Formerly accessioned as 2008.6.1.1.12
Henry Roger Ashewell Pocock was born November 9, 1865 at Cookham, Berkshire, England. He came to Canada with his father in 1882, and settled in Brockville, Ontario. In 1882 and 1883, he attended the Guelph Agricultural College, and subsequently took a job as a surveyor for the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Pocock enlisted with the North-West Mounted Police at Fort Osborne in 1884. When the North-West Resistance broke out, Pocock marched with Colonel Irvine's relief force from Regina to Prince Albert in the winter weather, freezing his feet during the trek. As a result of the advanced frostbite to his feet, Pocock had to have several toes amputated, rendering him an invalid constable. He kept a diary/scrapbook for each year he was with the N.W.M.P., and later used the collections to write and publish a series of fictional books based on his experiences, the first successful of which was a biographical work titled "Following the Frontier" (N.Y., 1903) also published as "A Frontiersman" (London, 1903). According to Watters (A Check List of Canadian Literature, 1628-1950), Pocock published at least 15 titles between 1888 and 1931. In 1905, Pocock went on to found "The Legion of Frontiersmen of the Commonwealth." He died November 12, 1941.
Published
Pocock's 1903-1904 scrapbook consisting of graphic and textual materials related to his publications, travels in the UK, and other interests.
Scrapbook contains:
Photographs of Lena Ashwell, and unidentified portraits.
Sketch by Oliver Herford.
Letters from Rudyard Kipling and S.R. James
Clippings of reviews for Pocock's book "A Frontiersman", articles about Lena Ashwell, interview with Pocock, articles related to Pocock's interests, and articles and stories written by Pocock including "In the Land of Death", "Hunting in Western America", "Fur Farming in England", "The Mythological Gardens", "The City of Death", "The Black Box", "Christmas in Strange Places", "A Capitol Felony", "The Joys of a Cowboy's Life", "A Lord on the Range", "Amor de Cosmos", and "A Matter of Robbers".
Watercolour paintings and sketches of landscapes, buildings, and Munslow.
Imprints of Steele, villages in the UK, Blackfoot people, and Cowboys.
Playbill for play with Lena Ashwell.
Scrapbook is in decent condition ; Spine is missing ; Front and back covers attached ; Pages still bound together ; Some pasted in contents have come loose
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