Fonds MS-27 - James McCrie Douglas fonds

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Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

James McCrie Douglas fonds

General material designation

  • Textual record
  • Graphic material - photograph

Parallel title

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Title notes

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

Level of description

Fonds

Reference code

CA EDM MS-27

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)

  • 1911 (Creation)
    Creator
    Douglas, James McCrie

Physical description area

Physical description

5 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

(1878-1950)

Biographical history

James McCrie Douglas was born 5 Feb 1867 in Middleville, Larnark County, Ontario to Presbyterian minister Rev. James Douglas and Margaret Blyth Douglas, both of Scotland. James McCrie Douglas was educated at Morris, Manitoba and became an early career there as a school teacher. He moved to Strathcona in 1894, where he operated a general store with his brother, R.B. Douglas. The Douglas Brothers’ store was located on the northwest corner of 104th Street and Whyte Avenue and soon became a landmark in the Strathcona area. The same year James married Mary Cameron Brickerton.
He was elected an alderman of Strathcona before 1909. In that year he was elected Liberal Member of Parliament for Strathcona, a seat he held until 1921. In 1911 he was chosen as part of the Canadian delegation which traveled to England for the coronation of King George V.
In 1914 James joined the Canadian Army. He worked in the Supply Division, achieving the rank of Captain. After the war, returning to Edmonton, he was elected a city alderman in 1922 and in 1929 he was elected Mayor of Edmonton, a position he held until 1931. In 1941 he was once again elected as an alderman and he remained in office until his retirement in 1949.
James McCrie Douglas also pursued farming after purchasing land (west half section 26, township 51, range 25, west 4th meridian) from Col. F. C. Jamison in 1922. Mr. Douglas spent a great deal of time over the next 10 years clearing the land and learning farming. In 1931 a nephew, J. Douglas Shaw, was sent to the farm for the summer to help James. Shaw would spend the following two summers on the farm with his uncle, eventually going to the Olds School of Agriculture. J. Douglas Shaw and his wife helped James McCrie Douglas on the farm after the death of Mary Douglas in 1947 and eventually took over the farm after James’s death.
James McCrie Douglas died on 16 Mar 1950 at at the age of 83 yrs.

Custodial history

J. Douglas Shaw was a nephew of James McCrie Douglas.

Scope and content

The fonds consists of momentoes relating to events held during the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911. These include invitations, programmes, passes and cards, and most are inscribed with J.M. Douglas’s name.
The photographs include personal photos of J.M. Douglas, including a photo of his father in front of the J.M. Douglas house in Strathcona.

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

The fonds was donated to the City of Edmonton Archives by J. Douglas Shaw in 1972 and 1982.

Arrangement

The textual material was arranged by the archivist by type of document.
The photographs were assigned item numbers with the prefix EA-150.

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.
    Reproduction restrictions 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

    Accruals

    No further accruals are expected.

    General note

    Accession numbers: A72-17, A82-135

    Alternative identifier(s)

    Standard number

    Standard number

    Access points

    Subject access points

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    Name access points

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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

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