Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Marie Dorsey fonds
General material designation
- Textual record
- Graphic material - photograph
- Cartographic material
Parallel title
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Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title based on contents of fonds.
Level of description
Fonds
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)
Physical description area
Physical description
2 cm of textual records and other material
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Francis Marie Dezall (‘Marie’) was born in Agassi, B.C. on December 28, 1915. Her parents were pioneer homesteaders in Raven, Alberta. Marie went to Edmonton for nurses training, graduating with the Gold Medal for Proficiency from the Misericordia Hospital. Marie married Frederick Jack Dorsey and they had 3 children, Jaclyn, Michael and Candas. They moved to eastern Canada but returned to Edmonton in 1952. Fred Dorsey worked for the Edmonton Transit system. Fred Dorsey died September 17, 1997.
Marie had a lifelong interest in collecting stamps, first day covers and history of early post offices and served as the director of the Edmonton stamp club. She volunteered with the City of Edmonton Archives 1969-1974, working on special research projects including gathering information for development of Fort Edmonton.
She then joined Alberta Historic Sites department, developing a report on historic sites on the North Saskatchewan river. In 1975 she was appointed Alberta’s first Geographical Names Officer where she created a widely respected program which emphasized the need for sound, solid historical research. This work prepared the foundation for the four-volume edition of ‘Place Names of Alberta’. Later, she was advisor to the Alberta Historic Sites Board.
Marie retired in 1980 and then became a member on the Alberta Historic Sites Board. Marie received many honours for her work, including the Friends of the Alberta Museums Society award in 1993, the Friends of Geographic Names Society “Name Dropper” Award in 1996, the Canadian Permanent Committee on Geographic Names Leading Toponymist Award in 1997, Edmonton Historical Board award in 1998 and the HSA Annual Award in 2003.
Marie Dezall Dorsey died 23 May 2015.
Custodial history
Scope and content
The fonds consists of material created or collected by Marie Dorsey and reflect her various interests.
The photographs include images of the Provincial Courthouse just prior to demolition (1972), art details on the Quesnel Bridge (1970), Rocky R. Jewellry store (1968), interiors of grocery store in Agassi B.C. (1908), round barn in Henderson (1972), New Edmonton Hotel ([ca. 1940]), street scene of 100 St. and 102 Ave during snowstorm [ca. 1925] and the portrait of Marie Dorsey used for EHB award (1998).
The fonds also includes a map of Edmonton featuring Jasper Place and Beverly [194?] (EAM-379).
File List:
File 1: Canadian National Philatelic Exhibition CANPEX ’64 Catalogue (1964), Edmonton Stamp Club Directory (1971);
File 2: memorial tribute booklet by Edmonton Film Society ‘H.P. Brown, 1886-1965’ (1966) – includes list of EFS Presidents 1936-1966; programme “The Edmonton Film Society – Main Series” (28 March 1966);
File 3: Edmonton Transit System - Condensed History of Events (1908-1966), author unknown, includes list of Superintendents 1909-1951;
File 4: artwork – 2 sketches by Marie Dorsey – 1 multi sketch of trains [ca. 1970], 1 colour sketch of grain elevators (1995).
File 5: Aluminum Milk Token - includes notes from Bob Snyder [n.d.]
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
This fonds was donated to the City of Edmonton Archives by Marie Dorsey in 11 donations made between 1970 and 2001.
Arrangement
The material was arranged according to the filing system of the creator.
The photographs were assigned item numbers with the prefix EA-98.
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
See Scope and content above.
Photographs have been described at the item level; some are available on the online database, with the remainder available in the Reference Room.
Associated materials
Accruals
Further accruals are expected.
General note
Accession numbers: A70-19, A71-8, A72-69, A73-33, A73-77, A74-4, A74-32, A75-80, A76-131, A98-114, A2001-75
General note
Formerly known as Mrs. F.J. Dorsey fonds.
Physical description
Includes 41 photographs, 2 sketches, 1 object and 1 map.
Alternative identifier(s)
Standard number area
Standard number
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Description record identifier
Institution identifier
Rules or conventions
Rules for Archival Description (RAD)
Archives Society of Alberta Subject Terms
Status
Final