Pioneer Researchers Association Fonds

Scope and Content: The fonds consisting of a wide variety of material all documenting the history of Lethbridge and southwestern Alberta. Included are 35mm slides, oral history interviews on audio cassette tapes, photographs, manuscripts and other items.

History Biographical: The Pioneer Researchers Association (PRA) was formed in 1977. Members of the PRA included George Watson, Audrey Baines (now Audrey Swedish) and Sheila Petherbridge. The PRA operated from a room in the Sir Alexander Galt Museum - now the Sir Alexander Galt Museum and Archives - and solicited donations of historical materials which they then catalogued and preserved. The PRA also conducted an extensive oral history program, as volunteers interviewed over 100 people in Lethbridge and southern Alberta about their lives as early residents of the city and the region. Mrs. Audrey Swedish, the district's volunteer archivist, continued to organize and add to the files after the material was passed to Lethbridge School District No. 51.

Acquisition Source: Lethbridge School District No. 51 433 15 Street South Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 2Z5

Custodial History: The Pioneer Researchers Association ultimately donated the material they collected to Lethbridge School District No. 51, where it was stored in the Board offices until being donated to the Galt Museum and Archives.

Scope and Content: The fonds consisting of a wide variety of material all documenting the history of Lethbridge and southwestern Alberta. Included are 35mm slides, oral history interviews on audio cassette tapes, photographs, manuscripts and other items.