Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | Trumpeter Swan Naturalists Society fonds |
| Reference code: | 0106 |
| Date: | 1953-1981 (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 9 cm of textual records
1 crest |
| Language: | English |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Exported from AoR on August 3, 2024, JL |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
The Trumpeter Swan Naturalists Society was organized in April 1976 as the Northern Alberta Nature Club by 17 residents of the Wembley rural area. Yvonne McAlister was the driving force behind the club, which changed its name to the Trumpeter Swan Naturalist Society in the summer of 1977, and became incorporated as such in 1978. Their crest was a white swan on a blue background, designed by Dr. Ray Salt of the University of Alberta.
The society’s main purpose was to document the natural history of the Grande Prairie region, to identify areas accessible for bird watching and nature appreciation, and to promote the conservation and preservation of these areas and endangered species such as the Trumpeter Swan. The members took part in the summer and Christmas bird and mammal counts each year, as well as yearly wildflower counts. They held monthly meetings and regular field trips in the summer, and published monthly newsletters which they shared with other naturalist groups in the Peace, the Province, Western Canada and Western U.S.
The club folded in 1981 and was replaced by the Peace Parkland Naturalists in 1989.
Custodial history
The records were donated to the South Peace Regional Archives by Margot Hervieux, a member of the succeeding organization, the Peace Parkland Naturalists.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of executive records regarding the formation and maintenance of the society; field records recording bird, mammal and wildflower counts; copies of the monthly newsletter, The Northern Naturalist; and copies of a collection of historical articles by F.M. Helleiner, who identified 180 bird species in the Grande Prairie area and wrote articles in the Herald-Tribune from 1953-1954. An embroidered crest, showing a trumpeter swan on a blue background, is included in the collection.
Notes
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title based on the contents of the fonds
Restrictions on access
There are no restrictions on access.
Access points
- Textual record (documentary form)
- Education (subject)
- Environment and nature* (subject)
- Organizations* (subject)
- Sports, recreation and leisure* (subject)
Table of contents
0106.01, Executive Records, 1961-1981
0106.02, Field Records, 1973-1980
0106.03, The Northern Naturalist Newsletter, 1976-1980
0106.04, F.M. Helleiner Collection, 1953-1954
Series descriptions
| Series 0106.01: Executive Records
Date: 1961-1981 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of minutes, reports, financial records, incorporation documents, and correspondence regarding the incorporation and disestablishment of the society. Physical description: 1.5 cm of textual records Language of the material: English Publication status: Published |
| Series 0106.02: Field Records
Date: 1973-1980 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of cards and lists detailing the summer and Christmas bird and mammal counts in which the club participated. There are also records of wildflower counts and individual records of bird counts at other times of the year. Physical description: 3 cm of textual records Language of the material: English Publication status: Published |
| Series 0106.03: The Northern Naturalist Newsletter
Date: 1976-1980 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of the monthly newsletters sent to members in the society. Newsletters contained dialogue between members, information about animal species, and about sightings, meeting notices and reports. Physical description: 4 cm of textual records Language of the material: English Publication status: Published |
| Series 0106.04: F.M. Helleiner Collection
Date: 1953-1954 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of a list of the 180 bird species Mr. Helleiner identified in the Grande Prairie area in the early 1950s and copies of his weekly articles which were published by the Grande Prairie Herald Tribune from 1953-1954. Physical description: 0.5 cm of textual records Language of the material: English Publication status: Published |