Fonds 571 John Sinclair fonds

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Summary information

Repository: South Peace Regional Archives
Title: John Sinclair fonds
Reference code: 0571
Date: 1930-2007 (date of creation)
Physical description: 40.2cm textual records

41 photographs

6 negatives

5 maps

Dates of creation, revision and deletion: Processed by Patricia Greber May 2014
Added to new database January 2025 – TD
2025-10-04 – Accrual 2016.017 processed by Luke Harasen

Administrative history / Biographical sketch

John Sinclair was born January 12, 1918 in Indian Head, Saskatchewan. He spent his school age years in Wolfe, Saskatchewan and later travelled to Berwyn, Alberta. In 1942 John joined the army Regimental #M-104831 as a part of the Canadian-Scottish Regiment and was on the first wave of soldiers on D-Day. After the Second World War, John made his way to Grande Prairie where he farmed on SW 10-72-7-6. John also had land near Wilkie, Saskatchewan (NE 26-38-18 W3) which he often went to visit. John stayed involved in the Canadian-Scots Regiment often receiving correspondence from them as well as attending their reunions. In 1994 John joined the Canadian-Scots Regiment for their D-Day Plus 50 Tour, which took them back to Normandy to the D-Day commemoration ceremonies. In Grande Prairie he was an active member of the Grande Prairie horseshoe club, and also enjoyed playing bridge. John passed away in Grande Prairie on June 8, 2008 and is buried in Landis, Saskatchewan.

Custodial history

The fonds consists of records from the estate of John Sinclair and were deposited by lawyer Cyril Gurevitch, executor of the estate.

Scope and content

The fonds consists of financial records 1960-2007, personal papers that contain correspondence from family and friends as well as photographs 1940-2007, military information including a copy of John’s Second World War service record, a 1930 edition of the Fortyniner, and a D-Day Reunion Tour book 1994. There are also photographs, negatives, and four maps of the communities of Wabasca, Falher, and West of the Sixth and Fourth Meridian.

Notes

Title notes

  • Source of title proper: Title of fonds based on contents.

Restrictions on access

Financial records series 0571.01 is restricted until June 9th, 2028.

Access points

  • Textual record (documentary form)
  • Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)
  • Graphic material (documentary form)
  • Cartographic material (documentary form)
  • Family and personal life (subject)
  • Agriculture (subject)

Table of contents

0571.01, Financial Records, 1960-2007

0571.02, Personal Records and Photographs, ca. 1940-2007

0571.03, Military Papers, 1930-2004

0571.04, Maps, 1978-1987

Series descriptions

Series 0571.01: Financial Records

Date: 1960-2007 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

Series consists of financial records accumulated between 1960 and 2007 through John Sinclair’s personal life and his professional work as a farmer. Record types include notebooks of financial information, tax records, bank statements and cheques, receipts, investment records, pension records, insurance documents, and correspondence.

Physical description: 35.7cm textual records

Access points:

•                   Textual record (documentary form)

Arrangement:

Files are arranged by record type and function to reflect their original order. Notebooks contain a wide range of record types found in other files but are united under the Taxes file by their arrangement and use in filing income tax. Files are in descending order by extent, also generally going from the file with the broadest range of record types to the most focused.

Restrictions on access:

Series is restricted until June 9th, 2028.

Publication status:

Published

File / item list
Reference code Title Dates Physical description
0571.01.01 File – Taxes  1966 – 2007 21cm of textual records
Scope and content:

File consists of federal tax return forms, property tax notices, and notebooks containing information pertinent to filing income tax. The notebooks each correspond to a single year and include material such as tax forms, correspondence, receipts, notes on expenses, and investment information.

0571.01.02 File – Cheques and bank statements  1960 – 2007 6cm of textual records
Scope and content:

File consists of bank statements and cheques paid by John Sinclair.

0571.01.03 File – Agriculture  1975 – 2007 2.5cm of textual records
Scope and content:

Files consists of payments and receipts related to Sinclair’s agricultural work. These include payments for grain sales and receipts for purchases of seeds, fuel, tools, hardware, and herbicides. Other records cover Alberta Wheat Pool membership, Western Grain Stabilization payments, account statements with the United Farmers of Alberta, and information on Sinclair’s farmland.

0571.01.04 File – Investments  1962 – 2007 2.5cm of textual records
Scope and content:

File consists of records related to investments held by John Sinclair and include include share certificates, shareholder letters, share offer forms, equity statements, and investment income records. Companies that Sinclair held shares in include Five Star Petroleum & Mines Ltd., Agricore United, United Farmers of Alberta Co-Operative Ltd., Grand Prairie & District Co-op Association, and United Grain Growers Limited.

0571.01.05 File – Vehicles  1983 – 2006 1.5cm of textual records
Scope and content:

File consists of records and receipts for vehicles, parts, and maintenance.

0571.01.06 File – Personal  1990 – 2007 1cm of textual records
Scope and content:

File consists of assorted financial records from Sinclair’s personal life including telephone bills, pension documents, receipts for groceries and medication, and records of his membership dues paid to the Royal Canadian Legion.

0571.01.07 File – Property  1998 – 2005 0.5cm of textual records.
Scope and content:

File contains financial records related to John Sinclair’s property including property purchase records, an easement grant, and receipts for changes of address.

0571.01.08 File – Insurance  1998 – 2007 0.5cm of textual records.
Scope and content:

File consists of insurance payment and policy records for home, car, and farm insurance.

0571.01.09 File – Charity  2002 – 2006 0.2cm of textual records.
Scope and content:

File consists of correspondence and receipts for donation to charity. Donation recipients include Grande Prairie Toys for Tots, the Canadian Council of the Blind, the War Amps, and the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital Foundation.

Series 0571.02: Personal Records and Photographs

Date: ca. 1940-2007 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists mainly of correspondence from friends and family as well as funeral cards for Alice Sinclair (a relative), Gustav Alexander Grensman, Bert Berry, and Aubrey Edward Coates. There are also wedding invitations, a letter from J. B. Thompson to George Carter, and a booklet titled “Highlights of the Hinton Mill”. Many of the photographs include unidentified people.

Physical description: 2.5 cm textual records

29 photographs

6 negatives

Access points:

•                   Textual record (documentary form)

•                   Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)

Publication status:

Published

File / item list
Reference code Title Dates Physical description
2010.67.01 Item – Eight Young Men  ca. 1950 1 photograph : b&w ; 6.5 x 9 cm
Scope and content:

A group of eight young men outside with a building in the distance.

2010.67.02 Item – Bob  ca. 1980 1 photograph : colour ; 9 x 11.5 cm
Scope and content:

Portrait of a man identified as Bob on the reverse wearing university graduation robes.

2010.67.03 Item – A Car and a House  ca. 1980 1 photograph : colour ; 7.5 x 7.5 cm
Scope and content:

A red car parked in front of a house in the winter.

2010.67.04 Item – A Car by a Garage  ca. 1980 1 photograph : colour ; 7.5 x 7.5 cm
Scope and content:

A red car parked in front of a one-car garage in the summer.

2010.67.05 Item – John Sinclair  ca. 1980 1 photograph ; colour ; 7.5 x 7.5 cm
Scope and content:

John Sinclair wearing a Horseshoe Club hat.

2010.67.06 Item – John Sinclair With Trophy  1988 1 photograph : colour ; 10 x 15 cm
Scope and content:

John Sinclair accepting a trophy awarded at the Grande Prairie Annual Horseshoe Tournament. There are horseshoe pitches and people in the background.

2010.67.07 Item – A Group Picture of Horseshoe Players  1988 1 photograph : colour ; 10 x 15 cm
Scope and content:

A group picture of eight horseshoe players from the Grande Prairie tournament. John is kneeling on the right.

2010.67.08 Item – John Sinclair & Three Horseshoe Players  1994 1 photograph : colour ; 10 x 15 cm
Scope and content:

John Sinclair third from left with three other horseshoe players on a horseshoe pitch.

2010.67.09 Item – A Group of Horseshoe Players  1988 1 photograph : colour ; 10 x 15 cm
Scope and content:

A group of people on the horseshoe pitch.

2010.67.10 Item – Three People at A Horseshoe Event  1997 1 photograph : colour ; 10 x 15 cm
Scope and content:

Three people at a horseshoe event in front of a concession booth.

2010.67.11 Item – Trophies  1988 1 photograph : colour ; 10 x 15 cm
Scope and content:

Image shows two trophies positioned on a lawn chair. Two people standing behind the chair are visible from the waists down.

2010.67.12 Item – Marie Louehlin  1993 1 photograph : colour ; 10 x 15 cm
Scope and content:

Marie sitting in a living room.

2010.67.13 Item – Florence, Florance, and Marg  1993 1 photograph : colour ; 10 x 15 cm
Scope and content:

Three ladies identified on the reverse as Florence, Florance, and Marg standing in front of a fireplace.

2010.67.14 Item – Rena Hawley and Jean MacBeth  1994 1 photograph : colour ; 10 x 15 cm
Scope and content:

Jean Hawley and Jean McBeth posing with an actor at Black Creek Village.

2010.67.15 Item – John Sinclair  1994 1 photograph : colour ; 10 x 15 cm
Scope and content:

John Sinclair running an open-air tractor pulling harvesting equipment.

2010.67.16 Item – Paul & Joycelene 1997 1 photograph : colour ; 6.5 x 9 cm
Scope and content:

A thank you card with a wedding portrait of Paul & Joycelene thanking their Uncle John for his wedding gift. The inside of the card reads “Dear Uncle John, Thank-you for thinking of us on our special day! The money will be put to good use. Hope to see you soon! Love, Paul & Joycelene ‘97”

2010.67.17 Item – Paul & Joycelene Wedding  1997 1 photograph : colour ; 10 x 15 cm
Scope and content:

Paul & Joycelene’s wedding photograph with their parents Joe & Diana Desouza and Rena & Ed. April 13, 1997 at the Old Mill in Toronto.

2010.67.18 Item – John Sinclair  1997 1 photograph : colour ; 10 x 15 cm
Scope and content:

John Sinclair receiving a trophy for lawn bowling.

2010.67.19a & b Item – Farmstead  ca. 2000 2 photographs : colour ; 12.5 x 18 cm
Scope and content:

Two copies of an aerial photograph of a farmstead, possibly John Sinclair’s.

2010.67.20 Item – Ed & Rena  1999 1 photograph : colour ; 10 x 18 cm
Scope and content:

Ed and Rena standing in front of a motorhome.

2010.67.21 Item – John’s Cat  1999 1 photograph : colour ; 10 x 18 cm
Scope and content:

John’s cat Tommy lapping up some milk.

2010.67.22 Item – A Farm Yard  1999 1 photograph : colour ; 10 x 25.5 cm
Scope and content:

A panoramic picture of a farm yard with old buildings and some more modern granaries.

2010.67.23 Item – A Building  ca. 1964 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 11.5 cm
1 negative : b&w
Scope and content:

An unidentified building.

2010.67.24 Item – Two Ducks  ca. 1964 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 11.5 cm
1 negative : b&w
Scope and content:

Two ducks in a farm yard with buildings in the background.

2010.67.25 Item – A Building  ca. 1964 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 11.5 cm
1 negative : b&w
Scope and content:

A building with the front open showing crates.

2010.67.26 Item – Two Horses Feeding  ca. 1964 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 11.5 cm
1 negative : b&w
Scope and content:

Two horses feeding on hay, with two farm buildings in the background.

2010.67.27 Item – Wood Cutting Machine  ca. 1964 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 11.5 cm
1 negative : b&w
Scope and content:

A wood cutting machine and a pile of dirt by a building.

2010.67.28 Item – A Horse Grazing  ca. 1964 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 11.5 cm
1 negative : b&w
Scope and content:

A white horse grazing by a granary.

Series 0571.03: Military Papers

Date: 1930-2004 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of a February 1930 issue of The Fortyniner, a collection of humorous postcards showing Manneken-Pis, copy of a Second World War service record, publications and event information from the Canadian Scottish Regiment, a French military magazine called Tam including an article on Canadian troops, a Registry of burials of All Battalions of The Canadian Scottish Regiment 1939-1945, a photocopy of John Sinclair’s passport, records pertaining to the D-Day’s 50th anniversary, a booklet called the The Brazier which has information on The Canadian Scottish Regiment, members list for the Canadian Scottish Regimental Association (1993, 1994, 2000), and a booklet from the D-Day Plus 50 Tour in 1994.

Physical description: 2 cm textual records

12 photographs

1 map

Access points:

•                   Textual record (documentary form)

•                   Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically with photographs kept separate before the textual records. The passport is arranged in this series as it was found among military material and its date of issue suggest Sinclair may have acquired the passport to attend the D-Day 50th anniversary events in France.

Restrictions on access:

Photocopy of John Sinclair’s passport is restricted until June 9th, 2028.

Publication status:

Published

File / item list
Reference code Title Dates Physical description
2010.67.29 Item – Four Canadian Soldiers  ca. 1940 1 photograph : b&w ; 7 x 12 cm
Scope and content:

Four soldiers in the winter time carrying all their military gear.

2010.67.30 Item – Retired Military Men  ca. 1970 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 25 cm
Scope and content:

A large group of men, possibly members of the Canadian-Scottish Regiment who fought in World War II.

2010.67.31 Item – Retired Soldiers Waiting at an Airport  ca. 1980 1 photograph : colour ; 9 x 12.5 cm
Scope and content:

Eight retired soldiers wearing their Canadian-Scottish Regiment hats posing in an airport.

2010.67.32 Item – Military Headstone of G. R. Braithwaite  ca. 1980 1 photograph : colour ; 7.5 x 8 cm
Scope and content:

A headstone for G. R. Braithwaite of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. He died on the 7th of June 1944 at the age of 24 years.

2010.67.33 Item – Military Headstone of M. Gartner  ca. 1980 1 photograph : colour ; 7.5 x 8 cm
Scope and content:

A headstone for M. Gartner of the Regina Rifle Regiment who died on the 15th of June 1944.

2010.67.34 Item – Railroad Tracks Through An Arch  1994 1 photograph : colour ; 10 x 15 cm
Scope and content:

Railroad tracks leading through an arch. Probably taken on John’s trip for the D-Day Reunion.

2010.67.35 Item – A Canadian Regiment on Parade  1994 1 photograph : colour ; 10 x 15 cm
Scope and content:

Photocopy of a photograph showing a Canadian Regiment on parade in England to commemorate D-Day.

2010.67.36 Item – Can-Scots Regimental Band  1994 1 photograph : colour ; 10 x 15 cm
Scope and content:

Photocopy of a photograph showing a Canadian-Scots Regimental Band on parade in England to commemorate D-Day.

2010.67.37a & b Item – A Drummer from the Can-Scots Regiment  1994 2 photographs : colour
Scope and content:

Two photocopies, one enlarged, of the same photograph showing a drummer from the Canadian-Scots Regiment Band in England to commemorate D-Day.

2010.67.38 Item – John Sinclair and Friend 1994 1 photograph : colour ; 10 x 15 cm
Scope and content:

Photocopy of a photograph showing John Sinclair and another soldier standing in front of a memorial in commemoration of D-Day.

2010.67.39 Item – Four Soldiers  1994 1 photograph : colour ; 10 x 15 cm
Scope and content:

Photocopy of a photograph showing four soldiers who attended the D-Day commemoration ceremonies in England.

2010.67.44 Item – D-Day Map  1987 1 map : 11 x 17 in.
Scope and content:

A map showing Canadian Assaults on D-Day that was drawn for the Canadian Scottish Regiment Reunion of D-Day.

Series 0571.04: Maps

Date: 1978-1987 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of four maps covering Wabasca-Desmarais, Falher, West of the Sixth Meridian, and West of the Fourth Meridian.

Physical description: 4 maps

Access points:

•                   Cartographic material (documentary form)

Publication status:

Published

File / item list
Reference code Title Dates Physical description
0571.04.01 Item – Falher  1978 1 map
Material specific details [cartographic]:

1”=600’

Scope and content:

A map of Falher.

0571.04.02 Item – West of the Sixth Meridian  1979 1 map
Scope and content:

A map covering the area west of the sixth meridian. Sheet #83 E/D.

0571.04.03 Item – West of the Fourth Meridian  1979 1 map
Scope and content:

A map covering the area west of the fourth meridian. Sheet #83 P/I.

0571.04.04 Item – Wabasca  1987 1 map
Scope and content:

A map of Wabasca North and South covering Sec. 14, 22-29. 31-35 – 80-25-4 & Sec. 3-5, 8, 9 -81-25 -4.