Alberta Museums, Libraries, and Archives - International Institute

Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies

 * Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies (Banff Archives) 111 Bear Street Banff, Alberta Mailing address: P.O. Box 160 Banff, Alberta T1L 1A3 Telephone: (403) 762-2291 ext. 335 Email: archives@whyte.org Archives: Monday to Friday 10:00 pm-5:00 pm; Closed 12:00 pm-1:00 pm

The archives’ intent is to acquire material created in or pertaining to the region bounded by the 49th parallel, Peace River, Front Ranges and Columbia Mountains. Holdings include records and collections including the Alpine Club of Canada, 1906-, and the Peter and Catharine Whyte records (1856-1980). Research strengths centre around mountain areas, mountaineering, recreation, biography, arts and culture, environment, family life, national parks, tourism, business, transportation, human and natural history and resources. Accompanied by Archives Library and Alpine Club of Canada Library.

Finding aids include various databases, hard-copy finding aids and visual reference files available. Descriptions available on the Archives Network of Alberta Database.

Edson District Public Library Archives

 * Edson District Public Library Archives 4726 8th Avenue Edson,Alberta T7E 1S8 Telephone: (780) 723-6691 Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00 am-8:00 pm; Saturdays 10:00 pm-3:00 pm

The Edson Archives houses a variety of material pertaining to the Town of Edson and surrounding area. Holdings date from 1858, but primarily from 1908-1970. This material is made up of photographs, documents, diaries, maps, newspapers, etc. Included are municipal records and a large collection of Coal Branch photos and information. In general terms the boundaries of the area covered are: east to Wildwood; west to Medicine Lodge; north to Shining Bank and south to Mountain Park. Finding aids available in card catalogue form by subject heading.

Jasper Yellowhead Museum and Archives

 * Jasper Yellowhead Museum and Archives 400 Bonhomme Street Jasper, Alberta Mailing address: P.O. Box 42 Jasper, Alberta T0E 1E0 Telephone: (780) 852-3013 Email: archives@jaspermuseum.org

Archival researchers are encouraged to make an appointment during these hours. Exceptions to these hours may be made for special circumstances. The mandate of the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Archives is to collect, preserve and make available for research and exhibition documents and artifacts that serve to illustrate the human history of Jasper National Park and area and the Yellowhead corridor (1880-1980). The archives is the official repository for the records of the Jasper–Yellowhead Historical Society. Private papers consisting of documents, correspondence, photographs and maps are open to research. Local newspapers are available on microfilm. A library of relevant books is open for research. Holdings are described in the Archives Network of Alberta Database.

Of Genealogical Interest

 *  Constance Peterson Collection (1900-1980) diaries, journals, botanical collection
 *  files relating to individuals with index 

Sir Alexander Galt Museum and Archives

 * Sir Alexander Galt Museum and Archives 502 1st St. South Lethbridge, Alberta Mailing address: 910 4th Avenue South Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 0P6 Telephone: Archives: (403) 329-7302 Email: info@galtmuseum.com

Holdings of records generated by, or relating to Lethbridge and southwestern Alberta from 1874 to the present. The collections include City of Lethbridge records, and privately donated records which document the human history of the region. Manuscript holdings include history of the municipal government of Lethbridge, irrigation, the performing and visual arts, coal mining and various community groups. The photograph and moving image holdings include agriculture, urban landscape of the city of Lethbridge, coal mining and portrait work. Maps and technical drawings are the fastest growing part of the Archives’ holdings and include architectural drawings, fire insurance maps for Lethbridge, and a great number of technical drawings dealing with irrigation, telephone, electrical and other service systems.

Of Genealogical Interest 

 * name index covers all parts of the collection
 * clipping files 
 * oral history tapes
 * Henderson Directories (1897-1986)
 * city directories
 * municipal tax rolls (1891-1906)
 * municipal file and insurance maps
 * southern Alberta local histories
 * newspapers with indexes 
 * Macleod Gazette
 * Fort Benton Record (1870-1880-2)
 * Index of Lethbridge Herald photographs from 1940
 * Italian-Albertan biographical files (1948-1980)
 * cemetery records (1885-1991) on computer
 * Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District case files (1920-1960) 
 * Twentieth Anti-Tank Veterans Association membership lists (1939-1946)
 * Lethbridge Rotary Club records (1918-1987); Kiwanis, I.O.D.E. and other service groups

Esplanade Art and Heritage Center

 * Esplanade Art and Heritage Center 401 1st Street SE Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 8W2 Telephone: (403) 502-8580 An appointment is required. Special arrangements may be made for out of town researchers.

The mandate is to acquire, preserve and make available, records which document the social, commercial, industrial and agricultural development of southeastern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan dating from 1880. Special collections within the manuscript holdings include:


 *  MH Chamber of Commerce (1900-1985)
 *  MH Police Service (1911-1993)
 *  MH General Hospital (1888-1989)
 *  F.M. Ginther Land Company (1901-1921)
 *  Cypress School Division (1904-1965)
 *  MH School District No. 76 (1885-1985)
 *  Women’s Literary Club (1906-1984)
 *  John W. Bennett Research Papers (1960-1990)
 *  building permit books (1905-1945)

Of Genealogical Interest

 * information files on individuals 
 * obituaries from Medicine Hat News (indexed alphabetically)
 * obituary scrapbooks

These collections and others, are complimented by an extensive inventory of photographic images and an audio visual and reference/research library.

Finding aids are available for larger collections. Holdings are also described in the Archives Network of Alberta Database.

Red Deer and District Museum Archives

 * Red Deer and District Museum Archives 4525 - 47A Avenue Red Deer,Alberta Mailing address: P.O. Box 5008 Red Deer, Alberta T4N 3T4 Telephone: (403) 309-8403 Email: archives@reddeer.c Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 am-4:30 pm

The Archives collections, dating from 1880 to the present, relate primarily to the City of Red Deer and its immediate vicinity in Central Alberta. It holds records for several other public bodies and institutions, as well as numerous organizations, associations, churches, cemeteries, businesses, unions, cooperatives, lodges and clubs. There is a strong emphasis on genealogical information and research with an extensive set of biographical files on local families and residents.

Local Records

 *  biography files (1950-1991) 
 * Central Alberta Pioneers and Old Timers Association Collection (1955-1986)
 *  newspaper clippings
 *  North Red Deer 75th Anniversary Committee collection (1981-1987)
 *  personal history collections
 *  New Hill P.O. civil registration district (1909-1938)

Church Records

 * Anglican Diocese of Calgary
 * St. Luke’s Parish Red Deer (1899-1950) (transcriptions)
 * St. Leonard’s-on-the-Hill Parish Red Deer (1960-1980) (photocopies)
 * Reverend John M. Fraser (Presbyterian) registers from South-central Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan (1930-1940
 * Red Deer Presbytery records (1892-1927)
 * Gaetz United Church records (Red Deer) (1915-1979) photocopied registers of births, marriages and deaths
 * Roman Catholic
 * Notre Dame d’Assomption Parish Sylvan Lake baptism and burial records (1900-1914)
 * Sacred Heart Parish Red Deer photocopies of birth, marriage and death records (1905-1944)

Other Records

 *  school records from Red Deer and surrounding districts
 *  newspapers Red Deer, Innisfail, Sylvan Lake, Rocky Mountain House, Lacombe and others
 *  Western Canada census (1832-1901) on microfilm
 *  Red Deer Memorial Hospital records
 *  Red Deer College records 
 * farm organizations
 *  women’s organizations
 * cooperative associations
 *  interlibrary loan for minimal cost

City of Wetaskiwin Archives

 * City of Wetaskiwin Archives 4904 - 51 Street Wetaskiwin, Alberta T9A 2E9 Telephone: (780) 361-4423 An appointment is not required but it is recommended.

Holdings consist of a large volume of records generated by or relating to the City of Wetaskiwin dating from 1892. These include by-laws, contract agreements, assessment records, insurance and engineering maps, studies and reports and financial records. Other holdings include attendance records and minute books from several local school districts; minutes and administrative records from the Wetaskiwin Hospital District; records of various community organizations; family papers; photographs; and a small oral history collection.

Holdings are described in the Archives Network of Alberta Database.

Of Genealogical Interest
 Daisy Lucas Papers (documents on Wetaskiwin families with index)  obituaries (1950-1991)  birth and marriage announcements

Calgary Police Service Interpretive Centre and Archives

 * Calgary Police Service Interpretive Centre and Archives 2nd Level, 316 - 7th Avenue South East Calgary, Alberta Mailing address: 133 - 6th Avenue South East Calgary, Alberta T2G 4Z1 Telephone: (403) 268-8927 Hours: Monday to Thursday 8:00 am-4:30 pm; appointment required

The archives houses the permanent records generated by or related to the Calgary Police Service from 1883 to the present. There are approximately 75,000 negatives, prints and slides in the photographic collection. The holdings represent most departments of the Police Service including Major Crimes, Human Resources, Chief’s Office, Bureau of Operations and the Calgary Police Commission minutes and correspondence. Personnel files include rank and promotions, however most material in these files are confidential. There is a small library of approximately 200 books. Finding aids are available for most collections.

Edmonton Police Museum and Archives

 * Edmonton Police Museum and Archives Third Floor, Police Headquarters 9620 - 103 A Avenue Edmonton, Alberta T5H 0H7 Telephone: (780) 421-2274 Hours: Monday to Saturday 9:00 am-3:00 pm; an appointment is required

The facility is primarily a museum but has an ongoing programme of collecting police personnel records and memorabilia. The archives contains materials pertaining to the Edmonton Police Service records, from 1892 to 1970, dealing with arrests, prisoners, and security, but also includes police financial statements and year-end reports. Some material relating to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Alberta Provincial Police personnel. The information on the personnel dates from 1914 and is only available to family members. Stacks are closed and are only accessible through the archivist.

Edmonton Public Schools Archives/Museum

 * Edmonton Public Schools Archives/Museum Historic McKay Avenue School 10425 - 99 Avenue Edmonton, Alberta T5K 0E5 Telephone: (780) 422-1970

Located in Edmonton’s oldest (1904) brick school, the museum/archives preserves and displays the history of Edmonton Public Schools.

Holdings, which date from the 1880’s to the present, with records from 1900-1940 predominately, include records and objects pertinent to the Edmonton Public School Board and the business of Edmonton Public Schools, such as board minutes, administration records, personnel and student records, authorized Alberta textbooks, photographs, school cultural material, sports equipment and school furniture. The 1881 (Edmonton) School, the first public school in Alberta (also restored), is located on the same property.

Of Genealogical Interest

 * pupil records from the early 1900s to early 1940s and class lists from the early 1940s to 1965. (Contact Edmonton Public School Board for pupil records from 1950 to present)
 * photographs
 * student and staff records

Pupil attendance and health records contain a wealth of genealogical information: date of birth, parents, address, occupation and previous schools. Cumulative records for pupils, beginning about 1950, are held by the Edmonton Public School Board. Some of these records are restricted. Written requests will be answered: a donation is appreciated.

____________________________________________________________

Information in this Wiki page is excerpted from the online course offered by The National Institute for Genealogical Studies. To learn more about this course or other courses available from the Institute, see our website. We can be contacted at [mailto:wiki@genealogicalstudies.com wiki@genealogicalstudies.com]

We welcome updates and additions to this Wiki page.