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Title proper
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- Textual record
- Graphic material - photograph
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- Source of title proper: Title based on name of creator.
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Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1884 - 1942 (Creation)
- Creator
- Walter, Annie Elizabeth (née Newby)
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1870 - 1920 (Creation)
- Creator
- Walter, John
Physical description area
Physical description
16 cm of textual records. - 27 photographs
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
John Walter was born at Stenness, Orkney Island, Scotland on Aug. 12, 1849. He came to Edmonton in 1870 as a boat builder for the Hudson's Bay Company. In 1875 he started his own business on the flats on the south side of the North Saskatchewan River, opposite Fort Edmonton. Over the years he was involved in building boats and general carpentry - he built and operated the first river ferry. He also operated two lumber mills, and a coal mine. He built and operated the City of Edmonton steamboat. He served on the first council of the Town of Strathcona and was a member of the Public School Board. He married Annie Elizabeth Newby on Oct. 21, 1886 and they had two sons, John William and Stanley. He died in Edmonton, Alberta on Dec. 25, 1920. The area where he lived and worked, Walterdale, is named for him.
Name of creator
Biographical history
Annie Elizabeth Newby was born in the village of Bishop Wilton, Yorkshire, England on June 26, 1861. In 1880, at the age of 15, she joined a group of 16 families in leaving England for Western Canada in order to set up a Methodist mission settlement. Annie appears to have been hired to assist the mother of a pair of twins. The group stayed in Toronto for two years before departing for Western Canada, travelling at first by rail and later by ox-cart.
While in Brandon, Manitoba, Annie made the acquaintance of a woman that was headed to Morley, Alberta to work at the McDougall Orphanage. Annie worked at there for a total of four years and became acquainted with Reverend McDougall's sister, Clara Hardisty. Annie was offered a contract to care for the Hardisty's youngest child in Edmonton and she agreed to a 6 month contract. During a chance encounter on April 2, 1886, Annie encountered John Walter while crossing the river on the way to the Hardisty's home. After 6 months of courtship, she and John were married in the Hardisty home within Fort Edmonton.
Annie gave birth to two children: John in 1887, and Stanley in 1890. As the children grew older and more independent, Annie became more involved in the family business by collecting rent from family owned properties as well as acting as director for the Walter Lumber Company.
After John's passing in 1920, Annie stayed at the green house in Walterdale. She spent this time with her children and grandchildren as well as entertaining other friends and family. She passed away on November 20, 1942 at the age of 82.
Custodial history
John Walter Jr. was the eldest son of the creator. John Walter and Ellen Andrews were grandchildren of the creator, children of his second son, Stanley Walter. Wilfred Walker was the son of Ella May (Jacoby) Walker, a founding member of the City of Edmonton Archives and Landmarks Committee and author of Fortress North, a historical novel of the Edmonton area. It is presumed that the Walker family obtained the early accounting records through the Northern Alberta Pioneers and Old Timers Association (NAPOTA) as members of both families were involved with the organization.
Scope and content
This fonds consists of notebooks, minute books, accounts, and other records of John Walter's business operations, including trading, river ferry and lumbering. Also included are photocopies of documents provided by the Walter family. In addition, this fonds contains 27 photographs provided by the Walter family.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
This fonds was donated to the City of Edmonton Archives by John W. Walter, Jr. in 1960-1962, Elizabeth Walter (née Turner) in 1970, John Walter and Ellen Andrews in 1974-1978, and by Wilfred Walker in 1960. The photocopied documents were loaned by Ellen Andrews (granddaughter of John Walter) to the archives to be copied in 1974.
Arrangement
Material has been arranged chronologically according to creator with photographs at the end arranged numerically according to assigned EA numbers.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
There are no restrictions on access.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Public Domain.
Reproduction restrictions may apply.
Finding aids
File list available online.
Associated materials
John Walter Collection (3931) Provincial Archives of Alberta
Accruals
Further accruals expected.
General note
Accession numbers: A60-70; A70-36; A74-37; A76-5, A78-101
General note
The records of the former MS-171 John Walter fonds were repatriated into this MS.
The records of the former MS-439 Ellen Andrews fonds were repatriated into this MS.
Some of the Walter records were formerly known as MS-56.14
Photographs from EA-105 and EA-205 have been repatriated into this fonds.
Annie Walter's cook book has been repatriated into this fonds.
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Rules for Archival Description (RAD)
Archives Society of Alberta Subject Terms
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation, revision and deletion
Language of description
- English