You are a heritage consultant responding to the terms of
reference for a research plan for a narrative history of AU Ranch. This looks
like an interesting opportunity as you live in southern Alberta and are
familiar with the landscape. You are excited by the challenge of producing an
engaging plan for undertaking the research necessary to fulfill these terms of
reference. In order for your bid on the work to be successful and to be
competitive, you know that the research plan should show an understanding of
the requirements of the project and that you have thought through how to tackle
it.
This includes some preliminary research in order to identify
sources and get a sufficient feel for the subject to put together an informed
plan that sets out how you will undertake the research: what you would do, in
what order, and why. The clarity of the presentation of your plan to the AU
Ranch Society is of critical importance, as is a cover letter explaining your
interest in the project.
Assignment Parameters: No records of AU Ranch
are known to be in any public archive; your research sources will necessarily
be comparative and will cover ranches and ranching in general for the years
under review. Remember you are not actually doing the detailed research; you
are conducting preliminary research to identify sources and themes and topics.
For the purposes of this exercise, restrict your search for library and
archival documentary materials, including photographs, to the Glenbow Western Research
Centre at the University of Calgary where the former Glenbow
Library and Archives collections are now housed. This website can be
challenging to use, so please refer to the detailed illustrated instructions “How to Find Glenbow Archival Material (PDF)” to guide
you through the search process.
You must demonstrate an understanding of the concepts,
issues, and information presented in the readings and commentary throughout the
course units. This means that you must provide a detailed discussion. The
introductory section, and more especially, the discussion of approach and
methodology, should be comprehensive.
Assignment Format: There is no standard
presentation format, as long as the contents called for in the terms of
reference are addressed.
Be sure to reference the readings appropriately, using
endnotes or footnotes.
Chicago Manual of Style is used in this
course. See Unit 2 for how to reference primary sources. Alternatively, you may
use APA style, but you must be consistent.
Consult Dalhousie University’s Guide
to Archival Research for the difference between the two styles
for archival research.
Assignment Instructions: Read the terms of
reference. Prepare a research plan for a contextual historical narrative report
on the history of “AU Ranch,” an imaginary, but representative, heritage ranch
in Southern Alberta.
Terms of Reference
AU Ranch is situated on four acres out of the original
large lease in the foothills off Highway 22, 96 km south of Calgary. It is
owned by a local heritage group, the AU Ranch Society (AU Society). The site
has a large two-storey four-square style ranch house (1912) and two large frame
gambrel-roofed horse barns (1916 and 1924). AU Ranch was established as a
cattle ranch in 1894 and operated until the late 1940s. No artifacts remain at
the site, but the interior of the house has changed little, perhaps because it
has had only two owners since. The barns are also in good condition. It is
known that a great-granddaughter of the original owner lives in Calgary.
The AU Society requires a comprehensive background
history of the ranch that covers its development, ranch work and activities, as
well as domestic and social life on the ranch. This narrative history will
later be used as the basis for a number of other research projects and to
inform the future restoration and interpretation of the ranch (both the house
and outbuildings) to its working condition of the late 1920s.
The AU Society has a research budget of not more than
$30,000 and wishes to employ a contract researcher to undertake the work within
a six-month time frame. Qualified consultants are invited to submit a plan for
a research project that will result in a final illustrated narrative history of
AU Ranch.
The AU Society requires a plan that includes discussion
of the proposed approach and methodology, a preliminary bibliography of
secondary and primary sources, a selection of preliminary images, an outline of
the themes and topics that you consider important for the project. Present an
estimated budget and a schedule that includes projected dates for the
submission of two interim draft sections of the report for review, a complete
draft for review, and a final report.
Your research plan should include the following
components:
Introduction: Identify the purpose of the
project and the project requirements.
Approach and methodology: Discuss broadly how
and in what order you will employ the research strategies (archival research,
oral history interviews, documentation of buildings and landscape, etc.)
discussed in the course readings. Describe your methodology—the steps you will
take for each strategy. This should be a thorough discussion. The below outline does not have to be followed exactly.
Archival Research:
·
Conduct primary source research at the Glenbow
Western Research Centre, using their archives on Southern Alberta ranching.
·
Identify relevant documents, photographs, and
maps of similar ranches for comparative analysis.
·
Review primary documents about ranches from the
late 19th and early 20th centuries to gather insights on AU Ranch’s economic
activities, construction, and historical setting.
Oral History:
·
Conduct interviews with descendants of the
original owners, such as the great-granddaughter who lives in Calgary, to
gather personal insights and stories about life at AU Ranch.
Building and Landscape Documentation:
·
Visit the AU Ranch site to document the existing
structures (house and barns).
·
Analyze changes in the landscape and remaining
features that reveal how the ranch operated historically.
Comparative Ranch Study:
·
Research other heritage ranches in Southern
Alberta from the same period to draw comparisons in ranch management, social
life, and economic practices.
Initial themes and topics: Outline what aspects
of the ranch’s economic and social history: This outline does not need to be
followed exactly.
Economic History:
- Cattle
ranching operations, markets, and ranching techniques. - The
role of AU Ranch in the local and broader economy.
Social History:
- Domestic
life: The role of family and community at the ranch. - Social
gatherings, ranch hand roles, and community relations.
Architectural
and Environmental Impact:
- Analysis
of the ranch house (1912) and barns (1916, 1924) to understand ranching
lifestyle and building technologies. - Landscape
use and changes over time, including the environmental footprint of
ranching.
An annotated bibliography of both primary and secondary
sources:
- Secondary
sources: Working from the Glenbow Western Research Centre Website , first
indicate in a short introductory paragraph the scope of what has already
been written on the topic of ranching in Alberta. Then select ten
published books and/or articles and explain why you think at first glance
each should be useful for establishing the historical context for this
research project. - Primary
sources for initial investigation: Working from the Glenbow Western
Research Centre Website , identify specific archival collections
that may be useful and explain why you think they will be useful. Select
ten primary sources. You can include archival and published primary
sources, but you must include at least ten archival collections or selected
parts thereof. Use the detailed online finding aid if it is available.
Budget breakdown: Please indicate a space for
this information. I will provide the budget
Schedule: Please indicate a space for this
information. I will provide the schedule.