Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
PPCLI Comedy Company collection
General material designation
Parallel title
Princess Pats' Comedy Company
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Collection
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Dates of creation area
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Physical description area
Physical description
1 album (69 photographs, 8 newsclippings, 18 programs, 9 items of textual records)
Publisher's series area
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Archival description area
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Biographical history
Soon after its repatriation to Canada in 1919, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) began to maintain a collection of its important artifacts and pictures in the custody of its Commanding Officer. In September 1953, the PPCLI Regimental Museum was established at Camp Wainwright, Alberta, and its official opening was on 13 May, 1954. The Museum's principal functions then were to preserve the traditions and history of the Regiment and contribute to the education of recruits. On 13 September 1953 the PPCLI Association was incorporated and took over the governance of the Museum. The Association, which was legally empowered to accept charitable donations, held the collection in trust for the Regiment and the people of Canada. The Regimental Adjutant acted as Curator of the Museum, assisted by serving members of the Regiment and volunteers from the Association. The Museum's operations were financially supported by the Hamilton Gault Memorial Fund, which was established by the Association. From Wainwright , the Museum followed the Regimental Home Station to Edmonton in 1957 and eventually to Currie Barracks in Calgary in 1968. In 1989 the Museum joined forces with three other regimental museums to form the Museum of the Regiments (later named The Military Museums) at 4520 Crowchild Trail SW in Calgary. In 1994 legal ownership of the collections was transferred to the Regiment. From 1996 to 2006 the Museum and Archives was managed by a civilian curator/archivist; subsequently, it was managed by a serving member of the Regiment appointed by the Regimental Adjutant.
Custodial history
The album was created under the direction of the Curator of the PPCLI Regimental Museum, Lt V.D. Cole. It was created by RSM (WO1) R.J. King. Veterans of the PPCLI Comedy Company who contributed items from their personal collections include J.W. "Jack" McLaren, Norman D. Clarke, and Conrad Stephens.
Scope and content
The album largely consists of publicity photographs (many autographed) and programs documenting the activities of the PPCLI Comedy Company and its successor, the Dumbells. Includes a nominal roll (compiled 1968) of all members of the Comedy Company from its formation on 1916 May 16 to its amalgamation with the Dumbells on 1918 Nov 12. Includes materials created 1916-1968. Includes published magazine articles: Jack McLaren, "Mirth and mud", Maclean's Magazine, 1929 Jan.1, Mar. 1, May 15; Alan Murray, "The Dumbells", The Legionary, 1952 May, reprinted 1965 Jan.; Jack McLaren, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Trenches", Weekend Magazine, 1967 Nov 25. Includes a brief by Norman D. Clarke to the Historical Section, Army Headquarters, 1963, protesting the omission of references to the Comedy Company in the official history of the First World War.
Notes area
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Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Reproduction and publication of photographs requires permission of PPCLI Museum and Archives.
Finding aids
An item-level inventory of the album is available as part of the Scrapbooks and Albums finding aid at https://ppcli.com/wp-content/uploads/Scrapbooks-and-albums-finding-aid.pdf .
Associated materials
Additional materials on the PPCLI Comedy Company are available in Collection 1, Series 39.
Accruals
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Name access points
- Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Subject)
- Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. Comedy Company (Subject)
- Dumbells (Comedy troupe) (Subject)