Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1974-1975 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
38 items
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Margaret (Marmie) Perkins Hess, 1916-2016, was born in Calgary, Alberta to parents Frederick Welker Hess, 1874-1956, and Ina Perkins, ? – 1946. She completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1938 from the University of Toronto. During the Second World War she taught art at the Alberta Provincial Institute of Technology and the Banff School of Fine Arts before completing post-graduate studies at the University of Iowa in 1947.
Marmie’s academic career focused on studying and preserving art, especially Aboriginal art. In 1970, she opened Calgary Galleries Limited. Earlier, in 1952, Marmie acquired the Spencer Creek Ranch and built its reputation as a successful horse breeding and cattle operation. She has made many contributions in the field of education, to environmental causes and community service organizations.
Marmie was named a Member of the Order of Canada in 1982 and an Officer in 1993, has numerous other awards, and holds an Honourary Doctorate of Fine Arts from the University of Lethbridge, and Honourary Doctor of Laws degrees from the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta. She was also made a member of the Alberta Order of Excellence and a Fellow of the Glenbow Museum.
Archival history
Acquired by Dr. Hess in the 1970s from a Fort Providence workshop set up by Memoree Philips, a business woman in the Slavey settlement, and Bella Bonnetrouge, a Slavey Elder. Exhibited by Dr. Hess at the National Museum of Man, Ottawa, and loaned by Dr. Hess to the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede for the International Women's Year in 1975.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Dr. Hess donated the collection to the University of Calgary Special Collections in 1975.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Consists of various objects including moccasins, headbands, evening bags, mukluks, necklaces, pictures and game bags created with traditional work methods and decorated with moose or caribou hair, quills, and fur.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
No accruals are expected
System of arrangement
Items are arranged in the finding aid alphabetically by last name of the artist.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
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
Digital content is available: https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/Package/2R3408223FKU
Related units of description
Publication note
See also the book resulting from the National Museum of Man exhibition: Canada. National Museum of Man. "The Athapaskans: Strangers of the North." Ottawa, 1974.