Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | Menzies family fonds |
| Reference code: | 0343 |
| Date: | 1913-1959 (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 37 photographs
1 newspaper |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Processed by Karen Burgess March 2009 2022 accrual added by Jack Lawrence September 2022 Added to new database July 2025 – TD |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
Art and Inez Menzies and their four children arrived in Sexsmith from Saskatchewan early in 1938. Art had been hired by McDonald Grain Co. For the eleven years he was employed there, the family lived in a company house. The oldest two children, Helen and Malcolm, continued their schooling and the youngest two, Jean and Jim, started school in Sexsmith. All four finished grade twelve in Sexsmith High School.
In 1949, Art began a printing business and launched the Sexsmith Sentinel newspaper. In 1951, the Spirit River Signal was printed in his shop with Helen as its first editor. The business continued to operate in Sexsmith until 1954 when publication of the Sentinel was discontinued. The plant was moved to Spirit River where son Malcolm took over the business. Art and Inez left Sexsmith for High Prairie where they started the High Prairie Progress which they operated until 1959. At that time the publication rights of their newspapers were sold to an Edmonton publisher and the Menzies moved their printing operation to Grande Prairie.
While in Sexsmith, Inez was active in the Women’s Institute, the “Hobo” club, music festivals, school affairs, and was librarian in the Sexsmith Public Library for several years. Art served on the school board from 1942 to 1948. In 1948 he was elected to village council and was mayor from 1950-1954. In 1952 he saw Sexsmith join the gas grid, and water and sewer were installed in 1954. Art was also involved in the B.P.O. Elks and the Chamber of Commerce.
Helen taught school in Webster Trail, Hardisty and Sexsmith. She married Desmond Achilles and they have two children and live in Edmonton.
Malcolm learned the printing trade from his father and established Menzies Printers in Grande Prairie. He married Ann Lozeron and they have seven children.
Jean taught school at La Glace, Beaverlodge, Ponoka and Grande Prairie. She married Bill Hoag and they own and operate Swan Buses Ltd. and Hoag Holiday Tours of Grande Prairie. They have four children.
Jim became a dentist and practiced in Potage la Prairie, Prince George, and Penticton. Jim married Donna Leonard and they have three children.
Custodial history
The photographs were donated to the South Peace Regional Archives by Donna Menzies in 2009. A newspaper donated by Art Menzies to the Grande Prairie Museum in 1973 was transferred to the South Peace Regional Archives in 2022.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of 37 photographs of the Menzies family, their homes, the Sexsmith School, a hockey team, and Sexsmith street scenes. There is also a copy of a Grouard newspaper.
Notes
Title notes
Title of fonds based on contents.
Access points
- Textual record
- Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)
- Family and personal life (subject)
Series descriptions
| Reference code | Title | Dates | Physical description |
| 2009.031.01 | Item – Teacher Ken Dane at Work | 1951 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Ken Dane stands in front of a class against a black board with a British flag above. |
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| 2009.031.02 | Item – Sexsmith Students in the Classroom | 1951 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Students Jim Menzies and Tommy Rosadiuk consult with a female student in a Sexsmith High School classroom. |
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| 2009.031.03 | Item – Sexsmith Student Council | 1951 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Sexsmith Student Council, with two of their teachers. |
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| 2009.031.04 | Item – Up to Bat | 1952 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
A male student is up to bat, showing the other players in the field and the Sexsmith School in the background. |
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| 2009.031.05 | Item – Swinging the Bat | 1952 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
A group of Sexsmith School boys stand behind the back stop while the batter takes a swing. |
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| 2009.031.06 | Item – Teachers Ken Dane and Mrs. Bricker | 1951 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Teachers Ken Dane and Mrs. Bricker stand on the doorstep of their school in Sexsmith. |
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| 2009.031.07 | Item – Sexsmith School | 1951 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
The Sexsmith School (S.D. 3600) showing the porched entrance to the building. |
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| 2009.031.08 | Item – High School Ball Players | [1952] | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
A group of high school boys line up for a picture after a baseball game. |
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| 2009.031.09 | Item – Two High School Girls in the Classroom | [1952] | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Two Sexsmith High School girls are seen talking to each other in the classroom. Center girl is Betty Winders. A blackboard covered with math problems is behind them. |
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| 2009.031.10 | Item – Sexsmith High School | 1949 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Sexsmith High School students pose outside their school. |
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| 2009.031.11 | Item – Sexsmith High School | 1952 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Sexsmith High School students pose outside their school. Grace Leonard’s signature is on the back of the original. |
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| 2009.031.12 | Item – Sexsmith High School | 1951 | 2 TIFFs : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Sexsmith High School students pose outside their school. Students’ signatures are on the back of the photo. |
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| 2009.031.13 | Item – Menzies Family | 1942 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
The Menzies Family: Helen, Jim, Art, Inez, Jean, Malcolm |
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| 2009.031.14 | Item – The Art Menzies House in Sexsmith | n.d. | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
The Menzies family home in Sexsmith. |
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| 2009.031.15 | Item – David Leonard and Parents | n.d. | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Grace and Bill Leonard and son David. |
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| 2009.031.16 | Item – Sexsmith Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Cadets | [1951] | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Sexsmith Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Cadets at a training camp in Ontario. Bottom L-R: Gilbert Balderson, Louis Chrenek, ?, ?, Gordon Badger, Jim Menzies, Tommy Rosadiuk. Top L-R: ?, Roald Olsen, and squadron leaders. |
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| 2009.031.17 | Item – Sexsmith Hockey Team | ca. 1930 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
The Sexsmith Hockey Team. |
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| 2009.045.01 | Item – Christmas in Sexsmith | 1939 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Menzies children playing on the steps of the house. |
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| 2009.045.02 | Item – Art and Inez Menzies | ca. 1945 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Art and Inez Menzies pose in front of a house. |
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| 2009.045.03 | Item – The Menzies Home | n.d. | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Menzies home in Sexsmith. |
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| 2009.045.04 | Item – Menzies’ First Home, Sexsmith | 1954 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Art and Inez Menzies’ first home in Sexsmith. Description on the back of the original reads, “My home for the first ten years in Sexsmith.” |
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| 2009.045.05 | Item – Home – Old and New | 1954 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
“Homes – Old and new in which we lived in Sexsmith.” |
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| 2009.045.06 | Item – Sexsmith Public School | 1954 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
“Old Sexsmith Public School, where I [Helen Menzies] both attended and taught.” |
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| 2009.045.07 | Item – Sexsmith Public School | 1954 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Old Sexsmith Public School, with unidentified female standing at the front door. “Shades of school days long past.” |
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| 2009.045.08 | Item – Menzies Family at Olds | 1954 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
“All ready to go – Jim, Jean, Dad, Mum, and Helen.” |
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| 2009.045.09 | Item – Sexsmith Sentinel Building | 1954 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Art Menzies’ printing shop in Sexsmith, where the Sexsmith Sentinel was produced. |
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| 2009.045.10 | Item – Sexsmith Main Street | 1954 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Sexsmith Main Street in 1954, showing elevators, parked vehicles, and a few buildings. |
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| 2009.045.11 | Item – Menzies Family | [1959] | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Helen, Inez, and Jean Menzies. |
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| 2009.045.12 | Item – Inez and Art Menzies | 1959 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Inez and Art Menzies beside the family car. |
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| 2009.045.13 | Item – Village of Sexsmith | 1946 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Bird’s eye view of Sexsmith in 1946. White dot is the Art Menzies house. |
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| 2009.045.14 | Item – Menzies Family Picnic | 1949 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Menzies family having a picnic on the river bank the day of the Opening of the Smoky River Bridge. Jim Menzies in the foreground, Art Menzies on the right. |
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| 2009.045.15 | Item – Sexsmith High School Class | 1951 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Mrs. Bricker talking to Donna Leonard in the classroom. |
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| 2009.045.16 | Item – Sexsmith Hockey Team | [ca. 1930] | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Sexsmith Hockey Team. Lower left Jim Menzies, upper left Danny Shannon, upper right Robert Obniawka, Coach Ron Larson. |
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| 2009.045.17 | Item – Billy Foote and Jim Menzies | [1951] | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Billy Foote and Jim Menzies in their cadet uniforms and with their duffel bags ready to go to camp. |
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| 2009.045.18 | Item – Art Menzies | [1952] | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Art Menzies of Sexsmith. |
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| 2009.045.19 | Item – Oil Crew North of La Glace | 1954 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Oil crew get their truck stuck on a road north of La Glace. |
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| 2009.045.20 | Item – Rafting at Pitman’s Point | [1950] | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Two girls and a boy on a raft at Pitman’s Point. |
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| 2022.008.01 | Item – The Grouard News | December 13, 1913 | 1 newspaper |
| Scope and content:
One complete issue of the Grouard News from December 13th, 1913. |
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