Archives and Special Collections
Fonds F0067 - David Watson Fonds
Identity area
Reference code
CA ACU TMM F0067
Title
David Watson Fonds
Date(s)
- 1914-[192-?] (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
ca. 30 cm of textual records
ca. 100 photographs
2 monographs
ca. 100 photographs
2 monographs
Context area
Name of creator
(1896-1922)
Biographical history
David Watson was born in Quebec in 1869. In 1891 Watson embarked on a career as a journalist. In 1906 he became general manager of the Quebec Chronicle and its parent company the Chronicle Printing Company. From 1900 onwards Watson became increasingly involved in the Canadian military, beginning with Quebec militia regiment the 8th Royal Rifles, which he ultimately came to command. In WWI, Watson, as lieutenant-colonel, was given command of the 2nd Infantry Battalion. In August 1915 Watson took command of the 5th Infantry Brigade at the rank of brigadier-general. In 1916 Watson, now major-general was given command of the 4th Canadian Division, a command posting that he held until the end of the war. Over the course of WWI Watson was present for most of the major conflicts that Canadians took part in, including the second battle of Ypres, the battle of the craters at Saint-Éloi, Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, and Cambrai.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Diaries and album donated by the Evans family, 2007 as part of a larger donation, the remainder of which is held by the Army Museum of Alberta. Accession: MR2007.015
Field bible donated by Darcy Grant, 2008.
Field bible donated by Darcy Grant, 2008.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Fonds consists of diaries kept by Watson during his time as a commanding officer during WWI. Also includes related WWI photographs and ephemera collected and arranged by Watson in scrapbook.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
The condition of the album and the diaries is poor. Access limited to legitimate research need.
Conditions governing reproduction
Archival materials do not circulate and must be consulted in the TMM Library and Archives Reading Room. Duplication of materials in the collection may be subject to copyright and other restrictions. Please contact TMM Library and Archives staff for guidance on reproduction.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Digitized copies of David Watson's diaries can be found here: http://contentdm.ucalgary.ca/digital/collection/cmh/search/searchterm/Diary%20of%20Major%20General%20David%20Watson%20/field/title/mode/all/conn/and
Digitized copies of David Watson's photo albums can be found here:
Volume 1: https://cdm22007.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/cmh/id/164281/rec/1
Volume 2: https://cdm22007.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/cmh/id/164387/rec/2
Library and Archives Canada has a microfilm copy of David Watson's diaries: See: http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/ourl/res.php?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&url_tim=2017-01-03T21%3A00%3A12Z&url_ctx_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=102438&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fcollectionscanada.gc.ca%3Apam&lang=eng
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Grant Family Tree document has been moved to the Grants donation file for 2008. Item is restricted to family use.
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
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Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Fonds processed by Jason Nisenson, March 2016.
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
This AtoM record was created by Jason Nisenson, March 2016.