Collection glen-1314 - Sheilagh S. Jameson and Nola B. Erickson Chautauqua collection

The material in this collection was compiled during the writing of the book, Chautauqua in Canada / Sheilagh S. Jameson in collaboration with Nola B. Erickson. - Calgary : Glenbow-Alberta Institute, 1979. Chautauqua, which had its origins at Lake Chautauqua, New York, USA in 1874, was a travelling institution which brought noted lecturers, musicians and live theatre to small towns. It stayed in each town from four to six days, staging events in large tents. By 1907 the Chautauqua circuit had moved into the American west, and in 1917 John M. Erickson and Nola B. Critz brought the first Chautauqua to Canada. John Michael Erickson, 1882-1963, was born in Wisconsin, USA, and Nola B. Critz, 1891-[1980s], was born in Missouri, USA. They married in 1917, and had two children, Virginia (Fledderjohn) and Gordon J. They continued to manage the Canadian Chautauqua circuit from the Calgary headquarters until 1935, when the final show was held. They then returned to the USA and settled in Glendale, California, where John returned to his legal profession. Nola hoped to write a book about Chautauqua, but due to her poor health, Sheilagh S. Jameson, Glenbow's Chief Archivist, offered to undertake the project. During the project Nola provided personal papers she and her husband had retained. As well, both Nola and Sheilagh contacted many former Chautauquans, which resulted in the donation of programs, photos and reminiscences of over 50 individuals. Several additions have been made to the collection since the book's publication.