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LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION: Fonds
No.: PR2132
TITLE: Peggy and Harry Holmes Fonds
CREATOR: Holmes, Peggy and Holmes, Harry
DATE RANGE: 1921-1992
EXTENT: 15.6 m of textual records and other material
The fonds contains approximately 2,200 color and black and white photographs, approximately 1,034 negatives, 1 8mm film, and 79 audio cassettes.
ADMINISTRATIVE
HISTORY/BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: Peggy Holmes was born in Kingston-upon Hull, England in 1897. During World War I, she met her husband, Harry, through a friend; the two married in 1917 in England. After the war, in 1919, the couple moved to Canada to work on Harry’s homestead near St. Lina, Alberta.

Harry Holmes was born in 1887 in Kingston-upon Hull, England. Harry came to Canada in 1911, spending a few months in Ontario before moving to High River, Alberta. In 1913, Harry and a few friends traveled to St. Lina, Alberta to start a homestead. At the start of World War I, Harry volunteered for the war and served in the 31st Battalion. While serving in France, Harry suffered an injury, leaving him with shrapnel in his leg.

In 1922, Peggy and Harry moved to Edmonton, AB. While in Edmonton, Peggy worked as a book-keeper, and in real estate. She also taught singing and elocution during the 1940’s and 1950’s. In addition, she worked as a consultant in voice placement from 1935 until [1989]. In the 1960’s and 1970’s, she took up painting, and sold several hundred paintings.

Harry worked as a court reporter for the Supreme Court of Alberta for 45 years. He retired in 1961, but continued to work part-time for several years.

At the age of 77, Peggy Holmes became a CBC radio Alberta broadcaster. She wrote radio scripts that detailed her homesteading life for a show entitled “The Way it Was” until 1990. From 1981- 1984, she also co-hosted a program entitled “Something for Seniors” for an Edmonton Community Radio Station (CKUA).

Peggy volunteered for numerous organizations including the Canadian Cancer Society, Red Cross, the War Brides Association, YWCA. She was also a member of ACTRA, the Civil Servant’s Association, St. Georges Society, War Bridges Association, the Writer’s Guild of Alberta, and the Physicians and Surgeons for Third World Aid.

Peggy also worked as a public speaker throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s. She gave talks for the Alberta Hospital Association, Business and Professional Women, Chiropractor’s Corporation, Lions Club, Northern Alberta Transportation Association Conference, Oilmen’s Wives of Sherwood Park, Old Timer’s Association, Progress Club, Rotarians, Saint George’s Society, Senior Welcome Wagon, Stockman’s Association, University of Alberta Faculty Wives Club, University of Toronto Alumni, War Brides Association, and Women’s Canadian Club. Peggy Holmes received numerous awards throughout her career including the following awards and honors:

1977 City of Edmonton Award for outstanding services in preserving our heritage 1977 Province of Alberta Achievement Award for excellennce in Arts, Literature, and Broadcasting 1978 Hudson’s Bay Company Beaver Award for an unpublished manuscript 1979 Canadian Author’s Award (Edmonton Branch) for a published manuscript 1980 Alberta Culture Writer’s Grant 1980 Life Member of the Sherwood Park Business and Professional Women Association 1984 Peggy Holmes Park named in Northwest Edmonton 1985 Alberta Culture Writer’s Grant 1987 Toastmasters International Communication Achievement 1988 YMCA Tribute to Women Award in Public Service and Communications 1989 Order of Canada 1990 Honorary membership in the Ladies Glenory Rotary Club 1990 Diploma in Community Service from Grant MacEwan Community College

Peggy Holmes also published several books, including the following: It Could Have Been Worse (written with Joy Roberts), Toronto: Collins, 1980. Never a Dull Moment (written with Andrea Spalding), Toronto: Collins, 1984. Still Soaring, Edmonton: Loon Books, 1987.

In addition, Peggy published articles in the Alberta Motorist, the Alberta Report, the Edmonton Journal, and the Strathcona Harvest.

SCOPE AND CONTENT: The fonds consists of poems, correspondence, cards, profiles, news releases, scripts, address books, stories, reminiscences, interviews, books, sheet music, scrapbooks, diaries, photographs, photo albums, newspaper clippings, manuscript drafts for publications, pamphlets, reflecting the life of Peggy and Harry Holmes dating from 1919-1992.
ARRANGEMENT NOTE: The fonds is arranged according to original order.
GENERAL NOTE: Information for the administrative history/biographical sketch sourced from the fonds. Some images can be located in the A file of the Provincial Archives of Alberta reference prints under the numbers A2147 to A2148. All other images can be located in the fonds. For a copy of It Could Have Been Worse please see the Provincial Archives of Alberta Reference Library.
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