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Pierre Lozeron family fonds

Pierre Lozeron family fonds. -- 1893-1980. -- 86 cm of textual records, 29 photographs.

Biographical Sketch

Pierre Lozeron was born in 1887, in Auverern, Canton of Neuchatel, Switzerland, where the family were grape growers and wine merchants. When the family of six children lost both parents, Pierre and his younger brother Jean decided to seek their fortunes in America. A sister, Sophie, also immigrated to the States.

The brothers left Switzerland in 1910, when Pierre was 23 and Jean 20 years of age. By that time, Pierre had completed a time as sharp-shooter in the Swiss Army and Jean had taken some Agricultural College courses. They were well-prepared for a pioneer lifestyle in the Peace Country.

After spending two years farming in Nebraska State, Pierre went on to the Peace Country, and in July 1912 walked in over the Edson Trail with his friend Charlie Heller. He chose the NW 10-73-7-W6, north west of Bear Lake for a homestead. Here there was a natural flowing well in a little forest giving him a fresh supply of water and wood for fence posts. But the biggest attraction was that it was all open land on the slope up from Bear Lake, a warm slope like they had for raising grapes in Switzerland. He also claimed the adjoining quarter section, SW 16-73-7-W6 for his brother Jean.

Traveling over the long trail with their supplies, the Lozeron brothers arrived to stay in December, 1912. They lived, that winter, in the box of their sleigh, with snow banked around it and a tarp for a tent on top of it. The next year they built a log cabin with a sod roof and a cross on front of it like a Swiss flag.

In 1918, Dora Koberg made her first trip to the Peace Country with the Thomas family from St. Paul’s, Minnesota. Dora was born in Berlin, Iowa and attended a Presbyterian Teachers’ college in Minnesota. In 1926 Pierre and Dora were married. The couple raised three children on the land that Pierre had filed on: Paul, born in 1927, became a medical doctor in Neuchatel, Switzerland; Homer, born in 1934, became a biochemist in the United States; and Andre, born in 1939, received a degree in agriculture from the University of Alberta and became a farm commentator for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. In 1939, a new family farm home was built by William Balisky.

The children attended Canuck School and later high school in Grande Prairie. Both Pierre and Dora were active with the United Farmers Association, Pierre as president of the Canuck U.F.A. Local, and Dora as a member of United Farm Women. During the development of the DEW Line and Radar stations after World War II, Dora was a civilian plane spotter (call letters EKBL 0218) for the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Although, like many immigrants in the early 20th century, Pierre and Dora rarely saw their families again, they carried on a voluminous correspondence, especially with the Lozeron extended family. Dora passed away in 1978, and for his final years Pierre lived in the Red Willow Lodge in Valleyview, then in Heritage Lodge in Grande Prairie. He passed away in 1980.

The management of the Lozeron family farm was taken over by Andre and Verna Lozeron circa 1955. They farmed until Andy’s failing health forced them into retirement. The land and home was then rented out to neighbours.

Scope and Content

The fonds consists of Lozeron family photographs; personal papers and correspondence of each member of the immediate family -- Pierre, Dora Koberg Lozeron, Paul, Homer and Andre; farm documents from as early as 1915; farm account books from the 1930s to the 1960s; farming information from the 1950s and 1960s files according to the UGG filing system; and correspondence from their extended family members in Switzerland, friends and family members in Canada and the United States. The correspondence dates back to 1910, when the Lozeron boys first left Switzerland.

Table of Contents

Series 006.01	Family Papers series
Series 006.01.01	Pierre Lozeron sub-series
Series 006.01.02	Dora Koberg Lozeron Papers sub-series
Series 006.01.03	Paul Lozeron Papers sub-series
Series 006.01.04	Homer Lozeron Papers sub-series
Series 006.01.05	Andre and Verna Lozeron Papers sub-series
Series 006.02	Family Photographs series
Series 006.03	Family Farm Records series
Series 006.03.01	Farm Records and Accounts sub-series
Series 006.03.02	United Grain Grower Files sub-series
Series 006.04	Correspondence series
Series 006.04.01	Madeline Hanni-Lozeron sub-series
Series 006.04.02	Paul Lozeron sub-series
Series 006.04.03	Agnes Christen-Lozeron sub-series
Series 006.04.04	Sophie (Lozeron) Vouga sub-series
Series 006.04.05	Albert Lozeron sub-series
Series 006.04.07	Post 1959 Correspondence sub-series
Series 006.04.08	Miscellaneous Correspondence sub-series

Series 006.01	Family Papers series. -- 1898-1987. -- 12 cm of textual records. The series consists of documents and correspondence pertaining to Pierre Lozeron, his wife Dora Koberg Lozeron, and their children Paul, Homer and Andre. The files contain diaries, documents, educational, employment and personal records and correspondence between the family members. Much of the correspondence has to do with what will be done with the family farm after the retirement and death of the parents. There are also notes concerning the care of Dora and Pierre Lozeron as their health began to fail and they could no longer live independently on the farm.
	Child Management, 1925 booklet covers habits, parenting, feeding, jealousy, fear, anger, sex instruction, disobedience, lying, slealing Location: 0006.01.02 Prenatal Care, 1926 booklet covers hygiene, complications, preparations for confinement, lying-in period Location: 0006.01.02 Habit Training for Children, 1924 booklet how to curb undesireable habits in your child Location: 0006.01.02 Posture Body Mechanics, 1938 booklet empasizes the importance of posture Location: 0006.01.02
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Series 006.01.01	Pierre Lozeron sub-series. -- 1898-1979. -- 2 cm of textual records. The sub-series consists of early school and employment records; a small notebook of notes and accounts during his immigration to America in 1910 and his return to Switzerland in 1959; exemptions from military service in WWI; various registration and membership certificates; records of his trip back to Switzerland in 1959, including a speech made there about his life as a pioneer in Canada; copies of news clippings on the life of Pierre and Jean Lozeron; and a series of letters written in the last few years of his life, reflecting his struggles with ailing health.
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Series 006.01.02	Dora Koberg Lozeron Papers sub-series. -- 1923-[1975]. -- 4 cm of textual records. The sub-series consists of a yearbook from Macalester College, in Saint Paul, Minnesota; notebooks and scrapbooks produced during her life as a wife and mother; an informational brochure for the Family Allowance Program when it was introduced in July, 1945; a 1964 certificate documenting Dora’s service as a member of the Ground Observer Corps of the Royal Canadian Air Force; booklets showing her interest in literature and child rearing; a small amount of correspondence with friends; and a list of the books found in their library at home on the farm.
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Series 006.01.03	Paul Lozeron Papers sub-series. -- 1937-1987. -- 3 cm of textual records. The sub-series consists of records of Paul’s progress at Canuck School, St. Joseph’s High School and Grande Prairie High School, and the correspondence he carried on with his family after he left home for Switzerland. There are also three letters written by 10 year old Paul to his mother while she was away, and some information on Swiss Universities which Paul used in deciding to go back to Switzerland for medical studies.
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Series 006.01.04	Homer Lozeron Papers sub-series. -- 1937-1987. -- 2 cm of textual records. The series consists of a wedding invitation announcing Homer’s marriage to Margaret Welch in Minnesota in 1967; letters written to his father Pierre and to Andre and Verna on the farm; and a series of correspondence, including copies of letters written by Andre and Paul regarding the future of the Lozeron family farm.
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Series 006.01.05	Andre and Verna Lozeron Papers sub-series. -- [1955]-1986. -- 3 cm of textual records. The series consists of a booklet on conservation and agricultural practices created by Andre (presumably in high school) and containing postcards of Sexsmith and Grande Prairie from that era; a wedding invitation announcing his marriage to Verna May Tetz in 1966; news clipping regarding his career with Radio Canada; copies of correspondence from Andy to his brothers containing farm reports; and notes written by Verna regarding the care of Pierre and Dora Lozeron when they became sick and elderly.
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Series 006.02	Family Photographs series. -- 1893-1980., 29 photographs. The series consists of a 1893 portrait of the Lozeron-Girard family in Switzerland, photographs of Pierre and Jean Lozeron late in life, snapshots of Dora Lozeron with her grandchildren, graduation photographs of Paul Lozeron and his Grande Prairie High School graduating class in 1945, a snapshot of Homer on the farm, slides of Andre when he worked for Radio Canada, aerial photographs of the Lozeron family farm between 1950 and 1980, portraits of the Jean Lozeron family, and a few photographs of other family members. Also included is a portrait of Elsie Koberg, Dora Koberg Lozeron’s sister who was killed in an automobile accident soon after her marriage, and two photographs of people who came in over the Edson Trail, as the Lozeron brothers did: one of Ed Heller and his family, the other of Edson Trail Pioneers in a 1974 parade.
	Lozeron-Girard family in Switzerland, 1893 1 photograph; b & w; 8 x 10 Madame Lozeron-Girard shown with children (from left): Pierre (1887), Jean (1890 c.), Madeleine (1878), Sophie (1891 c.), Paul (1883) and Agnes (1888). Location: 0006.02.01 Elsie Koberg, sister of Dora Koberg Lozeron, 1920 c. 1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 Elsie became a teacher and was killed in an automobile accident shortly after her marriage 1925 c. Location: 0006.02.02 Ernest Vouga, son of Sophie Lozeron Vouga, 1930 c. 1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 Ernest Vouga, born 1921, son of Sophie, livedin Colorado Location: 0006.02.03 A Marguerite Vouga, daughter of Sophie Lozeron Vouga, 1930 c. 1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 Marguerite, daughter of Sophie Vouga - Rule, born 1919 Location: 0006.02.03 B Jean & Alice Lozeron & family, 1950 c. 1 photograph; b & w; 8 x10 Jean and Alice Lozeron family with eldest 8 children. Location: 0006.02.04 Grande Prairie High School Graduation Class, 1945 1 photograph; b & w; 8 x 10 Grande Prairie High School Graduation Class in 1945. Paul Lozeron is second from back left. Location: 0006.02.05 Paul Lozeron, graduation photograph, 1945 1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 5 Paul Lozeron graduated from Grande Prairie High School in 1945. Location: 0006.02.06 Aerial of Pierre Lozeron Farmstead, 1950-1978 c. 5 prints; negative; b & w; 4 x 6 Photos show changes in farmstead, modernizarion Location: 0006.02.07 Valerie Lozeron, daughter of Paul Lozeron, 1965-1966 2 photographs; b & w; 3 x 5 Valerie, grandaughter of Dora and Pierre, as a child Location: 0006.02.08 Dora Lozeron in the garden, 1966 1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 3 Snapshot of Dora holding a bouquet of garden flowers Location: 0006.02.09 Dora Lozeron with first grandson, Peter, 1966 1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 3 Snapshot of Dora sitting on the grass holding Peter, Homer's son Location: 0006.02.10 Andre Lozeron on Fordson Tractor, 1966 1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 3 Andre, son of Pierre, on Fordson tractor, with spraying umbrella Location: 0006.02.11 Andre Lozeron, Radio Canada, 1965 c. 3 slides; colour; 35 mm Pictures taken while Andre worked for Radio Canada's Call of the Land Location: 0006.02.12 Homer Lozeron on flatbed of truck, 1966 1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 3 Snapshot shows a 1950s car in background Location: 0006.02.13 Pierre and Jean Lozeron, 1974 2 photograph; b & w; 8 x 10 2 close up shots of Pierre and Jean as seniors, one showing Jean with a bottle of cherry brandy in his hand Location: 0006.02.14 GP County Fair Parade Float, Edson Trail Pioneers, 1974 2 photograph; colour; 8 x 10 Horse drawn wagon carrying Edson Trail pioneers travelling down main street with onlookers lining the sidewalk Location: 0006.02.15 Pierre Lozeron, 1977 1 photograph; b & w; 8 x 10 Pierre on the left with two other gentlemen, attending a meeting or conference Location: 0006.02.16 Heller Family, 1980 c. 1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 Studio photo of Heller family, South Dakota. Mr. Heller, bottom right, walked over the Edson trail with Pierre and homesteaded in the Beaverlodge area. Location: 0006.02.17 Jean Lozeron Family with Pierre Lozeron, 1980 c. 1 photograph; b & w; 8 x 10 Jean Lozeron, wife Alice , 8 daughters, 4 sons, and brother Pierre Location: 0006.02.18 Pierre's sister with young boy, John, 1968 1 photograph; colour; 2 x 2 Picture taken in January likely in California where Sophie lived Location: 0006.02.19
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Series 006.03	Family Farm Records series. -- 1915-1980. -- 62 cm of textual records. The series consists of papers regarding the original homestead; wheat board permits for the 1940s; detailed Account books recording amounts spent on various aspects of farming and family expenses from the 1930s to the 1960s; and a series of files based on a United Grain Growers system of filing containing farm information collected by Pierre and Andre Lozeron in the 1950s and 1960s.
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Series 006.03.01	Farm Records and Accounts sub-series. -- 1915-1968. -- 14 cm of textual records. The sub-series consists of a few papers from the original homestead, including the patent on NW ¼-10-73-7-W6th and a 1920 inventory and tax notice; eleven account books for the years 1934 to 1968 which include two United Grain Growers Farm Account books; income tax returns (most of them with supporting documentation) for the years from 1936 to 1962, including a 1949 income tax guide for Farmers and Fishermen; a 1937 manual and service policy for the farm Ford car; Canadian Wheat Board permits for 1945-1949; and a 1977 lease of land to Andre Lozerson.
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Series 006.03.02	United Grain Grower Files sub-series. -- [1948-1970]. -- 48 cm of textual records. The sub-series consists of sixty-seven files containing information on crops, horticulture, vegetable crops, livestock, farm home, farm buildings and improvements, agricultural journals and education in agriculture. Material was filed by Pierre and Andre Lozeron and includes Lozeron farm certificates, crop reports, publications, printed information, newspaper and magazine clippings, correspondence, and Andre Lozeron’s hand-written notes.
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Series 006.04	Correspondence series. -- 1910-1981. -- 12 cm of textual records. The series consists of postcards and letters from the sisters and brothers of Pierre Lozeron (and later their families) from the time he left Switzerland in 1910 until his death in 1980: Madeleine Hanni-Lozeron in Auvernier, Paul Lozeron in Auvernier, Agnes Christen-Lozeron, in Villiers, and Sophie (Lozeron) Vouga in the United States. There is also correspondence from relatives and close friends in Switzerland and a small amount of correspondence from people in Canada and the United States.
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Series 006.04.01	Madeline Hanni-Lozeron sub-series. -- 1910-1972. -- 1 cm of textual records. Madeline Lozeron, born in 1878, was 32 when her younger brothers Pierre and Jean left Switzerland in 1910. She married Monsieur Hanni of Auvergne, had two children, Marguerite and Andre, and passed away in 1960 at the age of 82. The sub-series consist of postcards, letters and funeral records sent from the Hanni-Lozeron family to Pierre Lozeron in the United States and later Canda, from the time he left Switzerland. After Madeline’s death in 1960, later news of the family (such as funeral records) was sent by Pierre’s daughter-in-law Christianne in Switzerland.
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Series 006.04.02	Paul Lozeron sub-series. -- 1959-1975. -- 5 cm of textual records. Paul Lozeron, born in 1883, became a wine merchant in Auvernier, Neuchatel, Switzerland. He passed away in 1967 at the age of 82. The sub-series consists of some letters Paul wrote to his brother Pierre after the latter’s visit to Switzerland in 1959, the announcement of his death in 1967, and a letter written in 1975 by his wife.
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Series 006.04.03	Agnes Christen-Lozeron sub-series. -- [1912]-1976. -- 2 cm of textual records. Agnes Lozeron, sister to Pierre, was born in 1888. She married Hermann Chirsten and had three children: Rosine, Marianne and Sophie. The sub-series consists of postcards, letters and photographs from the Christen-Lozeron family in Switzerland to Pierre and Jean Lozeron after their immigration to Canada
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Series 006.04.04	Sophie (Lozeron) Vouga sub-series. -- 1912-1981. -- 2 cm of textual records. Sophie Lozeron, sister to Pierre, was born c. 1891. She immigrated to the United States and married Ernest Vouga. She had two children, Ernest and Marguerite. The sub-series consists of postcards and letters written to Pierre by Sophie and later her children.
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Series 006.04.05	Albert Lozeron sub-series. -- 1910-1977. -- 5 cm of textual records. Albert Lozeron, a cousin to Pierre Lozeron, corresponded with him from the time he left Switzerland in 1910. The sub-series consists of a few postcards sent to Pierre and Jean in Nebraska and later in Canada, and some correspondence from Albert’s wife Tredy, and later a daughter Antoinette.
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Series 006.04.07	Post 1959 Correspondence sub-series. -- 1959-1976. -- 2 cm of textual records. Therese Orlande was a childhood friend to the Lozeron children in Switzerland. She married Jean Gauchat in 1912 and raised four children. She passed away in 1972 at the age of 85. The sub-series consists of postcards and letters written to Pierre and Dora Lozeron after his trip to Switzerland in 1959, when he renewed many old acquaintances and made new friends. The writers include Annemarie Morier-Lozeron, Paul Lozeron, the Galland-Robert family, the Jacot family, the Lagier family and William Chatelaine.
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Series 006.04.08	Miscellaneous Correspondence sub-series. -- 1910-1975. -- 2 cm of textual records. The sub-series consists of postcards and letters from friends in Switzerland, the United States and Canada.
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