I went to the Provincial Archives of Alberta (PAA) with a printout of my Baba, Geto and Dad’s school district information along with the following additional details. I initially got the school district information from the following website but quickly discovered that this is their old website. I am listing the older and newer websites for PAA. Please use the second one.
Heritage Resources Management Information System (HeRMIS), Old website information so please do not use.https://hermis.alberta.ca/
Search the Provincial Archives of Alberta (PAA)
This is the website to use now.
https://searchprovincialarchives.alberta.ca/
https://searchprovincialarchives.alberta.ca/
The staff at PAA were excellent in finding an archive box on the Primula school district that my Dad, his sisters, and many of his cousins went to. However please note that these school records have not been indexed or processed. There is just the initial description of what is in the boxes on the PAA website. It was only by luck that the archive box I got was clearly written on the side with what is in it, that the PAA staff member was able to find this box. Even though I only got the archive box on one school records (Primula School, Daily Register on the students’ attendance and teacher info.), I am keeping my working notes just in case if in the future the PAA staff does discover the other school district records archive boxes.
For my Baba’s family her father, Partemy Pawliuk remained on the same farm in the Kysylew district. I knew his homestead was at NW-3-57-17-W54. For my Geto’s family his father, Elko Kalynchuk homestead at NE-36-56-18-W4 in the Limestone Lake district but they moved in 1906 and ended up in the Primula district in 1909.
I then listed out the birth dates of my Baba and her siblings and added 6 years to come up with the year that they probably started grade one. For example, my Baba was born in 1904 + 6 = 1910. My Geto was born in 1901 – 6 = 1907, his brother John was born in 1895 + 6 = 1901 and sister Maria was born in 1900 + 6 = 1906. Both John and Maria are listed on the 1911 and 1916 censuses as able to read and speak in English.
I then went on Ancestry.ca and checked the 1906, 1911, 1916 and 1921 Censuses of Canada to see which children are listed that they can read and speak in English as I knew that not all of the children in my Baba and Geto’s families were sent to school. For example, I was told that my Baba went to grade five and that my Geto did not get a formal education but that some of his siblings did, e.g., his older brother Ivan (John). My Dad started school at the Willow Range school and took two years of grade one as he did not speak English when he starting. He then transferred to the Primula school and went to grade eight. He quit school at the age of 16 to go work at the Lindbergh Salt Plant. I used this census information and the oral family history as a guide but was looking for the evidence in the school records and actual school pictures with my family members listed.
An example, in the 1921 Census of Canada, my Baba is listed as Sandyna Pawlak, 16 years of age and “yes” to reading and speaking English. Her sister Anna is 12 and listed as a “student” and can read and speak English and their brother Daniel is 23 and can read and speak in English.
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| Limestone Lake School, 1900 Copyright Status, Expired |
In some of the local history books are maps of the school districts and homestead locations. This will help you to figure out which school(s) your ancestors went to. You also have to figure out which school division the school was in, at a certain time period. It is good idea to also look at neighboring local history books as I found overlaps. I wrote an earlier blog article on local history books including where you can view them (PAA) and take them out at the Edmonton Public Library or the Alberta Genealogical Society's library for members-only.
Family History books are another good source of background information on local schools info. including student group pictures. I was lucky enough to have known Walter Sharek as my Uncle and friend. His older sister Dora Sharek married my Geto’s older brother John Kalynchuk. It was so cool to look through the Primula School records at the PAA and first see Walter Sharek as a student in 1926 then to see him come back as their teacher in 1936. He was the MC at the 1993 Kalynchuk family reunion and I republished two of his articles on the Primula School and Primula District in the Kalynchuk Family History book.
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| The first student listed (highest grade) is Walter Sharek, Sept. 1926 |
Another good source is local historical societies, and I found the following information from the Elk Point Historical Society on the Primula and Willow Range schools.
Willow Range School – Early 1940’s with Mary, Nancy, Dolly, and Lily Kalynchuk in the student and teacher group picture.
Willow Range School – Early 1940’s with Mary, Nancy, Dolly, and Lily Kalynchuk in the student and teacher group picture.
https://elkpointhistory.ca/class-pictures-1940s
My Mom has said that my Baba spoke broken English and because she rarely left the farm especially in the early years, this is understandable. In later life, she went to the Elk Point theatre to watch movies. My Mom said that my Geto spoke good English, but he visited the neighbors and traveled to town more often. When working on the Kalynchuk Family History book I was told by my Aunt Nancy (my Dad's older sister) that my Baba knew enough English that she helped the neighboring Ukrainian ladies with their Eaton catalogue orders, in the earlier years.
Primula School Class Pictures with the second and third student group pictures including my Dad, Steve Kalynchuk. https://heinsburg.ca/primula-school-class-pictures
Fate of Country Schools which includes the Willow Range and Primula schools' fate.
Fate of Country Schools which includes the Willow Range and Primula schools' fate.
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| Primula School Census, 1932-1933 |
A highlight when looking at the Primula school records was to find the entries for my Dad starting school in Primula and especially to see that in his second year, his attendance improved! And I discovered that my Aunt Barbara (daughter of Harry) went by her middle name in school, Annie. This had me puzzled for awhile as there was also an Annie Kalynchuk, daughter of John. My Aunt Pauline went by Polly.
One good find in this archive box was the occasional “School Census” form which lists the student’s name, date of birth, distance from the school and full name of the parent or guardian and their post office address. I found this in the 1932-1933 Daily Register. I also found the occasional "Transfer card" when a student transfered from one school to another. I found a transfer card for Donald Buksa when he transferred from the Willow Range school to the Primula school on April 12, 1944 and the post office was at Gratz.
One good find in this archive box was the occasional “School Census” form which lists the student’s name, date of birth, distance from the school and full name of the parent or guardian and their post office address. I found this in the 1932-1933 Daily Register. I also found the occasional "Transfer card" when a student transfered from one school to another. I found a transfer card for Donald Buksa when he transferred from the Willow Range school to the Primula school on April 12, 1944 and the post office was at Gratz.
Also interesting to note that in 1935 the school subjects for first year of High School (probably grade ten) was English Literature I, English Composition I, History I, Algebra I, Geometry I, General Science I and Latin I.
My Mom has said that my Baba spoke broken English and because she rarely left the farm especially in the early years, this is understandable. In later life, she went to the Elk Point theatre to watch movies. My Mom said that my Geto spoke good English, but he visited the neighbors and traveled to town more often. When working on the Kalynchuk Family History book I was told by my Aunt Nancy (my Dad's older sister) that my Baba knew enough English that she helped the neighboring Ukrainian ladies with their Eaton catalogue orders, in the earlier years.
My Geto's older brother John Kalynchuk who married Dora Sharek had two questions on their marriage certificate for each to answer - if they can read and write in English. Both stated "yes' on February 17, 1925. John was a school trustee for the Primula School Division which later became the Two Hills School Division. And he served as a Councillor for the Ethelwyn District which later became the Vermilion River District.
Besides the fonds on school district records, there is also valuable information in the collections of important local leaders. For example, I found out that the Willow Range school was the first teaching job for Mrs. Mary Lobay. Her maiden name was Hawrelak. It was a wonderful experience to go through her collection at the PAA and I was able to confirm when she taught at the Willow Range school in her resume. She taught grade one to ten in the Two Hills School Division at the Willow Range school from 1939 to 1940. She went on to become a member of the Order of Canada and probably taught my Aunt Dolly and Nancy (sisters of my Dad). It is recorded that the Hawrelak family research goes back to 1739 and I am still trying to find these records. For a PAA request slip to access the Dr. Mary Lobay collection it is "Acc. No. PR0051", with nine boxes.
Theodore Nemirsky was the Wostok postmaster until 1912 and one day I plan on reviewing his collection at the PAA. https://searchprovincialarchives.alberta.ca/nemirsky-family-fonds
Even though my Dad quit school at 16 and ended up farming full time, his education assisted him in keeping really good farm records.
Theodore Nemirsky was the Wostok postmaster until 1912 and one day I plan on reviewing his collection at the PAA. https://searchprovincialarchives.alberta.ca/nemirsky-family-fonds
Even though my Dad quit school at 16 and ended up farming full time, his education assisted him in keeping really good farm records.
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| Joint farming by Steve and Harry Kalynchuk in 1959 |