Business History of Alberta

Henry C. Klassen taught history for many years at the University of Calgary. His academic pursuits centred around the study of Canadian business and financial history. His book, A Business History of Alberta, was shortlisted for the Scholarly Book of the Year at the 2000 Alberta Book Awards.

• Preface Acknowledgements Introduction Map of Alberta Part One: Alberta Business Foundations 1. The Road to Edmonton Northern Italian Merchants French Mercantilism, Canadian Business, and French Canada British Mercantilism, Canadian Business, and British Canada Early Growth of Edmonton House North West Company and the Rise of Fort Augustus Hudsonâs Bay Company and the Development of Edmonton House 2. Business in Territorial Alberta Political Setting Economic Setting Territorial Enterprises. as Small Family Business The General Merchant John A. McDougall: A General Merchant The Manufacturer David Suitor: An Iron Founder Service Business Cowdry Brothers: A Private Banking Firm Ranching Business A.E. Cross: A Cattle Rancher Farming Business Thomas Hoskin: A Farmer Close of the Territorial Period Part Two: Business Development in the New Province 3. Expansion of Alberta Business Developing the Tradition of Government--Business Relations Alexander Rutherford and Alberta Business R.B. Bennett and Alberta Business Conflict Between Bennett and Rutherford Legacy of Rutherford and Bettet Generation Economic Growth Developing the Transportation Network Railways Roads Age of the Car and Truck Communications Agricultural Development Charles S. Noble, The Nobel Blade Cultivator, and Farming Maturing of Alberta Industry Pat Burns, Cattle, and Meat Packing John Gainer and Meat Packing 4. Specialization in Alberta Business Urban Growth and Specialization in Business Specialization in Commerce Hardware Business Ross Bros. Hardware George L. Chesney Hardware High River Hardware Company Drugstores Dunlap Drug Company Stokes Drug Company Jewellery Stores Alexander B. Mitchell: Jeweller Godleyâs Jewellery Specialization in Manufacturing Thomas Hutchinson: Harness and Saddle Manufacturer Robert J. Welsh: Harness Manufacturer Herbert J. Sisson: Brick Manufacturer Specialization in the Service Business Conduct of Business by the 19402 Business Attitudes Albertaâs Changing business System Part Three: Mergence of Big Business in Alberta 5. Big Business in Alberta Railways: The First Big Business Canadian Pacific Railway: A Pioneer in Big Business Spread of Big Business in Alberta Robert J. Hutchings and Great West Saddlery Big Business in the Alberta Meat Industry Mass Distribution Johnstone Walker: A Department Store Jenkinâs Groceteria: A Chain Store Canada Safeway and Mass Retail in Alberta Mass Production Imperial Oil and Mass Production Frederick C. Mannix and the Rise of Big Business Restructuring the Business Firm in Alberta Persistence of Small Businesses in Alberta Albertaâs New Business System 6. Government and Business in Alberta Government Promotion and Regulation of Railways Tariff and Federal Regulation Labour and Business Regulation Regulation and the Anticombines Movement Banking Regulation Farmers and the Canadian Wheat Board Government Promotion an the Regulation of Oil and Natural Gas Businesses Natural Gas Businesses A Changing Political Economy 7. Diversified, Decentralized Businesses in Alberta Changes in the Alberta Business System ATCO Industries Foremost Industries and Decentralized Management Standenâs and Diversification Canbera Foods: A Diversified Company Growing Importance of Alberta Multinationals Large Diversified Alberta Firms in Politics Part Four: Recent Trends in Alberta Business 8. Small Businesses in the Maturing Alberta Economy Small Business in Manufacturing Small Business in Sales and Service Small Business in Farming and Ranching Women in Small Business and Management Government Policies for Small Business 9. Challenges to Alberta Business at Home and Abroad Alberta Business in the New World Order Regulation: Canadian Politics and Economic Uncertainty in Alberta Deregulating the Oil and Gas Industry Growth Through Free Trade Big Business and New Opportunities Restructuring Alberta Business Small Business and Fresh Opportunities Growth of Franchising New Regulation: Environment Problems Alberta Firmsâ Overseas Expansion Alberta Business at the Close of the Century Bibliography

Within his own unified frame of reference, Klassen has woven together political, economic, commercial, demographic, and social threads to explain how business operations evolved in the province. In showing us the enduring roots of Alberta's self-advertised entrepreneurial psyche, he has legitimized a long-standing popular perception. That he has done so by bringing to life dozens of forgotten individuals is an achievement all historians should appreciate. Max Foran, Great Plains Quarterly