Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | Peace River Co-op Seed Growers Association fonds |
| Reference code: | 0545 |
| Date: | 1943-1950 (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 27.5 cm of textual records |
| Language: | English |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Processed by Patricia Greber Exported from AoR and added to new database August 2022 – TD |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
The first meeting of the Peace River Co-op Seed Growers Association was held on August 16, 1936 at the Beaverlodge Experimental farm sub-station. The purpose of the Seed Growers Co-op was to give farmers a voice regarding markets for their grain. They shared a yearly dividend from the Co-op, as well as ownership in a grain drying machine. Membership in the Co-op was wide spread across the Peace Country, including the communities of Valhalla Centre, Wembley, Nampa, Sturgeon Heights, Bay Tree, DeBolt, Gordondale, Huallen, Calais, Doe River, Cherry Point, Whitelaw, Rycroft, Smoky Heights, Bonanza, Heart Valley, Northmark, Eaglesham, Grovedale, Beaverlodge, Sexsmith, Hythe, Spirit River, Poplar Hill, Grovedale, La Glace, Dimsdale, Halcourt, and Elmwoth; and from Dawson Creek, Pouce Coupe, and Farmington in the B.C. Peace. Meetings were held at the Capital Theatre in Grande Prairie and the surrounding communities of Pouce Coupe, Dawson Creek and Beaverlodge. The Peace River Co-op also helped establish the Albright Scholarship Fund and supported local fairs by providing prize money for the grain entries.
The executive in 1943 consisted of P. U. Clubine, President; Arnold Burgess, Vice President; and directors Robert Cochrane, Thomas Jamieson, Uri Powell, V. C. Flint and W.E. Grearson. Growing pains were an issue for this board as their membership numbers doubled in one year and storage and administration space were to capacity. This led to many discussions about the costs associated with purchasing or building a new building. Amalgamation with the Albert Seed Growers Association was also an often discussed topic and, although at first the members were reluctant, by 1950 they were in serious talks about merging the two organizations. There is no record of when the Association ceased to exist.
Custodial history
Preserved by Joan Harris Sereda, daughter of Les Harris, who was a member of the organization. The records were donated to South Peace Regional Archives by Jean Harris Gray, daughter of Rowe Harris, another member, on August 8, 2011.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of minutes 1943-1950, and correspondence 1947-1948.
Notes
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title of fonds based on content.
Accruals
No accruals are expected.
Access points
- Textual record (documentary form)
- Agriculture (subject)
- Alberta (place)
Table of contents
0545.02, Correspondence, 1947-1948
Series descriptions
| Series 0545.01: Minutes
Date: 1943-1950 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of minutes from 1943-1950, which also contain information on election of officers, discussions about the purchasing of new equipment, buildings, office space and supplies. The minutes also list names of people who were accepted into the co-op during those dates. Physical description: 8 cm of textual records Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) |
| Series 0545.02: Correspondence
Date: 1947-1948 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of correspondence from August 1947 – July 1948. The main items included are communications from the Alberta Seed Growers Co-operative dealing with seed prices and the buying and selling of crops. There is also some financial information as to costs owed and purchases made. Physical description: 19.5 cm of textual records Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) |