Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | Ethel Buck fonds |
| Reference code: | 0597 |
| Date: | [ca. 1942-1950] (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 0.1 cm textual records
14 photographs |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Processed by Mary Nutting, November 2014 Added to new database July 2023 – TD |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
Ethel Louise Foote was born August 30, 1925 in Vanguard, Saskatchewan, and arrived in the Spirit River area with her parents, Emily and Joe Foote, in 1929. They came to join family members Vern and Becky Foote, and Vern and Hattie Rappel, who were already living in the Peace Country. In 1942, her cousin, Ray Rappel, enlisted in World War II and was sent overseas, and in 1943, Ethel married Walter Buck, whose family had settled in the Bridgeview area south of Spirit River in 1929. Based in England, Ray became friends with Jean Goff, and asked his cousin Ethel to write to her so she would know a little bit about Canada. Although that relationship did not last, Ray did marry in England, to Rosina Elizabeth Stredder, and asked Ethel to write to her as well. Ray was injured in the war and sent home in 1944. Rosina followed later that year. The couple went on to have two children, James and Frederick, but Ray passed away in 1954 while the children were only 6 and 8 years old. Rosina later married Robert Giles. Meanwhile, Ethel Foote had continued to write to Jean Goff and was still writing to her at the age of 90, when this collection was donated to the Archives. Ethel died in Grande Prairie on November 11, 2017.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of 14 photographs of Ethel Foote, her cousin Ray Rappel, Jean Goff and Ray’s other friends in England, and Ray’s wife Rosina. There is also Ethel’s war registration card, and a 16 page letter from Rosina to Ethel in September 1944, written in response to Ethel’s first letter to her. At the time, Rosina was already married/engaged to Ray and had applied to come to Canada.
Custodial History
These records were sent to Ethel Foote during and/or after World War II and were donated to South Peace Regional Archives by Gary Buck in November 2014.
Notes
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title of fonds based on contents.
Access points
- Textual record (documentary form)
- Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)
- Family and personal life* (subject)
- Military (subject)
Series descriptions
| Reference code | Title | Dates | Physical description |
| 2014.082.01 | Item – Ethel Foote and Ray Rappel | 1942 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Ethel Foote and her cousin Ray Rappel. |
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| 2014.082.02 | Item – Ray Rappel | 1942 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Ray Rappel, from Spirit River, at the time he enlisted in World War II. |
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| 2014.082.03 | Item – Soldiers at Spirit River | 1942 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Soldiers from Grande Prairie at Spirit River for a dance. |
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| 2014.082.04 | Item – Jean Goff, England | 1942 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 3 in. |
| Scope and content:
Jean Goff, Ray Rappel’s girlfriend in England, where he was stationed during World War II. |
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| 2014.082.05 | Item – Ray Rappel | 1943 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 3 in. |
| Scope and content:
Ray Rappel and Jean Goff’s mother in England, where he was stationed during World War II. |
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| 2014.082.06 | Item – Jean Goff | 1943 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
Studio portrait of Jean Goff during World War II. This photo was sent to Ethel Buck, Ray Rappel’s cousin, with whom she corresponded during the war. |
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| 2014.082.07-11 | Item – Ray Rappel, World War II | 1943 | 5 photographs : b&w ; 3 x 3 in. |
| Scope and content:
Five photographs of Ray Rappel when he was stationed in England during World War II. One photo shows him in a Scottish Highlanders’ uniform, and one photo shows him at the hospital after he was injured. |
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| 2014.082.12 | Item – Ray & Ina Rappel | [ca. 1944] | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Ray Rappel and his English bride, Rosina (Ina) back in Spirit River. |
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| 2014.082.13 | Item – Ethel Buck & Ina Rappel | [ca. 1944] | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Ethel Buck in Spirit River, with Ina Rappel, the English war bride of her cousin Ray Rappel. |
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| 2014.082.14 | Item – Ethel Buck in Spirit River | [ca. 1944] | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Ethel Buck in Spirit River. |
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| 2014.082.15 | Item – Ethel Buck’s Registration Certificate | 1943 | 1 certificate |
| Scope and content:
Dominion of Canada Registration Certificate for Ethel Louise Buck in June 1943, registered under the National Registration Regulations, 1940. As part of the war-time measures act, all Canadian citizens were required to be registered and, as the card states, “This certificate must always be carried upon the person of the registrant”. It was also used for elections, and Ethel is registered as to her Electoral District (Peace River) and her Polling Division (Spirit River). |
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| 2014.082.16 | Item – Letter from Rosina Rappel to Ethel Buck | 1944 | 9 pp. |
| Scope and content:
This letter, dated Sept 25, 1944, was written after Ray Rappel had already been sent home to Spirit River because of his war injuries. Rosina (better known as Ina) is still in London England, with all her papers completed and just waiting for permission to go. She is 19 years old, the only child left at home, and with two brothers away at war: one in a German POW camp, and one fighting in Africa. She had been in an Architectural College, but the government assigned her war work is as an Inspector in a factory. She met Ray when she agreed to be a “pen-pal” to a “lonely Canadian soldier” (Ray) in August 1943. They met for the first time in February 1944 and were engaged that same week. |
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