Material Type

Mixed Media

Date Range

[between 1900 and 1960]

Description Level

Item

Physical Description

approximately 5 cm of print material 3 black and white photographs

Physical Condition

Excellent

History Biographical

"Alexander MacLaren was a Mercantile Clerk in Edinburgh, Scotland during the late 1870s and married Georgina Brown Hutton on October 15th, 1886. There were two children born of this union, Hugh MacLaren and his young sister Caroline Amelia Brown MacLaren [who] was born October 15th 1891 in Edinburgh. While Caroline was still a very young child, Mr. MacLaren died. Miss MacLaren was to tell others, in her old age, she had no recollection of her father. Her brother Hugh, upon reaching manhood decided to immigrate to Canada and upon coming west took up residence in Fort Macleod. Through correspondence between Hugh and his Mother, in Scotland, he persuaded the family to come to Canada. Mrs. MacLaren, and daughter Caroline (Carrie) set sail on the T.S.S. 'Letitia' from Glasgow on May 4th, 1912. They arrived in Montreal on May 15th, 1912, whereupon they boarded the train and arrived in Lethbridge on May 19th. Their astonishment at the vastness of the country was almost unbelievable. Daughter Carrie was to later recount, many times, of how when they reached Medicine Hat, her mother proceeded to put on her hat and coat since Lethbridge would be the next stop. Little did she realize the distance, having always lived in the beautiful city of Edinburgh. During the early years of the First World war, son Hugh was in the Army. Daughter Carrie became a Legal secretary and was gainfully employed in Fort Macleod. Following the war years the family took up residence in Lethbridge, and built a home at 1245 - 7th Avenue South. Caroline was employed by the firm of Johnstone Ritchie and Huckvale, a well known Legal Firm in Lethbridge. In 1928, Hugh & Caroline's mother, Mrs. Georgina MacLaren, passed away In the 1940's the wedding of Caroline to Mr. Frederick LeBlond of Fort Macleod, was conducted by Rev. E.L. Garvin in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Lethbridge. The newly married couple resided on a farm between Lethbridge and Fort Macleod. They maintained their membership in St. Andrew's Church and continued to commute for worship and their shopping. Mr. LeBlond died in the 1940's at which time Caroline returned to Lethbridge to take up residence and to continue working as a Legal Secretary. Upon retiring she continued residence in Lethbridge and passed away on November 14th, 1976. She was interred alongside her husband in the Pioneer Cemetery in Fort Macleod." [Source: unattributed and undated biographical essay supplied by the donor]

Language

English

Acquisition Source

Anderson, Gordon 1018 Lakeview Drive South Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3E8

Scope and Content

The fonds consists of Christmas cards, New Year cards and general greeting cards sent and received by the MacLaren family. Also included is a copy of the registration of birth for Caroline Amelia Brown MacLaren, a meal seating ticket for Caroline and her mother Georgina on the ship T.S.S. Letitia, two photographs of Caroline and one of her with her husband Frederick LeBlond.

Notes

The donor removed the cards from the album in which they were pasted.

Access Restrictions

Public Access

Accession No.

20021080000

Collection

Archive

Less detail