Archives Week – Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

Congratulations SCAA!

November 15, 2023November 16, 2023 Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

Saskatchewan Council for Archives and Archivists Wins Award

On November 8, 2023, the SCAA was the recipient of a 2023 Saskatchewan Heritage Award for their Archives Week Video Project 2022. The Heritage Saskatchewan award presentations took place at Government House in Regina.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Archives Week Video Project 2022 was created by our team to celebrate the annual SCAA Archives Week in a series of daily video clips whereby our members showcased their successes and achievements of the past year; and also displayed the hard work and dedication of archivists in preserving the vibrant history of the province.
Saskatchewan Council of Archives and Archivists media release

THE CMMM ARCHIVES

The CMMM has been a member of the SCAA for more than a dozen years. When all of our archival materials came together under one roof, the SCAA Archives Advisor made a trip to Cut Knife to advise on its set up. They have continued to support us with information, recommendations, and at times, funding. We have participated in Saskatchewan Archives Week activities with Open Houses, digital exhibits, and blog posts focusing on local research. Our Resident Archivist, Lucille B. and many other Board members and volunteers have taken SCAA course work in a wide variety of archival topics.

The work of the SCAA in this province is vital to the preservation of local histories. The Cut Knife Museum and Archives congratulates the SCAA organization and all of the individuals involved with the Archives Week Video Project 2022 for this well-deserved recognition.

~ Debbie M.

Remember Private Ernest Robinson?

June 18, 2023June 18, 2023 Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

During SCAA Archives Week 2023, we shared a request for information that we’d received from a museum in Belgium.

The CMMM Archives received a request for information from the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 in Belgium. Their researchers have been able to identify the wartime burial locations of more than 1,400 of the 6,928 missing Canadians in Flanders. One of the burial sites located has been identified as belonging to Ernest Robinson, who homesteaded in the Cut Knife area. His name is listed on the Roll of Honour in our local history book Where the Cut Knife Waters Flow Volume I.
from: In Memory of Private Robinson, Feb. 6, 2023

The Passchendaele Museum wanted the Robinson family’s descendants to know his burial site had been determined. His last known next-of-kin had resided in Tatsfield, Saskatchewan, which the museum was unable to trace to a modern address. The next step was to contact the CMMM regarding Names in the Landscape, their digital exhibit sharing the lives of the Canadian soldiers lost in Flanders. They asked for photos of, or archival references to Ernest Robinson that would help tell the story of his life.

We asked our readers for any photos and / or memories they might have of Private Ernest Robinson that we could forward to the Passchendaele Museum. Not only did we receive excerpts from a number of local history books, but through the power of social media, we were able to reach a family member. Since then, the Robinson family has put together a submission for the Names in the Landscape online exhibit.

Pte. Robinson’s nephew, Ken Robinson and Ken’s cousin Holly Robinson have researched and written a short biography of Private Ernest Robinson. It is an honourable tribute to someone whose life was cut so short. It includes a timeline and description (with references) of his military life. They have kindly shared the link with us.

Remember Private Ernest Robinson. Read more here.

~ Debbie M.

Archives, Events, Our Stories

Museum & Archives January Update

January 18, 2011December 20, 2021 Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

We are working on our Archives which is now situated in the MAC (Museum Administration Center). Guess we should include that word Archives in there somewhere. MAAC? Museum Administration & Archives Center??

Right now the archival material is spread around in different buildings behind some rather high snowdrifts. No need to go looking for work though as the MAC has lot of work to keep me busy.

We have recently acquired the Parkinson Pod of photos and family history of the Warden and Parkinson families. Sandy Warden was a member of the NWMP in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. The Wardenville District was named after him. Sandy fought in the skirmish at Cut Knife Creek in 1885 and then was Instructor on the Poundmaker and Little Pine reserves in later years. His story is a fascinating one.

I am also beginning work on updating the storage of Clayton’s Collection. The McClain family have generously donated many items over the years that help tell the history of the area. When it is properly documented and organized, the public will have more access to these materials.

Please consider visiting the MAC on February 7 for our Archives Open House from 1 to 4 pm. There will be some archival materials for you to look through and information on what an Archives is all about. Coffee and lunch will be served.

~ Lucille B.