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Tyrrell Family Fonds

https://collections.galtmuseum.com/link/descriptions17292
Material Type
Mixed Media
Date Range
1940-1966
Accession No.
20001056000
Physical Description
approximately 30 items
Scope and Content
Ham radio equipment catalogues, mock ham radio operator's test, newsletters of the Southern Alberta Amateur Radio Club, one issue of Skywire, six publications about the archaeology and history of southern Alberta.
More detail
Material Type
Mixed Media
Date Range
1940-1966
Physical Description
approximately 30 items
Physical Condition
Excellent
History Biographical
The following information was provided by the donor.
The items belonged to Villa Jean and Charles Tyrrell, who lived in Lethbridge for most of their married years. Mom was actually born in Lethbridge, in 1916. Our name may still be known around the museum; our family was very active in the Historical Society around the time of the move from the Bowman to the Galt. I actually worked on staff with the City at the museum for a short period of time, under Bill Brown.
"Both Mom and Dad were Amateur Radio Operators; Dad being VE6PV and Mom being VE6VJ. Dad was one of the original instructors in Alberta to be recognized by the Federal Government, and was well-known in Lethbridge and southern Alberta for his handling of the City's Civil Defence (later known as Disaster Services) Communications network. In this role, he worked closely with both the Fire and Police Chiefs, the City Manager, and the Mayor over a good number of years. He was also was one the key "hams" involved in the annual Halloween Night combined Ham/City Police joint patrols. Mom had the distinctive, and sole, Privilege of having her initials for her radio license. As one of the first women in amateur radio, she often had to battle for that right. Her first battle was for the right to write the Amateur exam, which finally was given to her by a protesting inspector who gave her the Advanced Exam instead of the Basic Exam, to "put her in her place". She passed it, and raised the issue politically...ending up with the appeasement of being given her choice of call letters! Mon was also, incidentally, one of the first (if not the first) licensed female real estate salespeople in Lethbridge, having worked at Pahulje's."
"Dad worked as the electronic technician at the Lethbridge Agricultural Research Centre until his retirement. Mon and Dad were active in the Historical Society, the Archaeological Society, and the Natural History Society. Dad was raised in Medicine Hat, and they moved to Lethbridge shortly after the war. They were, according to the newspaper clippings that I have, the first war-time service couple to be married during the war."
Language
English
Acquisition Source
Tyrrell Fred
Custodial History
These items originally belonged to the donor's parents, Charles and Villa Jean Tyrrell.
Scope and Content
Ham radio equipment catalogues, mock ham radio operator's test, newsletters of the Southern Alberta Amateur Radio Club, one issue of Skywire, six publications about the archaeology and history of southern Alberta.
Access Restrictions
Public Access
Accession No.
20001056000
Collection
Archive
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