Written by: Colby Parkkila, Senior Historical Interpreter, Rutherford House Provincial Historic Site
A bibliophile is described as, “a person who collects or has a great love of books.” Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first Premier of Alberta (1905 – 1910) and founder of the University of Alberta, certainly matches this description. His personal collection comprised more than 4,000 individual titles and was regarded as one of the “finest Canadiana collections in western Canada.” In addition to his expansive collection—which found its way into nearly every corner of the Rutherford family home, much to the chagrin of his wife Mattie—Rutherford’s love of literature was illustrated through his support of other literary initiatives and organizations, including the Canadian Authors Association (CAA).
Founded in Montreal on March 14, 1921, the CAA was Canada’s seminal writing association for authors and writers. Established with the goal of lobbying for authors’ rights and copyright protections, the CAA’s focus quickly broadened to include initiatives such as encouraging Canadians to read more Canadian literature via Canadian Book Week and providing financial assistance to emerging authors through the Canadian Writers’ Foundation. Among its early membership, the CAA counted many leading Canadian writers and literary advocates, including John Murray Gibbon—the organization’s first president—Emily Murphy, Ralph Connor and Bernard Keble (B.K.) Sandwell.
The CAA was initially composed of a national body and 10 smaller branches, including one in Edmonton. Inaugurated on April 26, 1921, the Edmonton branch was established during an elaborate banquet at the Hotel Macdonald. Among those in attendance were prominent local authors and politicians, such as Nellie McClung, Lieutenant Governor Dr. R. G. Brett, Frank Oliver, Alberta Premier Charles Stewart and Dr. Henry Marshall Tory, President of the University of Alberta. Alexander Rutherford, although not in attendance on the night of the branch’s inauguration, joined the branch shortly thereafter, later obtaining official membership with the CAA as an Associate Member in January 1922.
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