Transkribus

These diaries are selections from personal diaries in the Glenbow Libraries and Archives special collection. The diaries from these Three Alberta Women have not been previously transcribed so we do not know exactly what each contains.  These diaries are out of copyright and privacy risk. 

Read on to learn more about these women and their diaries. 

Eliza Jane Wilson (née. Brown), ?-1949, was born in Scotland and came to Alberta with her parents in 1889. They settled near Queenstown and established the Arbuthnott Ranche. In 1901 she married John Wilson, ?-1922, and they had three children, Barney, Margaret (Lahd) and Dorothy (Fairbanks). The Wilsons lived in Alberta at Circus Coulee, Grassy Lake, Gleichen, Little Fish Lake, Bassano and Drumheller, and in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan before settling in Calgary in 1921, where John was a butcher.

The fonds consists of diaries (1901, 1903-1904), letters (1902-1903), and photographs of the ranch, family and friends (early 1900s and 1958).

Available for transcription: 

3 diaries

• 1901 – First year of marriage. 128 pages.
• 1903 – 117 pages.
• 1904 – 99 pages.

Minnie Ada Webb, 1880-1958, emigrated from Washington, USA to Castor, Alberta in 1912 with her husband and five children, Arthur, Leona, Melvin, Alda and Elton. The journey was made in a covered wagon. The family subsequently farmed north of Veteran. Arthur C. Webb, 1901-[after 1985], was born in Reardon, Washington. In 1932 he married Daisy Devereaux and they had at least one child, Mrs. Black. Arthur and Daisy moved to Three Hills in 1936 and farmed until retiring in 1963.

The fonds consists of Minnie's diary of trip from USA to Alberta (1912) and Arthur's reminiscences (1972).

Available for transcription:

1 diary

• 1912 – Trip from Washington, USA to Castor, Alberta. 20 pages.

Annie Glen Broder (née Glen), 1857?-1937, was born in India and raised in England. She studied at the National Training School for Music and the Royal College of Music, specializing in piano. She wrote a highly acclaimed textbook on musical accompaniment, and lectured in music at several English universities. In 1902 she moved to Regina, Saskatchewan where she married Richard Broder. The following year they moved to Calgary, Alberta and she quickly became a prominent and influential member of Calgary's musical community. She taught piano, was music critic for the Calgary Herald for more than 20 years, and was a member of the Canadian Women's Press Club. She was instrumental in convincing the Associated Board of the Royal College and the Royal Academy of Music to send their examiners to Calgary, and thus raise the overall standards of music in the city. She was a member of the Calgary Women's Musical Club for 17 years. For further information see Ron Bond and Donald B. Smith's article, "Annie Glen Broder", in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography, [www.biographi.ca].

The fonds consists of diaries (1891-1892, 1897), writings, musical compositions, scrapbooks about her career and Calgary musicians, and photographs of herself and Calgary orchestras. Includes her special compositions for Western Canada College and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Available for transcription:

3 diaries

• 1891 – Annie Glen diary, prior to marriage, in England. 192 pages.
• 1897 – Annie Glen diary, prior to marriage, in England. 79 pages.
• 1897 – Annie Glen’s mother’s diary. 36 pages.