Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | Russell Burgess family fonds |
| Reference code: | 0149 |
| Date: | ca. 1920-1991 (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 9 cm textual records
49 photographs |
| Language: | English |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Processed by Karen Burgess March 2012 Added to new database January 2026 – TD |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
Clarence Russell Burgess was born June 4, 1905, in Lion’s Head (Bruce County), Ontario. In 1909, he came west to High River, Alberta, with his parents, Alexander and Jennie (Cameron) Burgess. He spent his youth attending Last Chance and High View Schools. When he was sixteen, he apprenticed for two years in a machine shop in High River and continued to help his father on the farm. In 1928, after hearing so much about the north country, he thought he would look for a homestead and took the train to Grande Prairie. Russell originally planned on homesteading in the Fort St. John area but it seemed too far away from everything so he came back to Grande Prairie. As his money was running out, he got a job cutting wood for Mr. Wong who owned the Windsor Café which gave him a meal ticket and that turned his luck around. He got a winter job making ice in the arena to pay for room and board. In the spring of 1929, he began working for the town of Grande Prairie as a policeman and later as a works foreman. March 29, 1929, he married Pearl Munkholm, also of High River. They had three children, Robert, Kenneth, and Kathleen.
In 1934 he went to work for three years for the provincial government on bridge building crews all over the province. He then worked for Union Tractor for two years, became ill and took up lock smithing as a hobby. He also became a licensed electrician and went to work for Cookshaw Electric where he stayed until 1965. In his retirement he gardened, maintained a large stamp collection and a woodworking shop where he made children’s toys to sell at the Farmer’s Market. Pearl died in 1985 and Russell in 1991.
Robert Burgess was born in 1931 and raised in Grande Prairie. He later moved to Calgary and worked for many years for Shell Oil. He married Joan Shaw and they had three boys: Russell, Brian, and David. Bob died at age 42 from complications of Diabetes Type 1. Joan then married Fred Piper.
Custodial history
The records were donated to the South Peace Regional Archives by Russell’s son, Ken Burgess, in 2003, 2006, 2008, and 2012. A loan for copy of one photograph of Russell Burgess and was added Feb. 19, 2016, accession No. 2016.05.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of 49 photographs; a souvenir issue of The Daily Herald Tribune featuring a Grande Prairie High School reunion in 1979; a program from the fourth Soap Box Derby in Dawson Creek in 1956; an obituary card for Russell Burgess; and 20 membership cards belonging to C.R. Burgess. An accrual contained two ration booklets, a Department of Public Works Time Book, a trade certificate, three electrician certificates, a radio license, vehicle and voter registrations, insurance card and driver’s licenses, receipts, lists of toys, letters from his sister Doris and his friends John Hendren and George Cave, and membership cards belonging to Russell Burgess. Also included are a scrap book of World War II clippings, two notebooks (Art and Chemistry) and a 1945 GPHS Yearbook belonging to Robert (Bob) Burgess.
Notes
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title of fonds based on contents.
Access points
- Textual record (documentary form)
- Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)
- Graphic material (documentary form)
- Politics and government (subject)
- Military (subject)
- Family and personal life (subject)
- Education (subject)
Series descriptions
| Reference code | Title | Dates | Physical description |
| 2003.24.01 | Item – Grande Prairie Town Council | 1934 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. |
| Scope and content:
Formal portrait showing town councilors, Secretary-Treasurer Keyes, and Mayor P.J. Tooley. |
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| 2003.24.02 | Item – Donald Hotel Fire | ca. 1960 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 8 in. |
| Scope and content:
Ken Burgess, Grande Prairie Fireman, hosing down the burning rubble of the Donald Hotel. |
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| 2003.24.03 | Item – Burgess Becomes Town Policeman | 1929 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Bob Keyes, Yvonne ?, Russell Burgess, and Bob Ross in uniform. |
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| 2003.24.04 | Item – Grande Prairie Downtown Parade | ca. 1945 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Truck carrying float in Richmond Ave. parade with spectators on the side of the road. |
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| 2003.24.05 | Item – Grande Prairie Downtown Parade | ca. 1945 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Tractor pulling Teen Town float with girls on board. |
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| 2003.24.06 | Item – Victory Parade Downtown Grande Prairie | 1945 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.5 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
Three cars decked in British and American flags drive by the federal building as part of a parade. |
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| 2003.24.07 | Item – Victory Parade Downtown Grande Prairie | 1945 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
R.C.M.P. officers, majorettes, marching band, and soldiers parading in front of federal building. |
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| 2003.24.08 | Item – Victory Parade Downtown Grande Prairie | 1945 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.5 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
R.C.M.P. officers and majorettes parading down Richmond Ave. with crowds watching. |
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| 2003.24.09 | Item – Victory Parade Downtown Grande Prairie | 1945 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.5 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
Military troops parading down Richmond Ave. |
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| 2003.24.10 | Item – Victory Parade Downtown Grande Prairie | 1945 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 3 in. |
| Scope and content:
Military troops parading past building with balcony filled with spectators. |
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| 2003.24.11 | Item – Victory Parade Downtown Grande Prairie | 1945 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 3 in. |
| Scope and content:
Soldiers drive an armored vehicle past a building with people watching from the balcony. |
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| 2003.24.12a-b | Item – Joe’s Corner Coffee Shop | ca. 1945 | 2 photographs : b&w ; 3.5 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
Joe’s Corner Coffee Shop decorated with Union Jack flags and war posters. In one photograph Joe Mark and an unidentified woman are standing by the entrance. |
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| 2003.24.13 | Item – Spillway Over Bear Creek | 1947 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 3 in. |
| Scope and content:
People standing on the bridge overlooking the spillway on Bear Creek. |
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| 2003.24.14 | Item – Bear Creek Valley | ca. 1950 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Winter scene of Bear Creek valley showing homes and two outdoor rinks. |
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| 2003.24.15 | Item – Grande Prairie Water Tower | ca. 1940 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Grande Prairie’s water tower located at 99 Ave. and 101 St. |
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| 2003.24.16 | Item – Grande Prairie Model Flying Club Aircraft | 1936 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
A. Wright in his model airplane “Miss May” decked out as a float “G.P.M.F.C.” |
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| 2003.24.17 | Item – Grande Prairie Swimming Pool | ca. 1950 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
First outdoor swimming pool sponsored by the Kinsmen Club, Grande Prairie. |
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| 2006.001.01 | Item – Richmond Hill Golf and Country Club Photogelatine Engraving Co. |
ca. 1930 | 1 postcard : b&w ; 5.5 x 3.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Richmond Hill Golf and Country Club building. Located on the top of Richmond Hill, north side of the road, the clubhouse enjoyed a marvelous view of Grande Prairie to the north and east and the Rocky Mountains to the west. The building was vacated in the late 1960s and the land subdivided and sold as acreages. |
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| 2006.001.02 | Item – Government Telephone Office Photogelatine Engraving Co. |
ca. 1930 | 1 postcard : b&w ; 5.5 x 3.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
From 1929-1959 this building was the office of the Alberta Government Telephones. It is now located in the Hillside area. |
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| 2006.001.03-07 | Item – International Balloon Championships | August 1979 | 5 photographs : colour ; 3.5 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Grande Prairie’s Centennial Park along the Bear Creek was the site of the launch of the International Balloon Championships in August of 1979. |
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| 2008.064.01 | Item – 214 Place Under Construction | July 1980 | 1 photograph : colour ; 3.5 x 4.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
In July of 1980, 214 Place was being built at the corner of Richmond Ave. and 102 St. |
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| 2012.014.01 | Item – Russell Burgess McCormick, Innisfail |
ca. 1930 | 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
Formal portrait of Russell Burgess as a young man. |
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| 2012.014.02 | Item – Ida (Burgess) McCormick | 1983 | 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Formal portrait of Ida (Burgess) McCormick, sister of Russell Burgess, taken at age 75. |
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| 2012.014.03-05 | Item – Caretakers | 1989-1990 | 3 photographs : colour ; 2.5 x 3.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Several women worked as informal live-in caretakers for Russell and Pearl in their later years. These girls were Margaret Driedger, Doreen Thiessen from La Crete, and Carie Bedard. |
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| 2012.014.06 | Item – Smoky River Bridge Opening | 1949 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. |
| Scope and content:
Smoky River Bridge Opening showing the entire bridge from a distance with people and the ferry boat at the west end. The entire bridge is filled with cars, floats, and people. |
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| 2012.014.07a -b | Item – Russell and Pearl Burgess | ca. 1930 | 2 photographs : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Russell and Pearl Burgess, recently married. Russell in his uniform as town policeman in Grande Prairie. |
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| 2012.014.08 | Item – Russell Burgess, Grande Prairie Town Police | ca. 1930 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2.5 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Russell Burgess in his uniform as town policeman in Grande Prairie. |
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| 2012.014.09 | Item – Russell Burgess, as a Young Boy | ca. 1920 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.5 x 5.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Copy of a photograph showing Russell Burgess as a young boy growing up in High River, Alberta. The photograph is printed on a sheet with three other photographs. |
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| 2012.014.10 | Item – McCormick Children | ca. 1945 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 4 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
Copy of a portrait of the McCormick Children: Myrtle (back), Susan, and John. Their mother was Ida (Burgess) McCormick. The photograph is printed on a single sheet with 2012.014.11. |
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| 2012.014.11 | Item – Susan McCormick | ca. 1957 | 1 photograph : colour ; 3.5 x 5.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Copy of a portrait of Susan McCormick as a teenager. Her mother was Ida (Burgess) McCormick. The photograph is printed on a single sheet with 2012.014.10. |
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| 2015.069.01 | Item – Parade on Richmond Avenue | [ca. 1945] | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.5 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
Parade heading east at the intersection of 100th Street and 100th Avenue. In view are the RCMP leading the parade, the majorettes, and a group of soldiers in summer uniform. |
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| 2015.069.02 | Item – Parade on Richmond Avenue | [ca. 1945] | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.5 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
Parade heading east at the intersection of 100th Street and 100th Avenue. In view are a group of soldiers in summer uniform with guns and bayonets. |
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| 2015.069.03 | Item – Parade on Clairmont Road | [ca. 1945] | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.5 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
Parade heading south on Clairmont Road, at the intersection of 100th Street and 100th Avenue. In view are vehicles carrying V for Victory signs and British flags. |
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| 2015.069.04 | Item – Joe’s Corner Coffee Shop | [ca. 1945] | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.5 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
Joe’s Corner Coffee Shop at the intersection of 100th Street and 100th Avenue. The front entrance and roof line are decorated with World War II Recruitment posters. |
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| 2015.069.05 | Item – Parade on Richmond Avenue | [ca. 1945] | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.5 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
Parade proceeding east on Richmond Avenue. In view are members of a brass band. In the background is Simpson’s Ladies Wear. |
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| 2015.069.06 | Item – Parade on Richmond Avenue | [ca. 1945] | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Parade proceeding east on Richmond Avenue. In view is the Salvation Army float with a banner reading “Serving All Forces” on the side of the wagon. In the background is the office of J.J. Lamb, tinsmith and plumber, with about 20 people watching from the balcony above the entrance. |
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| 2015.069.07 | Item – Parade on Richmond Avenue | [ca. 1945] | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Parade proceeding east on Richmond Avenue. In view is a brass band of soldiers in summer uniform. In the background is the office of J.J. Lamb, tinsmith and plumber, with about 20 people watching from the balcony above the entrance. |
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| 2015.069.08 | Item – Parade on Richmond Avenue | [ca. 1945] | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Parade proceeding east on Richmond Avenue, near the end of its route at about 97th Avenue. In view are several people on horses and horse-drawn carriages. |
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| 2015.069.09 | Item – Parade on Richmond Avenue | [ca. 1945] | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Parade turning north off Richmond Avenue at about 96th Street, near the end of its route. In view is a horse-drawn float advertising the Scott Fruit Co. and Unger’s Transfer. |
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| 2015.069.10 | Item – Parade on Richmond Avenue | [ca. 1945] | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
A man in a small horse-drawn carriage and several riders on horses in a parade. A blanket on the horse appears to be advertising for stables. |
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| 2016.006 | Item – Russell Burgess in Police Uniform P.C. Edwards, Grande Prairie |
1930 | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Copy of a portrait of Grande Prairie police officer, Russell Burgess, in uniform. |
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