From the Vaults: Audio from Edmonton's Past

Today's episode features Doris Lawton. Lawton goes into detail about her experience in school and about getting a job after graduating. These interviews were recorded in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Both social attitudes and language standards have changed since that time.  Some opinions expressed and language used may be offensive to listeners today.

Today's interview features Irene Richards, another resident of Old Strathcona. Richards, having lived on a farm outside of Strathcona, describes her experience working on her parent's dairy farm and the growth of her local church community.  These interviews were recorded in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Both social attitudes and language standards have changed since that time.  Some opinions...

Today's episode features an interview of Helen Taylor. Taylor describes her experience of Strathcona after the Second World War and the enormous post-war growth of the area.  These interviews were recorded in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Both social attitudes and language standards have changed since that time.  Some opinions expressed and language used may be offensive to listeners today.

This week's interviewee, Vonda Smith, discusses winter sporting in Edmonton including skating and cross-country skiing. Smith also describes the effects of the influenza epidemic in the area.  These interviews were recorded in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Both social attitudes and language standards have changed since that time.  Some opinions expressed and language used may be offensive to liste...

Named a 'Living Heritage Treasure' by the Alberta Museums' Association in 1993, George L. Davies is the subject of today's oral history interview. A teacher by trade, Davies describes life in Strathcona and his decades of work with the Edmonton Public School Board.  These interviews were recorded in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Both social attitudes and language standards have chan...

This week's interviewee, Robert M. Currie, describes his time during the Second World War. His journey through Britain, Belgium, and Germany during the 1940s provides a unique perspective of someone from Strathcona who came home to see the postwar boom.  These interviews were recorded in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Both social attitudes and language standards have changed since that time.  Some...

Mae Dornan, this week's interviewee, discusses her arrival in Strathcona in 1910. She describes the Strathcona Hotel, where her family spent their first night, and the experience of her family establishing themselves and running a local hardware store.  Cover Image: EA-444-2 https://cityarchives.edmonton.ca/wankel-and-barr-hardware These interviews were recorded in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Bo...

On today's episode, we listen to Elizabeth A. Frost's Voices of Old Strathcona interview. In addition to her early upbringing in Strathcona, Frost describes many of the religious communities that called the area home. This is part 2 of 2 episodes featuring Elizabeth A. Frost's interview. These interviews were recorded in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Both social attitudes and language st...

On today's episode, we listen to Elizabeth A. Frost's Voices of Old Strathcona interview. In addition to her early upbringing in Strathcona, Frost describes many of the religious communities that called the area home. This is part 1 of 2 episodes featuring Elizabeth A. Frost's interview. These interviews were recorded in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Both social attitudes and language st...

Ruth Hargrave's  Voices of Old Strathcona  interview is the subject of today's  From the Vaults  episode. Describing her upbringing and childhood, Hargrave provides a clear picture of growing up in Old Strathcona. As one of the first women who attended the University of Alberta, Hargrave also describes her work in achieving her degree.  These interviews were recorded in the 1960s, 70s, a...

Evelyn Smith's Voices of Old Strathcona interview is the subject of today's episode. Smith, a nurse, describes her time working in and around the University. Smith also describes transportation innovations, including the shift from the street-car to individual automobile usage.  These interviews were recorded in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Both social attitudes and language standards have c...

Mabel Geary's Voices of Old Strathcona interview is the subject of today's episode. Geary, a graduate of the Camrose Normal School and the University of Alberta, describes her experience teaching in the many one-room schools around Edmonton and Strathcona. Cover Image: EA-207-743 https://cityarchives.edmonton.ca/mabel-geary These interviews were recorded in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Both...

On today's episode, the Voices of Old Strathcona Oral History Project interviews Patrick Rose. Rose, a medical doctor, was involved in the growth of Edmonton and Alberta's medical infrastructure.  These interviews were recorded in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Both social attitudes and language standards have changed since that time.  Some opinions expressed and language used may be offensive...

Harmon H. McMahon is the subject of today's Voices of Old Strathcona interview. McMahon describes the changes he experienced in Strathcona, particularly the changes in landscape and architecture that occurred after the Second World War. These interviews were recorded in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Both social attitudes and language standards have changed since that time.  Some opinions expressed...

For the first full episode of Season 2, the Voices of Old Strathcona Project interviews Eva McKitrick, a daughter of one of the area's oldest settlers. She was a teacher, and was fascinated with history, particularly that of her family. These interviews were recorded in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Both social attitudes and language standards have changed since that time.  Some opinions expressed...

Welcome to Season 2 of the podcast! With another set of audio recordings coming up, join Dylan as he provides details and context for the recordings from The Old Strathcona Foundation's Voices of Old Strathcona oral history project. Thanks for listening! Cover Image: ET-28-844 https://cityarchives.edmonton.ca/whyte-avenue-3 These interviews were recorded in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Both socia...

In today's episode, we continue the July 1996 interview of Laurence G. Decore. Cover Image: EA-813-1 Mayor Laurence Decore receiving the chain of office https://cityarchives.edmonton.ca/mayor-laurence-decore-receiving-the-chain-of-office This interview was originally recorded on a 5 inch open reel tape and was digitized by an archivist on April 1st, 2021. These interviews were recorded in the...

In today's episode, we join Georgia Baird in her July 1996 interview of former alderman and Mayor Laurence G. Decore. Cover Image: EA-813-1 Mayor Laurence Decore receiving the chain of office https://cityarchives.edmonton.ca/mayor-laurence-decore-receiving-the-chain-of-office This interview was originally recorded on a 5 inch open reel tape and was digitized by an archivist on April 1st, 2021...

In today's episode, we join Georgia Baird in the second part of her May 1996 interview of former alderman and Mayor Cecil Purves. Cover Image: ET-28-163 Mayor Purves https://cityarchives.edmonton.ca/mayor-purves This interview was originally recorded on a 5 inch open reel tape and was digitized by an archivist on March 31st, 2021. These interviews were recorded in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Bot...

In today's episode, we join Georgia Baird in the first part of her May 1996 interview of former alderman and Mayor Cecil Purves. Cover Image: ET-28-163 Mayor Purves https://cityarchives.edmonton.ca/mayor-purves This interview was originally recorded on a 5 inch open reel tape and was digitized by an archivist on March 31st, 2021. These interviews were recorded in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Both...

In today's episode, we join Georgia Baird in the second part of her 1996 interview of former alderman and Mayor Janice Rhea Reimer. This interview was originally recorded on a 5 inch open reel tape and was digitized by an archivist on March 31st, 2021. These interviews were recorded in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Both social attitudes and language standards have changed since that time.  Some op...

In today's episode, we join Georgia Baird in the first part of her 1996 interview of former alderman and Mayor Janice Rhea Reimer. This interview was originally recorded on a 5 inch open reel tape and was digitized by an archivist on March 31st, 2021. These interviews were recorded in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Both social attitudes and language standards have changed since that time.  Some opi...

In today's episode, we join Bruce Ibsen and Muriel Clark in their January 28th, 1987 interview. The daughter of Joseph Clark, a former Mayor of Edmonton, Clark describes her perspective of the City as well as some details of the personal life of one of Edmonton's most well-known mayors.  This interview was originally recorded on a 5 inch open reel tape and was digitized by an archivist o...

In today's episode, we join Bruce Ibsen and Frank Rodberg in their December 2nd, 1985 interview. A longtime resident of Edmonton, Rodberg describes the City's growth over the years as well as his experience working as a Bailiff for the Sherriff's office.  This interview was originally recorded on a 5 inch open reel tape and was digitized by an archivist on March 30th, 2021. These in...

In today's episode, we join Bruce Ibsen and Stan McMillan in their November 20th, 1985 interview. As a bushpilot, McMillan describes his career in aviation and some notable incidents in Edmonton's history regarding the work of pilots.  This interview was originally recorded on a 5 inch open reel tape and was digitized by an archivist on March 26th, 2021. These interviews were recorded in...