Material Type

Manuscript

Date Range

1952-2004

Description Level

Fonds

Physical Description

0.19 m. textual records, 15 photographs

Physical Condition

Excellent

History Biographical

In the spring of 1964 a group of people interested in archaeology met at the home of Frank A Russell to discuss the formation of a local archaeology club. Dr K. Warren Geiger of the Physical Geography department of the University of Alberta was in attendance. In 1965 Dr Geiger returned and with the aid of Police Chief James Carpenter and Dean James Wm Cousins of the University of Lethbridge founded what would be the Alberta Archaeological Society, Lethbridge Centre. Cousins agreed to be president of the group for the remainder of 1965. In 1966 James Carpenter took over as president and the group applied for a charter under the Alberta Societies Act. This was granted in July of 1968. 1967 saw the group find an honourary patron in the person of Senator James Gladston of the Blood Nation. That same year the society put out its first publication, Crystal Springs Indian Camp Site by J A Spencer, edited by R. G. Forbis. Since the formation of the group, meetings have been held at the campus of Lethbridge College. The college provides the space free of charge to the society. Monthly meetings feature a program of guest speakers and presentations pertaining to local archaeology and beyond. The goals of the groups are to promote the proper treatment of archaeological sites. This includes reporting of sites, adherence to government regulations, and use of proper excavation techniques. They also work to provide funding for excavation projects and publications. A provincial newsletter is put out twice yearly in co-operation with other provincial centres. Lethbridge Centre is one of the oldest and largest groups in the Alberta Archaeological Society, but there are also groups in Medicine Hat, Grand Prairie and two in both Calgary and Edmonton. In addition to the publication of the Alberta Archaeological Review semi-annually, the various centres come together each year at an annual meeting hosted by one of the seven centres. An in-depth history was compiled by June Carpenter as part of the Lethbridge Centre’s application process for a New Horizon grant in 1984 and can be found in the files. Details of the group’s activities including guest speakers, projects and publications is included.

Language

English

Acquisition Source

Carlton R. Stewart 1005 23 Street North Lethbridge, Alberta T1H 3T2 (403) 328-4669

Custodial History

The files were at some point in the possession of June (Joan) and James Carpenter. Much of the correspondence is to or from James and the histories were compiled by June. Notes are also written on the personal stationary of the couple.

Scope and Content

File List 20051019/1. Archaeological Society of Alberta – Lethbridge Centre; Membership lists, financial statements, annual reports, meeting minutes, meeting notices, publication lists. 1969-1998. 20051019/2. Archaeological Society of Alberta – Lethbridge Centre; Newspaper clippings, membership lists, meeting minutes, annual reports. 1970-1991. 20051019/3. Archaeological Society of Alberta; Correspondence, annual reports. 1987-1997. 20051019/4. Archaeological Society of Alberta – Lethbridge Centre; Meeting notices, financial reports, correspondence, by-laws. 1968-1988. 20051019/5. Archaeological Society of Alberta – Lethbridge Centre; Reports, projects and publications lists, membership lists, meeting notices, financial reports, newspaper clippings. 1969-1966. 20051019/6. Archaeological Society of Alberta – Lethbridge Centre; History, projects and publications lists, meeting notices. 1971-2003. 20051019/7. Archaeological Society of Alberta – Lethbridge Centre; Newspaper clippings, meeting notices, constitution, photographs, society status application, correspondence, pamphlets. 1965-1979. 3 photographs 20051019/8 Archaeological Society of Alberta; Reports, journal articles, newspaper clippings, photographs. 1952-1991. 5 photographs 20051019/9. Lethbridge Historical Society Newsletter. 2004. 20051019/10. Archaeological Society of Alberta – Lethbridge Centre; Photographs, newsletter. 1965-2004. 7 photographs. 20051019/11. Archaeological Society of Alberta – Lethbridge Centre; History of the Archaeological Society. [2004]. 20051019/12. Historical Society of Alberta – Whoop-Up Country Chapter; Programs, pamphlets, newspaper articles, regional histories, brochures. 1970-1996. 20051019/13 New Horizons Grant Materials; Applications, correspondence, brochures. 1982-1984. 20051019/14. Archaeological Society of Alberta; Correspondence, annual reports, minutes. 1960-1988. 20051019/15. Early History of the Lethbridge Centre 1965-1985; drafts, member lists, speaker lists, publication lists, chronology. [1984-1985].

Notes

Related Files: 19911057031--Alex Johnston Collection 20001056--Tyrell Family fonds 19780234001--Speech - Program: Alberta Archaeology 19911042000--Microfiche: Archaeological Survey Of Alberta Reports 19737722000--Report: Archaeological Society Of Alberta 20001076461--Report of the Archaeological Society of Alberta, Lethbridge Centre: Onoka-Katzi (Sundial Butte)

Access Restrictions

Public Access

Accession No.

20051019

Collection

Archive

Less detail