Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | Norrie Family fonds |
| Reference code: | 0145 |
| Date: | 1927-1932 (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 36 photographs |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Added to new database May 2023 – TD |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
Malcolm McBean Norrie was born in July 26, 1899, in Ardersier, Inverness, Scotland and came to Moosimin, Saskatchewan, in June 1923, where he worked as a farm hand until 1927. He then came to Grande Prairie where he began work at the new Grande Prairie Municipal Hospital where he likely met his future wife, Helena Gossen. A year later he took a new job as bartender in the Grande Prairie Hotel owned by Frank Donald and later named his son after his employer. Malcolm was killed in an auto accident near Leduc in December, 1950.
Helena Gossen, along with her Mennonite parents, Johann Gossen and Helena Friesen, came to Acme, Alberta, in 1925 from Landskrone, South Russia. Lena was the eldest of five girls including Sarah, Katerina, Kornelia, Elizabeth, and one brother, Johann. Helena’s father purchased property on the Adair Ranch (also known as Sunset Ranch) at Wembley and in 1927 Helena left Calgary where she had been working as a domestic in the home of a Lutheran minister and came to Wembley. She and her sister, Sarah, went to work on the cleaning staff of the Kathryn Prittie hospital. They continued employment in the new hospital until she married Malcolm in 1932. Shortly after the marriage, they moved to Leduc, then Waskataneau, Edmonton, and finally, Lacombe. Helena returned to Grande Prairie after retirement and resided in Pioneer Lodge. She died in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital May 6, 1995.
Custodial history
The records were donated to the Grande Prairie Archives by Donald M. Norrie, son of Malcolm and Helena in 2004 and 2005.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of photographs and a letter from Donald Norrie describing in detail some of the photographs. The photographs consist of buildings and people in Grande Prairie in 1928, including pictures of main street; Grande Prairie Hospital and staff; the Grande and Capital Theatres including projection equipment; Gypsy Moth aircraft and aerial photos; Winter Carnival celebrations; and Frank Donald’s taxi.
Notes
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title of fonds based on contents
Related material
Projection equipment from the Grand Theatre is part of the Grande Prairie Museum collection.
Related records: Gossen Family fonds (441)
Access points
- Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)
Series descriptions
| Reference code | Title | Dates | Physical description |
| 2003.05.01 | Item – Main Street Grande Prairie | ca. 1928 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.5 x 4.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Image shows a car driving down a dirt road into the town of Grande Prairie. A caption on the front of the photograph reads “Grand Prairie Alberta.” The caption on the back of the photograph reads “looking up town from our place.” Note: Identified buildings – Presbyterian church, United church, Peeble house, Freeborn house, Bliss house |
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| 2003.05.02 | Item – Grande Prairie Municipal Hospital Field’s Studio |
1929 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Postcard showing the Grande Prairie Municipal Hospital. A label on the back of the postcard reads “Grande Prairie Municipal Hospital (GPMH) just before completion February 1929” |
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| 2003.05.03 | Item – The Old Grande Prairie Hospital | 1927 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.5 x 4.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Two girls sit with a dog in front of Kathryn Prittie Hospital. One of the girls is wearing braces on her legs as a result of “Infantile Paralysis” (now known as Polio). |
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| 2003.05.04 | Item – Nurse Standing by Hospital | 1929 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 4.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
A nurse, Miss Evans, standing by the door of the West Wing of the Grande Prairie Municipal Hospital. |
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| 2003.05.05-.06 | Item – Hospital Staff at the East Wing of the Hospital | 1930 | 2 photographs : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Gossen sisters (Helena and Sarah) and two other women at the east wing door of the Grande Prairie Municipal Hospital. L-R Helena Gossen, unknown, Sarah Gossen, and Pearl. |
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| 2003.05.07 | Item – Hospital Staff Standing by the East Wing of the Hospital | 1930 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Gossen sisters (Helena and Sarah) stand with Malcolm Norrie by East Wing door of Grande Prairie Municipal Hospital. |
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| 2003.05.08 | Item – Hospital Staff and Nurse Behind the Grande Prairie Municipal Hospital | 1930 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Sarah Gossen, Miss Guard, Helena Gossen and Pearl standing beside a wood pile behind the hospital. |
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| 2003.05.09 | Item – Grande Prairie Municipal Hospital Cleaning Staff | 1931 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Helena & Sarah Gossen with 3 unknown staff members standing by the hospital. |
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| 2003.05.10 | Item – Couple on the Front Steps of the Grande Prairie Municipal Hospital | 1932 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Carrie ? And George? standing on the front steps of the Grande Prairie Municipal Hospital. The caption on the back of the photograph includes the following information: “Note: Visiting hours sign. 2-4 PM and 7-8 PM. This was standard for all hospitals in Alberta right into the 1960’s.” |
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| 2003.05.11 | Item – Marion Lohman by the Grande Prairie Municipal Hospital | 1931 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2.5 x 3.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Marion Lohman sitting on a low wall at the rear of the Grande Prairie Municipal Hospital. |
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| 2003.05.12 | Item – Grand Theatre featuring “Daddy Long Legs” | ca. 1930 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
The Grand Theatre with posters advertising “Daddy Long Legs” and the coming attraction “Waterloo Bridge”. The Grand was later renamed The Capitol. |
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| 2003.05.13 | Item – Grand Theatre featuring “Emma” | ca. 1930 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
The Grand Theatre with posters advertising “Emma”, starring Marie Dressler. |
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| 2003.05.14-17 | Item – Movie projectors of the Grand/Capitol Theatres | ca. 1928 | 4 photographs : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
The movie projector at the Grand/Capitol Theatre was a 5.24 arc projector. It used intense light arced across 2 carbon electrodes and was constantly monitored by a projectionist. A chimney was required on top of arc projectors because of heat generated by the device. |
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| 2003.05.18 | Item – Grand Theatre Sound Amplifier | ca. 1928 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
The Grand Theatre’s sound amplifier from the Grande Theatre. |
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| 2003.05.19 | Item – Alice Lazaruk, Howard Wade, and a Friend Outside of the Grande Theatre | 1929 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Alice Lazaruk, Howard Wade (projectionist), and a friend in front of Grand Theatre. Alice and Howard later married. |
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| 2003.05.20 | Item – Capitol Theatre – Inside | ca. 1929 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
The seating area and stage of the Capitol Theatre as viewed from the projectionist’s booth. |
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| 2003.05.21-22 | Item – Grande Prairie From the Air | 1928 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
The business core of Grande Prairie viewed from the air. |
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| 2003.05.23 | Item – Stanley Green with Gypsy Moth | 1928 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Stanley Green standing beside his Gypsy Moth. |
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| 2003.05.24 | Item – Peace River From the Air | 1928 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Peace River viewed from the air in 1928. The snow-covered river is in behind. |
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| 2003.05.25 | Item – Aircraft Crash at Grande Prairie | 1929 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Men inspect damage to small aircraft. |
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| 2003.05.26 | Item – Nurses Guard and Gillies | 1928 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Two nurses (Guard and Gillies) posing by a car behind the Grande Prairie Municipal Hospital. |
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| 2003.05.27 | Item – Edna Taylor in Front of Taylor’s Delicatessen | ca. 1928 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Edna Taylor standing in front of Taylor’s Delicatessen in Grande Prairie. |
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| 2003.05.28 | Item – Unknown Lady of Grande Prairie | ca. 1928 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
A lady sitting on a lawn in Grande Prairie. |
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| 2003.05.29 | Item – Northern Winter Carnival Parade | ca. 1929 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
A covered wagon pulled by oxen with a “Tailor” shop in the background. |
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| 2003.05.30 | Item – Northern Winter Carnival Parade | ca. 1929 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Cars travelling under a spruce bow archway are led by a truck with a band playing in the back. |
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| 2003.05.31 | Item – Northern Winter Carnival Parade | ca. 1929 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
A group of people gather to watch the parade. |
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| 2003.05.32 | Item – Northern Winter Carnival Parade | ca. 1929 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
A group gathers in front of the railway station to watch the parade. |
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| 2003.05.33 | Item – Northern Winter Carnival Parade | ca. 1929 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
A parade float pulled by horses with a banner reading “welcome visiting curlers”. |
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| 2003.05.34 | Item – Malcolm M. Norrie | ca. 1929 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Malcolm M. Norrie standing at the back of the Grande Prairie Hotel. |
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| 2005.001.01 | Item – Robert Warner | 1928 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Robert Warner posing outdoors. |
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| 2005.001.02 | Item – Frank Donald, Grande Prairie Taxi | 1928 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Three men identified as Beverly, Stanley, and Alex showing off a taxi with Frank Donald’s name on the door. |
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