Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | John T. Stewart fonds |
| Reference code: | 0125 |
| Date: | 1937-1986 (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 2 cm textual records
12 photographs |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Added to new database June 2024 – TD |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
John T. Stewart was born in Ontario in 1914, the child of a World War I veteran. He arrived in the Peace Country with his parents c. 1920. Under the Soldiers Settlement Act, the family purchased a small farm south east of Lake Saskatoon and John attended Hermit Lake School. By the time he was finished school, the Depression had started. For a while he worked for farmers in the area, but there was not much work available.
In the summer of 1938, John Stewart worked as a volunteer on the Monkman Pass Highway. After that was over, he “rode the rails” across Canada looking for work, one of thousands of young men to do so. He finally found work in the tobacco fields of Ontario, and there he married, raised his children and lived for the rest of his life. He was a member of the Orillia Writers Guild.
In 1983, Mr. Stewart published a book of poems called Memories of Bygone Days. He donated a copy to the Grande Prairie Museum, signing it “In Loving Memory of the Old Hermit Lake School.”
Custodial history
The records were donated to the Grande Prairie Museum by John T. Stewart in 1987-1988, and transferred to the care of Grande Prairie Regional Archives in 2000.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of 12 photographs taken or collected by John while he was working on the Monkman Highway in the summer of 1938, a copy of Memories of Bygone Days, and his poetry book, Versatile Verse, and newspaper clippings detailing progress on the Monkman Highway during the years 1937-1938.
Notes
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title of fonds based on contents.
Access points
- Textual record (documentary form)
- Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)
- Transportation (subject)
- Art (subject)
- Education (subject)
Series descriptions
| Reference code | Title | Dates | Physical description |
| 1987.53.2a | Item – Kinuseo Falls R.E. Leake, Beaverlodge |
1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 4.5 x 6.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Water cascades down the Kinuseo Falls on the Murray River, near where the Monkman Highway was being built. |
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| 1987.53.2b | Item – Kinuseo Falls On The Murray River The Beaverlodge Studio |
1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 4.5 x 6.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Water cascades down Kinuseo Falls on the Murray River. The river is in the foreground. |
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| 1987.53.2c | Item – Kinuseo Falls On The Murray River The Beaverlodge Studio |
1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Water cascades down the Kinuseo Falls on the Murray River. Several evergreen trees are blocking the right side of the photograph. |
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| 1987.53.2d | Item – Helmer Johnson’s Crew, Canyon Creek, Monkman Pass Highway The Beaverlodge Studio |
1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Approximately thirty people from Helmer Johnson’s Crew are on the log bridge over Canyon Creek, Monkman Pass Highway. |
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| 1987.53.2e | Item – Car Crossing Large Log Bridge The Beaverlodge Studio |
1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
A car is crossing a large log bridge with stacked log supports. A dirt road leads to the bridge which crosses a river. Burnt tree trunks stand in the background over new forest growth. |
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| 1987.53.2f | Item – Car On Dirt Road The Beaverlodge Studio |
1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
A car is traveling over a bumpy dirt and mud road through the bush. Burnt tree trunks stand in the background over new forest growth. |
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| 1987.53.2g | Item – River Valley and Foothills The Beaverlodge Studio |
1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.5 x 5.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
A river down in the valley widens into a lake, possible Stoney Lake or Monkman Lake. Foothills are in the background. |
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| 1987.53.2h | Item – Man In Row Boat | 1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
A man is rowing a boat by an overhanging branch in a lake. Two buildings are in the background. |
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| 1987.53.2i | Item – Red Willow River In May | 1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2.5 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Trees line two bends in the Red Willow River. |
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| 1987.53.2j | Item – Bird’s Eye View of the Red Willow River | 1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2.5.x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Distant view of the Red Willow River as it winds through the foothills. |
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| 1987.53.2k | Item – Red Willow Falls | 1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2.5.x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Distant view of the Red Willow River as it winds through the foothills. |
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| 1987.53.2l | Item – Red Willow Falls | 1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2.5 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Red Willow Falls on the Red Willow River, near where the Monkman Highway was constructed. |
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