Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | Robert Millar fonds |
| Reference code: | 0143 |
| Date: | 1923-1957 (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 3.5 cm textual records
46 photographs |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Processed by Karen Burgess Added to new database May 2025 – TD |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
Robert Millar was born in Fernie, BC, in 1909, but from the age of five onward lived in Drumheller where he took his schooling and started to work in the automotive business. From 1931 to 1933 he was employed as a stockman for the Grande Prairie Garage Company but found he had come north at a bad time. He returned to Drumheller and a year later was partner in a garage business there.
When World War II broke out, he sold his business and enlisted in the Canadian Army with the R.C.E.M.E. (Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers). He served for two years in England, one in Italy, and several in Europe.
In March 1946, Robert moved to Grande Prairie with his wife, Vera, and son, Bruce. He and Les Longmate went into partnership in Windsor Motors. That same year he was elected to the school board and began his ten year civic service record. Elected to town council in 1951, he headed the finance committee for two years, and in 1953 was elected mayor. He was a member of the Kinsman Club, Canadian Legion, Rotary Club, Curling Club, and Rodeo Association. He held executive posts with the Grande Prairie Chamber of Commerce for almost ten years. One of his favorite memories during his tenure was when Governor General Vincent Massey paid an official visit to Grande Prairie in 1954.
Robert Millar resigned as mayor in 1957 and moved to Red Deer, where he and Mr. Longmate opened a car dealership, Millar Motors. When not busy with business or civic duties, he loved hunting and fishing. Robert Millar died in 1981.
Custodial history
The records were donated to Grande Prairie Museum by Robert’s family from his estate in 1994. In 2000, they were transferred to the Grande Prairie Regional Archives. In 2004, a small accrual was added by the family.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of photographs of Robert Millar as mayor and on various hunting and camping expeditions, as well as photographs of Chrysler dealerships in the Peace country; newspapers containing articles relating to his tenure as mayor; copies of speeches; programs from events; financial statements; yearly report booklets; and correspondence all relating to his tenure as councilor and mayor. Also included is a 1923 calendar.
Notes
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title of fonds based on contents.
Access points
- Textual record (documentary form)
- Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)
- Politics and government (subject)
- Industries (subject)
- Business (subject)
- Sports, recreation and leisure (subject)
Table of contents
0143.01, Civic Duties, 1951-1957
0143.02, Paper Artifacts, 1954-1957
0143.03, Photographs, ca. 1947-1957
Series descriptions
| Series 0143.01: Civic Duties
Date: 1951-1957 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of financial statements of the town of Grande Prairie 1951-1953; a submission to the Province of Alberta in application for a City Charter; a poster “Millar For Mayor”; programs of events attended; correspondence to and from the mayor; and news articles and documents related to the visit of Governor General Massey in 1954. There is also a letter addressed to Robert Millar from Luise Palmstorfer in Salzburg, Austria; she asked him to send her letter on to “marriageable bachelors” as she hoped to marry and move to North America. Physical description: 1 cm textual records Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
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| Series 0143.02: Paper Artifacts
Date: 1954-1957 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of 1954 and 1955 Grande Prairie annual review booklets, 1956 Chamber of Commerce booklets, a 1955 Edmonton Souvenir booklet, and a Mutual Life booklet containing words to 47 popular 1950s songs. Also included is a 1923 calendar. Physical description: 2.5 cm textual records Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) Related material: Millar kept newspapers (Herald Tribune Peace River Magazine and The Herald-Tribune) detailing important events during his tenure as mayor. The dates of the Peace River Magazine were Nov. 22 1955, Jan. 24 1956, and Feb. 14 1956. The dates of The Herald-Tribune were May 27 1954, Mar. 8 1955, Oct. 28 1955, Nov. 4 1955, Nov. 8 1955, Nov. 11 1955, Nov. 15 1955, Nov. 22, 1955, Nov. 25, 1955, Dec. 9 1955, Dec. 13 1955, Dec. 16 1955, Dec. 20 1955, Dec. 23 1955, Jan. 13 1956, Jan. 20 1956, Jan. 24 1956, Feb. 17 1956, April 27 1956, July 31 1956, Mar. 12 1957, Oct. 15, 1957. Oct. 22, 1957, and Oct. 25 1957. The issues of the Peace River Magazine are described in fonds 0506 (see links below). It is possible that the issues of the Herald-Tribune are in fonds 0620. Publication status: Published |
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| File / item list | |||
| Reference code | Title | Dates | Physical description |
| 1994.06.046, 047, 051 | Item – Alberta’s Next City – Grande Prairie – In the Famous Peace River Country Chamber of Commerce |
1956 | 3 booklets |
| Scope and content:
Booklets describing the expansion of the town. |
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| 1994.06.048-049 | Item – Grande Prairie Alberta – 1955 A Year of Unprecedented Growth Herald Tribune |
1955 | 2 booklets |
| Scope and content:
Two copies of Grande Prairie’s yearly report for 1955. |
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| 1994.06.054 | Item – Grande Prairie, The Year in Review, 1956 Town of Grande Prairie |
1956 | 1 booklet |
| Scope and content:
Grande Prairie’s yearly report for 1956. |
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| 1994.06.073 | Item – The More We Are Together Mutual Life of Canada |
n.d. | 1 booklet |
| Scope and content:
Song book with words to many songs. |
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| 1994.06.075 | Item – Souvenir Views of Edmonton The Great Western Garment Co., Ltd. |
1955 | 1 booklet |
| Scope and content:
Souvenir Views of Edmonton, produced for Canadian Federation of Mayors and Municipalities Annual Conference. |
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| 2004.63.06 | Item – Grande Prairie Triples in Size 1954 | 1954 | 1 booklet : 20 pp. |
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“Grande Prairie Triples in Size” report of progress in the town of Grande Prairie under Mayor Robert Millar. |
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| Series 0143.03: Photographs
Date: ca. 1947-1957 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of 10 photographs related to civic duties; 9 related to Millar’s business, Windsor Motors, and other Chrysler dealerships; 23 related to hunting and camping expeditions; 3 winter scenes of downtown Grande Prairie; and 1 of the Dunvegan ferry. Physical description: 46 photographs Access points: • Graphic material – photograph (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
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| File / item list | |||
| Reference code | Title | Dates | Physical description |
| 1994.06.077-078 | Item – Robert Millar as Chrysler Dealer, Grande Prairie Wild Studios |
ca. 1957 | 2 photographs : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. |
| Scope and content:
Two copies of a Chrysler promotional photograph with Robert Millar in the driver’s seat and three other men around him. |
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| 1994.06.079 | Item – Mayor Millar & Jack Soars with Visiting Dignitaries | ca. 1955 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. |
| Scope and content:
Robert Millar, Jack Soars, Edmonton Mayor Hawrelak (with the microphone), and another dignitary. |
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| 1994.06.080 | Item – Mayor Hawrelak, Mr. Twist, Mayor Millar | ca. 1955 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. |
| Scope and content:
Mr. Twist, General Manager of Domestic Airlines, meeting with the two mayors. |
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| 1994.06.081 | Item – Windsor Motors, Grande Prairie | ca. 1955 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. |
| Scope and content:
The Windsor Motors Chrysler Dealership and Texaco Station building in Grande Prairie. |
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| 1994.06.082 | Item – Barry Phillips, General Manager, C.P.A. | ca. 1955 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. |
| Scope and content:
Robert Millar, with cigar and speech in hand, and Barney Phillips, General Manager of C.P.A., at an event. |
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| 1994.06.083 | Item – Mayor Millar with Mr. Bielman | ca. 1955 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. |
| Scope and content:
Mr. Bielman and Mayor Miller showing ducks shot on an evening hunt. |
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| 1994.06.084-095 | Item – Hunting & Camping Trips | 1952-1955 | 12 photographs |
| Scope and content:
Twelve photographs showing a group of about five men on hunting and camping trips. |
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| 1994.06.096 | Item – Cowboy Portrait | n.d. | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Image shows a man, possibly Robert Millar, posed for a studio photograph in cowboy costume. “Watch your mistakes pardner” is written across the bottom. |
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| 1994.06.097-105 | Item – Hunting & Camping Trips | 1952-1955 | 9 photographs |
| Scope and content:
Images show a group of about five men on hunting and camping trips. |
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| 1994.06.106.A | Item – Mayor Millar | ca. 1955 | 1 slide : colour ; 35 mm |
| Scope and content:
Mayor Millar addressing a group outside with a group of people around him. |
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| 1994.06.107 B-D | Item – Governor General Massey’s Visit | 1954 | 3 photographs : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. |
| Scope and content:
Three copies of a photograph showing Mayor Millar with Governor General Massey and other dignitaries and Chrysler cavalcade. |
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| 1994.06.108 | Item – United Church – New Building Dedication | 1957 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. |
| Scope and content:
Image shows the interior of the United Church. A caption on the back of the photograph reads “This is proof that I go to church. It is the dedication of the new United Church, where I was speaking for the town.” |
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| 1994.06.109 | Item – Robert Millar and Plymouth | 1954 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. |
| Scope and content:
Chrysler representative showing a new Plymouth to Robert Millar. |
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| 1994.06.110 | Item – Mayor Millar and Governor General Massey | 1954 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 4 x 8 in. |
| Scope and content:
Robert Millar greeting His Excellency Governor General Vincent Massey. An RCMP officer stands in background. |
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| 1994.06.111 | Item – Governor General Massey’s Visit | 1954 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 4 x 8 in. |
| Scope and content:
Mayor Millar with Governor General Vincent Massey and other dignitaries coming out of a two-story building. |
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| 2004.63.01 | Item – R.R. Millar, Mayor | ca. 1955 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
Portrait of Robert Millar. |
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| 2004.63.02A-B | Item – 98St. and 101 Avenue, Grande Prairie | ca. 1950 | 2 photographs : b&w ; 2 x 3 in. |
| Scope and content:
Winter photographs showing Grande Prairie Courthouse and homes along 99 St. and 101 Ave. |
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| 2004.63.03 | Item – Main Street Grande Prairie Looking West | ca. 1950 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 3 in. |
| Scope and content:
Winter view from the east end of main street Grande Prairie looking west. The CFGP building is visible. |
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| 2004.63.04 | Item – Jack Mackie and Robert Millar | ca. 1957 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
Jack Mackie took over the Mayor’s job after Robert Millar let for Red Deer. |
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| 2004.63.05 | Item – The Dunvegan Cable Ferry | ca. 1948 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 4 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
Copy of a photograph taken from the south shore of the Peace River at Dunvegan showing the ferry crossing. |
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| 2004.63.06 | Item – Chalifoux Motors | ca. 1954 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 4 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
Copy of a photograph showing the L.H. Chalifoux dealership for Chrysler, Plymouth, Fargo, and Massey-Harris. |
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| 2004.63.07 | Item – Chrysler, Plymouth, Fargo Dealership | ca. 1950 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 4 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
Copy of a photograph showing the building that had once been a Chrysler, Plymouth, and Fargo dealership. It now appears to house a gun shop (possibly in High Prairie, according to a caption on the back). |
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| 2004.63.08 | Item – Dawson Creek Motors | ca. 1948 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 4 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
Copy of a photograph showing the Chrysler dealership and Esso station in Dawson Creek. |
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| 2004.63.09 | Item – Windsor Motors, Grande Prairie | ca. 1956 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 4 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
Copy of a photograph showing Windsor Motors, the Chrysler dealership, and Texaco station in Grande Prairie after the glass addition was made. |
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| 2004.63.10 | Item – Robert Millar and Les Longmate | ca. 1947 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 4 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
Copy of a photograph showing Robert Millar and Les Longmate, partners in Windsor Motors, standing in front of their new building. |
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