Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1912-1946 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
3 cm of textual records. -- 80 photographs
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Gordon Alexander Forster, 1884-1964, was born in York, Ontario and educated at the Guelph Agricultural College. He was the son of John William Forster, 1849-1927. The family moved to the Cessford area of Alberta in 1903 and established the Berry Creek Horse Ranch, which was later run by Gordon's brother, Hugh. Gordon married Myrtle W. Young, also from Ontario, in 1913, and they had one daughter, Jean (Dewis). He was elected to the Alberta Legislature as the United Farmers of Alberta (UFA) member for Hand Hills in 1921, and sat until 1934. He was very active in pressing for an irrigation system for the Hanna-Brooks area. From 1935 to 1956 the Forsters lived in Edmonton. In 1956 they moved to Ottawa where their daughter lived. Gordon's brother, Hugh Harold Forster, 1887-1964, married Gladys Jocelyn Bray, 1900-1972, and they had three children, Marjorie (Sinal), John William and Harold Gordon.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Gifts of Gordon and Hugh Forster, 1958, and Mrs. J. Dewis, 1980.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The fonds consists of correspondence, speeches, reports and newsclippings related to Forster's proposed irrigation of the Hanna-Brooks area; and photographs of the family, the horse ranch, and the Cessford area. Includes a file of poems by Matt O'Reilly.
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/2R3BF1S3P03O7
Related units of description
There are interviews with Gordon and Hugh Forster in the Drybelt Pioneers Oral History Project (M-4075) and an interview with Hugh Forster in the Irrigation Research Project at Glenbow (RCT-90-3).
Notes area
Note
Title based on contents of records.
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Description control area
Description identifier
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Status
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Dates of creation revision deletion
Thursday, October 26, 2017