Gordon and Anne Donaldson came to the Peace Country under the Soldiers Settlement Board Lassiter Project after serving with the Armed Forces during World War II. The Lassiter Project was a land clearing project north of Wanham and Eaglesham and near Belloy and Codesa designed to create farms for veterans returning to civilian life after WW II. O.B. Lassiter's Company agreed to clear 100,000 acres of land "ready for the seed drill." In return, he would receive a 1/3 share of the crops raised on the land for seven years. The government would collect an additional 3 ½ % of the crops instead of taxes. "Hundreds of would-be farmers responded to the glowing descriptions advertising the "Project" homesteads. Unfortunately, the project was much more costly than expected and did not always achieve the production hoped for. The Donaldsons arrived in the spring of 1952, with high hopes of farming. After seven years of hard work, their land was re-assessed and declared unfit for farming. The Donaldsons moved to Eaglesham where Gordon trained as a mechanic and purchased a Garage, later building a new Donaldsons Garage. Anne was active in the community of Eaglesham in various organizations, as a census taker and enumerator, and as a writer. She edited a community history of the Eaglesham, Tangent, Watino and Codesa areas titled Smoky Peace Triangle as well as several booklets of her own memories. The Donaldsons had four children: David, born in 1948; Donna, born in 1949; Gregory, born in 1953; and Irma, born in 1959. One child, a boy, died shortly after his birth in 1958.
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South Peace Regional Archives
Title based on contents of the fonds.
Accession number: 2000.42; 2012.08; 2014.21
The fonds consists of personal papers from Gordon and Anne Donaldson; a year book and interviews regarding Eaglesham School; election records relating to Eaglesham; and material from the Peace Valley Conservation, Recreation and Tourism Society.
The original deposit of records was made by Morris Burroughs on Anne Donaldson's behalf in 2000. In 2012, Greg Donaldson deposited three videotapes containing interviews of teachers from the Eaglesham Schools, and in 2014, an accrual of personal papers.
The original deposit of records was made by Morris Burroughs on Anne Donaldson's behalf in 2000. In 2012, Greg Donaldson deposited three videotapes containing interviews of teachers from the Eaglesham Schools, and in 2014, an accrual of personal papers.
There are no restrictions on access.
A finding aid is available at http://southpeacearchives.org/donaldson-family-collection/