Bob Field fonds. — 1947-2004. — 1.5 cm of textual records. — 518 cards.
Biographical Sketch
Robert (Bob) Murray Field was born in 1920 in Vanessa, Ontario. He came to Grande Prairie by train in June 1937, just out of high school. He managed to find work as a clerk for Bird’s Grocery store for $5/week. Bob went to Saskatoon in the fall of 1939 to attend the University of Saskatchewan to become an electrical engineer. He spent his fourth year of university at the University of Manitoba. While in Saskatoon, he met Helen Martha Alison and the couple was married on March 7, 1944. Helen was the daughter of Jack and Hazel Alison and was born in Kerrobert, Saskatchewan on August 3, 1923.
After finishing his degree, Bob joined the Royal Canadian Air Force as Station Signals Officer in charge of radio and radar communications for west coast air force bases. In 1945 Bob was discharged from the Air Force and returned with Helen to Grande Prairie, building a home in the VLA area. Helen and Bob had three children: Roger, Linda, and John (Jack). Bob was employed by the electrical firm of Whitlock & Sons. In 1956 the firm became Blais, Shedden & Field, architects, and was later renamed Shedden & Field.
An important part of Bob’s life was his involvement with amateur (HAM) radio. In 1946, Bob received his amateur radio license under the call sign VE6RF. In 1949-50, Bob and several other radio amateurs formed the Peace Country Amateur Radio Club.
In 1970, the Fields moved from Grande Prairie to Vancouver. After Bob’s departure, his firm continued for awhile as Shedden & Field before being renamed Bowen & Field and finally Field, Field & Field, when Bob returned to Grande Prairie in 1976 and went into business with his two sons. Bob also acquired a new radio call sign on his return, VE6WB, which had formerly belonged to a friend.
Helen Field died February 10, 1991. Bob later remarried, to Marion Howarth.
Besides amateur radio, Bob was also involved in the community in other ways, as a member of the Grande Prairie Kinsmen Club, the Rotary Club, and as arena commissioner of the Grande Prairie Arena from the end of World War II until it closed.
Bob died in May 2008.
Custodial History
The records were part of the Estate of Bob Field and donated on behalf of Marion Field, his wife, by fellow Peace Country Amateur Radio Club member George Simpson.
Scope and Content
The fonds consists of records relating to Bob Field’s life and activities, primarily as an amateur radio operator. The records include licenses and certificates, incoming and outgoing correspondence and QSL cards, log books, information about local amateur radio, and a publication about Bob’s experiences in radio.
The fonds currently has only one series: Amateur Radio.
Notes
Title of fonds based on contents.
Table of Contents
| Series 447.01 | Amateur Radio |
| Series 447.01 | Amateur Radio. — 1947-2004. — 1.5 cm of textual records. — 518 cards.
The series consists of records relating to Bob Field’s activities as an amateur radio operator and date predominantly from 1947-1956 and 1981-2004. The records include a radio license, certificates, incoming and outgoing QSL cards, letters, log books, information about local radio DMTF codes, club sites, and repeater maps, and a publication about Bob’s experiences in radio. The series has been divided into four sub-series by record type: Licenses and Certificates, Correspondence, Log Book and Radio Information, and Publications. Within each sub-series, the records have been arranged in chronological order by the Archivist. |
| SubSeries 447.01.01 | Licenses and Certificates. — 1959-2000. — 0.1 cm of textual records.
The subseries consists of licenses and certificates awarded to Bob Field as part of his radio activities. The records include a 1959 certificate of proficiency in radio, a ca. 1985 certificate of appreciation for support given to the Peace Country Amateur Radio Club, a 1998 certificate of membership in the Radio Amateurs of Canada, a 1995-1998 certificate of associate membership in the American Radio Relay League, and a 1999-2000 radio licence. The records have been arranged in chronological order by the Archivist. |
| SubSeries 447.01.02 | Correspondence. — 1947-2004. — 0.5 cm of textual records. — 518 cards.
The subseries consists of correspondence received by Bob Field in connection with his amateur radio activities. The records include 514 QSL cards from around the world from 1947-1956 and 1981-2004, 4 of Bob’s blank QSL cards, and letters from the Amateur Radio League of Alberta, fellow ham operators, and Alberta Disaster Reponses, including a 1984 Alberta Amateur Radio Communications Service Roster of Registrants. The QSL cards were separated from the rest of the correspondence and arranged in chronological order by the Archivist. The remainder of the correspondence was also arranged in chronological order. |
| SubSeries 447.01.03 | Log Book and Radio Information. — 1981-[ca. 2004]. — 0.5 cm of textual records.
The subseries consists of log books and general radio information collected and used by Bob Field. The records include two log books (1981-1994) showing various information relating to radio contacts made including date, time, station, signal, frequency, and operator name and location, a hand-drawn diagram of a coaxial collinear antenna, information from the Radio Amateurs of Canada Outgoing QSL Bureau, and lists of local DTMF codes, club sites, and repeater maps. The sub-series was arranged in chronological order by the Archivist. |
| SubSeries 447.01.04 | Publications. — 1996. — 0.5 cm of textual records.
The subseries consists of publications on amateur radio. The records include a copy of the May 1996 “The Canadian Amateur” magazine featuring a photograph and article written by Bob Field in celebration of 50 years as an amateur radio operator. |