Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | Rycroft and District Historical Society fonds |
| Reference code: | 0156 |
| Date: | 1947-1986 (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 3 cm textual records
2 photographs |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Added to new database October 2023 – TD |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
Rycroft and District Historical Society was formed in 1974 with the purpose of publishing a book tracing the history of local pioneers. With the help of the Merry Pioneers, a seniors’ citizens group organized to create the Merry Pioneers’ Centre, Sisters Madge Barton and Josephine Dulaska interviewed old-timers to get their historical stories. Sister Dulaska, who could speak five languages, became an ideal translator for those who had difficulty with the English language. Wheatfields and Wildflower, a history of Rycroft and surrounding school districts, was the result of this community effort.
The records are very incomplete as much material was destroyed in a flood of June 11, 1990.
Custodial history
The collection was donated to the Grande Prairie Regional Archives by Mary Kunesky, a secretary at the Rycroft School from 1969-1989. It had been passed on to her by Shirley Uhryn who had received it from Sister Barton who was very active on the Rycroft Historical Society.
Scope and content
The collection consists of correspondence and financial records from the society, and news articles related to Rycroft history from 1954-1986 and the centralization of schools in the Spirit River School Division from 1960-1972. There are also pages from a Rycroft school yearbook The Aurora produced in 1947-48 and 2 grade eleven classroom photographs.
Notes
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title of fonds based on contents.
Related material
Donated with the collection were 2 books, Ecole Joussard School, a school history 1937-1972, and Jean-Cote, History and Family Trees of a French Community located in the library.
Access points
- Textual record (documentary form)
- Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)
- Sports, recreation and leisure* (subject)
- Education (subject)
- Organizations* (subject)