Fonds F1387 - Herbert Nichols fonds

Herbert Edward Nichols, 1886-1973, was born in England and came to Edmonton, Alberta in 1907. He homesteaded at Clyde in 1911 and raised Percherons, Hampshire sheep and Yorkshire swine. He was in charge of the successful Alberta Percheron exhibit at the 1930 Toronto Royal Winter Fair, and was well known for his livestock breeding. He and his wife, Grace, were married in 1935, and they had three children, David, Richard and Margaret.

Herbert was a member of Alberta Wheat Pool and Alberta Dairy Pool from their inceptions, in addition to being a member of the United Farmers of Canada, Alberta Section and United Grain Growers. He moved to Edmonton in 1942 when he retired from farming. He served as executive secretary of the Alberta Farmers' Union and editor of the A.F.U. Bulletin, 1941-1946. Between 1945 and 1948, he served on the Board of Governors of the University of Alberta. In 1946, he joined the Alberta Department of Economic Affairs, heading the provincial information service. It was in this capacity that he wrote essays, radio broadcasts, speeches and articles on Social Credit. He retired from the government in 1953. He was also president of the Property Owners' Association of Edmonton and active in community work.