Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1913-1919 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
2 cm of textual records
1 photograph
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Helen E. Taylor, aka Hellen and Nellie (a common nickname for Helen in the 19th and early 20th century), was born in June 1881. Prior to, and during WW I, she worked as a cashier at Leonard’s Café in Calgary, which she also used as an alternate mailing address.
Archival history
The postcards were found among the belongings of the donor’s late mother and had originally been retrieved from a cottage about to be dismantled next door to her parents’ home in Poulsbo, Washington sometime in the 1970s.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated by Carol J. Sperber on March 27, 2003.
Accession #: 2010.032.004
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The collection consists of 53 postcards, 1 greeting card and 1 photograph : b&w she received from five different soldiers prior to, during the course of and following WW I. The names of the soldiers in alphabetical order with the number and type of item received is as follows:
Arthur A. Botsford: Christmas Greeting Card from Moore
Barracks, Shorncliffe, Kent, England (undated).
"Hislop": Postcard (dated “3-5-19”).
Thomas E. Randall: 11 postcards and 1 photograph (dated 1915-16). The photograph is a unit photograph of Randall’s Machine Gun Section and all members of the unit are identified on the reverse.
"Royal": 10 postcards, most expressing considerable affection and suggestive of a romantic interest, if not relationship (dated (1913-14).
Undetermined: Authorship of 2 postcards not determinable.
Will 5 postcards. These appear to be part of what was originally a series of six consecutive cards with one missing (undated).
The remainder of the postcards have not been written on. The pictures on the post cards’ front sides are a wide variety of subjects mostly scenic, but several which are military related and a few cartoons. One of the postcards is actually a postcard-sized
advertising card for a sheet metal and furnace/boiler company.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
No restrictions on access.
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
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Title derived from collection materials and on-line 1911 Canadian census. Biographical history derived from collection materials and on-line Attestation Papers, on-line 1911 Canadian census, Henderson’s City of Calgary Directory (on-line) for 1913 – 1919, The Free Dictionary website on-line entry and Roots Web website on-line entry. Scope and content derived from collection materials. Custodial history derived from donor’s letter of March 27, 2003. This letter and a follow up note of May 5, 2003 have been retained with the collection, as have print outs of the Attestation Papers for A. A. Botsford and T. E. Randall.
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
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 in 2010.
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
This AtoM record was created by Jason Nisenson, September 2015.