Knupp, Lillian

Knupp, Lillian

Julia Margaret Lillian (Short) Knupp, (1911-1999) was the daughter and granddaughter of one of the first families to settle in the High River area in 1884. Her father, Charles Conklin Short was a Mayor, Councillor and Justice of Peace in High River in the early 1900s. Lillian was born and educated in High River, but moved with her family to the Scarboro area of Calgary in 1926. She married Dr. Charles S. Burchill, an instructor at Mount Royal College. She studied at the University of Calgary. She returned to High River in 1945 and began a long association with The High River Times. She left the Times in 1957 and served as a Staff Sergeant in the Canadian Women's Army Corps reserve. Lillian married Alexander Knupp and operated a transport business, which she continued to operate after his death. She returned to the Times as news editor in 1965 and for many years she wrote a column entitled Medicine Tree Country which covered a wealth of historical and current issues about High River. She won several literary and heritage awards including the Historical Society of Alberta Award for outstanding contribution to Alberta History, the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation award for preservation of Alberta's heritage, and many weekly newspaper awards. She published several local history books, including <em>Life and Legends, Roots of the Medicine Tree, Twigs of the Medicine Tree, The High River High School Review, Harness, Boots and Saddles</em> and <em>In the Spirit of Good Medicine.</em>;She was particularly interested in Native Affairs, and received two provincial historical awards for fostering greater understanding of native issues. She was actively involved in the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 78, the Pioneers and Old Timers Association, the High River Agricultural Society, the High River and District Chamber of Commerce and the Progressive Conservative party, serving as President of the Alberta Progressive Conservative Women's Association during the Lougheed era. She also served on the University of Calgary senate. For further information see <em>History of a Pioneer Family : Joseph and Julia Anna Short </em>/ edited by Lillian Knupp. - High River, Alberta : Highwood Heritage Books, 1987.

Museum of the Highwood