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Gertrude Reckenburg fonds

  • F 515
  • Fonds
  • [1955]

This fonds consists of "Pioneer Days", a recollection written by Gertrude Reckenburg of stories told by her parents, Ezra and Helen McCrea, regarding their experiences from 1891 to 1904 as pioneers in Saskatchewan.

No series assignment has been applied to the records in this fonds.

Reckenburg, Gertrude G., 1904-1978

Pioneer Questionnaires collection

  • (S)X 2
  • Fonds
  • 1905, 1953-1971 (predominant: 1953-1956)

Collection consists of responses received by the Saskatchewan Archives following their distribution of a series of ten questionnaires to early settlers of the province, in particular those who lived in Western Canada prior to 1914. Each questionnaire focused on one of the following particular subjects: pioneer diet; general pioneer experience; schools; churches; recreation and social life; farming experiences; folklore; health; housing; and local government. The collection also includes responses to an eleventh questionnaire on Christmas that formed part of the material gathered by the Archives for a radio program and that was sent to selective respondents of the folklore questionnaire.

Questionnaire number 1 on nutrition was organized into sections on: flour and other grain products; sugars and syrups; dairy products; meat and fish; beverages; vegetables and dried fruits; canning and preserving; baking; water supply; soaps; fuels; methods of cooking and types of utensils; and wrappings and containers.

Questionnaire number 2 on pioneer experiences included questions on: places lived; income; family relations; travel; commerce; "firsts"; sources of place names; availability of historical source materials; and important changes since their arrival.

Questionnaire number 3 on schools was organized into sections on: personal experiences of early school activity; building and equipment; organization and administration; school attendance; classroom activities; school health conditions; school grounds, games and entertainment; district social life; general.

Questionnaire number 4 on churches included questions on: religious services attended; location of services; buildings used; music and choirs; organizations; youth services; activities and special events (e.g. picnics, suppers, fund raisers); administration and financial support; membership; records available; and special features.

Questionnaire number 5 on recreation and social life was organized into sections on: neighbourly visiting, parties, etc.; organizations and meetings; children's games; picnics and sports; reading; musical entertainment; hobbies and special interests; and general.

Questionnaire number 6 on farming experiences included questions on: dates, locations, and acquisition details of land; financing; machinery; crops, livestock and other commodities; co-operative societies; hazards and difficulties (e.g. pests, weather); harvesting and secondary production activities; exhibitions and fairs; gardening; and interactions with North West Mounted Police.

Questionnaire number 7 on folklore was organized into sections on: introductory information; settlement - the land (location, man-made features; associated stories and jokes), climate (tales/believe about weather phenomenon; associated animal behaviour), celestial bodies (associated stores/beliefs), supernatural beings (stories of ghosts/fairies/strange beings), human beings (anecdotes on individuals who performed unusual deeds), animals; supporting oneself after settlement (how were skills developed; household help); family or group gatherings in the pioneer community (storytelling, singing, jokes); life cycle in the pioneer community - childhood (naming; birthdays; songs, rhymes and stories; superstitions), marriage (accessories; good and bad luck), death (foreshadowing; ceremonies); good and bad luck (signs; attracting/avoiding); and proverbs and proverbial phrases.

Questionnaire number 8 on health was organized into sections on: services of a doctor (e.g. distance; competency; visitation; charges and payment); hospital services (e.g. distance; organization; visitiation; births); home remedies (e.g. associated illnesses and treatments; sources; treatment of serious accidents; aids for the handicapped); public health problems (e.g. vaccinations; epidemics); dental services (e.g. distance; visitation; treatments and services); and general (e.g. prevention; steps taken by the community for improvements).

Questionnaire number 9 on housing was organized into sections on: temporary structures (e.g. sod or log houses; even if the family lived in the building for many years); permanent structures (e.g. including the "better" house built after living for a time in quarters mentioned in temporary structures, a permanent home built upon arrival, or the "homestead shack" that may have been added to and continued as a permanent house); and general (e.g. winterizing; additions; animals/pets; furnishings; windows and ventilation; windbreaks; fire protection and emergency measures/features).

Questionnaire number 10 on local government was organized into sections on: statute labour districts and local improvement districts before 1908; township local improvement districts and rural municipalities after 1908; villages; and towns and cities.

Questionnaire on Christmas included suggested questions on: preparations; foods; guests; gifts; songs; correspondence; impact of weather; amusements; changes over time.

Saskatchewan Archives Board

Saskatchewan Historical Society fonds

  • F 635
  • Fonds
  • 1845-1945

This fonds consists of records created, accumulated and used mainly by the secretary of the Saskatchewan Historical Society during its operation in Regina, Saskatchewan. The fonds contains the administrative records of the Society along with the records relating to the history of the province from the mid 19th century to 1945 compiled and collected by the Society in fulfillment of its mandate.

The types of records included are secretary's annual reports; correspondence; minutes; financial statements; a constitution; an annual meeting programme; newspaper clippings; personal narratives; essays; obituaries; biographical sketches; photographs; articles and speeches.

No series assignment was applied to the records in this fonds.

See SHS 97 for a letter regarding the massacre of Blackfoot and Blood Indians by Crees (Red Ochre Hills massacre) and an article by C. Wetton regarding Fine Day, Cree warrior. See SHS 94 for a letter and note regarding a table in the Saskatchewan Legislative Library known as the confederation table. See SHS 129 for correspondence regarding Indians serving in World War II and an Indian gathering on Assiniboin Reserve, September 9, 1941, to dedicate themselves to war services, enfranchisement of Indians, etc. See SHS 159 for document written by Neil Brodie entitled Twelve Days with the Indians, May 14 to May 26, 1885, regarding his experiences in Poundmaker's camp during the rebellion of 1885. See SHS 150 for the 1935 report of the Royal Commission on the Natural Resources of Saskatchewan.

Saskatchewan Historical Society, 1936-1951

Zonta Club of Regina fonds

  • F 617
  • Fonds
  • 1976-1987 (predominant: 1976-1987)

This fonds consists of records created, accumulated and used by members of the Zonta Club of Regina from 1976 through its dissolution in 1987. The records are mainly essay submissions from senior citizens that relate their experiences as pioneers, which were entered into a contest the Zonta Club of Regina sponsored and promoted annually during Canada Week from 1976 through 1981. Most of the entrants were women, and the submissions were subsequently donated to Saskatchewan Archives, providing a valuable contribution to the history of the nation, and to women's history. Two of the entries are recounted by audiotape. The fonds also includes administrative material related to: the delegation of executive sent to the Zonta International Convention in 1986; the dissolution of the Zonta Club of Regina in 1987; and the launch of the X-Z (ex-Zontians) service club in 1987.

R-E94 consists of essays on pioneer days in Saskatchewan written in 1977 by Ernest Gardner, George A. Riches, Mrs. Louise Steif, Mrs. P. Knight, Myrtle G. Moorhouse, Sylvia Mitchell, Harold S. Jones, George Francis, Harold C. Wilson, Mrs. Mary E. Monckton, Nancy W. Powell, Lars Larson, Winnie E. Hutton, and one unidentified author. Includes newsclipping re Winnie Hutton, Leader-Post, September 2, 1977, p. 32.

R-E321 includes 37 pioneer reminiscences and 2 cassettes with 4 interviews and transcripts submitted to Zonta's 1978 essay contest.

R-E514 consists of twenty-nine essays submitted by senior citizens in the Zonta Club of Regina's 1979 Canada Day essay contest.

R-E695 consists of fifteen essays submitted in Zonta's 1980 Canada Week Essay Contest.

Tape R-1715 includes sound recordings of essays written and read by Wilhelmenia Christofel of Regina, Mrs. Thomas Edwards of Regina, and Katherine Ring of Regina, regarding their pioneer days. Transcripts included.

Tape R-1716 is a sound recording of an essay written and read by Ernest Henry Dienst of Regina regarding his pioneering days. Transcript included. 30 minutes.

Zonta Club of Regina, 1954-1987