Suitcase Secrets

                                     Preserving McDougall Family Documents


In the spring of 2017, Alberta lost an important historic place when the McDougall Stoney Mission Church in Morley was destroyed by fire. However, as fate would have it, important historical documents from another branch of the McDougall family have been rescued and preserved for future generations. Archival Assistant Sara Min from the University of Manitoba will relate the contents of the recent acquisition by the Whyte Museum Archives, as well as the archival process she undertook to both preserve and make accessible these important documents.

On June 19, 2017, Archival Assistants Nicole Ensing, Brittany Watson, and myself accompanied the Whyte Museum’s Head Archivist, Jennifer Rutkair, to Drumheller, Alberta to appraise archival materials donated by Ed and Faye Hnetka. Ed told us that he found David McDougall correspondence inside a suitcase in the attic of an abandoned house on 5th Ave, Calgary in 1969.  The homes were being demolished to make the streets wider. Not only was listening to Ed’s story exciting, we were all grateful that the historically valuable materials were saved from being lost forever.    

Suitcase with documents, as found by Ed Hnetka
These materials belonged to David McDougall, the son of George Millward McDougall and Elizabeth Chantler McDougall, born on May 14, 1845 in Owen Sound, Ontario. David married Annie McKenzie in 1871 in Manitoba. Together, they had six children, including their daughter named Georgina (Georgie) Elizabeth McDougall (1872-1965). Georgina would later become the wife of Norman Luxton, an active member in Banff, and the mother of Eleanor Georgina Luxton (1908-1995).

David was an early pioneer of Calgary and Banff, who helped build both community life and their economies. While David’s father and brother were both members of the clergy and did missionary work in Morley at the Stoney Mission Church, David became a successful businessman. He established a general merchant store in Morley where he was a dealer in cattle, horses, furs, and curios. In addition to managing his own business block in Calgary, David also owned properties in Edmonton and Calgary. In Banff, David and Annie owned the Mount Royal Hotel for six years until they sold it to Jim Brewster in August 14, 1913.

            The process required to make the McDougall materials accessible to the public began by arranging and describing them. This was a challenge since the records stored in an old suitcase were in no particular arrangement. After examining the records that had not seen the light of day for over 40 years, they were organized into six series: (1) Business Correspondence; (2) Cheques, Receipts, Invoices; (3) Personal Documents; (4) Miscellaneous; (5) Painting; (6) Blueprints. The records reflect David and Annie’s active business life. The majority of the materials are correspondence between David and various businesses throughout Calgary and Winnipeg.  
Sara's workspace arranging McDougall documents
Sara's workspace organizing documents into series


The materials also contain legal documents in relation to David’s land ownership and his responsibility to maintain his properties in Edmonton and Calgary in accordance with municipal by-laws. Letters addressed to David from the City of Edmonton and the City of Calgary pertain to the cities’ sewage systems and fire escapes. The cities’ attempt to enforce the by-laws represent their attempt to manage health and safety measures.

While the majority of the records are business correspondence, the collection also contains personal letters. An interesting letter found within the collection was Gordon Carling’s letter addressed to David in August 27, 1910 asking for his daughter Annie’s hand in marriage. On August 27, 1910, David sent a reply to Gordon expressing his permission. David wrote:
…As you and my daughter Annie have an understanding and you both think you are suited to one another we will be pleased to welcome you into the family…

           Reading David and Annie (Sr.)’s personal letters allows a sense of what life was like in Banff and Calgary in the early 20th century. Once the records were arranged and described, they were placed in three archival Hollinger boxes. David McDougall’s records are available to the public and anyone who is interested to learn more about a prominent business man who contributed to the vibrant business communities of Calgary and Banff.

McDougall documents safely arranged in Hollinger boxes

 Sara Min
Archival Assistant
Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies

The Whyte Museum Library and Archives are Open Tuesdays to Fridays, from 1 PM to 5 PM. 

Please call 403-762-2291 ext. 335 to make an appointment.












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