Primary contact
4716 - 48 Street
Athabasca, Alberta
CA T9S 2B6
Identity area
Identifier
ATH
Authorized form of name
Athabasca Archives
Parallel form(s) of name
Other form(s) of name
- Alice B. Donahue Library and Archives
- Alice B. Donahue Library and Archives
Type
Contact area
Marilyn Mol, Archivist
Type
Address
Street address
4716 - 48 Street
Locality
Athabasca
Region
Alberta
Country name
Canada
Postal code
T9S 2B6
Telephone
(780) 675-2735
Fax
(780) 675 2735
atharchives@athabascalibrary.ab.ca
Note
Description area
History
The Town of Athabasca lies on the south bank of the Athabasca River at a point 12 miles north of the geographical centre of Alberta. It is located on Highway No. 2, 133 km north of Edmonton in section 20-66-W4 and Census Division No. 13. It is a hilly town, heavily wooded and interspersed with ravines. There has been a presence on this site since 1877. The hamlet of Athabasca Landing was incorporated as a village on June 5, 1905; incorporation as a town occurred on September 19, 1911. The word Landing was officially deleted on August 5, 1913.
In 1946, Eric Hodgson held a meeting of representatives of different community organizations to discuss establishing a library in Athabasca. A committee was struck and met in June 1946 to nominate a library board. The library was known as the Athabasca and District Public Library from 1946 to 1966, the Athabasca Municipal Library from 1966 to 1980, and the Athabasca Municipal Library and Archives from 1980 until it adopted its current name in 1988. The library was located in the Town Hall, the Community Centre, and the former Provincial Building until it moved to the Brick School Complex in 1979. The archival program began as early as 1957 when the library stored historic documents until a historical society could be formed. In 1979 a separate room was designated, and volunteers organized and solicited material for a history book published in 1986. The first part-time archivist was hired in 1988.
Geographical and cultural context
Mandates/Sources of authority
Administrative structure
Records management and collecting policies
Buildings
Holdings
Total Volume: 70 metres
Inclusive Dates: 1886 - current
Predominant Dates: 1930s - 1980s
Holdings consist of materials containing historical evidence about the Town of Athabasca, County of Athabasca, and related regions. These include a complete set of newspapers published in Athabasca from 1908 to the present, textual records, photographs, maps, blueprints, sound and moving images, a small reference library and periodical collection, and artifacts.
Finding aids, guides and publications
Access area
Opening times
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.