Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | Buffalo Lake School District 3144 fonds |
| Reference code: | 0126 |
| Date: | 1918-1950, 1977 (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 23 cm textual records |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Processing date and archivist unknown. Added to new database December 2025 – TD |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
Buffalo Lake School District was organized in 1914 but not acted upon for the next few years. The first Buffalo Lake School was built in 1918, and classes started that fall. Except for a period from June 1925 – February 1927 when there was no school, this building served the community until 1929, when a new school was built. Teachers included Mrs. George Wilson, Miss C. Smith (Mrs. L. Heiken), Miss Bohn, Miss Alice Sutherland, Miss M. Quail, Miss Della Finlay, Miss Lila MacDiarmid, Miss Mary McDonald, Mrs. Bessant, Mrs. Russell, Miss J. Hutson, and Mrs. Della Maple. Miss Clarice Wold, Miss S. Sutherland, and Miss Pfau served as supervisors when teachers were not available.
Until 1937, when Grande Prairie School Division No. 14 was organized, the Board of Directors was responsible for all the physical aspects and day to day operations of running the school. They assessed property, collected the taxes, built the school, hired the teachers, and maintained both buildings and operations. The correspondence and financial records generated while carrying out these activities was considerable.
In 1929, a new school was built at Buffalo Lake, replacing the old log school which then became the stable. Carpenters were Olaf Bue and Andrew Oilund. Children from Many Springs School District also attended Buffalo Lake School District while waiting for their school to be built. The last year the school operated was 1948, and then in 1949 the school building was moved to La Glace.
Custodial history
The records were kept by Berger Maple, a long-time member of the Buffalo Lake School Board. They passed into the possession of Stanley Moe who donated them to the Grande Prairie Regional Archives in 2002.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of correspondence, financial records, and publications kept by the Buffalo Lake School District Board in the course of its activities.
Notes
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title of fonds based on contents.
Access points
- Textual record (documentary form)
- Education (subject)
Table of contents
0126.01, Minutes, 1918-1950; 1977
0126.02, Correspondence, 1927-1942
0126.03, Financial Records, 1920-1937
0126.04, Publication Collection, 1932-1939
Series descriptions
| Series 0126.01: Minutes
Date: 1918-1950; 1977 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of meeting minutes by members of the school committee. The first meeting minutes were destroyed by a fire when George Wilson’s (secretary) home burnt down. Included in the records is a history of the school, a green and white school debenture certificate, and a letter for a reunion in 1977. Physical description: 3 cm textual records Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
| Series 0126.02: Correspondence
Date: 1927-1942 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of the correspondence the school board dealt with in its day to day operations of the school. Included are building specifications and records for the new school in 1929; year end reports from both trustees and teachers; census records for the students; inspector’s reports; financial statements; grant statements; insurance policies; school tax correspondence and tax returns; agreements between teachers and board; letters from parents; correspondence with the school division; circulars and communiques from the Department of Education; book and supply orders; and other miscellaneous correspondence. Physical description: 9 cm textual records Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
| Series 0126.03: Financial Records
Date: 1920-1937 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of an Assessment and Tax Roll for Rural Schools from 1925-1928, a bank book from 1925-1936, tax receipt books from 1920 to 1935, returned cheques from 1926 to 1936, and deposit books from 1931 to 1937. Physical description: 7 cm textual records Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
| Series 0126.04: Publication Collection
Date: 1932-1939 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of copies of the following publications: – The School Act, School Assessment Act, Tax Recovery Act, School Grants Act, School Attendance Act, and General Regulations of the Department of Education (1931 and 1934) – Catalogue of Books Recommended for School and Reference Libraries in the Province of Alberta (1933) – Report of Annual Convention: Alberta School Trustees’ Association (1930) – The Alberta Gazette (December 12, 1939; December 17, 1931; November 30, 1932) – a 1936 Act to amend the 1931 School Act – 1921 School Housing Design specification “B” Physical description: 4 cm textual records Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) Publication status: Published |