Legion archives in Swift Current granted museum status
In order to provide increased access to the historical archives and collections in possession of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #56, the Branch #56 Museum in Swift Current has joined the Museums Association of Saskatchewan.
John Griffin, Public Relations Officer for the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #56 in Swift Current, said pursuing museum status was the next logical step after launching an initiative to digitize the extensive items in their possession.
“We’re nowhere near done digitization. Our collection is quite extensive, with thousands of photographs, hundreds of documents that have to go one by one through the digitization process,” Griffin explained.
“This is the next step of how we can get this out there to the public. It’s a way for us to engage more with the community. Engage more with educating the public - and especially our youth - about our veterans and telling their stories through documents and artifacts.”
One of the mission statement priorities of the Museum is to tell the stores of local veterans through documents and artifacts, with the collection in Swift Current containing numerous one-ofa-kind documents, photographs and ledgers from local servicemen.
“It’s a way to carry on their legacy and make sure that the next generation learns their stories of who these people were. I’m a firm believer that you can learn about this stuff in school or through text books, but when you get into the actual personal stories of the individuals themselves it really brings remembrance alive.”
Griffin explained the main goals of the museum collection is to educate the public and youth about local, provincial and national military history.
“It’s kind of an all encompassing thing…but a lot of it will focus on the local part. Being part of the local community it’ll resonate with people in the community more.”
“Our collection is quite varied. As you can see we have plenty of photographs. In a display case we have documents, early Legion documents, war documents. There is a collection of actual tests from the Air Force that pilots had to take to qualify to be pilots.”
By joining the Museums Association of Saskatchewan, the Legion Branch #56 collection receives a boost by accessing supports and the addition of a landing webpage where people can better access the collection (https://saskmuseums.org/museums/detail/royal-canadian-legion-branch-56museum).
“The big part of this is it gives us more exposure. It allows people to have better access to our collection.”
The museum collection can now be accessed six days a week. Visitors can stop in during Branch office hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday’s to Thursday’s, and from 9 a.m. to noon on Fridays. The museum can also be accessed during Lounge Hours on Monday’s to Thursday’s starting at 2 p.m., and on Friday’s and Saturday’s starting at 11 a.m.
“People are always welcome. They can just come in off the street, they are welcome to come take a look around.”
And while they currently don’t have an organized system in place for personal tour, individuals wishing a more in depth tour are invited to contact the Legion to see if someone is available to meet in order to be shown around the museum and answer questions.