Donald Gordon Morrison fonds. — [1915-1935]. — 11 cm of textual records. — 69 photographs. — 11 postcards.
Biographical Sketch
Donald “Gordon” Morrison was born in Pipestone, Manitoba on April 14, 1896 to John D. Morrison and Katherine McKenzie. Gordon and his siblings John, Jean, Alex, Catherine, Melvina and Jessie all grew up in the rural community of Pipestone. He was working there as a clerk when he enlisted in the 200th Canadian Battalion at Camp Hughes, Manitoba on July 12, 1916 as Pte. D.G. Morrison #922617. He served in the 11th Reserve Bn based at Seaforth Camp, Sussex England, then in the 43rd Can. Bn. (Cameron Highlanders) in France. On his discharge certificate, dated March 24, 1919, he is listed as 22 years of age, 5′ 6″ tall, with blue eyes and fair hair.
After the war Gordon made his way back to Pipestone and spent some time with his family. His brother Alex had settled in the Morinville area and Gordon farmed with him. Although he enquired regarding land via the Soldiers Settlement Board soon after the war, it was not until November 30, 1929 that he filed on Section 26, Township 87, Range 9, West of the 6th Meridian in the Worsely area. By then he had moved from Morinville to Grande Prairie.
Gordon also worked as a truck driver, and one of his hobbies was horse racing. He never married and passed away October 17, 1976 in Dawson Creek, B.C. He is buried at the Fraserview Crematorium in Prince George, B.C.
Custodial History
These records were left with the Yates family after World War II by Donald Gordon Morrison. He never returned to retrieve them and in 2012, George Yates deposited them in South Peace Regional Archives.
Scope and Content
The fonds consists of World War I records from 1915-1929; correspondence from 1926-1935; financial records from 1916-1934; and photographs from ca. 1915-1930.
Notes
Title based on the contents of the fonds.
Acquisition note: Accession number 2012.062
Historical note: Biographical sketch compiled from the records.
Table of Contents
| Series 589.01 | World War I |
| Series 589.02 | Correspondence |
| Series 589.03 | Financial Records |
| Series 589.04 | Photographs |
| Series 589.01 | World War I. — 1915-1929. — 2 cm of textual records.The series consists of Gordon’s war records and correspondence, including two pay books from the Canadian Expeditionary Forces, with notes on the back of one by Major R. Turner to say that Gordon is entiltled to wear one Wounded Stripe; his berth card for the SS Baltic; a notebook that contains training notes on rifles, grenades and fuses; a dispersal certificate and a discharge certificates; an application for travel expenses for dental treatment (1921); and correspondence from the Soldiers Settlement Board. There are also homestead filing papers from the Dominions Land Office in Grande Prairie. The homestead application is for Section 26, Township 87, Range 9, West of the 6th Meridian in the Worsely area. The correspondence is from school friend Norah R. Pigg; sister Katie Lawrence; another friend, Glenna; his sister Melvina; mother Katherine Morrison, friend Archie, and sweetheart Millie. There are also a number of postcards from friends in the service, dating from 1915-1917, and three Christmas greeting cards. The letters date from October 1918 to January 1919, and the main topics are friends in war service, the Spanish influenza epidemic at Pipestone and the Indian Reserve, and news of family and friends at Pipestone, Manitoba. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series 589.02 | Correspondence. — 1926-1935. — 6 cm of textual records. — 2 photographs. — 11 postcards.The series consists of correspondence from family and friends after Gordon had moved to Grande Prairie, Alberta. The correspondents include his father and mother, John & Katherine Morrison; sisters Katie and Jessie; his sister-in-law Anna (Alex) Morrison from Mearns, Alberta; brother Stuart; and several friends such as Dorothy and Margaret. A letter dated July 20, 1930 includes a program from the unveiling of the memorial tablet in Pipestone, Manitoba commemorating the hometown boys who died in World War I. Later letters include the programs for Armistice Memorial Services on November 9, 1930, November 8, 1931, and November 13, 1932. There is also a 1932 membership card for the Lake Saskatoon Agricultural Society, and a number of undated cards and letters. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series 589.03 | Financial Records. — 1916-1934. — 3 cm of textual records.The series consists of financial records from the affairs of Gordon Morrison, including life insurance receipts and invoices, tax records from the Morrison brothers Morinville farm, cancelled cheques from the Morrison Brothers, a Royal Bank of Canada bankbook from Grande Prairie, and general financial correspondence. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series 589.04 | Photographs. — [1916-1932]. — 67 photographs.The series consists of photographs collected by Gordon Morrison. A number of them are of unidentified soldiers during World War I, the rest of family and friends. Item descriptions are included in the finding aid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||