Gooderham, George H.

Person

Gooderham, George H.

1889-1977

George Hamilton Gooderham, 1889-1977, was born on the Poor Man reserve in Saskatchewan where his father, John H. Gooderham, 1859-1919, was an Indian Agent. He studied at McMaster University, then worked for the Toronto Transportation Commission until 1916. During First World War he was an officer of the Imperial Artillery. His father died in late 1919, after 41 years of service for the Indian Department, and George succeeded him as Indian Agent of the Blackfoot (Siksika) reserve at Gleichen, Alberta, 1920-1946. He married Mary Kentner of Toronto, Ontario in 1920 and they had three children, G. Kent, 1927-2003, Elizabeth (Robinson), and Eleanor (Crawford). In 1932 the Blackfoot made him an honorary chief with the name Pita Sarwopi (Eagle Plume). He was promoted to Regional Supervisor of Indian Agencies in Alberta and NWT in 1946, a position he held until his retirement in 1954. In February 1955 he was hired by Eric Harvie as the first employee of the Glenbow Foundation, which was incorporated in April of that year. He worked for the Glenbow Foundation as a public relations officer and historian until 1968 when he was transferred to the Riveredge Foundation, where he continued his work until shortly before his death in 1977. Gooderham served on the executive of several organizations, including the Southern Alberta Pioneers' and Old Timers' Association, the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, the Canadian Mental Health Association, and the Kainai Chieftainship. He received an honorary doctorate from the University of Calgary in 1973.

Glenbow Archives

Final

Record updated by Glenbow Archives, April 27, 2015.

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