Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | Walter Roberts fonds |
| Reference code: | 0557 |
| Date: | 1917-ca. 1925 (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 1 photograph album with 26 photographs |
| Language: | English |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Processed by Leslie Gordon, November 2013 Added to new database June 2022 – TD |
| Note: | Formerly part of Grande Prairie Public Library Isabel Campbell Collection. |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
Walter Roberts was the son of Henry Roberts and Mary Jones, born around 1894. The family was living in Clear Lake, South Dakota at the time. In 1898 they moved to Carlyle, Saskatchewan where they farmed until moving to the Peace Country. Walter was one of eight children.
Walter’s father and two oldest brothers departed in the spring of 1907 and staked land near Rolla, British Columbia. They returned and moved the rest of the family to Edmonton during the early winter of 1908. On Henry’s next trip north, in the summer of 1908, he was drawn to the Bear Lake area, near Lake Saskatoon and in 1909, he and two of his sons brought equipment in, staked and broke land, planted a crop and garden, and built a cabin and a barn. They returned to Edmonton where they picked up the rest of the Roberts family (except son Bill) and necessary supplies. The family arrived at their homestead via the Long Trail in the spring of 1910.
Walter filed on his own homestead (NE 16-72-7 W6th) in 1911 at the age of 17, getting the patent in 1916, as well as obtaining part of SW 21-71-7 W6th. In 1913 he also acquired part of NE 16-72-7 W6th.
Luella Patterson was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alphaeus Patterson, born in Kemptville, Ontario around 1895. She came to the Peace Country with her parents, sister, and brother in the spring of 1911. He other brother John Orlando Patterson and his family, had arrived the a couple of months earlier. The Pattersons operated the first store in Grande Prairie. In 1915, Luella married Dr. Martin L. MacDonald who practiced in Lake Saskatoon. They later divorced.
Walter Roberts and Luella Patterson Macdonald were married on January 12, 1937. They continued to live and farm on Walter’s land near Bear Lake. Luella Roberts died in December 1975 and Walter in June of 1977.
Custodial history
The photographs are contained in an album labelled Walter Roberts. They were maintained as part of the Isabel Campbell collection at the Grande Prairie Public Library and transferred to South Peace Regional Archives in October 2013. It is likely that they were given to Isabel by Walter Roberts (or a descendant).
Scope and content
The fonds consists of twenty-six photographs of the Grande Prairie area from 1917 to [ca. 1925], including picnics at the Wapiti and Haszards’, boxing, and early pioneers. The images are contained in an album labelled Walter Roberts Photos.
Notes
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title of fonds based on contents.
Access points
- Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)
Series descriptions
| Reference code | Title | Dates | Physical description |
| 0557.01 | Item – Picnic at the Wapiti | September 1917 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 13 x 8 cm |
| Scope and content:
A casual group of men and women sitting on a blanket during a picnic at the Wapiti River in September 1917. The caption below the photograph reads “Picnic at the Wapiti, Sept. 1917” |
|||
| 0557.02 | Item – “Some Line Up” | September 1917 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 7.5 cm |
| Scope and content:
Seven young ladies with the surnames (back to front) Roberts, Watson, Watson, Keez, Gariepy, Haszard, Lawrence lined up at a picnic at the Wapiti River in September 1917. Names, title, and date based on information written in the photograph album. |
|||
| 0557.03 | Item – Picnic at Haszards’ | 1918 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 5.5 cm |
| Scope and content:
Walter Roberts, Mac Haszard, Elsie Roberts, Bill Haszard, Sarah Kellet, Jean McFarlane, Miss Emmit, Art Smith, Jessie Haszard, Dorothy Watt, and Wallace McFarlane at a 1918 picnic at the Haszards. Identification based on information written in photograph album. |
|||
| 0557.04 | Item – Eating Ice Cream | 1918 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 5.5 cm |
| Scope and content:
A girl, possibly Elsie Roberts, being fed ice cream, at a 1918 picnic at the Haszards’. Visible in the background are Dorothy Watt, Jean McFarland, and Sarah Kellet, and possibly Wallace MacFarland and Art Smith. Identification and title taken from information written in the photograph album. |
|||
| 0557.05 | Item – At the River | ca. 1919 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 7 x 10.5 cm |
| Scope and content:
Walter Roberts, Elsie Roberts, and Delia Obenlock standing on a rock, beside the river. The caption below the photograph reads “Walter Roberts, Elsie Roberts & Delia Obenlock” |
|||
| 0557.06 | Item – Picnic | 1919 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 7 x 10.5 cm |
| Scope and content:
Delia Obenlock standing in front of trees, holding a spoon. |
|||
| 0557.07 | Item – Elsie Roberts | ca. 1918 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 5.5 cm |
| Scope and content:
Elsie Roberts holding a puppy with two cars in the background. The caption below the photograph reads “Elsie Roberts” |
|||
| 0557.08 | Item – Jessie Haszard | ca. 1918 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 7.5 cm |
| Scope and content:
Jessie Haszard standing in a clearing. The caption below the photograph reads “Jessie Haszard” |
|||
| 0557.09 | Item – Picnic at the Wapiti | 1919 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 10.5 x 7 cm |
| Scope and content:
Two men and a woman, standing on the banks by the Wapiti River. |
|||
| 0557.10 | Item – Jessie Haszard | ca. 1918 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 6 x 4 cm |
| Scope and content:
Jessie Haszard holding a dog. Several buildings are visible in the background. The caption below the photograph reads “Jessie Haszard” |
|||
| 0557.11 | Item – Arthur Smith and Bill Haszard | ca. 1918 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 4 x 6 cm |
| Scope and content:
Arthur Smith and Bill Haszard likely at a 1918 picnic at the Haszards. Cars and a buggy are visible in the background. The caption below the photograph reads “Arthur Smith and Bill Haszard” |
|||
| 0557.12 | Item – Bert Taylor, Walter Roberts, and Wallace McFarlane | ca. 1918 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 6 x 4 cm |
| Scope and content:
Bert Taylor, Walter Roberts, and Wallace McFarlane sitting in a car, likely at a 1918 picnic at the Haszards’. The caption next to the photograph reads “Bert Taylor, Walter Roberts, W. McFarlane” |
|||
| 0557.13 | Item – Wallace McFarlane and Delia Obenlock | ca. 1918 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 5.5 cm |
| Scope and content:
Wallace McFarlane and Delia Obenlock standing outside a log cabin. The caption below the photograph reads “Wallace McFarlane & Delia Obenlock” |
|||
| 0557.14 | Item – Riding in a Sleigh | ca. 1918 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 10 cm |
| Scope and content:
Right to left, Dorothy Watts, Walter Robert, Elsie Roberts, and Bill Haszard riding in a sleigh. Dorothy is holding a dog. The caption below the photograph reads “Dorothy Watts, Walter Roberts, Elsie Roberts, and Bill Haszard.” |
|||
| 0557.15 | Item – Picnic at the Wapiti | 1919 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 7 x 10.5 cm |
| Scope and content:
A group of young people gathered around a car on the shore of the Wapiti River during a 1919 picnic. |
|||
| 0557.16 | Item – Eating Ice Cream | July 1918 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 5.5 cm |
| Scope and content:
Sarah Kellet being fed ice cream by Dorothy Watt at a July 1918 picnic at the Haszards’. Elsie Roberts, Miss Emmit, Jean McFarlane, and Jessie Haszard look on. |
|||
| 0557.17 | Item – Hilda Clifford | ca. 1925 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 4.5 x 6.5 cm |
| Scope and content:
Hilda Clifford dressed up as the winter carnival queen. The caption on the back of the photograph reads “Hilda Clifford 1st white child born in G.P.” |
|||
| 0557.18 | Item – Picnic at the Wapiti | 1919 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 10.5 x 7.5 cm |
| Scope and content:
A group of young people gathered around a car on the shore of the Wapiti River during a 1919 picnic. |
|||
| 0557.19 | Item – Picnic at the Wapiti | September 1917 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 7.5 cm |
| Scope and content:
A casual group of men and women sitting on rocks beside the river during a picnic at the Wapiti River in September 1917. The caption below the photograph reads “Picnic at the Wapiti Sept. 1917” |
|||
| 0557.20 | Item – Picnic at the Wapiti | 1919 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 7.5 cm |
| Scope and content:
Delia Obenlock, Fred Roberts, Mike Harland, Pearl Dillon, and Al Stewart around the fire during a picnic at the Wapiti River in 1919. Description taken from information written on the page in the photograph album. |
|||
| 0557.21 | Item – Boxing Match | ca. 1919 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 10.5 x 7.5 cm |
| Scope and content:
J. McGrath and F. Bobing challenge each other in a boxing match. Another man stands in the background. The caption below the photograph reads “Boxing match J. McGrath and F. Bobing” |
|||
| 0557.22 | Item – Lunch | ca. 1919 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 10.5 x 7.5 cm |
| Scope and content:
A group of young people sitting in the woods having lunch during a picnic, likely at the Wapiti River. The caption above the photograph reads “Lunch” |
|||
| 0557.23 | Item – Wapiti Picnic | 1919 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 7.5 cm |
| Scope and content:
A group of young people gathered around a car on the shore of the Wapiti River during a 1919 picnic. The caption above the photograph reads “Wapiti Picnic – 1919” |
|||
| 0557.24 | Item – At the River | ca. 1919 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 10.5 x 7.5 cm |
| Scope and content:
Bill Haszard, Elsie Roberts, and Delia Obenlock standing on a rock, in the Wapiti river, likely at a 1919 picnic. Identifying information is taken from information written in the photograph album. |
|||
| 0557.25 | Item – “Dinner Time” | ca. 1919 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 7.5 cm |
| Scope and content:
A group of young people sitting in the woods having dinner during a picnic, likely at the Wapiti River in 1919. The caption above the photograph reads “Dinner Time” |
|||
| 0557.26 | Item – “Blow Out” | July 1919 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 7.5 cm |
| Scope and content:
A group of young people sitting in the woods having dinner during a picnic, likely at the Wapiti River in 1919. The caption above the photograph reads “Blow Out.” There is additional text on the page but it is indiscernible. |
|||