Did you know that the history room at the Yorkton Public Library , “Pages Past and Present”, contains hundreds of history books of various communities in the province? These books are reference books and cannot be borrowed from the Library, but they make fascinating reading of the life and times of many communities that helped shaped the province. They are a valuable resource for any genealogist or history buff. The room offers a quiet, comfortable spot to explore local history.
The history room came into being when a former Yorkton resident, Mr. Ernest Bauerle, passed away in 1970 and left a sum of money to the library to be used for educational research purposes. Mr. Bauerle came to Canada in 1930, emigrating from Germany, making his home near Kuroki before he moved to Yorkton in 1933.
The official opening of the history room in June, 1980, was a very special event, featuring esteemed Saskatchewan writer Gertrude Story as the guest speaker. The University of Saskatchewan Archives and Special Collections site (www.library.usask.ca/exhibitions) has this obituary for Ms. Story: “January 18, 2014 saw the passing of one of Saskatchewan`s literary greats. Born in Saskatchewan in 1929 Gertrude E. Story (née Wudrick) was one of Saskatchewan’s best known storytellers and writers. Her early years growing up in a German Lutheran farming environment formed the background to much of her writing. Starting in the early 1950s, she developed her craft as a freelance writer and broadcaster. Her works include adult and children’s fiction, poetry, radio plays, commentary and non-fiction. For many years she entertained CBC Radio audiences with her literary reports from her home in Vanscoy, southwest of Saskatoon… In 1981, at the age of 52, she graduated with a B.A. with distinction from the University of Saskatchewan, winning the President’s Medal as the most distinguished graduate in the College of Arts and Science…. Story was also very much appreciated by her peers… During her lifetime, Story was set alongside the likes of Szumigalski, Layton, Vanderhaeghe, and Mitchell in terms of the significance of her contributions to Canadian, prairie, and in particular Saskatchewan literature.” What a wonderul way to mark the opening of this important and dynamic room at the Library!
For your own interest, the U of S site listed above has many valuable links for genealogy, and is worth studying for reference. The “Manuscripts and Archival Collections” page says “University Archives & Special Collections holds a wide variety of manuscripts and archival collections donated by individuals and organizations both affiliated with and independent of the University of Saskatchewan.” Topics include agriculture, communications, education, geography, immigration and settlement, and many more.
Every family has a story; discover yours with the Yorkton Genealogy Society! New members are always welcome!
