The sub-series consists of a material relating to Robert Hook’s personal and professional life. Some of the records also relate to the personal life of his ex-wife, Myrtle. The records are divided into several different general categories based on record type and content: Correspondence, Financial, War Service and Rationing, Education, Certificates and Licences, Events, Automobile, Travel, Miscellaneous, and Photographs and Postcards.
The correspondence files include personal letters and telegraphs from family and friends, schools, and charities, a list of addresses of family members in England, and letters and case notes relating to a professional complaint made against Dr. Hook. The majority of the correspondence dates from 1969 to 1970, although some also dates from the 1940s.
Financial records include a large number of receipts, predominantly from 1969 to 1972, with some correspondence interspersed. Most of the companies issuing the receipts are local companies and the receipts are primarily personal expenses, although some of them were issued to Valshel Holdings.
War service and rationing records include Robert’s National Registration Certificate, Enrollment in Non-Permanent Active Militia certificate, Notification of Training, Certificate of Medical Examination, and correspondence from the Edmonton Regiment and the Department of National War Services, all from the World War II period, an application for gasoline privilege registration, gasoline licence and ration coupon book, and ration and liquor control permits and coupons belonging to Robert and Myrtle and dating from the 1940s.
Records relating to Robert’s education include a 1944 yearbook from Grande Prairie High School, yearbooks from 1946 to 1949 from the College of Optometry in Toronto, Robert’s grades, various related newspaper clippings, the 1945-1946 college calendar, a 1947 student card, a 1949 letter regarding an interim licence in the Alberta Optometric Association, and correspondence with the British Columbia Board of Examiners in Optometry. Several binders, notebooks, and files of class notes were appraised out.
Certificates and licenses include a Canadian Wildlife Federation Associate Member Certificate from 1978, a Kinsmen Club Member Certificate from 1949, a 1950 License to Practice Optometry issued by the Government of Alberta, Annual Licenses to Practice issued by the Government of British Columbia from 1974 to 1978, a copy of the Canadian Association of Optometrists Code of Ethics, Beta Sigma Kappa Membership Certificate and Honorary Doctorate from 1952, a 1949 British Columbia Certificate of Registration under the Optometry Act, certificates entitling the holder to practice optometry from the Alberta Optometric Association and Alberta Association of Optometrists from 1949, 1950, and 1986, and a 1987 Doctor of Optometry diploma from the University of Waterloo. These licenses and certificates were originally framed, but have been removed from their frames by the archivist. The glass over the Beta Sigma Kappa membership certificate had additional membership stickers for the years 1953 through 1961 and 1963, 1964, 1967 stuck to it. The stickers were discarded with the frame.
Events records include programs for various banquets, concerts, plays, and other events, ball tickets, and invitations to Robert’s college graduation and a Conservative Association nominating convention. Most of this material dates from Robert’s time in Toronto.
Automobile records include vehicle insurance and registration papers from 1959 to 1987, licenses from 1938, 1951-52 and 1958, Canada customs documents from a 1959 driving trip, and various other records relating to cars and driving.
The travel records relate predominantly to the Robert Hook family’s trip to Europe in 1970 and his association with the discount travel group “Advantage Through Concord” (ATC) including information about ATC and “The London Society”, an ATC membership card, correspondence and receipts, a passport photograph of Valerie Hook, passport application instructions, customs information, and information for Canadians traveling overseas. Also included in the travel records are Canadian Pacific Railway tickets from 1948, a schedule of boat trips on the Peace River, and a message from a trip to Dawson Creek in 1969.
Miscellaneous records include a photocopy of Robert’s birth certificate (issued in 1946), a 1973 Wildlife certificate, and a 1932 journal and notebook.
The photographs and postcard file contains 11 photographic prints, 6 negatives, and 10 postcards. Many of the images are unfortunately unidentified, but they appear to relate primarily to Robert’s personal and family life, although a couple may relate to the C. S. Hook & Sons business. Eight of the postcards are promotional cards issued by Carl Brooks, an Outfitter from Wembley.
