Material Type

Artifact

Date

1983

Materials

WOOD, METAL

No. Pieces

3

Length

30.5

Width

22.9

Description

ENGRAVED INSIGNIA WITH LETTERING ON WALNUT PLAQUE DONE WITH LASER BEAM. INLAID METAL INSERTS SIGNED BY THE PREMIER AND MINISTER OF CULTURE FOR ALBERTA. ENTITLED "ALBERTA ACHIEVEMENT AWARD". DATED NOVEMBER 5, 1983. STORED IN A CARDBOARD BOX WITH SIMULATED WOOD-PAPER LID.

Subjects

PERSONAL SYMBOL

Historical Association

COMMEMORATIVE

History

AWARDED TO DR. ALEX JOHNSTON BY THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT IN RECOGNITION OF HIS RESEARCH & RECORDING OF THE COMMUNITY'S HISTORICAL EVENTS OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS. DONOR RESIDED AT THE MARQUIS HOTEL FOR MANY YEARS AND SERVED WITH THE LETHBRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY IN MANY CAPACITIES, INCLUDING PRESIDENT, AND ALSO SERVED FREQUENTLY AS A MUSEUM VOLUNTEER. *UPDATE* IN 2014 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF MILITARY OBJECTS, INCLUDING ONE DONATED BY DR. ALEX JOHNSTON (P19820062000). WHILE SHE WAS UNABLE TO FIND SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THE ARTIFACTS DONATED BY JOHNSTON, A TRIBUTE ARTICLE FROM THE APRIL 13, 1989 ISSUE OF THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD PROVIDES BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION. JOHNSTON WAS BORN IN 1920 IN WORKED FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS AS A RANGELAND ECOLOGIST AT THE LETHBRIDGE RESEARCH STATION. HIS CAREER AS A LOCAL HISTORIAN STARTED IN THE MID-1960S, AND BY HIS DEATH HE HAD AUTHORED OVER ONE HUNDRED ARTICLES AND PUBLICATIONS. HE WORKED AT THE GALT MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES, AND SERVED AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ARITFACTS AND ACQUISITION COMMITTEE AT THE FORT WHOOP UP INTERPRETIVE SOCIETY. JOHNSON RECEIVED AN HONOURARY DOCTORATE OF LAWS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE AND WAS INDUCTED IN THE ALBERTA AGRICULTURE HALL OF EXCELLENCE FOR HIS ROLE IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RESEARCH SUBSTATION WEST OF STAVELY - A DEMONSTRATION FARM USED TO DEVELOP THE PRESERVATION OF NATIVE PRAIRIE GRASSES. JOHNSTON WAS A CONFIRMED BACHELOR AND LIVED FOR MANY YEARS AT THE MARQUIS HOTEL. HE DIED ON APRIL 12, 1989.

Catalogue Number

P19830030000

Acquisition Date

1983-11

Collection

Museum

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