Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Frank Bernard Jamerson fonds
General material designation
- Textual record
- Graphic material
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Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title based on name of creator.
Level of description
Fonds
Repository
Reference code
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
Physical description area
Physical description
6 cm of textual records. - 95 photographs
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Frank Bernard Jamerson was born in the Athabasca area on April 13th, 1922 to parents Ethel Jamerson and Robert Jamerson. Jamerson’s grandparents were some of the first Black immigrants to arrive in Canada. In 1910, they arrived from Alabama and Texas and settled the Athabasca area which included Poplar Ridge, Rene Creek, and Amber Valley.
In 1943, Jamerson was conscripted into military service under the National Resources Mobilization Act and served in Canada until 1946. After he was discharged, Jamerson joined the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) as a Sleeping Car porter where he worked from 1948 until 1962. While working as a porter, Jamerson became the Secretary-Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters.
In 1978, he was transferred to Via Rail until the time of his donation in 1988. In addition to his time working as a porter, Jamerson also owned a series of women’s dress shops in Vancouver, B.C. under the name ‘Jamerson’s Fashion.’
Frank Bernard Jamerson passed away on December 8th, 1995 and is interred in Surrey, B.C.
Custodial history
Scope and content
The fonds consists of a historical and biographical narrative handwritten by Frank Bernard Jamerson regarding Black immigration into western Canada as well as the Black experience in the prairies, specifically northern Alberta Black communities. The first file in the fonds consists of this narrative while the second file consists of newspaper clippings, family photographs, an anniversary booklet of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, and correspondence used by Jamerson in the creation of his narrative.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
The fonds was donated to the City of Edmonton Archives by Mr. Frank Bernard Jamerson in 1988.
Arrangement
- The material was arranged according to the filing system of the creator.
- The photographs were assigned item numbers with the prefix EA-223.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
There are no restrictions on access.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Copyright may apply.
Finding aids
- Access
- Photographs have been described at the item level and are available in the Reference Room and online.
Associated materials
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
General note
Accession number: A88-97
Alternative identifier(s)
Standard number area
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Rules or conventions
Rules for Archival Description (RAD)
Archives Society of Alberta Subject Terms