Edmonton's first Historian Laureate: Ken Tingley
Ken Tingley has worked as a self-employed historic resource consultant, researcher and writer in Edmonton since 1973. His work over the past 35 years includes a long and significant list of Edmonton and Alberta-based historical projects.
A major focus of his work has been in identifying historic resources within communities, and working to develop projects that interpret and preserve these resources. His work in researching and writing about historic resources and events reflects Ken’s commitment to responding to community interest in these things and connecting this interest to present day concerns.
Oral history, recording and interpreting the stories of people and their organizations, has been an increasingly important aspect of his work over the last decade. He has recently completed an oral history project for The Loyal Edmonton Regiment Museum Foundation on the story of The Regiment in the Italian campaign (WWII), which is now being developed into a book.
His work has also included museum planning and researching and preparing interpretive material, such as the history of firefighting in Alberta (2000) and interpretive planning for the Rossdale area of Edmonton (2008). He has completed a survey of the history of the Grouard Trail and a series of reports commemorating air service at Blatchford field. A report on the history of sport in Edmonton is another recent project. A history of the City Centre Airport was prepared in 2009.
Ken is currently working on a history of the Ortona Armoury for the Ortona Armoury Tenants Association, an illustrated history of Edmonton, and a history of the Highlands neighbourhood. He has a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts (History) degrees with specialization in Western Canadian studies from the University of Alberta and is a member of the Edmonton Historical Board’s Historic Resource Review Panel. He has served as a member of the Edmonton Historic Board, the Old Strathcona Foundation, Edmonton & District Historical Society and the Friends of Geographic Names of Alberta Society, as well as numerous editorial committees.
The Historian Laureate appointment is a two year term extending to April 2012. More details on Ken's work in his role as Edmonton's Historian Laureate are forthcoming.
SELECTED PROJECTS & PUBLICATIONS
"Nick Sheran and the First Alberta Coal Mine (1872)", "Nellie McClung (1872-1951)", The Spirit of Alberta: An Illustrated Heritage, Alberta Heritage Foundation, 1978.
A History of the Oil Sands Region, 1890-1960s, Alberta Oil Sands Environmental Research Program, 1980.
"The Veterans Volunteer Reserve in Alberta, 1940-1945", Alberta Museums Review, Vol. 15, Issue 2 (Fall/Winter 1988); with Maurice F.V. Doll, Curator of Government History, Provincial Museum of Alberta.
The Strathcona Dream A Photographic Impression, 1891-1920. Edmonton: Quality Press,1990.
Lieutenant-Governors of the Northwest Territories and Alberta, 1876-1991. Edmonton: Queen's Printer, 1991; with D. Blake McDougall, Provincial Legislature Librarian, and John E. McDonough.
Steam and Steel: Breaking the Prairie Sod. Edmonton: Alberta Culture and Multiculturalism, Friends of the Reynolds-Alberta Museum, 1992.
Edmonton Historic Resource Inventory, for FG Architectural and Planning Consultants, Unpublished report on the resources identified on the south side of the city, 1993.
For King and Country: Alberta in the Second World War, Edmonton: Provincial Museum of Alberta and Reidmore Books, 1995.
The Path of Duty: The Wartime Letters of Alwyn Bramley-Moore, 1914-1916. Altona, Manitoba: Alberta Records Publication Board, Historical Society of Alberta, 1998. A second revised edition was published in 2005.
The Best of the Strathcona Plaindealer 1977-1998. [Edmonton: Pioneer Press, Old Strathcona Foundation, 1999.] Editor, and author of three articles.
A is Alberta: A Centennial Alphabet, with artist RFM McInnis, was published in 2005.
Alberta Remembers: Recalling our Rural Roots, with artist Karen Brownlee, was published by Red Deer Press in 2005.
Heart of the City: A History of Cloverdale from Gallagher Flats to village in the park, was published for the Cloverdale Community League in 2005.
PUBLICATION PENDING 2010-2011
Building a Legacy: 100 Years of Edmonton’s Built Heritage, for the Planning and Development Department
A Regiment at War: The Loyal Eddies and the Battle for Europe 1939-1945, for The Loyal Edmonton Regiment Association and The Loyal Edmonton Regiment Museum
The Ride of the Century: The Edmonton Transit System 1908-2008, for the Edmonton Transit System
City of Edmonton News Release Historian Laureate Announcement, April 14, 2010