Alan Ridge, 1926-1997, Founding Fellow 

Highlights

Provincial Archivist of Alberta (1962-1984), ensured effective records management for the Alberta provincial government, leader in the fields of archival education, records management, and records management certification. 

Education and Background 

Born in Brighton, England, in 1926, Alan D. Ridge graduated from the University of London (UK) in 1947, specializing in History and Archives Administration.  

Professional Career 

Alan Ridge began his archival career in 1947 at the London County Council Archives, working there for a decade. In 1958 he left to take up the position of Head of the Records and Registry Service the National Coal Board in Yorkshire, administering the records of 120 collieries, 20 district offices and 8 administrative areas. 

Ridge moved to Canada in 1962 to establish and lead the archival program at McGill University in Montreal. In 1968 he was appointed Provincial Archivist of Alberta, succeeding Hugh Taylor. Serving in that role for 16 years, he oversaw development of the Provincial Archives of Alberta into a major research institution housing over 4,000 accessions totaling over 5 linear miles. Just as significantly, Ridge initiated an effective records management program in the provincial government, serving throughout his term as Secretary of the Public Records Committee for the province. In addition to ensuring the preservation of public records, Ridge acquired rich holdings of church records and other manuscripts for his institution. He retired in 1984. 

Ridge was also an effective teacher, lecturing in archives and records management at the University of Alberta from 1980 to 1986. 

Contributions to the Profession 

Alan Ridge took a leadership role in several professional associations, including the ACA, the Archives Society of Alberta, the Historical Society of Alberta, and ARMA. In 1983 he was appointed to the Board of Regents for the Institute of Certified Records Managers. As his Order of Canada citation states: “his teaching and publications and his single-minded devotion to the development of archives and archivists, have earned him the deep respect of the archival and records management community.” 

Honours, Awards and Recognition 

• Society of American Archivists Fellow, 1984 
• ACA Fellow, 1985 
• Order of Canada, 1985 
• Archives Society of Alberta commemoration: the Alan Ridge Publications Award, established 1989 

Further Information 

•  David Leonard, “Alan Ridge, 1926-199 ASA Newsletter 17.3 (December 1997): 1 http://www.archivesalberta.org/vol17_3/newsf.htm     
• Fonds PR0086 – Alan D. Ridge fonds, Provincial Archives of Alberta 

Photo source: https://www.archivesalberta.org/vol17_3/newsf.htm 

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