Date Range

1985-1988

Description Level

Fonds

Creator

Marion Biggs

Physical Description

25 cm of textual records; over 500 photographs

History Biographical

Marion Phyllis Biggs (1909-2013) grew up on a Beynon Ranch near Drumheller (Rosebud area). She graduated from the Drumheller Business College in 1936 and in 1939 moved to Lethbridge to found the Lethbridge Secretarial College. She run the business until she retired. In her later years she dedicated most of her time to painting and was an active member of the Lethbridge Sketch Club. She was also involved with the Lethbridge Symphony as a musician. The Lethbridge Secretarial College was founded by Marion Biggs in 1939 as a member of Business Educators' Association of Canada. The institution offered Secretarial, Stenography, Cleritype, Typewriting, Bookkeeping, and Machine Calculation. For several decades, Marion Biggs operated the business and served as Principal. Marion Biggs's study of drawing and painting began with a correspondence course from the Art Instructions Schools in Minneapolis in 1969. In 1970 and 1973, she attended short summer sessions at the Banff School of Fine Art. Since 1968, Marion Biggs was a member of the Lethbridge Sketch Club. Her works were exhibited in local galleries and in Frame/Craft Gallery in Edmonton. In 1978, one of her paintings was chosen to tour Canada with the Canada Nature Art Exhibition; another in 1986 by the Alberta Art Foundation. Many of Marion Biggs paintings are found in private collections throughout Canada. Marion Biggs worked mainly in landscape genre using acrylics and colored pencils.

Custodial History

The materials were donated by Sue Wilkie in 2013 after Marion Biggs passed away

Scope and Content

The fonds includes the following records: - Marion Biggs' education certificates and diplomas - records related to the Secretarial College - lists of students, articles, promotional brochures and a letter detailing the experience of opening the school in September 1939 - Sketch book of pencil drawings - Inventory of paintings sold - over 500 photographs reflecting Marion Biggs's private life, travel, and artwork - Christmas postcard mailing list (1952-1988) - Cowling system violin playing lessons - Personal correspondence, ID cards, articles by M. Biggs, records concerning ownership of Beynon Ranch (Springfield Ranch) and plans to convert into a Historic Site

Accession No.

20131046

Collection

Archive

Less detail