Fonds 056 Harry Tuffill fonds

fonds-056

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[1909-1935]. — 2 cm of textual records, 327 photographs, 75 postcards.

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Biographical Sketch

Mr. Harry Tuffill was born in London, England in 1887 and immigrated to Canada in 1906. He worked at various trades in Hamilton and Toronto until 1909, when he was offered a position with Walter McFarlane’s survey crew. McFarlane’s contract, that summer, was to survey portions of the Peace River Country of Alberta.

Surveyor McFarlane’s field notes list Tuffill as one of the three “head Chainmen” in the 30-man crew that first year. The survey party traveled with 12 teams of horses and sleighs loaded with supplies, trailing a cow along for milk. The men slept in tents and bedrolls and did their own washing, but a cook and cook’s helper were hired.

Over the next three years the crew surveyed the south Peace from east of the Smoky to the British Columbia border, and from the Wapiti River to the Burnt Hills. Some work was done north of Dunvegan and some north of Peace River. The 1911 party also helped survey nine townships in the Peace River Block of British Columbia around Pouce Coupe.

Impressed by the potential of the Peace Country, in 1911 Mr. Tuffill filed on NW 33-73-7-W6th, in the Buffalo Lakes area. His intention was to build a home for his fiancée, Maud Shattock. The First Great War interfered with those plans and Harry joined the 91st Highlanders from Hamilton. He served overseas and returned to his homestead in 1919. Harry and Maud were finally married in 1920.

Mr. & Mrs. Tuffill farmed and lived on the land he filed on for the next 45 years. He was active in community events, and secretary of local board of United Grain Growers Ltd. He passed away in 19b5, and Maud died several years later.

Scope and Content

The fonds consists of photographs, postcards, and a publication from United Grain Growers. Of the 327 photographs, 110 portray surveying in the Peace Country from 1909 to 1911, 5 picture life on the Tuffill homestead, and the remaining 212 are of Mr. Tuffill’s service in WWI and family and photographs from England. There are also 72 postcards from Canada and abroad.

Table of Contents

Series 056.01 Photograph Album
Series 056.02 Surveying Photographs
Series 056.03 Correspondence and Postcards
Series 056.04 Family Photographs
Series 056.05 Secretary, United Grain Growers

 

Series 056.01 Photograph Album. — [1909-1935]., 204 photographs, 19 postcards.The series consists of one photograph album with glued in postcards and photographs. 78 of the photographs are of surveying in the Peace Country and the remainder are of war service and family in Britain.
 
Lesser Slave Lake Settlement, 1910 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
Lesser Slave Lake Settlement on the shores of Lesser Slave Lake.
Location: 0056.01.003b-1
July 1st Sports Day, 1910
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
“Indians Racing, July 1st 1910” at Saskatoon Lake Sports Day.
Location: 0056.01.003c-2
H. B. Clifford’s Store, 1910 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
“H. B. Clifford’s store at the Flying Shot Settlement by Grand Prairie.”
Location: 0056.01.003d-1
“The Instrument Man At Work”, 1910 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
A surveyor, from the Walter McFarlane survey crew, using a transept to measure the land.
Location: 0056.01.003f-1
Brunswick Hotel, Edmonton, 1910 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
Travellers headed for the Peace Country often came to Edmonton by train and continued from there by horse or oxen.
Location: 0056.01.003f-2
Surveyors’ Camp, 1910 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
A survey camp, which was headed by Walter McFarlane, stationed on the edge of a lake.
Location: 0056.01.009-1
Athabasca Landing, 1910 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
Athabasca Landing was a community 100 miles north of Edmonton. Harry Tuffill’s crew passed through here on their way to survey the south Peace Country.
Location: 0056.01.017-1
Walter McFarlane’s Survey Party, 1910
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
Survey crew which surveyed most of the south Peace Country.
Location: 0056.01.020-1
Ox Teams Racing, 1910 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
Ox teams racing at the July 1st 1910 Sports Day at Saskatoon Lake.
Location: 0056.01.020-2
“Flying Camp South of Wapiti River”, 1910 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
Surveyors resting at a flying camp south of the Wapiti River.
Location: 0056.01.023-1
Hudson Bay Company, 1910 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
A view of Dunvegan’s Huson Bay Company on the Peace River.
Location: 0056.01.024-1
Rafting on the Wapiti, 1910 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
Crew members from Walter McFarlane’s survey party rafting on the Wapiti River.
Location: 0056.01.024-2
“On the Trail Out”, 1910
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
Walter McFarlane’s survey crew travelling back to Edmonton in February of 1910.
Location: 0056.01.028-1
“Indian Girls Racing”, 1910
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
Pony race at Lake Saskatoon Sports in July 1910 with families watching from the sidelines.
Location: 0056.01.028-2
“The Bear Cub”, 1910 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
A small bear cub climbing one of the tents in Walter McFarlane’s survey camp. The cub became a pet for the crew members.
Location: 0056.01.029-1
Three Young Moose, 1910 c.
1 photographphotograph; b & w; 3 x 5
Three young moose photographed by a member of Walter McFarlane’s survey crew.
Location: 0056.01.029-2
“Indian Teepee Near Snipe Lake”, 1910 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
A Beaver first nations family and two survey crew members gather outside of a teepee near Snipe Lake.
Location: 0056.01.064-1
“Cutting Trail”, 1910 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
Walter McFarlane’s crew cutting a survey trail on the banks of the Smoky River.
Location: 0056.01.064-2
“Rafting on the Smoky River”, 1910 c.
1 photographphotograph; b & w; 3 x 5
Men from Walter McFarlane’s crew using equipment to survey the land from a raft on the Smoky River.
Location: 0056.01.067-2
“Packing up from River Bank”, 1910 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
Men from McFarlane’s crew carry various tools and pieces of equipment for camping and surveying as they climb a river bank.
Location: 0056.01.070-1
Off to World War I, 1914 c.
6 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
A page from Harry Tuffill’s photo alblum. Three of the photographs are taken at a Peace Country farm and the other three are taken at army barracks.
Location: 0056.01.074
Harry Tuffill and Four Horse Team, 1914 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
Harry Tuffill homesteaded in the Buffalo Lakes area.
Location: 0056.01.074-1
St. John’s Anglican Church, Buffalo Lakes, 1914 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
A group of men gathered outside of the St. John’s Anglican Church at Buffalo Lakes.
Location: 0056.01.074-2
St. John’s Anglican Church, Buffalo Lakes, 1914 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
Horses and wagon with a group of ladies outside of the St. John’s Anglican Church at Buffalo Lakes.
Location: 0056.01.074-3
Threshing Crew, 1910 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
Threshing crew of twelve men posing around a stationary thresher.
Location: 0056.01.075-1
The Hay Wagon, 1910 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
Horses pulling a heavily loaded hay wagon through a field.
Location: 0056.01.075-2
Soldiers Playing Cards, 1914 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
Harry Tuffill playing cards with a group of World War I soldiers.
Location: 0056.01.075-3
Soldiers in the First World War, 1914 c.
8 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
A page from Harry Tuffill’s photo alblum. The photographs were taken during the First World War and mostly take place in army barracks.
Location: 0056.01.076
Soldiers in the First World War, 1914 c.
8 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
A page from Harry Tuffill’s photo alblum. The photographs were taken during the First World War and mostly take place in army barracks.
Location: 0056.01.077
Soldiers in the First World War, 1914 c.
6 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
A page from Harry Tuffill’s photo alblum. The photographs were taken during the First World War and mostly take place in army barracks.
Location: 0056.01.078
Soldiers in the First World War, 1914 c.
6 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
A page from Harry Tuffill’s photo alblum. The photographs were taken during the First World War and mostly take place in army barracks.
Location: 0056.01.079
Soldiers in the First World War, 1914 c.
8 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
A page from Harry Tuffill’s photo alblum. The photographs were taken during the First World War and mostly take place in army barracks.
Location: 0056.01.082
Harry Tuffill in Uniform, 1914 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
Harry Tuffill joined the 91st Highlanders from Hamilton, Ontario during the First World War.
Location: 0056.01.085-2
Harry Tuffill with Maud and Alf Shattock, 1914 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
Harry Tuffill with Maud Shattock and her brother Alf. Alf was killed during the war. After the war, Harry married Maud and returned to the Peace Country.
Location: 0056.01.085-4
Soldiers in the First World War, 1914 c.
7 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
A page from Harry Tuffill’s photo alblum. The photographs were taken during the First World War and mostly take place in army barracks.
Location: 0056.01.142
World War I Training, 1914 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
Two soldiers practice military tactics. Note the First World War style of rifle that included a bayonet on its end.
Location: 0056.01.142-7
Soldiers in the First World War, 1914 c.
5 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
A page from Harry Tuffill’s photo alblum. The photographs were taken during the First World War and mostly take place in army barracks.
Location: 0056.01.144
Tuffill Photo Album, 1909-1935
1 prints, postcards; b & w; assorted sizes
Photo album containing 244 photographs and 19 postcards. 78 of the photographs are of surveying in the Peace country, two are of harvesting on the Tuffil homestead. The remainder are of war service and family in Britain.
Location: 1969.29.33.001
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Series 056.02 Surveying Photographs. — [1909-1914]., 32 photographs.The series consists of photographs taken during the time Mr. Tuffill was on Walter McFarlane’s survey crew. Some have been developed as postcards, and may not be Mr. Tuffill’s own photographs.
 
Walter McFarlane Survey Crew, 1909
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
The Walter McFarlane survey crew is on the ice of a river. One man is beginning to slice some round meat. The party stopped for dinner on Prairie River.
Location: 1969.29.33.002
Washing Day, 1909
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Surveyor washing his clothes with scrub board and tub in the bush.
Location: 1969.29.33.003
Indian Teepee Near Snipe Lake, 1909
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Three men from a survey party and an aboriginal woman with her two children are standing outside a teepee. Although grass is visible on the ground, one man is holding a snowshoe on his shoulder.
Location: 1969.29.33.004
The Camp Cow, 1909
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Surveyor is sitting on a small wooden crate while milking the camp cow. The cow has a harness and a large cow bell.
Location: 1969.29.33.005
Lake on Grande Prairie, 1909
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Shallow lake on the grande prairie with grassland is in the foreground and forest in the background.
Location: 1969.29.33.006
Survey Camp, December 1, 1909
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Winter surveyor camp.
Location: 1969.29.33.007
Horses Feeding on the Prairie River, 1909
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
The men are standing around as the horses feed on the snow covered banks of the Prairie River.
Location: 1969.29.33.008
Walter McFarlane Survey Party, 1909
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Crew of 28 men beside and on a wagon. Tents and trees are in the background.
Location: 1969.29.33.009
Horse Teams on the Simmonette River, 1910 c.
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Three teams of horses are pulling sleighs along the frozen Simmonette River. The snow covered river banks rise high in the background.
Location: 1969.29.33.010
Lake on Grande Prairie, 1910 c.
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Saskatoon Lake with Saskatoon Island in the middle. Grassland is visible in the foreground.
Location: 1969.29.33.011
The Survey Party, 1910
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Crew of 18 men and 1 small girl, with tents in background. Blankets and folded cloth items are in the foreground.
Location: 1969.29.33.012
Ice on the Banks of the Smoky River, 1910 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Ice floes on the banks of the Smoky River.
Location: 1969.29.33.013
Survey Party on Lily Lake Going North, 1909
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
11 teams of horses and sleighs are trekking along the side of the frozen Lily Lake.
Location: 1969.29.33.014
Survey Party on the Simmonette River, 1910 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Teams of horses and sleighs traveling down the side of the frozen Simmonette River.
Location: 1969.29.33.015
View of the Wapiti River, 1910 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Bird’s eye view of the Wapiti River and its banks in early spring or late fall.
Location: 1969.29.33.016
Settler’s Cabin, 1910 c.
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Winter scene of a settler’s log home on the banks of the Smoky River.
Location: 1969.29.33.017
Dinner on the Simmonette River, 1910 c.
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Men, wagons and teams of horses are waiting on the frozen river. Fire is smoking in the center.
Location: 1969.29.33.018
Flying Shot Settlement, 1910 c.
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Winter view of settlement with cabins and corrals–may be the Bear Creek settlement.
Location: 1969.29.33.019
Girls’ Pony Race, Saskatoon Lake Sports, 1910
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Aboriginal girls are racing ponies across a field during the Saskatoon Lake Sports Days.
Location: 1969.29.33.020
Simmonette River, 1910 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Simmonette River in early spring.
Location: 1969.29.33.021
Returning From Flying Camp, 1910 c.
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Survey crew returning from the Saskatoon Lake camp with horses and wagon. One man is holding a tripod while sitting on the side of the wagon.
Location: 1969.29.33.022
Survey Crew On the Trail Home, 1909
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Horses and sleighs loaded and ready for the winter trip home.
Location: 1969.29.33.023
The Cook Tent, 1910 c.
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Six men in the survey crew are relaxing underneath the tent flap of the cook tent. Two men are preparing breakfast in the tent.
Location: 1969.29.33.024
Simmonette River, 1910 c.
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Winter view of the frozen Simmonette River. The snow covered river banks rise in the background and in the right side of the picture.
Location: 1969.29.33.025
Year Old Bear Caught 1910, 1910
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Surveyors with bear tied with all four paws to a carrying pole and on a tripod in a canoe. Its mouth appears to be held up with its jaws open. Is it alive?
Location: 1969.29.33.026
Junction of Smoky and Simmonette Rivers, 1910 c.
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Winter view of the junction of the Smoky and Simmonette Rivers from a high bank.
Location: 1969.29.33.027
On the Simmonette River, 1910 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Survey party coming up the frozen Simmonette River. The high river banks dominate the background.
Location: 1969.29.33.028
Ice on the Banks of the Smoky River, 1910 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Three surveyors on an ice flow on the Smoky–early spring. Two men are standing and one is seated on the thick ice flow. The opposite river bank is visible in the background.
Location: 1969.29.33.029
Saskatoon Lake Settlement, 1910 c.
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Revillon Bros store and Beaver Lodge Post Office on the banks of Saskatoon Lake, Grande Prairie. A fence surrounds the settlement in the foreground and right side of the photograph.
Location: 1969.29.33.030
Indian Graveyard Near Saskatoon Lake, 1910 c.
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Six aboriginal men in European style clothing are standing near six fenced graves. Chest high fence posts surround each grave. The graveyard is on the prairie above Saskatoon Lake.
Location: 1969.29.33.031
Pack ponies swimming the Wapiti, 1910 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
A herd of pack horses are swimming across the Wapiti River. The river fills the foreground while the river bank rises in the background.
Location: 1969.29.33.032
Indian Teepees, 1910 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Camp of approximately 20 teepees on the prairies, backed by a wood bluff. Prairie grassland dominates the foreground.
Location: 1969.29.33.033
“Empress of Ireland”, 1911
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
“Second class passengers on board the Empress of Ireland.”
Location: 1969.29.33.034
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Series 056.03 Correspondence and Postcards. — [1906-1935]., 53 postcards.The series consists of colour postcards, many of them sent to Maud Shattock from Harry Tuffill after he immigrated to Canada in 1906. Some of the cards are used for correspondence.
 
Collection of 53 Postcards, 1906-1920
1 postcards; colour; 3 x 5 in.
Postcards of Canada and the 91st Highlanders, mostly from Harry Tuffill to Maud Shattock.
Location: 1969.29.33.034-86
The 91st Highlanders, 1914 c.
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
A postcard from Harry Tuffill to Maud Shattock. Harry joined the 91st Highlanders during the First World War. The back of the postcard reads: “This photo was taken as we were going into the church. We were in double column and I was on the right hand side so you cannot see me.”
Location: 1969.29.33.076
The 91st Highlanders, 1914 c.
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
A postcard from Harry Tuffill to Maud Shattock. Harry joined the 91st Highlanders during the First World War. Here is the regiment marching in Hamilton, Ontario before setting off for England.
Location: 1969.29.33.077
The 91st Highlanders, 1914 c.
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
A postcard from Harry Tuffill to Maud Shattock. Harry joined the 91st Highlanders in the First World War. The back of the postcard reads: “These are the last two companies as we formed up at the Woodstock station. That is our specail train which you see ‘laying’ at the back.”
Location: 1969.29.33.078
The 91st Highlanders, 1914 c.
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
A postcard from Harry Tuffill to Maud Shattock. Harry joined the 91st Highlanders during the First World War. The back of the postcard reads: “This was taken at Woodstock on Friday morning, it was taken at about 10.30 and was on sale at one oclock. Harry.”
Location: 1969.29.33.079
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Series 056.04 Family Photographs. — [1900-1935]., 91 photographs.The series consists of snapshots of family, friends and army mates. Many are developed as postcards and have messages on the back. Included is an albumin photograph, presumably of Maud, and photographs and messages from Maud’s brother Alf.
 
Collection of 91 Family Photographs, 1900-1935
1 photographs; b & w; assorted
Photographs of family, friends and war service of Harry & Maud Tuffill.
Location: 1969.29.33.087-177
At the Seaside, 1910 c.
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Maud Shattock and two friends enjoy the summer weather at a beach.
Location: 1969.29.33.094
Community of Hobos, 1930 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
During the Great Depression, unemployed men rode the rails searching for work. Here, a group of them are gathered around a campfire.
Location: 1969.29.33.097
Panoramic View of Grande Prairie, 1918
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5
Panoramic view of Grande Prairie in 1918, taken from the west side of Bear Creek.
Location: 1969.29.33.102
Harry Tuffill’s Team of Horses, 1930 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
Harry Tuffill holding a team of work horses.
Location: 1969.29.33.105
Grande Prairie Train Station, 1930 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5
Train at Grande Prairie being met by a flotilla of vehicles. Elevator row is visible behind the train.
Location: 1969.29.33.108
“The Q.W.R. in Richmond Park”, 1916
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Soldiers digging a shallow trench in Richmond Park during the First World War.
Location: 1969.29.33.121
Alf Shattock, 1917
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
Alf Shattock in his First World War uniform. “Yours affectionatly, Alf, Oct. 1917. France.” is written in the right hand courner.
Location: 1969.29.33.137
Regimental Photograph, 1914 c.
1 postcard; b & w; 3 x 5 in.
A post card from Alf Shattock to his mother. The back reads: “Dear Mum, Arrived quite safe at 11.45 last night had to stand all the way down. Raining quite hard all the morning. Alf”.
Location: 1969.29.33.164
Harry Tuffill, 1907 c.
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6
Matted formal portrait of Harry Tuffill, taken by the T. Eaton Co. in Toronto, Canada.
Location: 1969.29.34
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Series 056.05 Secretary, United Grain Growers. — 1944. — 2 cm of textual records.The series consists of a letter to Mr. Tuffill as a secretary of a local board of the United Grain Growers Ltd. along with a complimentary copy of the book, The Grain Growers Record 1906 to 1943.
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