Record No. M78.38.8, .9, .11, .13;M84.17.1 (formerly OC 59.1.78);P 0078;P 0704<br><br>
Alex Oliver was born in 1882. He left Brantford, Ontario, and travelled to Calgary in 1905 because he wished to settle where he could pursue his interest in collecting Native artifacts. Mr. Oliver operated a freight business out of a warehouse, and befriended a number of the local natives from whom he collected numerous artifacts. Mr. Oliver later moved to Medicine Hat, where a number of items from his collection were often displayed. Alexander resided at 539-6th Ave. SE in Medicine Hat, and he was the brother of Isobel and Ariel Oliver, both of Saskatoon. His artifact collection was later obtained by the former Medicine Hat Museum & Art Gallery (now Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre) through negotiations with Mr. Oliver's 2 surviving nieces following his death on May 17, 1959. His funeral was held at Pattison Funeral Home, officiated by Reverend R.L. Taylor.
Published
Title based on content of records.
The fonds consists of: a booklet entitled "Early History of the Medicine Hat Country" by J.W. Morrow (1923); O.S. share certificates (2) issued to Alexander Oliver for the Medicine Hat Petroleum Co. Ltd. (1926); poem re: Alex Oliver (undated); biography of Chief Crowfoot with attached envelope addressed to Mr. Oliver (undated); images of first nations peoples and artifacts.
Gift of Alex Oliver, 1959, an unknown donor, and Lil & Ross Walker.
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