Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- Photocopied 1992 (originally created 1884-1895) (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
0.5 cm of textual records
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
James Gerald FitzGerald, 1856-1926, was born near Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland and educated at Trinity College, Dublin. Around 1879 he emigrated to Guelph, Ontario, and in 1882 he moved to Calgary. In 1885 he married Carrie Chapman, 1858-1912, of Ingersoll, Ontario. They had six children, George Gerald, 1887-1926, Gerald Chapman, 1888-1969, Cyril Gratton, 1890-1953, Nora Aileen (Thomson), ?-1978, Paul Desmond, 1896-1968, and Mildred Mary. James was a notary public and a land agent for the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). He was also in business in Calgary as a real estate agent, insurance agent and auctioneer. In 1893 he was appointed as an immigration agent by the Canadian government. He was active with the Calgary Agricultural Society and was the author / compiler of: District of Alberta : Information for Intending Settlers / Calgary Agricultural Society. -- Ottawa, 1884; Business Directory of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. -- Calgary : Herald Printing, 1885; and Alberta, Canada, the Great Ranching, Agricultural and Mineral Country. -- Ottawa : Citizen Printing, 1888. Around 1895 he moved to the USA to continue as a land agent for railway companies.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The fonds consists of records documenting his Calgary business activities, including his certificate of appointment as a notary public, and correspondence with L.A. Hamilton of the CPR, Hon. T. Mayne Daly, and Hon. F.W.G. Haultain.
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
The originals are held by his grandson, Melville G. Thomson.
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Title based on contents of records.
Note
Melville G. Thomson may donate the originals to us; Melville Gerald Thomson died July 13, 2005 in Vancouver.