Jasper Museum, Alberta Canada

Mission
The Jasper-Yellowhead Historical Society will promote the awareness, understanding and the appreciation of our regional heritage, both natural and cultural to the residents and visitors of our community.

Vision
The Jasper-Yellowhead Historical Society will be recognized by park residents and visitors as a dynamic, high profile, self-sufficient, community minded oriented organization. It will play a lead role in delivering effective, high quality programs, services and products about Jasper’s and the area’s cultural history, particularly within a museum environment. On its own and in partnership with others, JYHS will be the community’s first choice for learning about the area’s past, for contributing artifacts and archival materials, and for choosing a credible, reliable partner to promote Jasper’s heritage values.

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View background

JYHS – HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Jasper Historical Society held its first general meeting in January, 1963. Its early projects included working with Jasper National Park to install a commemorative plaque at Athabasca Pass and to protect heritage items at the Palisades Ranch and Pocahontas cemetery. The society, renamed the Jasper-Yellowhead Historical Society (JYHS), established its office and archives in the basement of the Jasper Library. In 1977, JYHS registered as a non-profit, charitable organization:

To encourage the study of the history of Alberta and Canada, particularly as it pertains to Jasper and vicinity
To save from oblivion the memories…to obtain and preserve narratives…of the original inhabitants of the area, including missionaries, fur traders, explorers and settlers
To collect all data possible on the early history of Jasper town site and its early citizens
To locate, preserve and mark the local points of historical interest and
To establish and operate a museum

The JYHS started working toward a museum in 1978. In 1985, they agreed to purchase a partially complete building on Pyramid Lake Road. In 1990 the lower floor of this structure was complete and the society’s office and archives moved in. In 1992 the main floor office area, retail outlet and Temporary Gallery were opened and the Permanent Exhibit Gallery, to focus on Jasper’s social and human history entered the planning stage. In 1996 a Federal-Provincial Infrastructure grant was obtained, and combined with over $80,000 in JYHS fundraising, development of the Permanent Historical Gallery began.

ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY

In 1963, we held our first meeting
In 1977, we incorporated as a non-profit charitable organization
In 1978, we began raising funds to develop a museum and archives
In 1985, the current building was purchased
In 1986, a mortgage burning was held.
In 1987, a planning study was commissioned to develop the museum in six phases
In 1993, Phases I-V of this capital development was completed
In 1998, five of ten permanent historical displays were opened
In 1999, four additional historical exhibits were completed
In 2001, the final historical exhibit was installed
In 2006 the museum achieved recognized status with the AMA
In 2013 the JYHS celebrates 50 years of preserving Jasper’s history

PA 90-1
Mrs. Constance Peterson turning the first sod for the Jasper Yellowhead Museum.
August 23, 1980

PA 34-45
Members of the Jasper Yellowhead Historical Society on the occasion of the visit of Ted and Millie Abram. Ted Abram and Fred Brewster Mrs. Millie Abram, Mrs. M.L. Peterson, George Fowlie, Mrs. Frank Bryant, Mr. and Mrs. George Camp, and Mrs. R.E. Richardson.
May 26, 1966

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors are all volunteers

board@jaspermuseum.org

Board of Directors (2020 - 2021):

President:	Warren Waxer
Vice President:	Vacant
Secretary:	Vacant
Treasurer:	Ron McGaffin
Directors:	Melanie Hindle Michelle Booth Joe Polisuk Logan Ireland Michal Wasuita
Historian	Vacant
Ex-Officio Members	Parks Canada, Kevin Gedling Ralph Melnyk, Municipality of Jasper Herb Robinson, Past President

PA 48-13
Original Executive of the Jasper Yellowhead Historical Society
1963

AGM REPORTS

2016 Annual Report

997.07.51.01
Group photo at the Jasper Fish Hatchery
[ca. 1945]