What was the population of St. Albert in 1933? What did the area look like before Akinsdale was developed? When did Nolan Crouse become mayor?
Okay, some history questions are easier than others, and Rene Georgopalis is there to field all of them. As the archivist at the Musée Héritage Museum, every day on the job is about all the days that have already happened. You may not know it yet, but she holds the keys to a treasure chest of neat and interesting old stuff.
That’s what Ask the Archivist is all about. She says that the special event today isn’t just about connecting people with the past; it’s also about connecting them with her.
“I just want people to know what we do have back here,” she said from within the vault itself, “and not to be afraid to come to me and ask me questions.”
As part of Alberta Archives Week, a province-wide promotion put on by the Archives Society of Alberta, Georgopalis will operate a booth in St. Albert Place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today for people to ask questions about local history.
She cautions people not to expect quick results but she says that she will do her level best to find answers.
“I don’t always have the answers or the records that will answer their questions, but I can often direct them in the right places.”
At the very least, the event will serve as a great introduction to the resources held safe within the facility’s walls. Mostly, people only think of the museum from what they see in the exhibit space. The relatively small storage area, however, is densely packed.
According to the museum’s website at www.museeheritage.com, the Archives’ holdings “include over 100 metres of material including personal papers, oral histories, municipal records, business and community organization records,” all of which are relevant to this city and the surrounding area.
There is also a special library that includes more than 1,000 non-circulating books on the history of Alberta and St. Albert.
“As long as there are no restrictions or copyright issues, it’s all here for the public to look at. Even though we’re jam-packed, it really is for the public.”
She added that there are too many reasons to list why anyone might need to access the archives. According to her, city staff members are among her most frequent guests. There are also visitors who are looking for evidence of how things used to be.
“We’re a trusted repository. It’s our job as archivists to make sure the records aren’t tampered with, to try to preserve it as long as possible so that memory and evidence of St. Albert and area remains.”
Apart from answering history questions, Georgopalis can also help people learn how to care for their own documents, photographs and artifacts, or how to donate them to the museum. She can even schedule private tours.
