discussins, exercises, and breaks. The feedback frm participants n the six-day curse and the take-hme exercise cnfirmed that the Archives Institute s balance f thery and practice remains relevant fr the cre educatinal needs f the archival cmmunity. In the wrds f ne participant, this was an exceptinal wrkshp n many levels. It leaves me anxius t g back t my hme archives and get started! The ASA wuld like t thank the University f Calgary fr generusly prviding the facilities (and Suzanne Ell, Institute participant frm the University f Calgary, fr her lcal arrangements supprt), as well as guest instructrs Dug Cass, Janet McMaster, Alisn Freake, and Apllnia Steele, fr their presentatins t the 2007 Archives Institute. Fr infrmatin abut the Archives Institute, visit its page n the ASA website at Pht captin: 2007 Archives Institute class picture. Standing, left t right: Peter Stanulnis, Stacy Kaufeld, Carl Hllywd, Kendra Drever, Carl Ransn, Cnrad Stesz, Chantelle Opyr, Diane Kelly, Zelda Matkea, Suzanne Ell, Janice Nerm, Amanda Kriaski, Heather Nielsn, Michael Gurlie, Jhn Wright. Seated, left t right: Debra Oranchuk, Wendy Dyck, Edward van Vliet, Lindsie Bruns, Sgt. Bruce Graham. Archives Sciety f Alberta Newsletter 7 Vl. 26 N. 4 / Summer 2007

8 MICHAEL GOURLIE: SO MANY FONDS; SO LITTLE TIME Judy Kvacs Ten years seems like such a lng time, but it has slipped away very quickly. A decade always sunds lnger than it feels. When Michael arrived in Alberta in 1997, the ASA had already been representing the interests f Alberta archives and archivists since Was Michael prepared fr Alberta s archives and archivists? Were Alberta s archives and archivists prepared fr Michael? We may never knw the answer t thse questins, but we d knw all parties cncerned have achieved a great deal ver the past ten years. Michael has accmplished much since he arrived here in The smewhat raw statistics include: Apprximately 300 site visits; Tens f thusands f kilmeters travelled; 25,000 s (nt including SPAM); 5 ASA Cnferences rganized (with help) and attended; Helped administer ver $400,000 in grant funds; Helped crdinate virtual exhibits including this year s Archives Unleashed ; Helped rganize, direct and prmte the three Trunks and the fur nline bjects cnnected with them; Did way t much stuff in and arund the CAIN prject(s); Wrked with (and smetimes was) all the ASA Cmmittees and their respective prjects; Over 50 Bard Meetings; 10 AGMs; 4 ASA Presidents; Helped teach, prmte and rganize 8 Archives Institutes; Helped rganize, direct and prmte ver 20 Wrkshps; Written ver 50 articles fr the Newsletter and ther publicatins; and Prmted the ASA, Trunks, Archives Tutrial, Wrkshps, Institute and all the ASA Databases at cuntless meetings, trade and educatinal fairs, classrm and site visits. While the smewhat raw statistics are impressive indeed, they d nt tell the whle stry. The framewrk they present leave ut the hurs spent wrking n prjects, settling details, meeting with peple, and the jillins f phne calls fr all the arranging, supervising, researching, cheering, cajling, wheedling, sighing and explaining that ges with all the things that Michael des fr the ASA. I m sure there were days where the sighing and wheedling utnumbered the cheering, but verall there have been mre gd days than nt-gd days. During the past decade, Michael has nt nly achieved a great deal, but has achieved this while still enjying his jb and his cmmitment t ding his best fr the archives f Alberta. Over the past ten years, Michael has becme the face f the ASA the archives g t guy here in Alberta. Yu want cmmitment t archives? Ask Michael abut his tatt that s cmmitment t archives. Cheers Michael! Here s t mre successful years with the ASA! <clinks cffee cup as can t have alchl in the wrkplace> Archives Sciety f Alberta Newsletter 8 Vl. 26 N. 4 / Summer 2007

9 ARCHIVES WEEK Mark yur calendar! This year s Archives Week will take place frm Octber 1-6, This year s theme, Archives Unleashed: Animals in Archives, has resulted in an eclectic submissin f images and dcuments fr this year s virtual exhibit. A new additin t the activities this year is the creatin f a 2008 calendar based n a selectin f the images submitted fr the exhibit. Mre details abut the calendar will be available during Archives Week. If yu have any Archives Week events yu wish t publicize, please pst the ntice t the asa-l listserv r send them t Michael Gurlie, Archives Advisr, at mgurlie@shaw.ca fr psting. Jasper-Yellwhead Museum and Archives / PA Attentin All Archives!!! Are yu lking fr a way t get mre media cverage? Want t increase the attendance at yur next special event r wrkshp? And d it all fr the least amunt f mney pssible? Then the Prvincial Archives f Alberta has the seminar fr yu! During Archives Week 2007 the Prvincial Archives f Alberta will be hsting a FREE mrning wrkshp fr anyne wh wrks in Archives in Alberta. Archives and Outreach Tuesday Octber 2, 2007 Prvincial Archives f Alberta 8555 Rper Rad, Edmntn 8:45-11:00 am What Makes The Media Want t Cver Yur Stry? Arnld Grandt, Head, Cmmunity and Crprate Relatins, frm the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village will present a sessin n dealing with the media. Wh exactly are the media and where t find them, what their needs are, why wrk with them, what makes a gd news stry and tracking. It s a gd intrductin int an unknwn wrld. Prvincial Archives f Alberta Outreach Prgrams and Practices Jessica King, Prgram/Vlunteer Crdinatr, frm the Prvincial Archives f Alberta will discuss the utreach prgrams ffered by the Prvincial Archives Alberta, describing successful initiatives t date and the ways in which yu can develp archival prgramming fr yur institutin and cmmunity n a limited budget. Minimum 10 participants, Maximum 25 Pre-registratin required. T register, call (780) Registratin clses Thursday September 27, 2007 Archives Sciety f Alberta Newsletter 9 Vl. 26 N. 4 / Summer 2007

10 ASA Fall Wrkshp Dancing with Genealgists fr Archivists and Librarians: Hw t Lead and Nt Step On Any Tes While Creating An Effective Rapprt With Yur Genealgy Clients Successful reference service, like successful ballrm dancing, depends n gd cmmunicatin. Where can I find my family tree? can be an verwhelming questin. But if the prblem is apprached ne step at a time, the result can be satisfying fr everyne. This tw day wrkshp will discuss the basics f genealgical research, well-knwn and mre bscure surces f genealgical infrmatin, as well as new nline surces t help archivists and librarians assist the new as well as the experienced genealgist. Instructrs Sharn Murphy, Prfessinal Genealgist, Timelines Genealgical Research. A past president f the Ontari Chapter f the Assciatin f Prfessinal Genealgists, Sharn Murphy has cnducted wrkshps and lectures at the beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels t aid bth amateur and prfessinal genealgists in their nging training in the use f numerus archival surces. Jim Bwman, Archivist, Glenbw Archives. A graduate in Librarianship at UBC, Jim Bwman has wrked in many archival institutins in BC and Alberta as a prfessinal archivist, vlunteer, and cnsultant. He specializes in reference services at the Glenbw Archives. He hlds a Prfessinal Learning Certificate in Genealgical Studies frm the University f Trnt and has particular expertise in Métis genealgy. Dates Octber 12-13, 2007 Lcatin University f Calgary Library, Mackimmie Library Twer, Rm University Drive NW Fees $125 (members) / $150 (nn-members) Archives Sciety f Alberta Newsletter 10 Vl. 26 N. 4 / Summer 2007

11 PEOPLE & PLACES On July 21, Michael Gurlie celebrated ten years f wrking fr the Archives Sciety f Alberta. Cngratulatins Michael! Frmerly f the City f Edmntn Archives, Terry O Rirdan has jined the staff f the Prvincial Archives f Alberta as its Audivisual Cnservatr. Karen Simnsn has returned t the Prvincial Archives f Alberta as the latest additin t its reference staff. Leslie Pearsn is this year's recipient f the ASA Bursary. Having wrked at the Lutheran Histrical Institute and the City f Edmntn Archives, she will be attending the Master f Archival Studies prgram at UBC. At its recent meeting, the ASA Bard apprved the institutinal membership applicatin f the Sylvan Lake & District Archives. The ASA nw has frty institutinal members. LETTERS FROM BATTLE RIVER REVIEW Jnathan Nrdland As a member f the archival cmmunity in Edmntn, it was pretty hard t miss the Fringe prductin Letters frm Battle River. Supprted by the Prvincial Archives f Alberta, this prductin was marketed well t the heritage cmmunity and thse clse t it. It did have a lne detractr frm the Edmntn Jurnal, but after actually attending the play I m cnvinced he must have went t the wrng venue. Letters captured my extremely limited attentin and held me fr the duratin, which is saying a lt since I tend t enjy singing and dancing in my theatre and hld n illusins abut the dryness f mst archival material. Heather Swain s interpretatin f Mary Percy Jacksn s life as a rural dctr in early 1900s Battle River brught the time int fcus. I laughed at her descriptin f transprting her luggage acrss the landscape and I cried fr her dg as it suffered frm distemper. But the prductin didn t shy away frm the scial prblems f the time, which still plague Canadians tday. Specifically, I was impressed by Percy s transfrmatin frm British subject t Canadian pineer, described thrugh her interactins with the different cultural grups in the regin and her criticism f the residential schl system. Mre than the actual cntent f the play thugh, I was impressed by what Letters culd mean fr archives, themselves. Dramas such as this represent an pprtunity fr archival utreach that cannt be recreated in the archives itself. T ften the existing user grup, which is already familiar with the archives, are thse that cme t the exhibits, which is great, but desn t really bring the archives t new clients. Theatre and utreach like theatre takes the archives t the cmmunity, which ften times is cmpletely unaware that the institutin even exists r ften times they assciate it with wrk and bredm f the highest degree. Letters frm Battle River and utreach prjects like it can be a mdel fr future utreach because it entertains, infrms, and desn t demand an awareness f archives. An awareness that, in my pinin, may nt be there fr a significant prtin f the general public. Archives Sciety f Alberta Newsletter 11 Vl. 26 N. 4 / Summer 2007

12 SUBMISSIONS? QUESTIONS? SUGGESTIONS? Archives Sciety f Alberta Membership Applicatin The Archives Sciety f Alberta Newsletter is published quarterly by the Archives Sciety f Alberta. Submissins, questins and suggestins shuld be directed t the Newsletter Editr c/ Archives Sciety f Alberta PO Bx 4067 Suth Edmntn Pst Office Edmntn, Alberta T6E 4S8 Editr cntact infrmatin: Telephne: (780) Fax: (780) jlnrdland@yah.ca Individuals and institutins are encuraged t submit articles, reviews, reprts, phtgraphs r Letters t the Editr t the ASA Newsletter, Issues #2, 3 and 4. Submissins are preferred in electrnic frmat as Wrd files fr textual submissins, r as JPG files fr graphic submissins. Submissin deadlines are: September 30th Issue #2 - Winter January 15th Issue #3 - Spring April 30th Issue #4 - Summer *Issue #1 is reserved fr Annual Reprts f the Sciety and its cmmittees The views expressed in the Archives Sciety f Alberta Newsletter are nt necessarily thse f the Archives Sciety f Alberta r its Editr. The Archives Sciety f Alberta is supprted in part by a grant frm the Alberta Histrical Resurces Fundatin. Name (Institutin r Individual) Address City Prvince Pstal Cde Telephne Business Phne Fax Vting Delegate (Assciate / Institutinal) Institutinal Affiliatin (Individual Members) Type f Membership - Please Check Archives Emplyee $40.00 Students, Vlunteers, Senirs $20.00 Assciate Institutinal Member $60.00 Institutinal Member (membership fee is based n the archives perating budget. Please cntact the ASA fr further infrmatin) Yes, I wuld like t vlunteer fr an ASA Cmmittee Please make cheque r mney rder payable t the Archives Sciety f Alberta and mail t: Archives Sciety f Alberta P.O. Bx 4067, Suth Edmntn P.O. Edmntn, AB T6E 4S8 Archives Sciety f Alberta Newsletter 12 Vl. 26 N. 4 / Summer 2007