Archives and Special Collections
Fonds F0039 - James Norman Stephenson and Norma Lendrum Fonds
Identity area
Reference code
CA ACU TMM F0039
Title
James Norman Stephenson and Norma Lendrum Fonds
Date(s)
- 1915-2014 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
50 cm of textual records
50 photographs
50 photographs
Context area
Name of creator
(1892-)
Biographical history
Norman Stephenson (Reg. No. 117554) was born in Northumberland, England on August 10, 1892. His family moved to a homestead in High River, Alberta in 1903. At the age of 23, Norman enlisted with the 12th Canadian Mounted Rifles in Calgary on January 11, 1915. His older brother John (117552) enlisted in the same regiment six days earlier. His initial training took place at Victoria Park and then at Sarcee Camp in Calgary. He left Calgary on October 4, 1915 and landed in Plymouth, England on October 19. After further training in England, he was sent to Le Havre in France on February 26, 1916. At this point, he was attached to the Fort Garry Horse Machine Gun Section and was involved in the Battle of Ypres. He remained in active service until July 12, 1917 when he developed a serious case of trench fever and was sent back to England to recover. On October 1, 1917, he was taken off sick leave and reported to the 1st Canadian Command Depot at Sandling, Kent. The armistice was signed before he could return to active duty. He sailed back to Canada on the Aquitania on January 19, 1919.
Name of creator
(1933-)
Biographical history
Norma Lendrum was born in Cayley, Alberta in 1933. She worked as an elementary school teacher for 27 years in Calgary, Alberta before retiring in 1987. She is the author of Invisible Soldiers: Four Years in the Life of a Cavalryman in WWI.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated by Norma Lendrum, May, 2015.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The fonds consists of the letters Norman Stephenson sent home on a weekly basis during his four years of service. Norman’s Field Book, Pay book and a copy of the New Testament presented by the Canadian Bible Society are included. Also included in the collection are a number of photographs of Norman at training camps in Calgary, on the boat going overseas, and in England and France. The remaining files consist of the research material assembled by Stephenson's daughter Norma Lendrum in writing her book about his wartime experiences: Four Years in the Life of a Cavalryman in WWI.
The fonds is divided into 3 series:
1. Norman’s letters and documentation
2. Photographs
3. Norma's Research material
-Regimental War Diaries
-Book/article excerpts/Internet material
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
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
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Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Lendrum, Norma. Four Years in the Life of a Cavalryman in WWI. Calgary: Norma Lendrum, 2014.
Notes area
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Description control area
Description identifier
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Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Fonds processed by Yvonne Hinks, August 2015.
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Archivist's note
This AtoM record was created by Jason Nisenson, September 2015.