The exploits of powerful men form the basis of recorded history, while the life experiences of other groups, such as people with disabilities, are often neglected. This skews our view of the past, since in reality, many people face health difficulties due to genetic or infectious diseases, accidents, or aging. The former residents of Glenbow… Continue reading Isabella Sarah Gillespie
Category: Women’s History
Marion Moodie: Botanist
The International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11 provides a great opportunity to highlight the diverse scientific endeavours of a woman who called Glenbow home. Marion Moodie’s medical career was featured here in a previous article, however she was accomplished in another scientific discipline, as well. Marion arrived in Glenbow in… Continue reading Marion Moodie: Botanist
Evelyn Edwards
Just as in the classic Christmas movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, each of us impacts the lives of others in vital (but sometimes forgotten) ways. Like the film’s hero George Bailey, Evelyn Edwards performed a crucial act of bravery one winter during her childhood. Evelyn was born at Glenbow in April 1912, the first child… Continue reading Evelyn Edwards
The James Family
As we pause for a moment of silence at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, we mark the anniversary of the declaration that ended The Great War. For many Canadians, war — especially the one that began this tradition — seems remote. The First World War, although conducted overseas, wasn’t… Continue reading The James Family
The Wall Family: Loss & Legacy
Although historians and archaeologists study all aspects of life in the past, grief and loss are not common research topics. However, we can benefit from understanding how others coped with tragedy, since we all eventually suffer the heartache of losing someone close to us. The Wall family once lived in what is today Glenbow Ranch… Continue reading The Wall Family: Loss & Legacy
Wyvona Alexander Lane
Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park was once home to many interesting individuals, some of whom went on to accomplish surprising things. Among these former residents was Wyvona Belle Alexander Lane. In 1919, Wyvona’s family moved from Texas to Alberta. Within a year, they were living at Glenbow, where her father, Irwin Alexander, worked as the storekeeper… Continue reading Wyvona Alexander Lane
Book Release!
The official date for the release of Alberta’s Cornerstone: Archaeological Adventures in Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park is just around the corner. Tuesday, May 3, 2022 is the Big Day!! You can ask for the book at your favourite local bookstore, order it online through !ndigo or Amazon, or attend one of Shari’s upcoming events and… Continue reading Book Release!
Margaret Mole
Food is an important part of holiday celebrations, but do we always appreciate the people who prepare our festive treats? All too often, historical records focus on the wealthy party-goers, while the people working behind-the-scenes are forgotten. This photo from the Vanderhoef collection is a classic example: the notation on the back names the dog,… Continue reading Margaret Mole
Governesses
Unpredictable school schedules are not only a recent phenomena; they were common in the past, too. In particular, rural areas (such as those in today’s Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park) were susceptible to schooling disruptions due to inclement weather, inadequate funding, teacher unavailability, or insufficient student numbers. Some upper-class Glenbow families in the early 1900s avoided… Continue reading Governesses
Ethel / Anna Uphoff
Miss Uphoff wafts briefly through the history of Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park like a ghost. She appears out of nowhere, suffers a tragic accident, and then vanishes from the historic record. Even her true name is unknown. On Thursday night, 21 March 1912, Miss Uphoff was travelling with her sister — Nellie — aboard the… Continue reading Ethel / Anna Uphoff