Hugh Dempsey
Encyclopedia
Hugh Aylmer Dempsey, CM
(1929–) is a Canadian
historian, an author and the Chief Curator Emeritus of the Glenbow Museum
in Calgary, Alberta. Dempsey has authored more than 20 books, focusing primarily on the history of people of the Blackfoot Confederacy. He received an honorary doctorate from the University of Calgary
and was made an honorary chief of the Kainai Blackfoot in 1967. As Director of History for the Glenbow, Dempsey was presented membership in the Order of Canada
in 1975.
newspaper from 1948 to 1951 and then became a publicity writer for the Alberta Government from 1951 to 1956. In 1956, Dempsey was vice-president of the Edmonton-based Historical Society of Alberta and associate editor of the Alberta Historical Review, when he moved to Calgary to become archivist of the recently established Glenbow Museum. From 1956 until 1967, he worked as an archivist, and was a curator/director from 1967 to 1991. On his retirement Dempsey was made Chief Curator Emeritus.
Dempsey authored numerous articles and books, such as Crowfoot, Chief of the Blackfeet (1973), The Gentle Persuader: A Biography of James Gladstone, Indian Senator (1986), and Red Crow: Warrior Chief (1978), which focus on the culture and history of the First Nation peoples of Alberta. Dempsey's writing benefited not only from his work as an archivist but also from his access to the Blackfoot
community through his marriage. Dempsey is credited with combining the oral history of native peoples with scholarly records to produce historical writing with a broad popular appeal.
Dempsey became editor of the Alberta Historical Review in 1958. From 1963 to 1967, Dempsey was also editor of the newsletter The Canadian Archivist which later became the journal of the Archives Section of the Canadian Historical Association. He also lectured on native studies and Alberta history at the University of Calgary.
from 1959 to 1964 and was made an honorary chief of the Kainai Nation
in 1967. Dempsey was presented with an honorary doctorate from the University of Calgary on May 30, 1974 after he gave the convocation address. On October 15, 1975 Dempsey was invested as a Member of the Order of Canada "for his contributions to the preservation of the cultural and development of interest in the history of the Plains Indians." In 1987, Dempsey was awarded the Certificate of Merit in Regional History by the Canadian Historical Association
for his "distinquished career." On October 2, 2000, the Archives Society of Alberta paid tribute to Dempsey "for his lasting contributions" to the preservation of Alberta's heritage
, Alberta
in 1929. In 1953 he married Pauline Gladstone, the daughter of Canadian Senator James Gladstone
of the Kainai Blackfoot, with whom he had five children. In 1951 he began more than 40 years of correspondence and friendship with American ethnohistorian John Canfield Ewers, important on the personal level but also in the field of historical, anthropological and ethnohistorical studies devoted the North American Plains Indians.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(1929–) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
historian, an author and the Chief Curator Emeritus of the Glenbow Museum
Glenbow Museum
The Glenbow Museum in Calgary is one of Western Canada's largest museums, with over 93,000 square feet of exhibition space in more than 20 galleries, showcasing a selection of the Glenbow's collection of over a million objects....
in Calgary, Alberta. Dempsey has authored more than 20 books, focusing primarily on the history of people of the Blackfoot Confederacy. He received an honorary doctorate from the University of Calgary
University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently...
and was made an honorary chief of the Kainai Blackfoot in 1967. As Director of History for the Glenbow, Dempsey was presented membership in the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 1975.
Career
Dempsey worked as a journalist for the Edmonton BulletinEdmonton Bulletin
The Edmonton Bulletin was a newspaper in Edmonton, Alberta published from 1880 until January 20, 1951. It was founded by Frank Oliver, a politician and future minister in the Canadian Government....
newspaper from 1948 to 1951 and then became a publicity writer for the Alberta Government from 1951 to 1956. In 1956, Dempsey was vice-president of the Edmonton-based Historical Society of Alberta and associate editor of the Alberta Historical Review, when he moved to Calgary to become archivist of the recently established Glenbow Museum. From 1956 until 1967, he worked as an archivist, and was a curator/director from 1967 to 1991. On his retirement Dempsey was made Chief Curator Emeritus.
Dempsey authored numerous articles and books, such as Crowfoot, Chief of the Blackfeet (1973), The Gentle Persuader: A Biography of James Gladstone, Indian Senator (1986), and Red Crow: Warrior Chief (1978), which focus on the culture and history of the First Nation peoples of Alberta. Dempsey's writing benefited not only from his work as an archivist but also from his access to the Blackfoot
Blackfoot
The Blackfoot Confederacy or Niitsítapi is the collective name of three First Nations in Alberta and one Native American tribe in Montana....
community through his marriage. Dempsey is credited with combining the oral history of native peoples with scholarly records to produce historical writing with a broad popular appeal.
Dempsey became editor of the Alberta Historical Review in 1958. From 1963 to 1967, Dempsey was also editor of the newsletter The Canadian Archivist which later became the journal of the Archives Section of the Canadian Historical Association. He also lectured on native studies and Alberta history at the University of Calgary.
Honors
Dempsey was the honorary secretary of the Indian Association of AlbertaIndian Association of Alberta
The Indian Association of Alberta is a province-wide First Nations rights organization. It was founded in 1939, after splitting off from the League of Indians in Western Canada.-Further reading:...
from 1959 to 1964 and was made an honorary chief of the Kainai Nation
Kainai Nation
The Kainai Nation is a First Nation in southern Alberta, Canada with a population of 7,437 members in 2005, and had a population of 9,035 members as of 9 February 2008...
in 1967. Dempsey was presented with an honorary doctorate from the University of Calgary on May 30, 1974 after he gave the convocation address. On October 15, 1975 Dempsey was invested as a Member of the Order of Canada "for his contributions to the preservation of the cultural and development of interest in the history of the Plains Indians." In 1987, Dempsey was awarded the Certificate of Merit in Regional History by the Canadian Historical Association
Canadian Historical Association
The Canadian Historical Association is a Canadian organization founded in 1922 for the purposes of promoting historical research and scholarship. Marius Barbeau, the anthropologist, was its founding Secretary...
for his "distinquished career." On October 2, 2000, the Archives Society of Alberta paid tribute to Dempsey "for his lasting contributions" to the preservation of Alberta's heritage
Personal life
Dempsey was born in EdgertonEdgerton
-Places:United Kingdom*Edgerton, Huddersfield, West YorkshireUnited States*Edgerton , listed on the National Register of Historic Places*Edgerton, Indiana*Edgerton, Kansas*Edgerton, Minnesota*Edgerton, Missouri...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
in 1929. In 1953 he married Pauline Gladstone, the daughter of Canadian Senator James Gladstone
James Gladstone
James Gladstone was the first Status Indian to be appointed to the Canadian Senate....
of the Kainai Blackfoot, with whom he had five children. In 1951 he began more than 40 years of correspondence and friendship with American ethnohistorian John Canfield Ewers, important on the personal level but also in the field of historical, anthropological and ethnohistorical studies devoted the North American Plains Indians.
Selected books
- Crowfoot, Chief of the Blackfeet, (The Civilization of the American Indian Series, v. 122), Norman : University of Oklahoma Press, 1972. ISBN 0806110252
- Red Crow, Warrior Chief, Lincoln : University of Nebraska Press, 1980. ISBN 0803216572
- Indian Tribes of Alberta, Calgary: Glenbow-Alberta Institute, 1979. ISBN 0919224008
- History in their Blood : The Indian Portraits of Nicholas de Grandmaison, Vancouver : Douglas & McIntyre, 1982. ISBN 0933920326
- (editor) The CPR West: The Iron Road and the Making of a Nation, Vancouver: Douglas and McIntyre, 1984. ISBN 0888944241
- Big Bear : The End of Freedom, Vancouver : Douglas & McIntyre, 1984. ISBN 0-88894-506-X
- Gentle Persuader : A Biography of James Gladstone, Indian Senator, Saskatoon : Western Producer Prairie Books, 1986. ISBN 0888332084
- Bibliography of the Blackfoot, (with Lindsay Moir), Native American bibliography series, no. 13. Metuchin, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1989. ISBN 0810822113
- The Amazing Death of Calf Shirt and Other Blackfoot Stories : Three Hundred years of Blackfoot History, Norman : University of Oklahoma Press, 1996. ISBN 0806128216
- Tom Three Persons: Legend of an Indian Cowboy, Purich Publishing Ltd, Saskatoon SK, 1997. ISBN 1-895830-08-7
- Charcoal's World: The True Story of a Canadian Indian's Last Stand, Canada Fifth House Publishers, Calgary, AB, 1998. ISBN 1894004205
- Firewater: The Impact of the Whisky Trade on the Blackfoot Nation, Calgary: Fifth House Publishers, 2002. ISBN 1894004965
- The Vengeful Wife and Other Blackfoot Stories, Norman: University Of Oklahoma Press, 2003. ISBN 0806135506
- The People of the Buffalo. The Plains Indians of North America. Essays in Honor of John C. Ewers, vol 1 & 2, co-editor with Colin F. Taylor, Tatanka Press, Wyk auf Foehr, 2003 (vol. 1), 2004 (vol, 2). ISBN 3-89510-101-X (vol.1) 3-89510-102-8 (vol.2)
Selected articles and monographs
- A Blackfoot Winter Count, Calgary, Glenbow-Alberta Institute, 1965, reprinted 1970. OCLC 605474
- "The Calgary-Edmonton Trail", Alberta Historical Review 7, no. 4 (Autumn 1959).
- "Long Lance, Catawba-Cherokee and adopted Blackfoot", in American Indian intellectuals, Proceedings of the American Ethnological Society, St. Paul : West Pub. Co., 1978.
- "One Hundred Years of Treaty Seven", in One Century Later: Western Canadian Reserve Indians since Treaty 7, Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, 1977.
- "History and Identification of Blood Bands." in Plains Indian Studies: A Collection of Essays in honor of John C. Ewers and Waldo R. Wedel, Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1982.
- "Blackfoot Ghost Dance", Occasional paper, no. 3. Calgary, Alberta: Glenbow Museum, 1989.
- Tribal Honors: A History of the Kainai Chieftainship, Calgary, AB, Canada : Kainai Chieftainship, 1997. ISBN 0-919555-10-1
- "Blood (Kainai)", Canadian Encyclopedia, Toronto: Historical Foundation of Canada, 2005.
- "Beginnings of Calgary: The Isaac S. Freeze Letters 1883-84." Alberta History --. 51. 1 (2003).
External links
- Hugh A. Dempsey fonds at Glenbow Museum Archives