Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1858-1956, predominant 1924-1956 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
2.37 m of textual records.
155 photographs
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
John Douglas Leechman, 1890-1980, was born in England, and was educated in England, Egypt and Switzerland before coming to Canada. He served with the 11th Canadian Mounted Rifles during First World War. He studied at the Universities of Washington and Ottawa, obtaining his PhD from the latter in 1941. He was an anthropologist at the National Museum of Canada in Ottawa from 1924 to 1955, during which time he made several research trips to the Arctic and the prairies. In 1928 he married Ruth-Marie d'Aoust. He edited The Canadian Field-Naturalist, 1928-1938. He was the first director of the Glenbow Foundation, 1955-1957, before retiring to Victoria.
For further information see Ian Dyck's article, "Toward a History of Archaeology in the National Museum of Canada : The Contributions of Harlan I. Smith and Douglas Leechman" in Bringing Back the Past : Historical Perspectives on Canadian Archaeology / Pamela Jane Smith and Donald Mitchell, eds. -- Ottawa, Canadian Museum of Civilization, 1998.
Repository
Archival history
The Glenbow Library had custody of the subject files until they were transferred to the Archives in 1974.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Gift of Douglas Leechman, 1955-1962.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The fonds consists of alphabetically arranged subject files created while anthropologist at the National Museum. These contain Leechman's correspondence, articles and research notes on various native peoples topics; articles and reports collected for reference purposes; and circulars, convention proceedings, etc., of organizations to which he belonged. Includes photographs of British Columbia and Yukon native peoples, native villages and petroglyphs.
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
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Digital content is available
Related units of description
Other J. Douglas Leechman papers are held by the British Columbia Archives and Records Service, and the Canadian Museum of Civilization Library.
Notes area
Note
Title based on contents of records.
Note
M 2513 should be amalgamated with M 668,
Note
M 2086, Dr. Leechman's daily journal while director of the Glenbow Foundation, has been missing since 1980 and has not been mentioned in the scope and content field.
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Description control area
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Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Tuesday, October 31, 2017