Monday, October 22, 2012

From Peace River to Paris: Fashionable Furs of our Century

Just in time for the winter months, we invite you to view our current exhibit "From Peace River to Paris – Fashionable Furs of the Century" featuring fur coats and accessories from our collection. The exhibit includes the story of trapping in northern Alberta, both from a historical and contemporary perspective. The opening reception will be held October 27th from 3 – 5pm with guests Dave Cummings from Fairview and our own Ruth Kidder speaking about their history with furs and trapping in the Peace at 3:30pm.
Excerpts from the Record Gazette newspaper demonstrate trapping activity in the 1950s:
1950-12-07  Little Red River - Trapping is underway. It is reported there will be a plentiful supply of fox while supplies of other furs will be moderate.
1951-01-18  Peace River District - Severe weather and heavy snow at the start of the winter season provided a setback to trapping operations, when combined with higher prices in most lines has made operations more attractive.
Squirrels continue to provide the bulk of the catch with weasel in short supply. Red and cross fox are reported to be in more plentiful supply than last year.
1951-06-14 - North Salt Prairie - Louis Auger came out from fur trapping Saturday. He says water and lakes are high, making it difficult to get furs this year.
Visit the Museum to read more about the Record Gazette coverage of trapping in the Peace.

As part of this exhibit, Alberta Trappers Association President, Gordy Klassen will be the next speaker at the Museum on November 17th, thanks to the support of the Peace River Trappers Local 1195.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Peace River Museum nominated for Community Spirit Award!

The Museum is honoured to have been nominated for this year's Peace River & District Chamber of Commerce Davis Awards! We are a part of a great community and we appreciate and enjoy the support of Peace River residents, organizations and businesses.

We would love it if you would vote for us! The deadline is Tuesday, October 9th at 4:30 pm. You can vote by going to the Chamber's facebook page or their website which has voting forms.

Thank you to all for your support!

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Alberta Archives Celebration: School Memories!

Do you remember this style?












Or perhaps these ones?
October is the Alberta Archives Celebration and the Peace River Museum, Archives and Mackenzie Centre is asking our communities in the Town of Peace River, Town of Grimshaw, MD of Peace #135, MD of Fairview #136, Northern Sunrise County, Clear Hills County, and County of Northern Lights to search through their records and remember their school days! The Archives has a great collection of yearbooks (where we found these lovely graduates!), but we are looking to expand that collection. We are interested in donations of yearbooks, photographs, newsletters, reports, school board minutes and any other pieces related to any of the schools in the North Peace Region, historically and all the way up to present times.
The materials we receive will be used for genealogy research, programming and for use in exhibits as well. If you have any questions please feel free to contact our Archivist, Wendy Dyck, at 780-624-4261 or museum@peaceriver.net