Fonds 178 Jim Somerville fonds

63 photographs

120 postcards

Date: 1905 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of photographs and negatives taken in 1905 when Jim Somerville was a member of Henry Selby’s survey crew. Some of the photographs are taken at the 20th base line camp as that was the starting point. The photographs show the environment of the area east of the Smoky River, the activities of his survey crew, and the life of a surveyor. There are also several photographs of buildings in Grouard and Stopping Places in the area.

Physical description: 48 photographs

Publication status:

Published

In 1905, Henry Selby surveyed land and base lines west of the fifth meridian. George Hill was a picket man on his crew.

A base camp from Henry Selby’s 1905 survey expedition west of the fifth meridian.

The survey party from Henry Selby’s 1905 survey expedition west of the fifth meridian.

William Blair and George Hill, two surveyors from Henry Selby’s 1905 survey west of the fifth meridian.

In 1905 Henry Selby surveyed land west of the fifth meridian. Anderson was a member of the crew.

In 1905 Henry Selby surveyed land west of the fifth meridian. R. Reid and Sinclair Gunn were members of his survey crew.

The crew from Henry Selby’s 1905 survey west of the fifth meridian.

In 1905 Henry Selby surveyed land west of the fifth meridian. Selby stands to the right of the tent.

In 1905 Henry Selby surveyed land west of the fifth meridian. Billy Blair (the camp cook) and Jim Somerville stand by the cook tent.

One of the survey camps from Henry Selby’s 1905 survey, west of the fifth meridian.

A tent in one of the camps from Henry Selby’s 1905 survey, west of the fifth meridian.

Frank Smith, a member of Henry Selby’s 1905 survey crew west of the fifth meridian.

Frank Smith, from Michigan, was a member of Henry Selby’s 1905 survey crew.

A member of Henry Selby’s 1905 survey crew washes his clothing on a day off from work.

Stuart, Larry Maney, Lou Hislop, and William Blair, members of Henry Selby’s 1905 survey crew, involved in the task of getting and giving haircuts.

Members of Henry Selby’s 1905 survey crew display their catch of fish.

Horses were important members of Henry Selby’s 1905 survey crew.

Henry Selby’s 1905 survey crew at Slave Lake. This crew surveyed land west of the fifth meridian.

Hudson’s Bay Company Trading Post office at Slave Lake when it was visited by Henry Selby’s 1905 survey crew.

A stopping place at Grouard encountered by Henry Selby’s 1905 survey crew. The sign above the door reads: Meals 35 cents, $1.00 per day.

Anglican Church at Grouard when visited by Henry Selby’s 1905 survey crew.

Blacksmith Shop at Grouard at the time of Henry Selby’s 1905 survey. The name Barney Morris is written on the back of the photo.

Bredin and Cornwall Trading Post at Grouard at the time of Henry Selby’s 1905 survey.

Four men stand in front of a log building at Grouard. The photograph was taken during Henry Selby’s 1905 survey of land west of the fifth meridian.

Buildings at Grouard at the time of Henry Selby’s 1905 survey.

Larry Maney, a member of Henry Selby’s 1905 survey crew, in front of the Bredin and Cornwall warehouse at Grouard.

Hudson’s Bay Company Trading Post at Grouard as seen by Henry Selby’s 1905 survey crew.

Survey pack ponies grazing in Beaver Meadow, during the 1905 survey by Henry Selby’s crew west of the 5th Meridian.

Charlie York and Prudhomme at Prudhomme’s Stopping Place on Stinking (Wanagami) Lake, visited by Henry Selby’s 1905 survey crew west of the fifth meridian.

Prudhomme’s Stopping Place cabin at Stinking Lake, when it was visited by Henry Selby’s 1905 survey crew.

Henry Selby’s 1905 survey crew sometimes had to survey through “brule”, land littered with fallen timber caused by forest fires or strong winds.

Anderson in a canoe on the South Heart River. Taken during Henry Selby’s 1905 survey of land west of the fifth meridian.

Lake at McLennan, taken during Henry Selby’s 1905 survey of land west of the fifth meridian.

The Little Smoky River, taken during Henry Selby’s 1905 survey of land west of the fifth meridian.

Bert Shaw at the Little Smoky River during Henry Selby’s 1905 survey of land west of the fifth meridian.

Bert Shaw, Jim Somverville, and Larry Maney at the Little Smoky River. Taken during Henry Selby’s 1905 survey west of the fifth meridian.

Horses from Henry Selby’s survey camp at the Little Smoky River.

Henry Selby’s survey crew and their horses prepare to cross the Big Smoky River. In 1905 Selby (on the far right) conducted a survey of land west of the fifth meridian.

The horses of Henry Selby’s survey crew swim to the east side of the Big Smoky. In 1905 Selby conducted a survey of land west of the fifth meridian.

The Big Smoky River, taken during Henry Selby’s 1905 survey of land west of the fifth meridian.

Henry Selby’s 1905 survey crew leaving the Peace Country to return to home base in Edmonton.

Date: 1909-1911 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of photographs and negatives taken from 1909 to 1911 Jim Somerville worked as a packer in Walter McFarlane’s survey crew. In 1910 McFarlane’s crew surveyed the Rio Grande area, and in 1911 it surveyed the Pouce Coupe, Dawson Creek and Rolla districts. The photographs show the environment of the land which was surveyed and the life of the surveyors at work. The regions which were covered stretch from Edmonton to Fort St. John, B.C.

Physical description: 8 photographs

2 postcards

Publication status:

Published

Jim Somerville leaving Edmonton to homestead in the Buffalo Lakes area near Grande Prairie in March, 1911.

“Some of McFarlane’s survey crew, 1909. Razors were left in civilization.” From L to R (back row): Davis, unknown, Doc Montgomery, Leo –, Ring Reid, and Jarvis; (front row): Bill Wiliamson.

Billy Williamson at Pouce Coupe with the McFarlane survey.

Moose Portage on the Athabasca River, taken during a McFarlane survey around 1910.

Boats on the banks of the Peace River by Hudson’s Hope.

A survey crew on the bank of a river, possibly crossing it.

Harry Phillip, of McFarlane’s survey outfit, catches a nice string of fish.

Beaton’s Claim at Fort St. John. A man stands in a garden in front of a small wooden cabin.

“These are the Gardins of the Desert. June, Rose Prairie.”

Harry Tuffill gets his hair cut on Walter McFarlane’s survey crew.

Date: 1904-1968 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of photographs and negatives taken from 1904 to 1968 showing the Somervilles’ original homestead in Viking, a community in Southern Alberta, his trip to Grande Prairie in 1911, and his homestead at Buffalo Lake where he lived until his death in 1971. There is also a photograph of Jim and Eva Somerville and their good friends Ed and Eva Gummer, taken in 1968.

Accruals of paper records include a Riley & McCormick cowboy equipment catalogue (1925); 6 small booklets recording activities and purchases (1912-1948), bank account (1926-1944), and a diary (1927); land tax documents(1920-1932),a notice of caveat (1949); gasoline ration coupons (1943), correspondence concerning the Buffalo Lakes Swine Improvement Association and a letter from J.B. Oliver; 4 personal cards, 2 pages of accounts with R.G. Maclean, assorted financial records (1913-1949), a Buffalo Lakes newspaper article, and a book titled “Experimental Farms Vol. II”. Also included is the 1954-1958 Diary kept by James Somerville; 1949-1953 Diary of James Somerville; 1948 Diary of James Somerville contains weather info activities, and news about people in district; and two scribblers with diary entries from 1969-1971.

Physical description: 7 photographs

3 postcards

Language of the material:

English

Publication status:

Published

Jim Somerville and a friend pose for a formal photograph.

A group photograph at Viking, Alberta. L to R (back row): Jim Somerville, Aggie Somerville, and Harry Doman (?); (front row): Isabel Somerville and Mrs Finnemore (?)

Jim Somerville’s shack at Viking where he lived from 1904 to 1910.

Sawridge, February 28 1912. The photograph includes (L to R): two unknowns, Robert McLean, Jim (James) Somerville (sitting on the roof), two unknowns, Andy (Andrew) Forster (playing broom), Ed Gummer (lying on the roof), Mr. Thompson (owner), George La Perriere, five unknowns, and Joe Mantle.

The South Buffalo Lake taken from McLean’s. The Somerville cabin is visible in the distance.

Jim Somerville’s cabin on South Buffalo Lake where he lived until 1942.

Ploughing before the days of the tractor was hard work for men and horses.

“Taking time out for a picture before threshing the stacks” on the Somerville homestead in Viking, Alberta.

Ed and Eva Gummer in front of the piano in Jim & Eva Somerville’s Buffalo Lakes home. Ed, along with Jim Somerville, travelled from Edmonton via Sawridge in 1912 to file on land in the Buffalo Lakes area.

Jim and Eva Somerville in Vancouver in 1968.

A “Pioneer Award” certificate of membership in the Old Timers Association by virtue of Jim Somerville settling in the area prior to 1916.

Duplicate certificate of title for the land used to create the Chatham School District #3638. Certificate details the exact borders of the school district.

Created for the 50th anniversary of the province of Alberta and given to all who had been residents of the province since 1905.

Reports from the Divisions of Horticulture, Cereals, Botany, Bees, Forage Plants, Poultry and Tobacco. Farms reporting include Grouard, Ft. Vermilion and Grande Prairie in the Peace Country.

Date: 1890-1940 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

This series consists of a 1925 Pocket Diary from Eva Somerville while she was still in England as well as a collection of postcards from 1890 to 1940 that collect correspondences with family members.

Physical description: 115 postcards

1 volume

Language of the material:

English

Publication status:

Published