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Archival description
N-2002-005: 2-1 · File · 1919-1920
Part of Norman Robinson fonds

This file consists of one journal comprised of 50 black and white photographs (N-2002-005: 0001 to 0050) and accompanying narrative dated between 1919-1920. The journal and accompanying images describe a trip that Robinson took with John Hornby from Edmonton to Peace River Crossing by train where they purchased supplies, including a canoe, for their trip to Fort Smith. This journal follows their expedition to the Hudson's Bay Company Red River post where they wintered for two months and trapped, before continuing on to Fort Smith. This album includes a sketch map of the trip from Peace River Crossing to Fort Smith. The photographs include images of John Hornby, Norman Robinson, trapping activities, camping, traveling by dog team and canoe, as well as photographs of scenery, rapids and posts at Fort Chipewyan and Fort Fitzgerald.

Robinson's description in his journal may cause offense because he uses outdated language to describe Indigenous Peoples including Inuit and peoples with mixed heritage. Please note that Robinson's journal also includes a racist and sexist slur for Indigenous women. We have reproduced the original as is because it is a part of the original historical record. If you have feedback or questions, please contact the NWT Archives.

[Norman Robinson letters]
N-2002-005: 1-3 · File · 1919-1920
Part of Norman Robinson fonds

A journal containing personal observation and transcribed letters written by Norman Robinson to his family between 1919-1920. The letters and journal entries recount his travels and experiences in the Northwest Territories.

N-2002-005: 2-2 · File · 1920-1921
Part of Norman Robinson fonds

This file consists of one journal comprised of 73 black and white photographs (N-2002-005: 0051 to 0123) and accompanying narrative dated between 1920-1921. The journal describes Robinson's work transporting freight aboard the gas boat "Lady Mackworth" and as a purser on the steamer " Mackenzie River" which ran supplies from Fort Smith to Fort McPherson. The journal also describes the winter he spent in Fort Chipewyan as a bookkeeper for the Hudson's Bay Company. The photographs include images of Robinson, travel by dog team, camping, fishing, transportation of scows and freight between Fort Fitzgerald to Fort Smith and the steamer "Mackenzie River."

Robinson's description in his journal may cause offense because he uses outdated language to describe Indigenous Peoples including Inuit and peoples with mixed heritage. Please note that the journal also contain discussions of domestic violence on pages 47-48 of the attachment. We have reproduced the original as is because it is a part of the original historical record. If you have feedback or questions, please contact the NWT Archives.

[Norman Robinson letters]
N-2002-005: 1-4 · File · 1921-1922
Part of Norman Robinson fonds

A journal containing personal observations and transcribed letters written by Norman Robinson to his family between 1921-1922. The letters and journal entries recount his travels and experiences in the Northwest Territories.

N-2002-005: 2-3 · File · 1921-1922
Part of Norman Robinson fonds

This file consists of one journal comprised of 64 black and white photographs (N-2002-005: 0124 to 0187) and accompanying narrative dated between 1921-1922. The journal describes the winter that Robinson spent at Gravel Point, the Hudson's Bay Company shipyard and his work as a purser and pilot aboard the "Lady Mackworth" before joining the Lawson Hubbard Company as a trader in Fort Good Hope. The photographs include images of Robinson, travel by dog team, fishing, the steamer "Northland Trader" trapping activities, indigenous clothing, stretching moose hide and settlements at Fort Resolution, Fort Providence and Fort Good Hope.

Robinson's description in his journal may cause offense because he uses outdated language to describe Indigenous Peoples including Inuit and peoples with mixed heritage. Please note that Robinson's journal also includes a racist and sexist slur for Indigenous women which is visible throughout the attachment. We have reproduced the original as is because it is a part of the original historical record. If you have feedback or questions, please contact the NWT Archives.

[Trapping with John Hornby]
N-2002-005: 2-4 · File · 1923-1924
Part of Norman Robinson fonds

This file consists of one journal comprised of 30 black and white photographs (N-2002-005: 0188 to 0217) and accompanying narrative dated between 1923-1924. The journal describes the winter that Robinson spent trapping with John Hornby and also documents a trip Robinson took with Willie McNeill, Chief Ranger, hauling supplies from Fort Smith to Pine Lake Cabin by dogsled. It is in this journal that Robinson mentions seeing Hornby for the last time in September 1924 and includes newspaper clippings about the discovery of Hornby's body and excerpts from Edgar Christian's diary that were published in the Edmonton Daily Province. The photographs include images of Robinson,Hornby, travel by dog team, camping and trapping activities and pack dogs.

Robinson's description in his journal may cause offense because he uses outdated language to describe Indigenous Peoples and peoples with mixed heritage. Robinson also mentions an anti-black racist slur which was a name used for one of the dogs he encountered. We have reproduced the original as is because it is a part of the original historical record. If you have feedback or questions, please contact the NWT Archives.

N-2002-005: 2-5 · File · 1924
Part of Norman Robinson fonds

This file consists of one journal comprised of 21 black and white photographs (N-2002-005: 0218 to 0238) and accompanying narrative dated 1924. The journal describes a six-week surveying trip where Norman Robinson was hired to guide a Dominion Land Survey team from Ottawa led by Mr. [John] Russell. The team traveled by dogsled from Fort Smith to Fort Resolution and across Great Slave Lake to Fort Rae and were stranded on Hardisty Island during break-up. They were rescued by a Mr. Blanchet, another Land Surveyor. In addition, there is a short account of a summer survey expedition to map Artillery, Clinton, Colden, Aylmer and McKay Lakes in the Barren Lands at the east end of Great Slave Lake. The photographs primarily document travel by dog team and winter camping activities.

Please note that the PDF contains outdated terminology referring to Indigenous peoples.

[Norman Robinson letter]
N-2002-005: 1-1 · File · May 29, 1924
Part of Norman Robinson fonds

Nine page handwritten letter written by Norman Robinson to his mother. The letter is dated May 29, 1924 and describes Robinsons travels with Survey party in April and the time the survey party was stranded on Hardisty Island, for a month during ice-breakup on Great Slave Lake. This letter includes a sketch map of the islands where the party camped during the survey.

[Norman Robinson letter]
N-2002-005: 1-2 · File · June 22, 1924
Part of Norman Robinson fonds

A one page handwritten letter from Norman Robinson to his mother. The letter dated June 22, 1924, written from Fort Resolution, recounts that Robinson will be travelling again leading a survey party by schooner to Artillery Lake.

[Kamloops, British Columbia]
N-2002-005: 2-6 · File · 1927-1930
Part of Norman Robinson fonds

This file consists of one journal comprised of 114 black and white photographs and accompanying narrative dated 1927-1930. The journal describes Robinson establishing a timber business and homestead at Kamloops, British Columbia before accepting a position as a Game Warden for the British Columbia Provincial Game Department. The photographs include images of Robinson, his wife Margaret (Peggy), their homestead and the daily activities of his timber business, as well as a vacation they took to Vancouver and the Vancouver Exhibition and Stampede. In addition, there are images of wildlife and the district that Robinson patrolled as Game Warden.

[Quesnel, British Columbia]
N-2002-005: 3-1 · File · 1930
Part of Norman Robinson fonds

This file consists of one journal comprised of 197 black and white photographs and accompanying narrative dated 1930. The journal describes Robinson's year as a Game Warden in Quesnel, British Columbia and his social life in Quesnel. He describes various patrols and hunting trips, a grizzly bear attack on Game Warden Kibbee, a patrol to the village of Kluskus with a Northwest Mounted Police Officer, a trip to the Williams Lake Stampede and the visit of Governor General Viscount Wellington in April 1930. The photographs include images of Robinson, his wife Margaret (Peggy), their homestead, recreational activities with friends in Quesnel (tennis, riding, golf, swimming, picnics), logging, mining, images from patrols, Williams Lake Stampede, a visit from a circus and from Governor General Viscount Wellington.

N-2002-005: 3-2 · File · 1938
Part of Norman Robinson fonds

This file consists of one journal comprised of 121 black and white photographs and accompanying narrative dated 1938. The journal describes Robinson's return to his homeland, Ireland, to work for the Turf Development Board on Clonsast Bog in Leix. Robinson details the first year of the operation to harvest turf fuel from the bog, including the drainage of the bog and construction of bridges, buildings and the railway, as well as the different tools and machinery used in the process. The photographs include images of Robinson, the crew working on the bog, digging ditches and leveling ground, construction of the railway and buildings, as well as the dredgers, locomotives and the cutting machine.

N-2002-005: 3-3 · File · 1937-1940
Part of Norman Robinson fonds

This file consists of one journal comprised of 39 black and white photographs and accompanying narrative and ephemera dated between 1937-1940. The journal describes Robinson's return to his homeland, Ireland, to work for the Turf Development Board on Clonsast Bog in Leix. The journal includes postcards of Ireland, Robinson's passport, four insurance cards, and membership cards in the National Health Insurance Society. There is also a Canadian Immigration Identification Card which was issued at St. John, New Brunswick in 1940 when the Robinson's re-entered Canada, as well as memorabilia from the trip on the steamer "Duchess of Richmond." The photographs include images of Robinson, his wife, friends they met in Ireland and drainage and leveling of the bog.

The Land of Feast or Famine
N-2010-002: 1-1 · File · 2008
Part of Norman Robinson fonds

One file containing the transcribed reminiscences of Norman Robinson regarding his travels with John Hornby from 1919 to 1920. The story recalls their travels and trapping in the South Slave region including around Great Slave Lake and along the Back and Thelon Rivers. It also includes material related to payment of Treaty and travel down the Mackenzie River to Fort Good Hope.

Please note that the text includes several outdated terms to refer to Indigenous people, including a racist and sexist slur for Indigenous women. We have reproduced these terms in the digitized document because they are a part of the original historical record. If you have questions or feedback please contact NWT Archives.

Our Northern Waterways
N-2010-002: 1-2 · File · 2008
Part of Norman Robinson fonds

One file containing the transcribed reminiscences of Norman Robinson regarding the travel route by river and lake from Northern Alberta to Great Slave Lake and down the Mackenzie River.

Robinson's description may cause offense because he uses outdated language to describe Indigenous Peoples including the Inuit. We have reproduced the original as is because it is a part of the original historical record. If you have feedback or questions, please contact the NWT Archives.