Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | Leslie family fonds |
| Reference code: | 0430 |
| Date: | 1890-1995 (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 4 cm textual records
66 photographs |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Processed by Karen Burgess November 2010 Added to new database October 2024 – TD |
| Note: | This fonds has been identified as having Indigenous related content. Researchers may encounter language that is outdated and offensive. To learn more about Indigenous records at the South Peace Regional Archives please see our guide. |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
Thomas Leslie and Margaret Garrett were married in 1887, and in 1913, on the urging of sons Normand and Edward, came to the Peace country. They took up homesteads about 14 miles east of Grande Prairie and applied for a post office which was then named the Glen Leslie post office. They helped to build the Glen Leslie Church, and nursed the sick during the 1918 flu epidemic. They decided to return to Ontario in 1920. Sons Norman and Edward had also come to the Bezanson area and taken up homesteads. Norman went away to war in 1915, was wounded and, returning three years later, took over the post office after his parents left. He married Gladys Bryenton in 1923. Edward lived with his parents and farmed until they left in1920. Then he bought another quarter of land and built a small house on it. In 1921, he married Dorothy Morrison (a cousin to Gladys Bryenton), but although the land was good, weather conditions often resulted in poor crops. In 1923, Dorothy began teaching at the local school which helped their finances. In 1927, Edward and Dorothy had a sale and moved to Grande Prairie where Edward worked in Morrison’s general store owned by Dorothy’s father. In 1928, they moved back to Glen Leslie to operate Dorothy’s father’s store there which was built on the corner of their farm. In 1930, Norman with his two children, Jean and Keith, moved to Dimsdale and operated a small store and post office. In 1935, Norman took over the Massey Harris agency in Beaverlodge while Gladys operated the store in Dimsdale and a year later, Norman took over operating the Wheat Pool elevator. By 1940, he was president of the Grande Prairie Legion and when World War II started he served in the Veteran’s Guard of Canada. At the end of the war, Norman returned to Dimsdale and in 1968 he and his wife sold the store and retired in Grande Prairie. He was active in the Masons, Royal Arch Chapter, and a member of the Shrine Club. Norman died in 1972 and Gladys in 1983 and both are buried in the Glen Leslie cemetery.
In 1945, Edward and family moved to Grande Prairie where he had bought the British American bulk oil plant which supplied gas and oil to service stations and to farmers in the area. In 1947, Edward was found to have cancer with few months to live. His mother told them of a specialist in Bellville, Ontario and asked that Ed come see him. He and Dorothy flew down but there was nothing the doctor could do and Edward died January 4, 1948, in Ontario, never able to return home. Edward and Dorothy had five children: Margaret Edith died as an infant, Kenneth (b. 1927) married Rosalie McHaffie and their children were Edward, Corlie, Robyn, Karen, and Kenneth; William (b. 1929) married Jean Trout and their children were Ellen, Marjorie and Robert. Marion (b. 1933) married Donald Podritske and their children were Sandra Gail and Glenda Lee; and Thomas (b. 1935) married Marion Shields and their children were Dorothy Dianne and John Hunter. For more Leslie history, refer to the document in this fonds: “Leslie’s of Hastings County, Ontario – Their ancestors and descendants and Morrison’s of Prince Edward Island – Their ancestors and descendants.”
Custodial history
The records were donated to the South Peace Regional Archives by Bill Leslie in 2009 and 2012.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of 66 family photographs of the Bill Leslie family, the family history book, “Leslie’s of Hastings County, Ontario and Morrison’s of P.E.I.”, a 2009 Leslie Family Reunion edition with additional pages which includes a history of Bezanson and Glen Leslie areas, a scrapbook belonging to his mother, Dorothy Leslie, containing news clippings of events in the seniors’ center (1975-1977) and copies of individual news stories (1976-1978) of Jean Lozeron, Jim Johnson, J.B. Oliver, Rev Bob Wallace, Philip Fitzpatrick, Johnanna Haakstad, Jake Wiens, and Paddy Croken.
Notes
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title of fonds based on contents.
Access points
- Textual record (documentary form)
- Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)
- Family and personal life* (subject)
Table of contents
0430.01, Leslie family photographs, 1890-1995
0430.02, Dorothy Leslie Scrapbook, 1975-1977
Series descriptions
| Series 0430.01: Leslie family photographs
Date: 1890-1995 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of 66 family photographs. Physical description: 66 photographs Access points: • Graphic material – photograph (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
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| File / item list | |||
| Reference code | Title | Dates | Physical description |
| 0430.01.01 | Item – Aunt Marion Leslie with Children | n.d. | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Aunt Marion Leslie with nephew Tom and niece Marion. |
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| 0430.01.02 | Item – Golden Wedding Anniversary | 1971 | 1 TIFF : colour |
| Scope and content:
Golden wedding anniversary for Bruce and Carrie Leslie (center) with Margaret on the left and Dorothy on the right. |
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| 0430.01.03 | Item – Leslie Auto Court Sign | ca. 1950 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Leslie Auto Court sign with a larger B-A sign above it. |
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| 0430.01.04 | Item – The Morrison Block | ca. 1950 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
The Morrison Block featuring Morrison’s Cash Store. Kenneth Morrison built this building after fire destroyed his former store. It was located on the south-east corner of 100 Ave. and 101 St. After Kenneth died, Edith lived in the apartment above the store. The building was destroyed by fire in the 1980s. |
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| 0430.01.05 | Item – The Norman Leslie Family | ca. 1947 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
The Norman Leslie family: L-R: daughter Jean, Norman, Gladys, son Keith. |
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| 0430.01.06 | Item – The Morrison Family | ca. 1912 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
The Kenneth Morrison family: Back: Kenneth. Front L-R: Hector (b. 1902), Dorothy (b.1900, d.1988), Ivan (b.1907, d.1986), wife Edith, Marion (b.1898,d.1982). |
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| 0430.01.07 | Item – Grande Prairie Leslies | 1936 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
The Leslie family: Back standing: Norman and Ed. Seated: Gladys, Thomas, Margaret, and Dorothy. Children in the middle: Marion and Tom. Front: Jean, Keith, Kenneth, and Bill. |
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| 0430.01.08 | Item – Somme School Picnic | 1922 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Somme School Picnic |
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| 0430.01.09 | Item – Somme School | 1922 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Somme School children assembled in the doorway. |
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| 0430.01.10 | Item – Somme School Children with their Horses | 1922 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Somme School children with their horses pose in front of the school. |
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| 0430.01.11 | Item – Bill Kennedy and Alf Moon | 1920 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Bill Kennedy and Alf Moon. |
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| 0430.01.12 | Item – Alf Moon, Bill Kennedy, and Nat Hunter | 1920 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Alf Moon, Bill Kennedy, and Nat Hunter |
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| 0430.01.13 | Item – Women’s Institute Meeting | ca. 1944 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Women’s Institute Meeting at Dorothy Leslie’s home |
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| 0430.01.14 | Item – Grandfather Tom Leslie | [ca. 1925] | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Grandfather Tom Leslie in front of his log home. |
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| 0430.01.15 | Item – Picnic at Glen Leslie Church | ca. 1932 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Picnic at Glen Leslie Church. Kenneth (?) Morrison at far right. Ed Leslie far left. Also Grandma Moon, Mr. Anderson, Mrs. Ross Wales, Hazel Patterson, Mrs. Kimble, Gladys Leslie, Steve Garrett. |
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| 0430.01.16 | Item – Dorothy Leslie with Children | ca. 1932 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Dorothy Leslie with children Bill and Ken. |
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| 0430.01.17 | Item – Dorothy Morrison | 1920 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Dorothy Morrison who became Dorothy Leslie. |
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| 0430.01.18 | Item – Uncle Norman Leslie | 1924 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Uncle Norman Leslie |
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| 0430.01.19 | Item – Bill Leslie | 1944 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Bill Leslie at fourteen years old. |
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| 0430.01.20 | Item – Bill Leslie and Friends | ca. 1944 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Bill Leslie and friends. |
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| 0430.01.21 | Item – John Rempel Transport | ca. 1944 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Alf Rempel with John Rempel Transport truck. |
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| 0430.01.22 | Item – Leslie’s Auto Court | ca. 1950 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Leslie’s Auto Court office. |
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| 0430.01.23 | Item – High School Dormitory Students | ca. 1950 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
High School Dormitory Students in front of the H-Huts entrance. |
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| 0430.01.24 | Item – Thomas and Margaret Leslie | 1935 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Thomas and Margaret Leslie. |
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| 0430.01.25 | Item – Leslie’s Auto Court | 1952 | 1 TIFF : colour |
| Scope and content:
Leslie’s Auto Court included a service station, motel and grocery store. Located on 100 Ave. and 105 St, Grande Prairie. It was sold in 1970. |
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| 0430.01.26 | Item – Three Couples Pose on a Couch – Special Occasion | ca. 1950 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Three couples sitting on a couch – Bill Leslie on the left. All are dressed for a special occasion. |
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| 0430.01.27 | Item – Leslie Children Sitting on the Running Board | [ca. 1935] | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Jean, Marion, Keith, Kenneth, and Bill Leslie sitting on the running board of a car. |
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| 0430.01.28 | Item – Marion, Bill, and Jean Leslie | 1953 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Marion, Bill, and Jean Leslie. The occasion is Marion’s wedding. |
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| 0430.01.29 | Item – Leslie Family Group | 1938 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Leslie Family Group: Back L-R: Julia Brown, Norman and Gladys Leslie, Margaret Leslie, Marion Morrison, Dorothy Leslie with Edith Morrison in front of her holding Tom Leslie, Thomas Leslie. Leslie children in front L-R: Jean, Keith, Kenneth, Marion, Bill. |
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| 0430.01.30 | Item – Sports at Sturgeon Lake | 1925 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Image shows spectators lining the wooden barricades alongside the track at Sturgeon Lake. Riders appear to be assembling for a horse race. |
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| 0430.01.31 | Item – Norman and Gladys Leslie | 1922 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Norman Leslie and wife Gladys. |
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| 0430.01.32 | Item – Leslie Siblings | [ca. 1995] | 1 TIFF : colour |
| Scope and content:
Leslie siblings – Bill, Marion, Tom, and Ken. |
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| 0430.01.33 | Item – Ken Leslie | 1960 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Ken Leslie |
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| 0430.01.34 | Item – East Kleskun School | 1920 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Image shows students gathered outside the East Kleskun School. Dorothy Morrison was the first teacher there. |
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| 0430.01.35 | Item – East Kleskun School | 1920 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Image shows students gathered outside the East Kleskun School. Dorothy Morrison was the first teacher there. |
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| 0430.01.36 | Item – East Kleskun School | 1919 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
East Kleskun School. Dorothy Morrison was the first teacher here. |
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| 0430.01.37 | Item – East Kleskun School Teacher With Girls | 1920 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
East Kleskun School. Dorothy Morrison, teacher, sitting in front of the woodpile with Dorothy DeBolt, Winnie DeBolt, Annie Matechuck, and Annie Babnick. |
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| 0430.01.38 | Item – Children in Front of Glen Leslie Church | [ca. 1920] | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Children include three Christie girls, two Minchin boys, Charlie Wales, Sarah Minchin, Alfred Wales in front of Glen Leslie Church. |
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| 0430.01.39 | Item – The First Class at Somme | [ca. 1923] | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Dorothy Morrison’s first class at Somme School. |
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| 0430.01.40 | Item – Somme School | [ca. 1928] | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
The Somme School, built in 1928. Prior to that time, the school met in Glen Leslie Presbyterian Church. |
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| 0430.01.41 | Item – Immigration Hall | 1918 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Immigration Hall in Grande Prairie in 1918. It was located on Lots 19, 20 and 21 in Block 2, Plan 1836 BP in the Town of Grande Prairie. |
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| 0430.01.42 | Item – Glen Leslie Church Gathering | 1938 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Glen Leslie Church gathering. Dorothy, Tom, and Margaret Leslie are seated in the middle with children Keith, Kenneth, and Bill Leslie seated at their feet. |
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| 0430.01.43 | Item – Porteous Hardware Store | [ca. 1920] | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Porteous Hardware Store |
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| 0430.01.44 | Item – Newly Finished Log Home | [ca. 1915] | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Newly finished log home with Murd McKinley? and Norman Leslie. |
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| 0430.01.45 | Item – Threshing Outfit | 1918 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Threshing with horse power at the Currie farm in East Kleskun |
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| 0430.01.46 | Item – Ox and Cart by Sturgeon Lake | 1918 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
A postcard photo showing oxen and carts travelling along Sturgeon Lake. |
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| 0430.01.47 | Item – Clairmont Hockey Team | [ca. 1930] | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Clairmont Hockey Team. In front are Bud Ireland, Walter Callister, ___Anderson. |
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| 0430.01.48a | Item – Crossing the Smoky River | [ca. 1940] | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Unidentified person shown crossing the Smoky River in spring when the ice was beginning to get covered with water. The plank served as a safety measure. |
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| 0430.01.48b | Item – Crossing the Smoky River | [ca. 1940] | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Unidentified person shown crossing the Smoky River in spring when the ice was beginning to get covered with water. The plank served as a safety measure. |
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| 0430.01.49 | Item – Edith Morrison | ca. 1890 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Mrs. Edith Morrison, born Edith Higgins in May 1873, married to Kenneth Morrison. Edith died in 1950. |
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| 0430.01.50 | Item – Edith Morrison | 1939 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Edith Morrison at Morrison’s Cash Store in Debolt where she took her mink about 1939. Son Ivan had a farm north of Debolt opposite the John Bickell farm. Both he and his mother managed the store. |
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| 0430.01.51 | Item – Children & Boat Wait to Cross the River | [ca. 1935] | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Two children stand in front of a boat at the Smoky River in early spring. |
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| 0430.01.52 | Item – Dorothy Leslie, Bessie Burgess | 1973 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
While on a trip to Madrid: far left is Dorothy Leslie and far right is Bessie Burgess both of Grande Prairie. |
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| 0430.01.53 | Item – Kathryn Prittie Hospital Opening | 1914 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Kathryn Prittie Hospital newly finished showing the crowd assembled on the veranda and a few sitting on the second story window ledge. Identified as part of the crowd are Mr. & Mrs. Forbes, Nurse Baird, Bruce ?, Tom Leslie, Mrs. Milne |
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| 0430.01.54 | Item – Kathryn Prittie Hospital Opening | 1914 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Kathryn Prittie Hospital newly finished showing the crowd assembled on the veranda and a few sitting on the second story window ledge. Identified as part of the crowd are Mr. & Mrs. Forbes, Nurse Baird, Bruce ?, Tom Leslie, Mrs. Milne |
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| 0430.01.55 | Item – Church Service Group Assembled in Front of Home | ca. 1914 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Note on the back of photo “Service at Bruce’s the first Sunday after we came home. Carrie held the camera and so is not in this and the one she was in was spoiled.” |
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| 0430.01.56 | Item – The Leslie Home | ca. 1914 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
The Leslie Home in winter showing two log buildings with horses and cattle standing in front. |
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| 0430.01.57 | Item – Mrs. Minchin Holding David | ca. 1915 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Mrs. Minchin holding David. |
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| 0430.01.58 | Item – Worker Stitching His Moccasin | ca. 1915 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Worker stitching his moccasin as a friend beside the house watches. |
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| 0430.01.59 | Item – Dorothy Leslie | ca. 1921 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Dorothy Leslie (nee Morrison) dressed in a winter outfit. |
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| 0430.01.60 | Item – The Leslie Home | ca. 1930 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
The Leslie home |
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| 0430.01.61 | Item – Edward and Dorothy Leslie’s Home | ca. 1930 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Edward and Dorothy Leslie in front of their home. |
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| 0430.01.62 | Item – Leslie’s Teams and Wagons | ca. 1930 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Edward Leslie and Hector Morrison with teams (Roy and Bess) and sleighs ready for hauling. |
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| 0430.01.63 | Item – Peace River Railway Bridge | ca. 1930 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Edward Leslie with Mr. and Mrs. Anderson on the “big bridge across the Peace at Peace River Crossing”. |
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| 0430.01.64 | Item – Ferry Across the Smoky | ca. 1930 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Ferry used to cross the Smoky River. |
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| 0430.01.65 | Item – School Picnic Group | ca. 1930 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Group of adults and children assembled for a photo beside a school building. The occasion is a school picnic. The adults identified include (L-R) Ed Leslie, R. Weatherby, R. Wales, Ott. Patt., Le Rue, Anderson, Rex P., Steve, Mrs. Moon, Clarkson, Kimball, (Mrs.) Ott Patt, C Johnson, Jean Dorothy Leslie, Ken Morrison |
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| Series 0430.02: Dorothy Leslie Scrapbook
Date: 1975-1977 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of a scrapbook belonging to his mother, Dorothy Leslie containing news clippings of events in the seniors’ center (1975-1977) and copies of individual news stories (1976-1978) featuring Jean Lozeron, Jim Johnson, J.B. Oliver, Rev Bob Wallace, Philip Fitzpatrick, Johanna Haakstad, Jake Wiens, and Paddy Croken. Physical description: 2 cm textual records Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
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