Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | Billy Salmond fonds |
| Reference code: | 0043 |
| Date: | 1906-1958 (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 18 cm of textual records
6 photographs 265 postcards. |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Added to new database October 2023 – TD |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
William (Billy) McCausland Salmond was born in 1889, in Ontario. He received his education there, attending the Kingston Business College in 1910. Following college, he worked his way west, arriving in the town of Grande Prairie in 1911. Upon his arrival in Grande Prairie, Billy was hired to manage the primitive Bredin Hotel because of his genial manner and his cooking skills. Billy saw the need for better hotel accommodations and in 1912, he built his own hotel. Two stories in height and of lumber construction, this was the first real hotel in Grande Prairie. There were 14 rooms on the top floor, with the office, dining room and kitchen on the ground floor. All meals were served at tables. Later, a livery stable was added at the back of the lot. Mr. Salmond also farmed and kept herds of cattle in the Grande Prairie area. He had the reputation of being a good stockman and an enthusiastic athlete. Billy remained a life-long bachelor. Other family members who came to the Peace Country included his sister, Mrs. George Head and his parents. Mr. Salmond passed away in 1963.
Custodial history
Records were donated to the Grande Prairie Museum by Laura Partlow and Martha Head, the children of Billy’s sister, Mrs. George Head.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of six photographs and personal papers, including a permit to cut hay on Dominion Land; Kingston Business College workbooks relating to his education; a hotel register and account book from the Salmond Hotel; an envelope advertising Grande Prairie’s Fourth Annual Agricultural Fair 1913; a 1916 program for an event in Spirit River; and some miscellaneous business account books and papers. In the series of 265 postcards, there are many with personal messages to Mr. Salmond.
Notes
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title of fonds based on contents.
Restrictions on access
No access restrictions
Related material
Artefacts from Billy Salmond are included in the museum collection.
Access points
- Graphic material (documentary form)
- Textual record (documentary form)
- Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)
- Business (subject)
- Family and personal life* (subject)
- Land, settlement and immigration* (subject)
Table of contents
0043.01, Personal Papers, [ca. 1907-1940]
0043.02, Kingston Business College, 1910
0043.03, Salmond Hotel, 1917-1919
0043.04, Business Records, Miscellaneous, 1907-1912; 1954-1958
Series descriptions
| Series 0043.01: Personal Papers
Date: [ca. 1907-1940] (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of miscellaneous receipts, correspondence, and a collection of postcards with personal messages for Mr. Salmond. There are six photographs: a studio portrait of Mr. Salmond as a young man, a postcard photo of him as an older man, an aerial photo of his farm in Grande Prairie, a photo of Salmon’s Hotel, and two unidentified photographs–one of a large group of men in work clothing, another of a large semi-circle of men and horses. Physical description: 1 cm textual records 6 photographs 264 postcards Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) • Graphic material (documentary form) • Graphic material – photograph (documentary form) |
|||
| File / item list | |||
| Reference code | Title | Dates | Physical description |
| 1993.1.1.2B | Item – William Salmond | n.d. | 1 photograph : b&w ; 4 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
Studio portrait of William Salmond as a young man, taken in Edmonton. |
|||
| 0043.01.01 | Item – Salmond Hotel | ca. 1913 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 3.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
The Salmond Hotel in Grande Prairie with numerous people standing in front. |
|||
| 0043.01.02 | Item – Salmond Hotel And Other Buildings | ca. 1913 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
Copy of a photograph showing the Salmond Hotel in Grande Prairie with other businesses on the South side of Third Avenue South. |
|||
| 0043.01.03 | Item – William Salmond | ca. 1940 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 3.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
A photograph of William Salmond posing in front of a tree. |
|||
| 0043.01.04 | Item – William Salmond’s Farm | ca. 1940 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
Billy Salmond’s farm on the Northwest corner of 100th Street and 116th Ave. |
|||
| Series 0043.02: Kingston Business College
Date: 1910 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of 9 college workbooks containing hand-written examples of business records. Physical description: 5 cm textual records Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) |
|||
| Series 0043.03: Salmond Hotel
Date: 1917-1919 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of 3 hotel registers recording daily registered guests from September 20, 1917 to November 12, 1919. Physical description: 7 cm textual records Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) |
|||
| Series 0043.04: Business Records, Miscellaneous
Date: 1907-1912; 1954-1958 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of receipt books, check stubs, account books and cash books from other business ventures of Billy Salmond’s. Some miscellaneous receipts and correspondence is tucked in the books. Physical description: 5 cm textual records Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) |
|||