Fonds F2655 - Martin W. Holdom fonds

Identity area

Reference code

CA ACU GBA F2655

Title

Martin W. Holdom fonds

Date(s)

  • 1909-1912 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

13 cm of textual records

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Martin Webber Holdom, 1884-1972, was born in Fenny Stratford, Buckinghamshire, England. He received a BA from Oxford, then was ordained an Anglican priest in 1907. He was inspired by Bishop Cyprian Pinkham of Calgary, Alberta during the Bishop's tour of England, and decided to move to Canada. In 1909 he arrived in Castor, Alberta and took up his post as the priest of All Saints Anglican Church. His parish covered 1600 square miles. In 1914 he married Aldah Winnifred Bryans, ?-1981, and they had two children, Mary (Neil), 1917-1978, and Frances (Kohn), 1920- .

He subsequently served as rector in Mirror, 1914-1919, and briefly in Okotoks and High River. In 1920 he moved to British Columbia where he served in Surrey until 1925 and Chilliwack until 1937. He was Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver from 1929 to 1943, and Honorary Canon of New Westminster from 1943 to 1949. He died in North Vancouver.

For further information see A Preacher's Frontier : The Castor, Alberta Letters of Rev. Martin W. Holdom, 1909-1912 / edited and with introd. by Paul Voisey. -- Calgary : Alberta Records Publication Board [and] Historical Society of Alberta, 1996.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Gift of Frances Kohn, 2004.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

The fonds consists of letters written home to his father in England, in which he describes his trip to Castor from England, immigration and settlement in the Castor area, Castor's boom period, and his duties as Anglican priest. Includes sketches by Holdom of the lakes and prairie around Castor, and of the building of All Saints.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

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Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

No restrictions on access.

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      The material is in English.

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      Digital content is available for all letters

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      Title based on contents of records.

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