Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | G. Roger Graham photograph collection |
| Reference code: | 0057 |
| Date: | 1969 (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 19 photographs |
| Language: | English |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Exported from AoR and added to new database April 2022 – TD |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
In May 1969, the second Northwest Resources Conference was held in Grande Prairie, sponsored by the Grande Prairie Chamber of Commerce in co-operation with the Government of Alberta and Canadian National Railways. This conference marked the completion of North America’s newest railway, the Alberta Resources Railway (ARR), a 234 mile line between Hinton and Grande Prairie.
G. Roger Graham, former vice president of Canadian National Railways, was in attendance at the conference. The three-day event began with the official opening of the ARR by premier Harry Strom on Wednesday, May 28. For the opening ceremonies, Mr. Graham and former premier, the Right Honorable Ernest C. Manning, were presented with hard hats and gloves. They performed the final, symbolical act of clearing away the last obstacle in the path of the construction of the ARR by sawing through a tree trunk spanning the new track in front of the engine. Thursday’s program featured speakers from across Canada who addressed conference delegates at the St. Joseph’s High School in Grande Prairie.
The highlight of the conference was a three-hour ride on the new railway the last day of the conference, with four passenger cars pulled behind the engine. Photographs of this event were taken by an unidentified photographer, reproduced for the participants, and later given to them in albums embossed with their names.
Custodial history
This collection originally belonged to G. Roger Graham. It fell into the hands of Dorothy Walker from Innisfail, who gave it to Bertha and Elmer Chugg, living in Grande Prairie. The Chuggs donated the photographs to the Grande Prairie Regional Archives in 2000.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of 19 color photographs of the inaugural run on the Alberta Resources Railway—the three hour trip on the final day of the conference. Photographs show the train, the scenery and the dignitaries who were passengers on this trip. A few of the photographs are of a welcoming banquet at St. Joe’s High School and ceremonies marking the opening of the railway.
Notes
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title based on contents of the fonds.
Immediate source of acquisition
Bertha & Elmer Chugg donated the photographs to the Grande Prairie Regional Archives in 2000.
Restrictions on access
Copyright restrictions apply–no reproductions available.
Accruals
No accruals expected
Access points
- Graphic material (documentary form)
- Business (subject)
- Transportation (subject)
- Government (subject)
- Railways (subject)
Series descriptions
| Reference code | Title | Dates | Physical description |
| 0057.01 | Item – Alberta Resources Railway Inaugural Run | 1969 | 1 photograph : colour ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
Canadian National train engine 4351 pulled the four passenger cars that carried the official party on a three-hour trip to Grande Cache on May 30, 1969. |
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| 0057.02 | Item – Alberta Resources Railway Inaugural Run | 1969 | 1 photograph : colour ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
Ernest Manning, former premier, was one of the dignitaries on the trip. Here, he is waving from the side window of train engine 4351. |
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| 0057.03 | Item – Alberta Resources Railway Inaugural Run | 1969 | 1 photograph : colour ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
Former premier Ernest Manning (6th from right) along with some of the officials standing beside the first train to run on the Alberta Resources Railway. |
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| 0057.04 | Item – Alberta Resources Railway Inaugural Run | 1969 | 1 photograph : colour ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
Former premier Ernest Manning inside one of the passenger cars on the inaugural run of the Alberta Resources Railway. |
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| 0057.05 | Item – Alberta Resources Railway Inaugural Run | 1969 | 1 photograph : colour ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
Premier Harry Strom and A.O Alberg, Provincial Treasurer, with a fellow official inside one of the passenger cars on the inaugural run of the Alberta Resources Railway. |
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| 0057.06 | Item – Alberta Resources Railway Inaugural Run | 1969 | 1 photograph : colour ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
Premier Harry Strom and A.O Alberg, Provincial Treasurer, with a fellow official inside one of the passenger cars on the inaugural run of the Alberta Resources Railway. |
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| 0057.07 | Item – Alberta Resources Railway Inaugural Run | 1969 | 1 photograph : colour ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
Premier Harry Strom and Honourable Ernest Manning with a fellow official outside the train on the inaugural run of the Alberta Resources Railway. |
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| 0057.08 | Item – Alberta Resources Railway Inaugural Run | 1969 | 1 photograph : colour ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
Premier Harry Strom and Honourable Ernest Manning with fellow officials inside one of the passenger cars on the inaugural run of the Alberta Resources Railway. |
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| 0057.09 | Item – Alberta Resources Railway Inaugural Run | 1969 | 1 photograph : colour ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
Premier Harry Strom, the Honourable Ernest Manning and Provincial Treasurer A.O. Alberg inside one of the passenger cars on the inaugural run of the Alberta Resources Railway. |
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| 0057.10 | Item – Alberta Resources Railway Inaugural Run | 1969 | 1 photograph : colour ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
View from the Inaugural Train of the Alberta Resources Railway of forest and newly constructed railway grade, with the train engine curving ahead. |
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| 0057.11 | Item – Alberta Resources Railway Inaugural Run | 1969 | 1 photograph : colour ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
Typical view from the passenger cars on the inaugural run of the Alberta Resources Railway, May 30, 1969. |
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| 0057.12 | Item – Alberta Resources Railway Inaugural Run | 1969 | 1 photograph : colour ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
Bagpiper taking his part in the ceremonies marking the inaugural run of the Alberta Resources Railway, May 30, 1969. |
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| 0057.13 | Item – Alberta Resources Railway Inaugural Run | 1969 | 1 photograph : colour ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
Premier Harry Strom and former premier Ernest Manning viewing the train that will make the inaugural run of the Alberta Resources Railway. |
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| 0057.14 | Item – Laying The Track, Alberta Resources Railway | 1969 | 1 photograph : colour ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
Workers laying the tracks for the Alberta Resources Railway, assisted by a crane on a flat rail car. |
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| 0057.15 | Item – Grande Cache Coal Mine | 1969 | 1 photograph : colour ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
A conveyor belt in the river valley along the Alberta Resources Railway route. |
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| 0057.16 | Item – Alberta Resources Railway Bridge | 1969 | 1 photograph : colour ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
A newly constructed railway bridge crosses a river in the Hinton-Grande Cache area. This is one of the sixteen bridges along the route of the Alberta Resources Railway. |
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| 0057.17 | Item – Opening of the Alberta Resources Railway | 1969 | 1 photograph : colour ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
Some of the officials at the opening of the Alberta Resources Railway at the Northern Resources Conference in Grande Prairie, May 30, 1969. |
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| 0057.18 | Item – Banquet for the Alberta Resources Railway Opening | 1969 | 1 photograph : colour ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
The banquet, held at St. Joseph’s High School, for the opening of the Alberta Resources Railway featured speakers from across Canada. |
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| 0057.19 | Item – Banquet for the Alberta Resources Railway Opening | 1969 | 1 photograph : colour ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
The banquet, held at St. Joseph’s High School, for the opening of the Alberta Resources Railway featured speakers from across Canada. |
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