Donald Gunn 1797 – 1878
by Elizabeth CampbellAt the Annual Reunion in September, someone who found out that I was a used book dealer asked me about locating a book by Donald Gunn for them, History of Manitoba. Published in 1880 and long out of print, this is a scarce book and difficult to find in the original edition. A 2009 reprint by Cornell University Library is also in short supply.
According to L.G. Thomas’ article on Gunn in the Dictionary of Canadian Biorgraphy, History of Manitoba should be an interesting read. Donald Gunn was an original settler, and his mainly narrative history of the colony is an eyewitness one, unlike much of Alexander Ross’ history, which relies on second hand information for the settlement’s early years.
But History of Manitoba is not the only literary contribution Gunn made to the Red River omnibus. He and his son went on an egging expedition to Shoal Lake, Manitoba in 1867. It wasn’t Gunn’s first such expedition, but he did write the experience up, and it was published in the Smithsonian Institution’s Annual Report in 1867.
There is some interesting information in the brief article, and, since I am fortunate enough to have a copy, I thought I’d share a few snippets this week. The expedition takes readers away from the Red River Settlement proper, but it does shed light on lifestyles in the region in the late 1860s.
Tags: Books, Donald Gunn
