The legacy of Evan Gushul extends throughout southern Alberta. As the son of Ukrainian immigrants, Evan grew up with a profound appreciation for his Ukrainian roots. The Gushul children attended music lessons, Ukrainian language classes, and Ukrainian dance classes, with his parents instilling in him the values of hard work and perseverance. Throughout his life, Evan applied these lessons, forging a storied career of his own.
Read MoreThough easily the most common form of body modification, the history of piercings often proves as subtle as the jewelry itself. Archaeological records suggest that humans have been piercing themselves for at least 5,000 years, often starting with the earlobe. Cultures worldwide have long used piercings to denote social characteristics or sacred rites.
Read MoreFew constants exist in the ever-changing world of high school. Perhaps none have proven as nostalgically valuable as the portraits, signatures, and memories found in a high school yearbook. Much of Lethbridge’s own high school history sits in its shelves full of these volumes, dating as far back as 1922!
Read MoreNot all humour ages gracefully, as anyone who grew up subjected to dad jokes can tell you. Context gets lost, punchlines become predictable; when was the last time a knock-knock joke got a laugh from you? It’s easy to see, then, how printed jokes in the newspaper fell out of fashion. This doesn’t mean, though, that old newspapers are entirely humourless today. Indeed, some jokes published over a century ago still prove funny today!
Read MoreSometimes, certain indicators—a scrap-paper bookmark here, a scribble on that corner—will pop out at just the right time, serving as immediate reminders of the people who used, owned, and, in many cases, loved these items. While the exact dates or authors of these personal touches can be hard to pin down, these small treasures can sometimes humanize the residents of Lethbridge’s past more than any catalogue or municipal record.
Read MoreIn January of 1923, Lethbridge resident E. G. Sterndale Bennett published a letter in the Herald. The column, a thoughtfully penned request to connect with theatre lovers like himself, received only one written response. This year, Sterndale Bennett’s theatre group celebrated their centennial. Clearly, an opening isn’t everything!
Read MoreWhether you’re repulsed by or devoted to tattoos, it’s hard to deny their significance in human history. Ötzi the Iceman, a 5,000-year-old mummy, sported sixty-one small lines of ink around his body. Body modification has long been used around the globe to denote characteristics like strength, social standing, or battle experience. In modern-day Lethbridge, many of us wear them for a slightly less compelling reason; we like how they look!
Read MoreDiscover the development of hearing aids
Read MoreFrequent travellers may be familiar with phrase books—dictionaries used during a trip to communicate in basic sentences, even if you don’t understand the local language. You may not know, however, just how far back these tools date!
Read MoreWith so many online platforms popping up around family history and DNA research, it’s clear that interest in the field of genealogy is increasing. And in part due to the pandemic, the online accessibility of other genealogical materials has increased dramatically as well. Despite all of these great online resources, to get a full picture of your family history you will eventually need to step foot into an archive to view important documents and photos in person. This can be a daunting idea if you have never visited an archive or don’t know how to access one. But it’s actually quite easy!
Read MoreThe Inn Purple was a coffee house for young adults that was open from 1967 to 1968 in Lethbridge. It was a place where teens and young adults could go to hang out, listen to music and dance without drugs, alcohol or their parents.
Read MoreOur region is known for its long-standing rodeo tradition. What you probably didn’t know is that it was Raymond’s own Earl Bascom who invented the hornless bronc saddle—a more efficient and safer saddle that is still used in rodeo competitions today.
Read MoreThis year, A.E. Cross Studio, the oldest continuously operated photographic studio in Lethbridge, celebrates its centennial.
Read MoreMaking the photographs taken for the Lethbridge Herald available to the public and researchers has been one of the largest and longest projects in the Galt’s archives.
Read MoreRead about Dayle Gaskarth’s experience running on Highway 3 as an Olympic torchbearer for the Calgary Olympics in 1988.
Read MoreArchives Assistant Bobbie Fox explains how items get donated and accepted into the archives, and shows some newly donated materials.
Read MoreA hundred years ago, the local citizens seemed less enchanted with the urban railway. The articles in the Lethbridge Herald reveal a range of issues that Lethbridgians had with the public transit of the day.
Read MoreThe Roast and Toast section of the Lethbridge Herald has a surprisingly long history. One hundred years ago, this column was known as "People's Forum."
Read MorePlaying cat and mouse with local "gambling joints" was a daily activity for the Lethbridge Police in the 1920s. It was not an easy game to win.
Read MoreArchives Assistant Bobbie Fox walks us through how to use our online database as a starting point for community and family research with a focus on the collection of Lethbridge Herald photographs in the Galt's archival collection.
Read More
