Collection MS-757 - Edmonton Grads Club collection

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Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Edmonton Grads Club collection

General material designation

  • Textual record

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Title statements of responsibility

Title notes

  • Source of title proper: Title based on contents of collection.

Level of description

Collection

Reference code

CA EDM MS-757

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)

  • 1923 - 1987 (Creation)
    Creator
    Edmonton Grads Club

Physical description area

Physical description

2 cm of textual records. - 3 photographs

Publisher's series area

Title proper of publisher's series

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Archival description area

Name of creator

(1915-1940)

Administrative history

The Edmonton Commercial Graduates Basketball Club, popularly known as the Edmonton Grads, was a world renowned women's amateur basketball team from 1915 to 1940. Coach J. Percy Page, born in Rochester, New York and raised in Ontario, moved to Edmonton, Alberta in 1912. He became principal of the new McDougall Commercial High School in 1913 and coached the girls’ basketball team to the provincial championship in 1914. The original Edmonton Grads players were members of that championship team who, having left school or graduated, formed the Edmonton Commercial Graduates Basketball Club to continue playing under Percy Page’s direction.

From the beginning they dominated the teams they played, consistently winning city, regional and provincial titles. In 1922 the Grads won their first Canadian title, in 1923 their first North American championship and in 1924 their first European (often regarded as World) title. Over the 25 years the team existed there were 38 official players who wore the team uniform. The Grads travelled throughout North America and Europe playing approximately 412 games, with a 95% win record. This record of victories includes being undefeated Canadian champions (the championship was awarded to the Toronto Lakesides in 1931 by default). They were never successfully challenged for the Underwood Trophy, a Canada – US challenge cup, and defeated only once for the North American championship (in the first series of that championship). Although not an Olympic sport, the Grads toured during four Olympic Games in Paris (1924), Amsterdam (1928), Los Angeles (1932) and Berlin (1936) winning all 27 exhibition games to secure the world titles. On their 25th anniversary, the Underwood Trophy was presented to them permanently.

The team always maintained amateur status and the members held full-time jobs which meant practices were limited to two evenings a week. The Grads were forced to fold with the advent of World War II. Their last game was played in the Edmonton Arena on June 5, 1940.

Although disbanded, the team had several reunions and remaining team members were often called upon to appear at special events. J. Percy Page was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 1966 and the team was inducted in 1974. They were inducted into the Edmonton Sports Hall of Fame in 1973. A National Historic Monument was dedicated to the Edmonton Grads on August 2, 1978. The Edmontonian film-maker Allan Stein and writer Mairi MacLean of Stein/MacLean Productions made a film, "Shooting Stars", about the Grads, released September 10, 1987.

The Edmonton Commercial Grads are collectively members of the Edmonton, Alberta and Canadian Sports Halls of Fame. The last Grad, Kay MacRitchie MacBeth, died in 2018.

There were a total of 38 players on the Edmonton Grads: Winnie Martin, Elizabeth Elrick, Eleanor Mountifield, Connie Smith, Daisy Johnson, Nellie Perry, Dot Johnson, Abbie Scott, Mary Dunn, Helen McIntosh, Elsie Bennie, Harriett (Hattie) Hopkins, Kate Macrae, Marguerite Bailey, Mildred McCormack, Margaret MacBurney, Joan Johnston, Mae Brown, Gladys Fry, Margaret Kinney, Doris Neale, Noella 'Babe' Belanger, Edith Stone, Helen Stone, Evelyn Coulson, Jessie Innes, Noel MacDonald, Mabel Munton, Helen Northup, Etta Dann, Sophie Brown, Betty Ross, Winnie Gallen, Frances Gordon, Muriel 'Babe' Daniel, Jean Williamson, Betty Bawden, and Kay MacRitchie.

Custodial history

Records in this collection were donated by various individuals not associated with the club, but were fans and supporters of the team. The material has been accumulated in this collection by the City of Edmonton Archives.

Scope and content

This collection consists of programmes, scorecards and other publications relating to the Edmonton Commercial Graduates Basketball club.

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

This collection was donated to the City of Edmonton Archives by Alan Lake, George R.A. Rice, Anonymous, Edna Clark, Ethel Marianix, Catherine Luck, Marilyn Mol and A.E. Alford (via City of Edmonton Artifact Centre, 1983) between 1965 and 2003.

Arrangement

The material was arranged by the archivist in the order that it was received.
The photographs were assigned item numbers with the prefix EA-358.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

    Location of originals

    Availability of other formats

    Restrictions on access

    There are no restrictions on access.

    Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

    Copyright may apply.

    Finding aids

    Finding aid available online.
    Photographs have been described at the item level and are available in the Reference Room.

    Associated materials

    See also:
    Edmonton Commercial Graduates Basketball Club fonds (PR0285) is at Provincial Archives of Alberta;
    Edmonton Grads records (including photographs, certificates, artwork and uniforms) (AC-80-16) at the City of Edmonton Artifact Centre.

    Accruals

    No further accruals are expected.

    General note

    Accession numbers: A62-87, A65-136, A75-87, A77-40, A79-114, A85-57, A93-96, A98-67, A2003-13, A2012-94

    Alternative identifier(s)

    Standard number

    Standard number

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    Control area

    Description record identifier

    Institution identifier

    City of Edmonton Archives

    Rules or conventions

    Rules for Archival Description (RAD)
    Archives Society of Alberta Subject Terms

    Status

    Final

    Level of detail

    Dates of creation, revision and deletion

    Language of description

      Script of description

        Sources

        Digital object (Master) rights area

        Digital object (Reference) rights area

        Digital object (Thumbnail) rights area

        Accession area