COLEMAN, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - May 25, 2015) - Department of Canadian Heritage

The Government of Canada has provided the Crowsnest Historical Society with $4,176 in funding through the Museums Assistance Program.

This support will allow the Society to undertake a collections-management project for the Crowsnest Museum and Archives. The project will see the purchase of supplies and storage products to house and protect the Gushul Family Collection, a large and rare historical photograph collection that documents southern prairie life from the mid-1920s onwards. The Society will also conduct workshops for museum staff and local heritage organizations. This project will ensure long-term public access to artifacts in the museum's collection.

John Barlow, Member of Parliament (Macleod), made this announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.

Quick Facts

• The Crowsnest Historical Society is a non-profit organization founded in 1973 by local citizens with an interest in preserving the cultural history of the Crowsnest Pass, a mountain pass and rich archaeological zone across the Canadian Rockies on the Alberta-British Columbia border.
• Founded in 1985 and located on the site of a former community high school, the Crowsnest Museum and Archives has a collection of approximately 60,000 artifacts from the Crowsnest Pass area.
• The Gushul family were among the most prolific photographers of their time in Alberta. They opened a first photography studio in Bush Town in 1918 and a second in Blairmore in 1921.
• The Museums Assistance Program provides funding to Canadian museums and related institutions for projects that foster excellence in museum activities and that facilitate access to the treasures of our collective heritage.

Quotes

"Our Government recognizes the important role that museums play in strengthening our communities and preserving our rich heritage. The Crowsnest Museum and Archives is a unique and important facility in the heart of southern Alberta, and I am thrilled that they will be supported through the Museums Assistance Program."

-The Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages

"This investment will support the Crowsnest Museum and Archives as it continues to showcase an important part of Southern Alberta's remarkable history. Thank you to the Crowsnest Historical Society for safeguarding these significant artefacts and ensuring access for future generations."

-John Barlow, Member of Parliament (Macleod)

"The Negative Storage: Gushul Image Collection Project will see installation of the highest levels of conservation practices for the negatives of the Gushul Family photo collection. They hold some of the most wonderful, breathtaking and historically significant images that the Crowsnest Museum and Archives possesses."

-Chris Matthews, Executive Director, Crowsnest Museum and Archives

Associated Links

Crowsnest Museum and Archives

Museums Assistance Program

Gushul Family Photography

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