What happens when you bring theatre people to an event where archival documents are being read? Inspiration! The event in question was the Provincial Archives of Alberta’s second Voices of the Past, held during Archives Week at the beginning of October last year. At this annual event, archival records are brought to life through reading by prominent people from the community, to the delight of the audience. In 2006, one of the readings involved the letters of Dr. Mary Percy Jackson.
The Mary Percy Jacksons finds at the Provincial Archives of Alberta includes transcripts of letters to family and friends when she arrived in Alberta in 1929. Born in England and trained as a doctor, Dr. Jackson answered an advertisement in the February 23, 1929 British Medical Journal:
“Strong energetic Medical Women with post-graduate experience in Midwifery, wanted for country work in Western Canada, under the Provincial Government Department of Health.”
She soon learned, from Dr. Emma Johnstone, that “The ability to ride a saddle horse would be a great advantage.” With little horse-riding experience but full of determination and an adventurous spirit, Dr. Jackson was posted to Notikewin in the Peace River region, far from the life to which she was accustomed. In reading the letters, one cannot help but be captivated by her humour and experiences:
”Going for walks is anything but the simple thing it is in England though. I shall have to redress myself. Before I can go out, I must put on about 6 layers of wool! Actually a wool vest, woolen combs (ankle and elbow length) thick wool knickers, breeches, a thick wool sweater, a thick woolen coat, a moose hide coat, a thick camel hair and wool scarf, a wool cap with ear flaps, camel hair and wool mitts, and big fur and moose hide mitts coming almost to my elbows on top. And if I were going out in a sleigh I should add my big blanket lined leather cat, my traveling rug, an enormously heavy traveling robe and a charcoal heater for my feet!!! And even then get frost bitten probably!! Alas! My nose will never be the same again. I’ve had it bitten three or four times already!” Mary Percy Jackson, Jan 5th, 1930
As it happened, one of the readers at Voices of the Past was David Cheoros (my husband, and a theatre director and producer). When he and Heather Swain, an actor and writer, sitting in the audience, heard the letters of Dr. Jackson, they both had the same thought: “These would make a great play.” They were impressed by the force, wit and intelligence of Dr. Jackson’s writing. David was hoping to draw me (an archivist by trade) into the theatre world by involving me in his next Edmonton Fringe project. As we drove home after the event, the passion these two theatre people felt for these letters was thrilling for me, the archivist. And what better way for a husband and wife to collaborate than on a project that involved both their passions – theatre and archives! The plan was then set in motion. The letters were read in their entirety, and include too many fabulous tales to be included in a 45 minute play. With two individuals who had both worked for the Fringe Festival, we had experience behind us in the initial planning. Slowly but surely, the pieces fell into place. The play was to be a BYOV (Bring Your Own Venue), in which the producing artists take responsibility for securing and equipping their own theatre venue. The location was booked: the newly-renovated Strathcona Branch of the Edmonton Public Library. Not only is the Library a historic building, but it has a long history of programming accessible word-based work at the Festival.
Photographs and moving images were found in the Provincial Archives holdings. The Provincial Archives is thrilled to be part of this exciting project. A draft of the play has been completed (titled Letters from Battle River). A preview performance is scheduled, presented as an element of the Edmonton & Athabaska District Historic Festival.
Karen Simsonson
Archives Society of Alberta Magazine - Spring 2007