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National Library News |
by Norma Gauld,
Research and Information Services
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| Grey Owl (Archibald Stansfeld Belaney). |
Grey Owl was a topic of major interest in the Ottawa area in spring 1998. Sir Richard Attenborough was shooting a movie on location. Close by, researcher Mark Kristmanson, a Ph.D. candidate in the Concordia University humanities doctoral program, spoke about "White Mischief: Grey Owl and the Department of the Interior, 1928-38" at a Savoir Faire seminar. His presentation was based on a section of his thesis topic, which is: "Nationalities, culture and security in Canada, 1927-1969.
Mr. Kristmanson talked about his research into the period that Grey Owl spent in two of Canada’s national parks (Riding Mountain and Prince Albert), as a seasonal employee of the federal government. He examined and compared the writings of Grey Owl and his superiors at the Department of the Interior, notably Robert J.C. Stead. At the National Archives of Canada, he examined Grey Owl’s notebooks, which cover a 10-year period, and the official writings of Stead. Mr. Kristmanson explained that Grey Owl’s notebooks were undated, containing lists, jokes, caustic remarks, etc., whereas Stead’s diaries noted all his appointments and reflected, as did his writings, his patriotic, pro-Empire views. Using government records, Mr. Kristmanson traced official reaction to Grey Owl’s public performances and pronouncements on the role of national parks, wilderness areas and the place of the aboriginals. For example, he read excerpts from official memos about an incident in Quebec City when Grey Owl had walked off the stage during the rendition of God Save the King.
He set this story about Grey Owl in the context of his thesis of cultural nationalism, discussing how a territory is occupied culturally and examining the notions of "dweller" and "occupier", two forms of cultural habitation.
Mark Kristmanson’s research into Grey Owl utilized the National Library’s extensive collection of wilderness literature and periodicals from the 1920s and 1930s, including some rare editions. He also consulted the books of Robert J.C. Stead, city directories, newspapers and various reference sources, as well as making use of reference and interlibrary loan services.
The next Savoir Faire seminar will be given by Henny Nixon, who will speak about his research on William Carson (1770-1843) on January 26, 1999.