Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1900-1946 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
6 cm of textual records. -- 220 photographs
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Alan Edward Rowbotham, 1886-1971, was born in Wrexham, Wales. He came to Canada in 1909 and worked as engineer and surveyor for the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). He helped survey the railway east of Nordegg, Alberta, then known as the Alberta Central Railway. He subsequently worked for the Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway, the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, and the Yukon and Pacific Railway.
At the outbreak of the First World War he joined the 3rd Canadian Mounted Rifles. He served in England with the 3rd Battalion, Lord Strathcona's Horse and was later transferred to the Royal Engineers where he served with the Railway Operating Division of the Eastern Expeditionary Force in Salonika, Macedonia. He rose to the rank of major and saw action in Russia. He returned to Canada in 1920, and in 1921 married Edith Buchanan. They had one daughter, Margery (Wall), 1925- .
After demobilization Alan worked as a freelance engineer on various construction projects with the Alberta Highways Department, Calgary Power, and various mining companies in Windermere, British Columbia. At the beginning of Second World War he joined an adjunct of the Ontario Provincial Police and was transferred to the Veterans' Guard. During the war he worked across Canada building camps and airports and on an airforce station in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. He was discharged in 1946 for medical reasons and worked for the federal government until his retirement in 1956. He died in Edmonton.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Gifts of Margery Wall and anonymous donor, 1980-1983.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The fonds consists of Alan's First World War and Second World War military papers and photographs; photographs of construction of the Alberta Central Railway and views of Sylvan Lake, Seba Beach, Nordegg and Lesser Slave Lake areas; and Edith's teaching and nursing certificates. Includes correspondence of Edith's sister, Margaret O. Buchanan, regarding her war work.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
No restrictions on access.
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
The material is in English.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
No finding aid
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Digital content is available: https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/Package/2R3BF1S3MKA2C
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Title based on contents of records.
Note
Includes file 60 from M-4843 Riveredge collection
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Description control area
Description identifier
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Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Tuesday, October 30, 2018