Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
General material designation
- Textual record
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title based on name of creator.
Level of description
Repository
Reference code
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
-
1945-1966, predominant 1945-1961 (Creation)
- Creator
- Recreation Department
Physical description area
Physical description
3 m of textual records. - 300 photographs
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
Other title information of publisher's series
Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
Administrative history
The core function of the Recreation Department was to provide recreational opportunities for citizens of all ages. These included playgrounds and tot lots, sports, soap box derby races, and indoor activities such as friendship clubs, dramatics, dance, art, and handicrafts. To carry out these duties the Recreation Department had to plan for and maintain various sites throughout the city, though as of 1952 outdoor recreation areas other than school property were developed and maintained by the Parks Department. The Department also had to coordinate with numerous other organizations within the city that had an interest in promoting recreation or owned property used for recreation.
Before 1948 the department consisted of only a few employees to administer recreational activities, and a group of clerical staff (including an accountant) to handle administrative tasks. In 1948 two sections were added: Athletics, and Playgrounds and Centres. By 1952 a Recreation Building section had been created to run the City Recreation Building, out of which numerous recreational programs operated. In 1958 an Expressive Arts Section was established to oversee activities such as dramatics, art and handicrafts.
On August 29, 1961 Bylaw 2202 was passed, merging the Recreation Department and Parks Department to form the Parks and Recreation Department. The amalgamation took effect January 1, 1962.
Custodial history
Scope and content
Fonds consists of meeting minutes, correspondence, reports, and scrapbooks relating to the activities of the Recreation Department.
An order has been imposed on the material. The arrangement includes 5 series. The series are as follows
- Series 1: Reports
- Series 2: Recreation Commission
- Series 3: Recreation Board
- Series 4: Media Coverage and Scrapbooks
- Series 5: Correspondence with Outside Organizations
- Series 6: Theatre for Children
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
This material was transferred to the City of Edmonton Archives by the Parks and Recreation Department in 1973 and 1979.
Arrangement
The material was arranged by the archivist by subject. Some reports were given item numbers with the prefix GP.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
These records contain information that is protected in alignment with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act. There are no restrictions on access.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Copyright may apply.
Reproduction restrictions may apply.
Finding aids
Associated materials
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
General note
Some photographs from this accession were processed and described as EA-20. Because the photographs were removed from their context without separation sheets, it is not known which photos are associated with RG-20, RG-21, or RG-22. Researchers interested in photographs from the Recreation Department should see EA-20.
General note
The material in Series 1-5 was originally processed as part of RG-21.1. As part of the continued processing of RG-21 (Parks and Recreation Department) it was determined that the files comprising RG-20 were actually created by the Recreation Department. Reflecting this administrative independence, the files were removed and became RG-20. The finding aid includes the former numbering system to facilitate cross-referencing for researchers with citations from the former numbering scheme.
General note
Accession numbers: A73-12, A79-150
Alternative identifier(s)
Standard number
Standard number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Control area
Description record identifier
Institution identifier
Rules or conventions
Rules for Archival Description (RAD)
Archives Society of Alberta Subject Terms