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Fonds 189 Ryley Family fonds

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Summary information

Repository: South Peace Regional Archives
Title: Ryley Family fonds
Reference code: 0189
Date: 1924-1977 (date of creation)
Physical description: 15 photographs

8 postcards
Dates of creation, revision and deletion: Processed by Karen Burgess July 2006
Added to new database December 2025 – TD

Administrative history / Biographical sketch

Bertie Thomas Ryley was born in England in July of 1873 and came to Canada around 1893. He eventually purchased land near Clairmont in 1911. He helped build the MacHenry School in 1912 and served on its board almost continuously until 1938. He also served as reeve of the Bear Lake Municipality, and was on the Grande Prairie Municipal Hospital board.

Emilienne Louise “Mimi” Barbe was born in LeHavre, France on November 15, 1896. Her mother died when she was five and she lived at a boarding school until she was 18. During World War I, she met James “Jim” Smith, a soldier in the Canadian army. They were married shortly after the end of the war, around March of 1919, and returned to Canada together. Jim had come to the South Peace over the Edson Trail in 1905 and filed on a homestead in 1911. Mimi and Jim had a son named Francis in December of 1919; he was born at the Kathryn Prittie Hospital. In June of 1920, Jim was kicked by a horse. He was transferred to the hospital but died of internal injuries.

Bertie and Mimi were married in October of 1921. They had three children: Thomas, Louise, and Edith. Bertie and Mimi remained in the Grande Prairie area until 1946, when they moved to Edmonton. Bertie died in 1960. Mimi moved to Vancouver for a few years after his death but eventually returned to Edmonton. She died in Edmonton on April 12, 1986.

Francis joined the Air Force in 1941 and served until the end of World War II in 1945. Much of that time was spent at Gander, Newfoundland. He married Ruth Brent; they had two sons and a daughter.

Thomas served in the 5th Canadian Anti-Tank Regiment during World War II. While in England, he married Rosemary Eldridge. They had three daughters.

Louise was born on December 31, 1923. She graduated as a Registered Nurse from the Royal Alexandra Hospital in 1946, and married V. Kenneth Travis in 1948. They had five children: Stuart, Shirley, Gordon, Donald, and Marian. Louise was involved with the Alberta Historical Society and the Archaeological Society of Alberta, and participated in the development of Nose Hill and Confederation Parks. She also volunteered at the Glenbow Museum and Archives for many years. Louise died on February 24, 2025.

Edith was born on August 9, 1925. She graduated from Royal Alexandra Hospital School of Nursing in Edmonton in 1947, and married George Gourley in 1948. They had four children: Zellah, Bob, Bev, and Bernice. The family lived in Edmonton until 1957, when they moved to Jasper. Edith continued working as a public health nurse in Jasper until her retirement in 1987. During her retirement, she volunteered many hours at the Jasper Museum and Archives. George died on January 15, 1994. In 2007, Edith moved to Kamloops to be nearer her family. Edith died in Kamloops on July 30, 2023.

Custodial history

Records donated to South Peace Regional Archives by Louise Ryley Travis in 2005.

Scope and content

The fonds consists of 13 early photographs of picnics, parades, and gatherings with friends; Mr. Ryley’s involvement with Grande Prairie Municipal Hospital Board; the return of the Fifth Anti-Tank Regiment celebration featuring the new Governor General, Field Marshall Earl Alexander; and two photographs of Louise Ryley Travis with former Grande Prairie friends in Calgary. Also included are 8 postcards of Grande Prairie and area.

Notes

Title notes

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

Access points

  • Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)
  • Graphic material (documentary form)
  • Family and personal life (subject)
  • Military (subject)

Series descriptions

Reference code Title Dates Physical description
0189.01 Item – Bear Lake Picnic  1924 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.5 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Mrs. Ryley, Tommy, Louise, Mrs. Harley Conrad, Mrs. A. Mercer, Mrs. G Hamilton, and Nell Kent, the teacher from Wellington School.
0189.02 Item – Ryley family with their Model A Ford  [1924] 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.5 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Mrs. Emilienne Ryley, Bert Ryley, and Francis Smith (in car).
0189.03 Item – Grande Prairie Municipal Hospital  1929 1 photograph : b&w ; 4.5 x 2.5 in.
  Scope and content:

The newly built Grande Prairie Municipal Hospital.
0189.04 Item – Family Group at Bill Godfrey’s  [1930] 1 photograph : b&w ; 2.5 x 4.5 in.
  Scope and content:

Left to right – Nell Kent, school teacher at Wellington, Edith Ryley, Gordon Hamilton, Emilienne Ryley, Anthony Gowan, Bill Godfrey with Elsie Hamilton (standing), Mrs. Crane-Williams, Marjorie Hamilton, Bert Ryley.
0189.05 Item – Get Together at Bill Godfrey’s  [1930] 1 photograph : b&w ; 2.5 x 4.5 in.
  Scope and content:

Left to right – Nell Kent, school teacher at Wellington, Edith Ryley, Gordon Hamilton, Emilienne Ryley, Anthony Gowan, Mrs. Crane-Williams holding Elsie Hamilton, Marjorie Hamilton, Bert Ryley, and Mr. Crane-Williams standing in back.
0189.06 Item – Grande Prairie Municipal Hospital Board  [1930] 1 photograph : b&w ; 2.5 x 3.5 in.
  Scope and content:

Left to right – Jack McKenzie (Sexsmith), Bill Sharp (Grande Prairie), John Harris, Mr. Murphy (secretary), Mr. Hopkins, Bert Ryley, Gordon Sherk, and Clarence Poole standing on front steps of the hospital.
0189.07 Item – Teen Town Float  [1946] 1 photograph : b&w ; 2.5 x 3.5 in.
  Scope and content:

Teen Town float in parade driving past Alberta Rooms (south side of main street past Bank of Montreal) which were run by Edith Redwood.
0189.08 Item – His Excellency Viscount Alexander, Governor General of Canada, Awards Medals  1946 1 photograph : b&w ; 5 x 7 in.
  Scope and content:

Copy of a photograph taken at the Grande Prairie train station, starting far left on stage: Al Wright, an RCMP officer, Jack McIntosh, Mrs. Alexander, Field Marshall Earl Alexander, the new Governor General presenting awards. Mayor Thompson and Bob Card are on the far right of the stage. In front, left, the back of Tommy Ryley’s head and far right Cliff Wright’s head.
0189.09 Item – Elevator Row, Grande Prairie [1946] 1 photograph : b&w ; 5 x 7 in.
  Scope and content:

Copy of a photograph showing three elevators along the railway tracks in downtown Grande Prairie: United Grain Growers, Alberta Pacific, Alberta Pool Elevators.
0189.10 Item – Former Grande Prairie “ites” in Calgary  [1977] 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Taken at the home of Flora Rankin. Back Row: Louise Ryley Travis, Jean Miller, Mrs. Ryley, Grace Mensinger, Beverly Bates. In front: Marjorie Given, Dorothy Patterson.
0189.11 Item – Former Grande Prairie “ites” meet in Calgary  [1977] 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Taken at the home of Flora Rankin. Back Row: Louise Ryley Travis, Jean Miller, Mrs. Ryley, Grace Mensinger, Beverly Bates. In front: Flora Lawlor Rankin and Dorothy Patterson.
0189.12 Item – Grande Prairie Looking East From Bear Creek
Rex Harper 		 [1940] 1 postcard : b&w ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

View of the town from Bear Creek showing elevators, water tower, United Church, buildings along south side of Richmond in the creek valley, and the bridge coming off Richmond Ave. heading northwest.
0189.13 Item – Richmond Avenue, Grande Prairie
Rex Harper 		 [1940] 1 postcard : b&w ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

View of main street looking east from Imperial Motors on the south side and the Dodge dealership on the north side of the street.
0189.14 Item – Christ Church Anglican, Grande Prairie
Rex Harper 		 [1940] 1 postcard : b&w ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Exterior view of Christ Church Anglican, Grande Prairie.
0189.15 Item – Richmond Hill Golf Course  [1940] 1 postcard : b&w ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Grande Prairie’s first golf course and club house.
0189.16 Item – CNR Party Visits Grande Prairie  [1928] 1 postcard : b&w ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

CNR officials and local dignitaries pose for a photo in front of the passenger cars. United Grain Growers and Gillespie Elevator No. 20 are seen in the background.
0189.17 Item – Kinuseo Falls
Frank Wesolowski 		 [ca. 1975] 1 postcard : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Kinuseo Falls, 137 km south of Dawson Creek in the Monkman Pass region, are higher than Niagara Falls and plunge 64 meters on the Murray River.
0189.18 Item – Kakwa Falls
Frank Wesolowski 		 [1975] 1 postcard : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Kakwa Falls situated on the Kakwa River, a tributary to the Smoky/Peace River system. These falls are in sharp contrast to the heavily forested landscape. Located 150 km southwest of Grande Prairie
0189.19 Item – Proctor and Gamble Pulp Mill
Frank Wesolowski 		 [1975] 1 postcard : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

The pulp mill opened in 1973 located just south of Grande Prairie on Resources Road.
0189.20 Item – Teeing Off at the Richmond Hill Golf Course  [1940] 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 2 in.
  Scope and content:

Richmond Hill Club House in the background with golfer teeing off at the driving range.
0189.21 Item – Swimming at a Lake  [1940] 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 3 in.
  Scope and content:

Some swimmers sit on a dock while others enjoy the water at a lake.
0189.22 Item – Four Girls  [1940] 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 3 in.
  Scope and content:

Four teenagers , including Louise Ryley (Travis), Barbara Redwood (Hofmeister) holding a notebook, and the future Mrs. Tuttle.
0189.23 Item – Family Group at Alf Ward’s Farm  [1928] 1 TIFF : b&w
  Scope and content:

Back (L-R): Grandpa Ward (visiting from England), B.T. Ryley, Edith Redwood (nee Ward), Emilienne Ryley, Annie Ward (nee Griffiths). Front (L-R children) Vivian Redwood, Edith Ryley, Frank Redwood, Francis Smith (Ryley), Barbara Redwood, Thomas Ryley, Louise Ryley, Marion Ward, Lewis Ward.