Date Range

1930-1994

Description Level

Series

Creator

Alberta Government Telephones (AGT)

Physical Description

50.8 cm of textual records

History Biographical

In 1880, Bell Telephone Company of Canada received a charter from the Federal Government to operate toll lines and exchanges across Canada. In 1885, the company started operations in Alberta, and eventually started the first telephone service in Lethbridge in 1891. Alberta Government Telephones (AGT), originally known as Alberta Government Telephones Commission, was formed by the Liberal Government under Alexander Cameron Rutherford in 1906. The Government began buying several independent telephone companies. AGT installed lines in the cities and provided service to the rural communities, competing with Bell. In 1908, AGT acquired the Alberta operations of the Bell Telephone Company. AGT purchased Bell for $675,000, controlling service to almost all telephone customers across the province (outside of Edmonton which had its own telephone service). In 1958, AGT became a crown corporation, and formally became the Alberta Government Telephone Commission. AGT also owned Alberta’s educational radio station, CKUA, from 1945 to 1960. AGT was initially managed by Alberta’s Department of Public Works as a public utility until 1958. AGT experienced difficulties in the Great Depression. In 1990 the Alberta Government privatized AGT, and TELUS Communications was formed as a holding company. In 1991, Alberta sold its remaining ownership to TELUS for $870 million. TELUS acquired Ed Tel from the City of Edmonton in 1995, and in 1996 AGT and Ed Tel came under the TELUS brand. From 1906 to 1991, AGT was the telephone provider for the province of Alberta.

Scope and Content

2021.1013/001: July 1958 Phonebook – Lethbridge and District. 1958. 2021.1013/002: July 1959 Phonebook – Lethbridge and District. 1959. 2021.1013/003: Southern District Phonebook Aug. 7 1960. 1960. 2021.1013/004: Southern District Directory 1961. 1961. 2021.1013/005: Southern District Directory August 4th 1963. 1963. 2021.1013/006: Southern District Directory August 2nd 1964. 1964. 2021.1013/007: Southern District Directory Aug. 1, 1965. 1965. 2021.1013/008: Southern District Directory Aug. 7, 1966. 1966. 2021.1013/009: Southern District Directory Aug. 6, 1967. 1967. 2021.1013/010: July 1957 Phone Directory – Lethbridge and District. 1957. 2021.1013/011: July 1956 Phone Directory – Lethbridge and District. 1956. 2021.1013/012: July 1955 Phone Directory – Lethbridge and District. 1955. 2021.1013/013: November 1954 Phone Directory – Lethbridge and District. 1954. 1954. 2021.1013/014: July 1951 Phone Directory – Lethbridge and District. 1951. 2021.1013/015: November 1950 Phone Directory – Lethbridge and District. 1950. 2021.1013/016: July 1949 Phone Directory – Lethbridge and District. 1949. 2021.1013/017: March 1948 Phone Directory – Lethbridge and District. 1948. 2021.1013/018: July 1947 Phone Directory – Lethbridge and District. 1947. 2021.1013/019: July 1940’s Phone Directories – Lethbridge & District. 1944-1946. 2021.1013/020: July Phone Directories – Lethbridge & District. 1930-1943. 2021.1013/021: Lethbridge & District Directories July 19, 1980. 1980. 2021.1013/022: Lethbridge & Area Phone Directory August 1982. 1982. 2021.1013/023: Lethbridge & Area Phone Directory August 1983. 1983. 2021.1013/024: Lethbridge & Area Phone Directory August 1984. 1984. 2021.1013/025: Lethbridge & Area Phone Directory February 22, 1992. 1992. 2021.1013/026: Lethbridge and Area Phone Directory March 5, 1994. 1994.

Accession No.

20211013

Collection

Archive

Less detail