Fonds 279 Wozniak family fonds

fonds-279

Back to Finding Aids

Summary information

Repository: South Peace Regional Archives
Title: Wozniak Family fonds
Reference code: 0279
Date: 1890-2015 (date of creation)
Physical description: 16 cm textual records

135 photographs

27 video recordings

Language: English
Language: Polish
Language: Ukrainian
Dates of creation, revision and deletion: Accessions processed by various staff members.
Added to new database July 2023 – TD
Note: Content warning: Some materials in subseries 0279.01.05 contain racist and violent content.

Administrative history / Biographical sketch

Antoni Wozniak and Maria Parachin were both born in Poland in 1903. They were married in 1922 and by 1930 had four children: Boleslaw (Bill), born July 23, 1923; Mathew, born January 19, 1926; and twins, Merlin and Cecilia, born April 26, 1928. With poor opportunities for the family in Poland and rumors of hostilities amongst nations, the family immigrated to Canada. They had hoped to be able to go to Toronto, where Antoni had two brothers living near Niagara Falls, but ended up on a farm in the Wanham area, arriving June 24, 1930. A cousin’s daughter also came with them.

The first few years were very difficult as they were trying to clear the trees on poor land with little money and very little outside work for cash. The children had to work alongside the parents in taking care of livestock, bringing in wood and water, gardening, picking berries and mushrooms, hunting chickens and ducks so the family had enough to eat. They attended South Slope School in Wanham, about four miles away. In 1935 the family moved to the Tansem farm, where Edward was born on December 4, 1936. Here they cleared land enough for a garden and small fields of wheat and oats. The children now went to Fox Creek School, still four miles away. Maria melted snow to feed cattle and to wash clothes for an English family for $2.00 a month. In 1936 on to their own place at Codesa, and the children could now go to Codesa School. Roman was born in 1938, the same year a forest fire destroyed their barn and the logs for their new home. A new house was finally built in 1940, and in 1942 another forest fire destroyed crops and granary.

By 1939, Antoni and Maria finally felt they could afford to bring Antoni’s mother over from Poland, but while she was getting her papers in order, war broke out. Russia occupied their part of Poland, and many of their family members perished in either the war or later exile in Siberia. Antoni’s mother and his sister, along with her husband and three children, were exiled to Siberia. Only one of the children, a girl named Christine, survived and later immigrated to London, England.

The oldest children stayed in farming. Bill joined the Canadian Army in 1942 and was sent overseas. He served in the Italian war campaign, and also in north-west Europe. After the war he returned to farm in the Belloy. Mathew worked on the family farm after he finished school until 1945, when he filed on his own homestead.

After the war, the Wozniak farm prospered and they were able to send the younger children to university. In 1964 Antoni and Maria sold the farm to Mathew and Barbara, and retired to Grande Prairie where they were involved in many aspects of the community. Antoni was president of the Peace River Polish Society for many years. In 1986 they made a trip back to Poland. Maria passed away in 1988 and Antoni in 2002.

Bill married Stephanie Mycek in 1951. They raised two children, Gerald and Deanna. In 1969 they sold the farm and went into the hotel business in High Prairie.

Mathew married Barbara Klukas in 1949. They raised two children on the farm: Patrick, born in 1951, and Elizabeth Jean, born in 1953. Mathew died in Grande Prairie on October 4, 2020.

Cecilia finished high school in Spirit River and Grande Prairie. She married Wyatt Bailey ca. 1950 and moved to Texas where they raised four children.

Merlin finished his education at the University of Alberta and the University of Toronto. Edward attended Spirit River High School before he went on to the University of Edmonton and became a geologist in Vancouver. Roman went to Spirit River High School and then on to the University of Alberta and did his final studies in Oklahoma.

Custodial history

The records were donated to the South Peace Regional Archives in several donations from 2007-2020 by Mathew Wozniak. The family film collection was donated in 2011, also by Mathew Wozniak.

Scope and content

The fonds consists of a few personal papers belonging to Antoni and Maria Wozniak; the memoirs of Maria (Parachin) Wozniak written in Polish in 1958 and translated by her son, Matthew; Maria’s diary of a trip back to Poland in 1986; letters written home by the six Wozniak children; photographs of the family, the farm, and the community; stories written by Mathew about his life and memories; and a collection of 8 mm film taken by Mathew Wozniak during the 1960s and 70s.

Notes

Title notes

  • Source of title proper: Title based on contents of fonds.

Access points

  • Textual record (documentary form)
  • Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)
  • Moving images (documentary form)
  • Land, settlement and immigration* (subject)
  • Family and personal life* (subject)
  • Women (subject)

Table of contents

0279.01, Personal Papers, 1930 -2015

0279.02, Family and Community Photographs, [1900]-2010

0279.03, Wozniak Family Farms, 1939-1999

0279.04, Family Film, [1960-1980]

Series descriptions

Series 0279.01: Personal Papers

Date: 1930 -2015 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of a published account of the family’s history from 1922 to 2014; the memoirs of Maria, written in Polish and translated into English by her son Mathew; letters written to Maria and Antoni by their children Bill, Mathew, Merlin, Cecile, Edward and Roman; and correspondence from friends and extended family in Poland, the United States, and Canada.

Physical description: 16 cm textual records

Access points:

•                Textual record (documentary form)

Subseries 0279.01.01: Family History

Date: 2015 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The sub-series consists of a book titled “From Poland to Canada: the Journey of Antoni and Maria Wozniak 1922 to 2014”. It was written by Roman Wozniak and printed in 2015. The book includes photographs of the family.

Physical description: 1 book

Access points:

•                Textual record (documentary form)

Subseries 0279.01.02: Antoni Wozniak

Date: 1968-2015 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The sub-series consists of a copy of Antoni’s Last Will and Testament and a list of the awards he received during his lifetime for his work with the Polish community, including the Silver Star from the Polish Prime Minister in 1969, an award from the Prime Minister of Canada in 1968, a certificate from Peace Area Settlement in 1991, a Diploma from Polonia in 1995, and the Gold Star from the Polish Embassy in 2003. There are also two copies of articles about the Polish community in the south Peace and plans for a memorial to the Polish community which was eventually erected in the Grande Prairie Museum Heritage Village. A 2020 transfer from the Provincial Archives of Alberta consists of 1 Caniaga price list of food parcels to the USSR for 1963/1964.

Physical description: 0.1 cm textual records

Access points:

•                Textual record (documentary form)

Subseries 0279.01.03: Maria Wozniak

Date: 1930 -[2010] (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The sub-series consists of a typed transcript of the memoirs of Maria (Parachin) Wozniak, written in Polish in 1958; an English transcript of the memoirs translated by her son, Mathew; a postcard addressed to family back in Poland in June, 1930, showing the Red Star Line ship that carried the family to Canada; her original diary of their trip back to Poland in 1986 and a typed transcript of that diary; her letters to Roman, also written in Polish, when he was away from home in the late 1950s; and a story about Maria written by Mathew ca. 2010.

Physical description: 2 cm textual records

Access points:

•                Textual record (documentary form)

Subseries 0279.01.04: Boleslaw (Bill) Wozniak

Date: 1942-1943 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The subseries consists of four letters written to Maria and Antoni Wozniak by Bill Wozniak from December 1942 to July 1943 while he was in the Army during World War II.

Physical description: 0.1 cm textual records

Access points:

•                Textual record (documentary form)

Subseries 0279.01.05: Mathew Wozniak

Date: 1942-[2015] (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The sub-series consists of a copy of Mathew’s separation paper, filed with the National Selective Service, showing that he worked for Law Construction Ltd. in Toronto in 1942; three letters written to his parents in 1964-1965; and a collection of stories and articles (mostly 1-2 pages long, with a few longer ones) written by Mathew Wozniak. A 2020 transfer of records from the Provincial Archives of Alberta consists of the last receipts issued for the South Eaglesham Mutual Telephone Company Limited, (Mathew was the secretary).

Many of articles/stories are memoir-type pieces of writing. However, there are several (mostly unlisted) items that are editorials on political matters and current events, or articles about scientific topics.

Physical description: 6 cm textual records

Note:

Content warning: Some materials in this subseries contain racist and violent content.

Access points:

•                Textual record (documentary form)

Arrangement:

The stories are not numbered in the file, nor are they necessarily in the order represented in the finding aid. Not all stories are listed here.

File / item list
Reference code Title Dates Physical description
0279.01.05.01 Item – Ancient History  [2010]
Scope and content:

Describes the conditions in the Ukraine and why the family immigrated to Canada.

0279.01.05.02 Item – Memories of Grandma  [2010]
Scope and content:

Story of the two grandmothers left behind when the family immigrated.

0279.01.05.03 Item – Short Period of Polish History  [2010]
Scope and content:

What happened to Poland during and after World War I.

0279.01.05.04 Item – Katrina Wozniak (nee Wrobel)  [2010]
Scope and content:

What happened to Mathew’s paternal grandmother and her children during World War II.

0279.01.05.05 Item – Andrew  [2010]
Scope and content:

Story of Mathew’s maternal grandfather, taken mainly from Maria Wozniak’s diary

0279.01.05.06 Item – Janek Parachin  [2010]
Scope and content:

Story of Maria Wozniak’s brother, Janek Parachin, who died in an internment camp in Canada

0279.01.05.07 Item – Barbara Wozniak (nee Klukas)  [2010]
Scope and content:

Story of Barbara Wozniak’s creative genius.

0279.01.05.08 Item – Dad’s Estate, 1958  [2010]
Scope and content:

Story of the transferring of the farm from the elder Wozniak’s to Mathew and Barbara.

0279.01.05.09 Item – Trip to Poland, 1986  [2010]
Scope and content:

Transcript of Maria Wozniak’s diary of their trip to Poland.

0279.01.05.10 Item – The Story of Herman Klukas  [2010]
Scope and content:

Biographical account of the life of Barbara Wozniak’s father.

0279.01.05.11 Item – Polish Monument at the Grande Prairie Museum  [2010]
Scope and content:

Explanation why the monument is at the museum. Text is visible in the photograph.

0279.01.05.12 Item – The Majewski Brothers  [2010]
Scope and content:

Story of Frank and Stanley Majewski, Polish immigrants at Codesa.

0279.01.05.13 Item – The Tragedy of the Hrishuk Family  [2010]
Scope and content:

Story of the Hrishuk family, Polish immigrants at Fox Creek.

0279.01.05.14 Item – Ted McDaid and the Candy Factory  [2010]
Scope and content:

Stories about Ted McDaid, who homesteaded at Eaglesham.

0279.01.05.15 Item – Charlie Brochu  [2010]
Scope and content:

Story about the Rahab (later Codesa) Post Office.

0279.01.05.16 Item – Noga Brothers  [2010]
Scope and content:

Story about John and Peter Noga, who had a trucking company at Codesa and sponsored the Codesa Baseball Team in the 1950s.

0279.01.05.17 Item – The Story of Elko (Alex) Sanocki and Family  [2010]
Scope and content:

Story about the Sanocki family, Polish immigrants who settled near

0279.01.05.18 Item – Benny Houser’s Sawmill  [2010]
Scope and content:

Story of a home-made sawmill manufactured by Benny Houser.

0279.01.05.19 Item – Mazurkewich  [2010]
Scope and content:

Story of Mazurkewich, a Polish settler at Codesa.

0279.01.05.20 Item – Burial at Bezanson  [2010]
Scope and content:

Hand-written story repeated from Herman Klukas about the burial at Bezanson of a woman who had died in childbirth.

0279.01.05.21 Item – Theophile Legault  [2010]
Scope and content:

Story of Theophile Legault, from Tangent, who married Agnes Laurin, a widow with 8 children. They had seven more children at Tangent. Included is a 50 page genealogy of the Shank family from whom Agnes Laurin descended.

0279.01.05.22 Item – Water and Waterwells  [2010]
Scope and content:

Two stories about the difficulty of finding good water and digging wells in the Eaglesham area.

0279.01.05.23 Item – Spinning Yarn Out of Wool  [2010]
Scope and content:

Wozniak family experience of making socks from raw wool.

0279.01.05.24 Item – Wood Piles  [2010]
Scope and content:

Article about the wide use of wood as a fuel before natural gas was harnessed.

0279.01.05.25 Item – Shipping Cream  [2010]
Scope and content:

About the common practice of supplementing farm income by shipping cream.

0279.01.05.26 Item – Laundry  [2010]
Scope and content:

Changes in doing laundry since the 1930s.

0279.01.05.27 Item – Country Ice Houses  [2010]
Scope and content:

Preserving ice in the winter for summer use.

0279.01.05.28 Item – Ancient Radio  [2010]
Scope and content:

Early radios and radio stations in the Peace.

0279.01.05.29 Item – Moonshine  [2010]
Scope and content:

Making moonshine liquor during the Great Depression.

0279.01.05.30 Item – Logging in the 30s and 40s  [2010]
Scope and content:

Logging with horses.

0279.01.05.31 Item – Raising Sheep  [2010]
Scope and content:

Story about Barbara raising sheep and using wool.

0279.01.05.32 Item – Paving the Grande Prairie Airport  [2010]
Scope and content:

Mathew’s experience working on the airport runways when they were expanding during World War II.

0279.01.05.33 Item – Artificially Inseminating #32  [2010]
Scope and content:

Mathew’s experience with a reluctant cow.

0279.01.05.34 Item – Before Matches Were Available  [2010]
Scope and content:

How you lit your cigarette before matches were common.

0279.01.05.35 Item – Fox Creek Polish-Ukrainian Hall  [2010]
Scope and content:

History of the Fox Creek Hall near Eaglesham, built ca. 1942.

0279.01.05.36 Item – Our Lady of Czestochowa Church (Fox Creek)  [2010]
Scope and content:

History of the Fox Creek Catholic Church, known as “the Little Red Church”.

0279.01.05.37 Item – Fox Creek School  [2010]
Scope and content:

History of Fox Creek School near Eaglesham, which was established in 1919, and information on “The Joe Bilinski School Van”, a horse-drawn van which took the students to school from 1947 to 1950.

0279.01.05.38 Item – South Eaglesham Mutual Telephone Co. Ltd.  [2010]
Scope and content:

The organization and development of the local co-operative which ran the phone lines from 1958-1965.

0279.01.05.39 Item – South Slope School  [2010]
Scope and content:

Experiences of the Wozniak children at South Slope School, Wanham.

0279.01.05.40 Item – History of the Lakeside Golf and Country Club  [2010]
Scope and content:

Story of as “How Eaglesham Got Its Golf Course” in 1969. Shorter version published in “Telling Our Stories” Volume 1 Issue 1. This version includes a list of the volunteers involved in building it, and a financial statement of the costs of operating the course in 1991.

0279.01.05.41 Item – Wanham Codesa Fire, 1942  [2010]
Scope and content:

The experience of the Wozniak family during the Wanham-Codesa Forest Fire on October 22, 1942, taken from Maria Wozniak’s diary.

0279.01.05.42 Item – Hamlet of Rahab, later Codesa  [2010]
Scope and content:

History of Rahab, established as a siding on the ED & BC Railway in 1916 and re-named Codesa in 1938.

0279.01.05.43 Item – Rahab Church  [2010]
Scope and content:

Building the Rahab Catholic Church in the early 1930s.

0279.01.05.44 Item – Midland and Pacific Grain Company Ltd.  [2010]
Scope and content:

Building of the Midland and Pacific Grain elevator at Rahab in 1938.

0279.01.05.45 Item – Watino, Smoky River Crossing  [2010]
Scope and content:

Opening of the Watino Bridge at Smoky River Crossing in 1941.

Subseries 0279.01.06: Merlin Wozniak

Date: 1948-1958 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The sub-series consists of letters written by Merlin Wozniak back to his parents in Codesa after he had left home for University and work. Letters are written in Polish and signed “Marian”, which was Merlin’s Polish name.

Physical description: 1 cm textual records

Access points:

•                Textual record (documentary form)

Subseries 0279.01.07: Cecile (Wozniak) Bailey

Date: [1953-1971] (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The sub-series consists of letters written by Cecile Bailey to her parents, Antoni and Maria Wozniak from from 1953 to about 1971. There is also a 1969 news clipping with a photo of her four children—Patricia (7), David (9), Stephen (11), and Richard (13) Bailey playing for a Piano Seminar at St. Agnes Academy in Houston, Texas. A 2020 transfer of records from the Provincial Archives of Alberta consists of a letter from Cecile to Edward written in 1955.

Physical description: 3 cm textual records

Access points:

•                Textual record (documentary form)

Subseries 0279.01.08: Edward Wozniak

Date: 1955-[1970] (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The sub-series consists of an application for Edward Wozniak to attend St. Joseph’s High School in Edmonton in 1955, and letters written by Edward and his wife Sharon to his parents, Antoni and Maria Wozniak, from 1957 to about 1970.

Physical description: 1 cm textual records

Access points:

•                Textual record (documentary form)

Subseries 0279.01.09: Roman Wozniak

Date: 1958-1970 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The sub-series consists of letters written by Roman to his parents, Antoni and Maria Wozniak from 1958-1970.

Physical description: 1 cm textual records

Access points:

•                Textual record (documentary form)

Subseries 0279.01.10: Miscellaneous

Date: [1955-1970] (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The sub-series consists of letters from extended family or friends, mostly written in Polish. They include two letters from Father Michelowski, the Catholic priest stationed at Webster and serving the Fox Creek church, after he had moved to Vancouver; Nellie, a niece of Maria’s who lived in New York and later Connecticut; and a neighbour from Codesa, Mike Gruner. A 2020 transfer of records from the Provincial Archives of Alberta includes a 1966-67 Program for the Eaglesham Stitches Clothing Club.

Physical description: 1 cm textual records

Access points:

•                Textual record (documentary form)

Series 0279.02: Family and Community Photographs

Date: [1900]-2010 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of family photographs of Antoni and Barbara Wozniak, of Katrina Wozniak, the Klukas family, some of Eaglesham’s buildings and their ball team, and photographs of Barbara’s quilts and handicrafts.

Physical description: 133 photographs

Access points:

•                Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)

File / item list
Reference code Title Dates Physical description
0279.02.001a Item – The Wozniak Family  1930 1 photograph : b&w ; 5 x 7 in.
Scope and content:

Copy of a photograph of Antoni & Maria Wozniak with their two oldest children, Boleslaw (Bill) and Mathew, at the time of their immigration to Canada in 1930. Twins Marian (Merlin) and Cecilia were infants at the time and are not in the photograph.

0279.02.001b Item – Katrina Wozniak  n.d. 1 photograph : b&w ; 5 x 7 in.
Scope and content:

Katrina Wozniak, paternal grandmother of Mathew Wozniak.

0279.02.002 Item – The Wozniak Family  1939 2 photographs : b&w ; 8 x 10 in.
Scope and content:

Paper copies of a photograph of Antoni Wozniak and his children, taken in the farm yard of their home in the summer of 1939. From left to right, Edward (4), Merlin (12), Antoni (37), Cecilia (12) holding Roman (2), and Mathew (14). Bill, age 17, is not in the photo which was taken by mother Maria on a box camera on 6/16 film. One copy has identification information written and typed directly on the image.

Conditions governing use:

Poor quality copy not suitable for reproduction.

0279.02.003 Item – Mr. & Mrs. Harry Lucas  1935 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in.
Scope and content:

Mrs. Lucas was the first teacher at Codesa School which was held in the Catholic Church at Codesa.

0279.02.004 Item – J.P. LeBlanc  1939 1 photograph : b&w ; 2.5 x 3.5 in.
Scope and content:

Teacher J.P. LeBlanc, from Codesa School, with Claudette and Father Girard.

0279.02.005 Item – J.P. LeBlanc  1939 1 photograph : b&w ; 2.5 x 3 in.
Scope and content:

Teacher J.P. LeBlanc, from Codesa School, with Antoni Wozniak and an unidentified man.

0279.02.006 Item – The Fox Creek School Van  1947 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in.
Scope and content:

The Fox Creek homemade school van was pulled by a tractor driven by Joe Bilinski. His route was down what is now Highway 49 about seven miles. If it rained and was too muddy for the tractor, he hitched his horses to the van.

0279.02.007-008 Item – Lady of Czestochowa Congregation  [1950] 2 photographs : b&w ; 3 x 5, 3 x 3 in.
Scope and content:

Two photographs of the Lady of Czestochowa Church congregation posing in a group beside the church.

0279.02.009 Item – Antony Wozniak Feeding Cattle  [1940] 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in.
Scope and content:

Antony Wozniak standing with his cattle beside a straw stack. Spelling of Antony taken from the back of the photograph (more often spelled Antoni).

0279.02.010a Item – Wedding of Cecilia Wozniak and James Bailey  1951 1 photograph : b&w ; 2.5 x 4.5 in.
Scope and content:

Group of people gathered for Cecilia Wozniak and James Wyatt Bailey’s wedding beside the Antoni Wozniak farmhouse.

0279.02.010b Item – Wedding of Cecilia Wozniak and James Bailey  1951 1 photograph : b&w ; 4 x 6 in.
Scope and content:

Copy of a photograph showing Cecilia Wozniak and James Bailey’s wedding party in front of Antoni and Maria Wozniak’s home. From left to right: Antoni, Maria, Wyatt Bailey, Cecilia, Mathew, Josie Balinski, and Bill Wozniak.

0279.02.011 Item – First Communion at Fox Creek Church  [1955] 1 photograph : b&w ; 4 x 6 in.
Scope and content:

Copy of a photograph showing an unidentified Catholic Father with five children dressed for first communion beside Our Lady of Czestochowa Catholic Church in the Fox Creek district west of Eaglesham.

0279.02.012 Item – Eaglesham Ball Team  ca. 1960 1 photograph : colour ; 3 x 5 in.
Scope and content:

Eaglesham Ball Team: Back Row: ? Trudel, M. Wozniak, ? , ? Socha, ?, S. Piebiak, T. Piebiak, ?,Front Row: M Fisher, ?, ?, G. Knutson

0279.02.013 Item – Maria and Antoni Wozniak and Family  [1967] 1 photograph : colour ; 5 x 7 in.
Scope and content:

Copy of a photograph showing Maria and Antoni Wozniak with their children and grandchildren. Back row: Roman Wozniak holding Richard, Diana Wozniak (Bill’s daughter), Mathew Wozniak, Barbara Wozniak, J.W. Bailey, Jean Wozniak, Patrick Wozniak, Cecelia Bailey, Merlin Wozniak, Steffy Wozniak (Bill’s first wife), Bill Wozniak, Paul Wozniak (Merlin’s son), Murray Wozniak (Merlin’s son), Alair Wozniak (Merlin’s wife), Edward Wozniak holding Tony. Middle Row: Maria and Antony Wozniak (grandparents), Bonny Wozniak (Roman’s wife) holding Lizibeth, Sharon Wozniak (Edward’s wife) holding Genevieve, Steven Bailey. Front Row: Richard Bailey, Murray Wozniak?, Patricia Bailey, Susan Bailey, Robert Bailey, Cathy Bailey, Steven Bailey.

0279.02.014 Item – Maria and Antoni Wozniak and Grandchildren  [1967] 1 photograph : colour ; 5 x 7 in.
Scope and content:

Copy of a photograph showing Maria and Antoni Wozniak surrounded by their grandchildren.

0279.02.015-016 Item – Official Opening of the New Clubhouse  [1980] 2 photographs : b&w ; 3 x 5 in.
Scope and content:

Official Opening of the New Clubhouse at Eaglesham. Shown are Jean LeGault and Mathew Wozniak standing on either side of Marvin Moore, MLA.

0279.02.017 Item – Marie and Antoni Wozniak  [1980] 1 photograph : colour ; 3.5 x 5 in.
Scope and content:

Marie and Antoni Wozniak in their retirement years.

0279.02.018 Item – Wozniak Family  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 3.5 x 5 in.
Scope and content:

Anthony and Maria Wozniak with their adult children: Mathew, Bill, Cecilia, Roman, Edward. (Merlin is missing)

0279.02.019 Item – Antoni and Maria Wozniak  [1985] 1 photograph :colour ; 5 x 7 in.
Scope and content:

Copy of a portrait of Antoni and Maria Wozniak.

0279.02.020 Item – Antoni Wozniak with Cardinal Wojtyla  [1960] 1 photograph : b&w ; 4 x 6 in.
Scope and content:

Copy of a photograph showing Antoni Wozniak with Cardinal Wojtyla (who later became Pope Jean Paul II) when he visited Edmonton in 1984.

0279.02.021 Item – The Polish Memorial  2010 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
Scope and content:

Roman Wozniak at the Polish memorial in the Grande Prairie Museum Heritage Village. The text reads, in part, “This monument is dedicated to the early settlers of the Peace River Country who came from Poland. Most of them arrived just prior to the Great Depression of the early 1930s. They and their families endured numerous hardships in this new country, including no employment, language barrier, humble dwellings, harsh winters, and often long distances from schools and towns…. Faith in the Catholic Church remained central to the Polish settlers. Father Joachim Michalowski, who arrived in Webster in 1937, served as parish priest for the Polish community throughout the central and north Peace area until 1951. A highlight each year was a pilgrimage to the grotto in Webster…. For the generosity offered to them and the freedom in their new land, the Polish community is forever grateful to the people of Canada.”

0279.02.022a-b Item – Barbara Wozniak’s Talents  1981 2 photographs : colour
Scope and content:

Barbara Wozniak was very talented in a variety of handcrafts: crocheting, quilting, cross stitch, hardanger, cutwork, ceramics, knitting, and painting Ukrainian Easter eggs. One photograph shows examples of numerous different types of handcrafts, the other photograph shows several dozen decorated eggs.

0279.02.023-130 Item – Barbara Wozniak’s Handiworks  [1980-2000] 106 photographs : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
Scope and content:

Barbara Wozniak was very talented in a variety of hand crafts including piecing and hand quilting many quilts, crochet and needle work, painting, and mukluk making. Most of these photographs show quilts, but there are also examples of painting, embroidery and mukluks.

279.02.131-133 Item – Wozniak home  1959-1980 3 photographs
Scope and content:

These photographs depict building Mathew and Barbara Wozniak’s home in three stages: cutting the logs, the house partially built, and the finished house sometime in the 1980s. “This is truly a do it yourself home. From the standing tree to the septic tank, my wife Barbara and I we did it all.”

Series 0279.03: Wozniak Family Farms

Date: 1939-1999 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of land records, income records (cattle and grain), and expense records for the Wozniak farm when it was under the care of Antoni and Maria Wozniak; a 1981 appraisal report for the Wozniak farm, then called Barnaby Farms, when it was under the care of Mathew and Barbara Wozniak; a map showing the extent of Barnaby Farm when it was sold in 1999; and a story written by Mathew Wozniak about farming from the time he filed on his homestead in 1945, until 1998 when they decided to sell the farm. There are also 16 photographs of Barnaby Farm ca. 1990, and 20 photographs of the farm machinery being cleared out for auction after the farm was sold in 1999. A 2020 transfer of records from the Alberta Provincial Archives contains farm records consisting of Assessment slips for 1955; Tax notices for 1958; official Tax receipts for 1954 and 1955; Reassessment papers for 1951; 2 Farmer’s Pocket Ledgers, 1951 and 1956; 1 check from Antoni; 1 Weiller & Williams Compnay Ltd. livestock report; and a set of incomplete Weiller & Williams “Market Review” for 1962 and 1964.

Physical description: 6 cm textual records

36 photographs

Access points:

•                Textual record (documentary form)

•                Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)

File / item list
Reference code Title Dates Physical description
0279.03.01-02 Item – Elizabeth Jean & Andre  [1990] 2 photographs : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
Scope and content:

Mathew and Barbara’s daughter, Elizabeth Jean, and her husband, Andre Legault, in the driveway of Mathew and Barbara’s new home in Grande Prairie.

0279.03.03 Item – Eaglesham Parade  [1990] 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
Scope and content:

A new sports car in the Eaglesham Parade.

0279.03.04-16 Item – Wozniak Family Farm  [1990] 13 photographs : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
Scope and content:

The Wozniak Family Farm as it appeared ca. 1990 after Mathew and Barbara had moved into Grande Prairie and left the farming to their son and daughter-in-law, Patrick and Hilda Wozniak.

0279.03.17-18 Item – Last Day at the Family Farm  1999 2 photographs : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
Scope and content:

Mathew and Barbara Wozniak, Patrick and Hilda Wozniak, and Elizabeth Jean Legault in front of the farm home as the machinery is being cleared out for auction.

0279.03.19-25 Item – Selling the Farm Machinery  1999 7 photographs : colour : 4 x 6 in.
Scope and content:

Tractors, augers and grain dryer being removed from the Wozniak Farm for auction at Ritchie Bros Auction near Grande Prairie.

0279.03.26-36 Item – Farm Machinery at Richie Bros.  1999 11 photographs : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
Scope and content:

Wozniak Farm machinery in the Richie Bros. Auction yard near Grande Prairie.

Series 0279.04: Family Film

Date: [1960-1980] (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of 26 reels of 8 mm film and digital copies of the film, originally on 3 DVD discs, taken by Mathew Wozniak to document family activities and trips. The films show Eaglesham and Wozniak family events, and includes travel footage on the digital copies.

Physical description: 27 video recordings

Note [generalNote]:

The digital copies also include transfers of films (particularly vacation films) not accessioned by the Archives.

Access points:

•                Moving images (documentary form)

File / item list
Reference code Title Dates Physical description
0279.04.01 Item – Christmas and Anniversary
Mathew Wozniak
 
1962-1964 1 film reel (ca. 13:13 minutes ; 175 feet) : acetate, reversal, colour ; 8 mm
Scope and content:

The film shows a family gathering for Christmas 1962 with gifts, a tree, and Santa Claus, a 40th Anniversary celebration including dancing, and family gatherings for Christmas 1964 with gifts, a tree, and building a model train set.

0279.04.02 Item – Farm, Eaglesham, 4H, and Outdoor Activities
Mathew Wozniak
 
1963, 1966-1967 1 film reel (ca. 13:13 minutes ; 175 feet) : acetate, reversal, colour ; 8 mm
Scope and content:

The film shows work on the farm including loading and stacking bales, swathing, and equipment, the town of Eaglesham, a family gathering, a 4H show at the Central Peace Market, a trip to the mountains with people feeding the wildlife, children playing outside in a tub, and kids on horseback.

0279.04.03 Item – Parades, Kids, Outdoor Activities, and Cattle
Mathew Wozniak
 
[ca. 1963-1972] 1 film reel (ca. 26:15 minutes ; 350 feet) : acetate, reversal, colour ; 8 mm
Scope and content:

The film shows Eaglesham parades (including the centennial parade in 1967), farm equipment, skiing, a prom, boating and fishing, a family gathering, birthday parties, kids playing outside and with animals, and cattle.

0279.04.04 Item – Family and Children
E. C. Klukas?
 
1964 1 film reel (ca. 3:45 minutes ; 50 feet) : acetate, reversal, colour ; 8 mm
Scope and content:

The film shows kids playing indoors, a family on the steps of a house, and flowering trees.

0279.04.05 Item – Christmas and Farm
Mathew Wozniak
 
1965 1 film reel (ca. 15 minutes ; 200 feet) : acetate, reversal, colour ; 8 mm
Scope and content:

The film shows one of the Wozniak daughter’s first birthday, a family gathering for Christmas including a tree, card playing, gifts, and dinner, horses and a covered wagon, and activities at the farm including equipment, a bulldozer, and plowing.

0279.04.06 Item – Christmas and City
Mathew Wozniak
 
1966 1 film reel (ca. 3:45 minutes ; 50 feet) : acetate, reversal, colour ; 8 mm
Scope and content:

The film shows a Christmas celebration with kids, a tree, gifts, and a model car set and an unidentified cityscape.

0279.04.07 Item – Wedding Reception and Dog
Mathew Wozniak
 
1966 1 film reel (ca. 3:45 minutes ; 50 feet) : acetate, reversal, colour ; 8 mm
Scope and content:

The film shows a wedding reception at the Ramada Inn, a puppy, and a very short segment with people waiting outside for a wedding.

0279.04.08 Item – Family and Farm
Mathew Wozniak
 
1967 1 film reel (ca. 3:45 minutes ; 50 feet) : acetate, reversal, colour ; 8 mm
Scope and content:

The film shows family scenes outside the house and on a motorcycle, cattle, playing with a dog, and water well drilling.

0279.04.09 Item – Weddings and Edmonton Parade
Mathew Wozniak
 
[ca. 1967-1972] 1 film reel (ca. 15 minutes ; 200 feet) : acetate, reversal, colour ; 8 mm
Scope and content:

The film shows several weddings including scenes of bride’s arrival, confetti and departure, the reception, cake cutting, guests, and gift opening, and a 1968 Edmonton parade.

0279.04.10 Item – Co-op Santa and Christmas  1968 1 film reel (ca. 3:45 minutes ; 50 feet) : acetate, reversal, colour ; 8 mm
Scope and content:

The film shows Mathew Wozniak dressed up as Santa at the Co-op store and a family Christmas.

0279.04.11 Item – Camping
Mathew Wozniak
 
1968 1 film reel (ca. 3:45 minutes ; 50 feet) : acetate, reversal, colour ; 8 mm
Scope and content:

The film shows a family camping trip including wildlife, views while driving, cooking over a fire, boating, mountain scenery, and feeding a deer.

0279.04.12 Item – Farm in Winter
Mathew Wozniak
 
[ca. 1969] 1 film reel (ca. 1:53 minutes ; 25 feet) : acetate, reversal, colour ; 8 mm
Scope and content:

The film shows a herd of cattle and various vehicles (car, truck, snowmobile) in winter.

0279.04.13 Item – Camping, Church, and Scenery
Mathew Wozniak
 
1972 1 film reel (ca. 3:45 minutes ; 50 feet) : acetate, reversal, colour ; 8 mm
Scope and content:

The film shows camping by a house, outside a church, and an unidentified river with a bridge.

0279.04.14 Item – Wozniak Farm
Mathew Wozniak
 
[ca. 1972] 1 film reel (ca. 3:45 minutes ; 50 feet) : acetate, reversal, colour ; 8 mm
Scope and content:

The film shows men setting up a roof antenna in winter, a family with a dog and vehicle by the house, Canada geese in the yard, kids outside the house, kids moving bales with a tractor through the mud, and cattle.

0279.04.15 Item – Farm and Golf Tournament
Mathew Wozniak
 
1974 1 film reel (ca. 3:45 minutes ; 50 feet) : acetate, reversal, colour ; 8 mm
Scope and content:

The film shows farm activities including combining, a grain auger moving grain to a granary, eggs in a nest, and a cat eating, and a golf tournament including playing and awarding trophies.

0279.04.16 Item – Baby, Travel, and Farm in Winter
Mathew Wozniak
 
1975 1 film reel (ca. 27 minutes ; 400 feet) : acetate, reversal, colour ; Super 8 mm
Scope and content:

The film shows a baby (possibly Jacy) in a crib with gifts, the baby being held, travel scenes (in Singapore and Hong Kong) including a cargo ship with equipment, views while driving and flying, and dock scenes, and the farm in winter.

0279.04.17 Item – Snowmobile Races
Mathew Wozniak
 
1975 1 film reel (ca. 3:20 minutes ; 50 feet) : acetate, reversal, colour ; Super 8 mm
Scope and content:

The film shows several snowmobile races, likely in Eaglesham.

0279.04.18 Item – Florida, Combining, and Jacy’s Birthday
Mathew Wozniak
 
[ca. 1976] 1 film reel (ca. 13:20 minutes ; 200 feet) : acetate, reversal, colour ; Super 8 mm
Scope and content:

The film shows scenes of travel in Florida including Disneyworld and the Kennedy Space Centre, a girl and dog playing in the snow, combining, and Jacy’s birthday party including cake and gifts.

0279.04.19 Item – Airplane and Tractor
Mathew Wozniak
 
1977 1 film reel (ca. 3:20 minutes ; 50 feet) : acetate, reversal, colour ; Super 8 mm
Scope and content:

The film shows views from an airplane and landing at an airport (possibly Montreal) and farm scenes including a new tractor and a family walking in a field.

0279.04.20 Item – Tangent Canyon and Bob’s Wedding
Mathew Wozniak
 
1977 1 film reel (ca. 3:20 minutes ; 50 feet) : acetate, reversal, colour ; Super 8 mm
Scope and content:

The film shows people walking at the Tangent Canyon and a group of people gathered for Bob’s wedding at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Grande Prairie.

0279.04.21 Item – Picnic in Yard
Mathew Wozniak
 
[ca. 1977] 1 film reel (ca. 3:20 minutes ; 50 feet) : acetate, reversal, colour ; Super 8 mm
Scope and content:

The film shows a group (family?) gathered in a yard for a barbeque/picnic.

0279.04.22 Item – Wedding and Children
Mathew Wozniak
 
[ca. 1977] 1 film reel (ca. 3:20 minutes ; 50 feet) : acetate, reversal, colour ; Super 8 mm
Scope and content:

The film shows a wedding at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Grande Prairie and children playing indoors.

0279.04.23 Item – Christmas and Motor Trikes
Mathew Wozniak
 
[ca. 1977] 1 film reel (ca. 3:20 minutes ; 50 feet) : acetate, reversal, colour ; Super 8 mm
Scope and content:

The film shows city buildings (location unknown), a Christmas celebration with a tree and gifts, and kids riding motor trikes.

0279.04.24 Item – Breaking and Jolly Jumper
Mathew Wozniak
 
[ca. 1977] 1 film reel (ca. 3:20 minutes ; 50 feet) : acetate, reversal, colour ; Super 8 mm
Scope and content:

The film shows breaking with a ST310 and kids playing in a Jolly Jumper.

0279.04.25 Item – Jacy’s Birthday
Mathew Wozniak
 
[ca. 1979] 1 film reel (ca. 3:20 minutes ; 50 feet) : acetate, reversal, colour ; Super 8 mm
Scope and content:

The film shows Jacy’s (4th?) birthday party including blowing out the candles, cake, visiting, and gifts.

0279.04.26 Item – Bicycling and Parade
Mathew Wozniak
 
[ca. 1979] 1 film reel (ca. 3:20 minutes ; 50 feet) : acetate, reversal, colour ; Super 8 mm
Scope and content:

The film shows a boy (Jacy?) riding a bike and an Eaglesham parade.

0279.04.27 Item – Wozniak Family Film
Mathew Wozniak
 
1960-1980 33 VOB, IFO, BUP digital files (11.9GB) ; 309 minutes
Scope and content:

A digital transfer of the 8 mm and Super 8mm films in this collection (279.04.01-.26), as well as those reels not accessioned by the Archives. Originally on 3 DVDs retained by the donor.

FC3700 P7 P66 1995 Item – Polonia in Alberta 1895-1995, The Polish Centennial in Alberta
Andrezej M. Kobos & Jolanta T. Pekacz
 
2011 1 book (378 pp.) : 9 x 10.25 in.
Scope and content:

A book produced for the Polish Centennial of settlement in Alberta including essays and interviews from 41 authors and over 200 photographs documenting the Polish community in Alberta from 1895 to 1995.