Edward Frederick (Ted) Hagell and Cora Marie Hagell fonds
https://collections.galtmuseum.com/en/permalink/descriptions80795
- Date Range
- 1924-1973
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Accession No.
- 20071015
- Physical Description
- 0.23 m of textual records; 69 photos; 48 art prints
- Scope and Content
- 2007.1015/001 Copies of art prints with explanation; 10 prints 2007.1015/002 Negatives, mounted photos, unmounted photos of artwork; 8 negatives; 40 photos 2007.1015/003 Death notice; book of remembrance, 1964; letter of condolence 2007.1015/004 Correspondence re: Crosby Company Ltd, Lake Louise, 1…
- Date Range
- 1924-1973
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 0.23 m of textual records; 69 photos; 48 art prints
- History / Biographical
- Edward Fredric "Teddy" Hagell was born June 20, 1895 in Coaldale, Alberta. His father, Edward Hagell, arrived in Lethbridge from England in about 1800 with his wife, who died with the birth of her first child, Cora. Edward Hagell started the first newspaper in southern Alberta. Edward and Ellen (2nd wife) had four children: violet, Freda, Albert, and Edward (teddy). Teddy began drawing at the age of 2 1/2 years, winning numerous competitions without having any formal training. He was a self-taught artist, though he did take some lessons in etching while in Vancouver. E.F. Hagell gained fame as a Canadian range rider and artist, depicting the early cattle country in much of his work. His father and two uncles homesteaded and established the 'Three Links' cattle ranch west of Cardston, in the Mountain View district. Hagell's own experience of ranching complemented his love of the outdoors, from which he developed his own unique style in the tradition of artists such as Rosa Bonheur, Charles Russell, and Fredrick Remington. Hagell married Cora Marie Pelletier in 1919 and the couple left for Los Angeles that year. They had three children born in 1920, 1922, and 1923, before moving to Vancouver in 1929. Hagell had the first one-man exhibition at the Vancouver art gallery when it opened in 1932. That year the family returned to Coaldale, where they stayed until moving to Calgary in 1935, and back to Lethbridge two years later. In the mid 1940s the Hagells moved to Brampton, Ontario, where they remained until settling in pincher creek in 1952. E.F. Hagell returned to Lethbridge just prior to his death in 1964, at the age of 69. The work of E.F. Hagell is unique in that it was confined exclusively to prairie and mountain scenes of western Canada. Many of his works reproduced incidents he saw and experienced and most pieces were done in pen and ink. Every one of his drawings or paintings contained at least one animal; he had little interest in depicting people. Hagell wished, through his work, to preserve the history of the early days of the west before mechanization was introduced. Hagell received international recognition through a series of prints and etchings circulated through the Canadian national parks. Collections of his work were shown in or recognized by the Beaver Club in London, the Royal Canadian Academy, the London Illustrated News, Vista Del Arroya--Passadena, painters and etchers of Ontario, and the Glenbow foundation in Calgary (in 2006 Glenbow transferred a major part of their Hagel related artifacts to the Galt Museum & Archives. The Galt now holds the most significant collection of Hagel works.) His first major exhibition was in California, with subsequent shows in Oklahoma; Texas; the sportsman's show in Toronto; the Calgary Stampede; the 1951 Lethbridge Exhibition and Rodeo; the Calgary Petroleum Club; and an exhibit staged posthumously by his wife in 1970, at the Provincial Museum in Victoria, B.C.. During his career as an artist, hagell painted and drew about 1500 works. He also began writing in 1930, later publishing a collection of poems and short stories. He worked in various other jobs throughout his life, but mainly in window trimming and interior display for department stores. According to his son, Barnett, Hagell could not make a living from his art because if he showed in New York his work was considered too Canadian and in Toronto it was too western. He was not a good salesman for his own work as he considered the people who attended the exhibition cocktail parties to be phoney and insincere. He had a great love for the prairies and farming, and was a great storyteller, especially to children.
- Custodial History
- Donated by Dalton G. Hagell
- Scope and Content
- 2007.1015/001 Copies of art prints with explanation; 10 prints 2007.1015/002 Negatives, mounted photos, unmounted photos of artwork; 8 negatives; 40 photos 2007.1015/003 Death notice; book of remembrance, 1964; letter of condolence 2007.1015/004 Correspondence re: Crosby Company Ltd, Lake Louise, 1935-1963 2007.1015/005 Catalogue of originals; list of pictures sold to Glenblow; summary of Hagell biography; list of oils; list of black & white prints; address list; 2 photos; 2 negatives 2007.1015/006 Consignment invoices; price list with descriptions; Stampede Salon of Fine Arts program, picture list numbered; 3 art reproductions; 2 photos 2007.1015/007 Personal receipts 2007.1015/008 Guest register, July 28, 1970; Oklahoma Exhibition program; art samples, letter from mayor of Lethbridge; cards; invoices and receipts for art; 2 photos 2007.1015/009 Vancouver Art Gallery exhibition, 1932-1934; The Art Gallery of Toronto exhibition, 1935; Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, 1935 2007.1015/010 Newspaper clippings, Violet’s diaries 1924-1964; Wilma Wood correspondence; 1 photograph 2007.1015/011 Hagell family history documents; The Story of the Press, 1928 2007.1015/012 Correspondence 1959-1960 2007.1015/013 Artist’s notes on dinnerware; hanging art for display purposes; city art suggestions for historical subjects 2007.1015/014 Ted Hagel poetry 2007.1015/015 Correspondence 1932-1973 2007.1015/016 Prints and sketches for art; notes; 1 print; 35 sketches 2007.1015/017 Catalogue of Charles M. Russel artwork; taxidermist catalog; brochure: Indians of the Prairie Provinces 1 photo 2007.1015/018 The Noble Foundation [working documents] 2007.1015/019 American Scene [magazine of Glicrease Institute]; ideas for Calgary Brewery’s Horsemen’s Hall of Fame
- Accession No.
- 20071015
- Collection
- Archive