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Description
FC 3213 L55 042 · Series · 1889 - 1920
Part of Life, Events, and Players in the North-West

An archive of 52 interesting and significant letters by Thomas “Alf” Patrick and his wife Marion (1889-1904). Almost all letters come with their original stamped mailing envelopes (49 envelopes in total). 44 letters are by Thomas and 8 by Marion.
Most of the letters are handwritten and signed, ranging from a single page up to five pages, often closely written. 3 are typed and signed.
In the case of letters by Thomas Patrick, many of the letters to his wife are almost in diary form recording events as they happened [often mailed from Regina]. Some letters are written when Patrick was physically sitting in the Legislative Chambers waiting for events to unfold there. These are usually on embossed North West Territory Legislative stationery.
Three themes run through the archive:

  • Significant political matters and events surrounding the period when Patrick served in the North West Territories Legislature
  • Historical events on the Prairies
  • Issues relating to a lack of infrastructure and a changing societal and political landscape due to heavy immigration into the
    Prairies.
  • Life on the Prairies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
  • The close personal relationship and related family matters between two early pioneers in Saskatchewan
    Topics covered include: medical, legislative matters, Indians and half-breeds, railway events, life in Saltcoats and Regina, Saskatchewan, land investments, illnesses on the prairies, people (Clifford Sifton and Frederick Haultain) and related topics, immigration, Mennonites, Hungarians, Doukhobors, infrastructure, visiting patients, and much more.
Patrick, Thomas Alfred
Item · November 17, 1903
Part of Life, Events, and Players in the North-West

Place: Regina [N.W.T.]

From: Alf [T.A. Patrick]

To: Mrs. Marion G. Patrick, Byron, Middlesex Co., Ont[ario]

Delivery: Canada Post, postmarked

Details: 2 pp on lined North West Territories letterhead and envelope. Third sheet of paper has Asian characters written on it.

Notes: Alf [T.A. Patrick] writes a letter to his wife while she is away in Ontario. He writes that "it is nearly four o clock pm, an hour later than Yorkton time and daylight is rather scarce. We are having but not enjoying a real cold snap with more wind than enough. My bronchitis is worse owing to sitting yesterday too long in this cold legislative chamber." He later writes that "the provincial autonomy resolution comes on tomorrow," and then states that he encloses "a letter from George. Tell him a Chinaman wrote-it." He finishes his letter saying, "there is a rumour now that the elections are coming on in January."

Patrick, Thomas Alfred
Item · September 5, 1903
Part of Life, Events, and Players in the North-West

Place: Collingwood, Ont[ario]

From: Alf [T.A. Patrick]

To: Mrs. Marion G. Patrick, Byron, Middlesex Co., Ont.

Delivery: Canada Post, postmarked

Details: 1pp on lined Grand Central Hotel, Collingwood Ont. letterhead. The envelope is printed with “Great Northern Exhibition, Collingwood, Ont. – September 22, 23, 24, 25, 1903.” in red ink.

Notes: T.A. Patrick writes one of his frequent letters to his wife while in Ontario. He writes that he "arrived at Collingwood last night to find that owing to a smash-up or a break-down or a break-up or a smash-down the boat I decided to sail on has been taken off the route and there is none until Tuesday so I leave at noon for Meaford then by stage to Owen Sound where I hope to catch a C.P.R. boat leaving there tonight at 5:30."

Patrick, Thomas Alfred
Item · November 8, 1903
Part of Life, Events, and Players in the North-West

Place: Regina [N.W.T.]

From: Alf [T.A. Patrick]

To: Mrs. Marion G. Patrick, Byron, Lucan, Middlesex Co., Ont[ario]

Delivery: Canada Post, postmarked

Details: 4 pp on Alexandra Hotel, Regina, N.W.T. letterhead. Envelope is printed with “Return to The Alexandra Hotel, F. Nash, Proprietor, Regina N.W.T.” in black ink.

Notes: T.A. Patrick writes a letter to his wife, Marion, while she is away in Ontario. He writes, "it is Sunday morning, again, and we have for the first time in, about, a month a completely overcast sky. Last night there was a slight flurry of snow but only a flurry. The weather is warm and the ground not yet frozen up. I do not recollect seeing the freeze-up delayed so late in the season before. I had instructions sent to Mr. Goodacre to dig the ditch to lower the level of the lake three feet, and I am wondering what progress has been made. Mr. Thomson surveyed and laid out the ditch. It is to be about a mile long and about nine feet deep for a short distance just where it comes out of the lake. I am anxious to get it well started this fell whether completed or not."

He informs his wife that he intends to go back to Yorkton to hold "a service of meetings all over the electoral district of Yorkton (not Mackenzie district) to explain the municipal ordinance, and generally the work of the session. This will mean a lot of travelling and will take two or three weeks." He mentions this now "because it may affect [Marion's] home coming," but if she desired "to prolong [her] visit it will be much less lonesome for [Patrick] if [he is] away through the country on political business than if [he was] at home." He states, "I have not visited my constituency since my election and have no yet seen the new town of Sheho."

Patricks thinks that he will go to Edmonton to visit his brother Emerson and to see Edmonton, Strathcona, and Wetaskiwin since his old pupil John Brown lives there. Patrick then updates his wife that his bronchitis is improving but that the "hotel life is wearying." However, he sees his brother, Jack, everyday. He writes about Jack, "if the benches of the Law Society meet at Brandon this month he may go there as acting Secretary of the Law Society with some prospect of being chosen permanent Secretary were Mackenzie resigned. The position is wroth $400 a year at least, and would exalt him very much in his profession but he is somewhat handicapped by the fact that Yorkton is somewhat remote and not directly connected by rail and mail routes with the rest of the Territories. However, next year will remedy this condition, and it may not ban him." Patrick continues that "Jack has ordered his library from the Canada Law Book Co. of Toronto. It will be more extensive than that of any other Yorkton lawyer. They give him all the time he wants to pay for it."

Patrick then changes the subject of his letter, explaining that "hotels all over the Territories are overcrowded, and many can not get beds. All signs point to an extraordinarily heavy immigration," with 6000 Mennonites going just north and west of Beau and Burch.

He then asks what is wrong with their friends Maude and Thompson, inquiring about the wedding, and discussing Mrs. Merriam's [Maude's mother's] reluctance to see her daughter marry. Patrick states that "nineteen years old is hardly old enough" but, then, jokes, "tell Leslie that if he had only decided to marry a Doukhobor or a Galician or Hungarian there would have been no delay."

Patrick, Thomas Alfred
Item · September 14, 1889
Part of Life, Events, and Players in the North-West

Place: Saltcoats, Assiniboia

From: Alf, T.A.P. [Thomas A. Patrick]

To: Miss Marion Griffith, Byron, Ontario, Canada

Delivery: registered Canadian Post, via London, postmarks

Details: 11pp + envelope, note on envelope “240” and “246”

Notes: Alf tells of a party he attended, an abscessed knee he treated, his good opinion of Bishop Anson of Qu’ Appelle, and an eyebrow he sutured. Alf enjoys teaching and is pleased to also be paid for it. He is unhappy at the unexpectedly high taxidermy bill for the mounting of a pelican. Alf had news of the death by consumption of his cousin, Mary Ann Hobbs, and it is expected that her father and sister will also pass soon. Alf has arranged to rent a house owned by Mr. Fisher, with plans to live in one bedroom while sub-renting part to Mr. and Mrs. Lauder and part to Mr. Cumming. A suit Marion selected for him arrived and Alf is very pleased with it. Writing again later, on returning from Crescent Lake to treat Mr. Kent, Alf believes the man to die soon and will not be charging the family as they are in financial straits.

Patrick, Thomas Alfred
Item · November 19, 1903
Part of Life, Events, and Players in the North-West

Place: Regina [N.W.T.]

From: T.A. Patrick

To: Mrs. Marion G. Patrick, Byron, Middlesex Co., Ont[ario]

Delivery: Canada Post, postmarked

Details: 2 pp on The Alexandra Hotel letterhead. Envelope is printed with the words “Return to the Alexandra Hotel, F. Nash, Proprietor, Regina, N.W.T.” in black ink.

Notes: T.A. Patrick writes to his wife while she is away in Ontario stating, "last night the Provincial Autonomy resolution passed after a splendid speech by Haultain. Today we may have the budget and in that event I may leave for Edmonton tomorrow morning so as to get there on Saturday night. Otherwise I might have to remain in Calgary over Sunday. There are still rumours of a row but I believe the Liberals will swallow the next dose as readily as they swallowed the dose given them last night."

Patrick then lays out his travel plans stating, "it will take two days to Edmonton two days there; one day at Wetaskiwin, one day en route from Edmonton to Calgary. Lethbridge via MacLeod. Four or five days or perhaps a week around Cardston and Lethbridge and three days to reach Winnipeg so it will be the 6th December before I can get to Winnipeg should I meet you [Marion] there then, but I don't know your plans are and after I leave here it will be sometime before my mail reaches me." He then writes that he will keep her "advised as to [his] whereabouts from time to time but the farther west I go the longer it will take for my letters to reach you."

He finishes his letter, "the weather continues cold but with no lack of sunshine. Love to the bairns and you all.

Patrick, Thomas Alfred
Item · May 20, 1889
Part of Life, Events, and Players in the North-West

Place: Saltcoats, Assiniboia

From: Alf, T.A.P [Thomas A. Patrick]

To: Miss Marion Grittith, Byron, Ontario, Canada

Delivery: registered Canadian Post, via London, postmarks

Details: 18 pp + envelope

Notes: Alf writes to his fiance about a "cheeky" visiting doctor in Saltcoats who attempted to upstage Alf as he was checking on patients. This annoyed Alf greatly and he writes "I saw the fellow was trying to bluff me and to impress me with his wonderful self so I said - 'Well since you're here and a married man and have means, and a horse and rig, you'd better conclude to stay right here in this great country. There are much better openings here than in crowded Ontario. It will hardly pay you to stay six months in a place as a married man can not flit about very well. Bring your wife and your horse and your means up here and settle down. It will pay you even to leave your paying practice in Ontario." He continues that he is "getting an ad eumdem gradum from the University of Manitoba in June." Then, he writes that he has patients too poor to pay him work on his homestead, ploughing the land to help Alf with his settlement duties. He states "this little discourse enabled my friend to see that I have taken deep root in Saltcoats."

Alf, then, informs Marion that he is "laying a good solid foundation for future success here and if we are only married I would have no fear of any rival M.D. but as it is I feel incomplete." He informs her of his plans on paying off some debts, getting his diploma of the C. P. S. of Ontario, renting a house, and paying her fare down to Saltcoats so that they could be wed. Part of these plans, Alf informs her, is to register following the Medical Act that will come in force in October with his Manitoba degree and his Western University degree. Though he also has to finish his Ontario qualifications.

Item · November 22, 1889
Part of Life, Events, and Players in the North-West

Place: Saltcoats, Assa. N.W.T.

From: Alf [Thomas A. Patrick]

To: Miss Marion Griffith, Byron, Ontario, Canada – Middlesex Co.

Delivery: Canada Post, via London, postmarks

Details: 6 pp + envelope, note on envelope “No. 250,” red wax seal with stamped initials “TAP”

Notes: In one of his regular letters to Marion, Alf details the purchases, which were largely of second hand items, that he made to furnish his rented house. He also apologizes to Marion and refers to someone who “means well and does not doubt you but feared you might be disappointed” with what Alf can provide as a home. He also tells of a heated argument he had with Mr. Lockhart over the man’s outstanding bill. Alf has waited six months and only received one quarter of the amount due. He also mentions writing a letter to Rick on his announcement of conversion to God.

Patrick, Thomas Alfred
Item · January 8, 1890
Part of Life, Events, and Players in the North-West

Place: Saltcoats

From: Alf [Thomas A. Patrick]

To: Marion / Miss Griffith, Byron, Ontario, Canada

Delivery: Canada Post, postmarked

Details: 5 pp + envelope, note on envelope “No. 257”

Notes: In his weekly letter to his fiancé, Marion Griffith, Alf comments that many people in the community are sick with a cold. Twelve “half-breeds” and some “Indians” from Fort Pelly are in Saltcoats to stock up on provisions. Alf made a deal with Chief Cotè to have his two deer hides tanned with the hair on. Alf plans on using the tanned hides for bedroom rugs.

“It’s ‘again the law’ to sell Pain Killer Price’s Extracts and several other things of this kind to Indians or halfbreeds. Those here to-day took advantage of ignorance of that fact. They got a pound of sweet mitre from me and ginger and Price’s Flavoring Extracts from Mr. Hallett clerk at Buchanan & Co.’s. I expect they are having a great old drunk tonight on these delicious beverages. Hallett and I are both liable to a fine if our ignorance of the law does not excuse us.”

Writing later, Alf tells of a busy few days of sick calls. Two people were stricken with convulsions and one with influenza. The shipment of drugs he ordered from Detroit did not arrive and is stuck in Customs at Portage La Prairie. “They have been ordered and paid for since Nov. 11th and so will be a long time coming indeed.”

Again writing later, Alf’s handwriting deteriorates as he is exhausted from a day of travelling between sick patients and now has influenza himself. He tells Marion that her travel plan suggestion, which apparently involves her taking the train to Portage La Prairie, is unwise. He wants to meet her in Birtle and be married on a Tuesday.

He ends the letter “[w]ith headache and weeping, sneezing nose and backache and sickness and just haste, I am. Yourownloving Alf.”

Patrick, Thomas Alfred
Item · January 29, 1890
Part of Life, Events, and Players in the North-West

Place: Saltcoats, N.W.T.

From: Alf [Thomas A. Patrick]

To: Miss Marion Griffith, Byron, Middlesex, Ont[ario]

Delivery: Canada Post, postmarked

Details: 8 pp + envelope; note on envelope “No. 260”

Notes: In a letter to his fiance, Marion Griffith, Alf [Dr. T.A. Patrick] describes traveling across open prairie in winter to reach sick patients. Alf, Mr. Paulger, and Mr. Boake (liveryman) traveled more than eight hours to reach the ill Mrs. Paulger. Upon returning to Saltcoats, Alf found a telegram calling him to Kinbrae to treat the wife of Mr. William Rowland. After spending a mere six hours in Saltcoats, Alf and Mr. Boake set out at midnight to reach Mrs. Rowland. After more than seven hours they reached Churchbridge, where they rested their team of horses and ate breakfast. They finally reached Mrs. Rowland at 4 p.m. to find her suffering from typhoid fever. Returning to Saltcoats took less time as Mr. Rowland was able to set the men on a more direct route to Churchbridge. Alf chose to take the Friday freight train from Churchbridge back to Saltcoats. Along the way, the train stopped and waited as Alf treated the child of the section foreman at Bredenbury.

Much of the rest of the letter concerns financial matters, including an explanation of fines applied to wood cut illegally from government lands.

Writing at a later time, Alf acknowledges receiving Marion's letter in which she describes her grandfather's worsening health.

Writing a day later, Alf is in receipt of the mourning envelope containing news of Marion's grandfather's death. He expresses his condolences before approving of Marion's suggestion that she and her sister Annie begin their journey to Saltcoats on February 28. Alf then worries further about financial matters, "For I feel sorry that in asking you to marry me I ask you to marry a man whose future is mortgaged." But he looks forward to their marriage, writing, "Do not hope or expect any near approach to perfection in this future husband of yours, Marion. He has many faults but it can truthfully be said that he is always very much better when his Marion influences him."

Patrick, Thomas Alfred
Item · November 16, 1903
Part of Life, Events, and Players in the North-West

Place: Regina [N.W.T.]

From: Alf [T.A. Patrick]

To: Mrs. Marion G. Patrick, Byron, Middlesex Co., Ont[ario]

Delivery: Canada Post, postmarked

Details: 1 pp on lined North West Territories letterhead and envelope.

Notes: T.A. Patrick writes a letter to his wife, Marion, while she is away in Ontario. He writes that it is "more like January than November. The walk up to the buildings was very cold and uncomfortable and this Assembly Chamber is almost too cold to sit in. This is our first real cold snap, but November is half gone, and this is not in the banana belt." He tells Marion of his and Jack's [his brother's] visit to their friends the Hunters where Mrs. Rogers had stopped by to visit her sister. He explains that "Mr. Hunter has been in the Land Titles Office for some years but has resigned to open a law office in Regina. As Secretary of the Hospital he gets $250 per year and the same as Secretary of the Agricultural Society so he should be able to make enough to keep the pot boiling."

Patrick, Thomas Alfred
Item · December 1, 1903
Part of Life, Events, and Players in the North-West

Place: Lethbridge, Alberta [district within N.W.T.]

From: T.A. Patrick

To: Mrs. Marion G. Patrick, Byron, Middlesex Co., Ont[ario]

Delivery: Canada Post, postmarked

Details: 2 pp on Hotel Lethbridge letterhead, watermarked with the pound note symbol (£) and the words “Extra Fine.” Envelope is printed with the words “Hotel Lethbridge, W. Henderson, Proprietor, Lethbridge, Alta., Canada” in black ink.

Notes: T.A. Patrick writes to his wife while he is in Alberta and she is away in Ontario stating, "I played over Sunday in Calgary and came here yesterday by way of MacLeod to see the country." He then advises his wife that she "had better spend Christmas with the folk," while he pays his "obligations to [his] constituency as soon as possible after [his] return." He writes that he lent his brother Jack "another $100.00 to square him up at Regina." He continues, "I presume you have received the last cheque I sent you, and you surely know that I am no judge of women's coats. I did not say petticoats. Whatever suits you will suit me though I certainly don't care much for imitations."

He finishes his letter writing, "my health is some better but not well yet. My love to the bairns the folk and your dear little self."

Patrick, Thomas Alfred
Item · December 7, 1903
Part of Life, Events, and Players in the North-West

Place: Winnipeg

From: Alf [T.A. Patrick]

To: Mrs. Marion G. Patrick, Byron, Middlesex Co., Ont[ario]

Delivery: Canada Post, postmarked

Details: 2 pp on Hotel Leland letterhead. Envelope is printed with the words “Hotel Leland, Winnipeg” in black ink.

Notes: T.A. Patrick writes to his wife from Winnipeg while she is away in Ontario stating, "I arrived in Winnipeg yesterday, and Jack [his brother] arrived today having been detained by a banquet given in his honour at Regina on Saturday night. We both leave for Yorkton tomorrow." He continues, "yesterday I got your letter and was sorry to learn of your Aunt Lou's serious illness. I hope this may find her better. Yesterday I heard Rev. Marsh G. Pearse in the Afternoon." He changes the topic back to Jack: "Jack and I have been looking up office equipment for his new office in Yorkton. He will have the best equipped office in Yorkton both in respect of books and filing cabinets. Dick [another brother] and I are giving him the necessary financial backing. Am pleased he got such a pleasant send off and nice address from his Regina friends who included the Deputy Commissioner of Education and the Editor of the Leader and the Law students."

Patrick then changes the subject stating, "I think an other collar would not look well. It looks out of place on a small man, and in my opinion is a [sic] far more becoming to people who are above the average in size, but I am not a good judge. I hope you will get a jacket of the best quality." He then ends his letter with some brief news on a few of his patients.

Patrick, Thomas Alfred
Item · November 30, 1889
Part of Life, Events, and Players in the North-West

Place: Saltcoats, Assa.

From: Alf [Thomas A. Patrick]

To: Miss Marion Griffith, Byron, Ontario, Canada – Middlesex C.

Delivery: Canada Post, postmarked

Details: 8 pp + receipt + envelope, note on envelope “No. 252,” red wax seal with stamped initials “TAP”

Notes: "My dear Marion – Four years ago to-night we “plighted our troth” to each other. How I wish I were with you tonight that we might rejoice together. The intervening four years have been a long time in rolling by – and must have been trying indeed to your patience. My dear faithful Marion. When Nov. 30th 1890 is here I trust it will find us a faithful, loving, staid happy married pair – man and wife. Certainly much that we desired four years ago has been transferred from desire to realization. What we both now so particularly desire will, I trust, soon be ours to enjoy. God has truly been good to us during the four years past, Marion. May we be much more deserving of his goodness hereafter."

Alf believes he and Marion can finally marry. He makes detailed plans for Marion to travel to Birtle, Manitoba on Saturday, January 15 where he will meet her.

Included with the letter is a receipt for T.A. Patrick's payment to the High Court of Canada, Canadian Order of Foresters.

Patrick, Thomas Alfred
Item · December 9, 1889
Part of Life, Events, and Players in the North-West

Place: Saltcoats

From: Alf [Thomas A. Patrick]

To: Miss Marion Griffith, Byron, Ontario, Canada

Delivery: Canada Post, postmarked

Details: 8 pp + envelope, note on envelope “No. 253”

Notes: Alf writes his weekly letter to Marion, with many details of his cash flow as he continues to build a stock of drugs and other items for his medical practice. He names a number of clients who owe him money for medical services but are “never likely to pay me.” He hired “Young McGrath of Crescent Lake” to stuff his deer’s head. He mentions news from his mother and his brother, Richard. Alf tells Marion he intends to write his parents with news of their marriage plans [as discussed in his letter of November 30, 1889]. He continues to be in disagreement with his father and believes the roots of the conflict lie in his talk of marriage. Alf coaches Marion to act “non-committed and oblige” when she visits them. “Re Xmas presents – I concur with you. Would like you to get photographed before you leave home for home here.”

Regarding their plans for a wedding, Alf writes that he is unsure exactly when the marriage could happen. He writes "don't know where the money is to come from in the meantime. As soon as I get this stock on the shelf I'll be in better position to know when we can get married Marion. For after all we can not marry without money." He later states "I expect very little professional work between now and April."

Patrick, Thomas Alfred
Item · January 15, 1890
Part of Life, Events, and Players in the North-West

Place: Saltcoats [North West Territories]

From: Alf [Thomas A. Patrick]

To: Miss Marion Griffith, Byron, Ontario, Canada – Middlesex Co.

Delivery: Canada Post, postmarked

Details: 7 pp + envelope; note on envelope “No. 258;” broken, black matchstick- size substance seals envelope

Notes: Alf writes his weekly letter to his fiance, Marion. "Am not at all well yet. Though better than yesterday. Practising medicine and being sick are not very compatible with each other. This influenza epidemic has been hard on medical practitioners. Dr. Faford of St. Boniface near Winnipeg died last week and Saturday’s Free Press (Manitoba) tells us that old Dr. Ferguson of Winnipeg is, dying, or at least near unto death."

He has been asking around to estimate the cost of the marriage and lists prices for the ring, license, Parson's fee, and fare to Birtle. After detailing financial concerns, Alf asks, "Can we not then be married in Birtle on Saturday February 22nd – five weeks from to-day?" He writes that "this will be cheapest and if mean to be married as February we must consider what is cheapest."

He writes that he is "in a bad fix for need of bottles. He had ordered some from Detroit, but they were delayed at Portage La Prairie. He writes "the last medicine I stuck in a Worcestershire sauce bottle and the medicine before that in a shoe-blacking bottle."

He further writes of receiving two papers called "Farm and Storm" and the Regina Leader.

Alf comments on the kindness of Marion's grandfather for gifting money to her and her sister, Annie. As to her surprise that he grew a moustache, he comments, "My moustache was not worth mentioning.." He then asks what bedding she needed him to purchase for her and states that he "will get dishes from Buchanan and Co. so that we can begin housekeeping at once." But he ensures her that he "will borrow them and not buy any till you come."

Patrick, Thomas Alfred