Alberta Genealogical Society

At the center of the Grande Prairie County Map (1955, SPRA 1969.53.075), a few parcels of land are under the name, Mrs. J. Cochrane. In 1911, pioneer Jennie Cochrane's name was recorded in a plethora of legal documents after purchasing and registering for land northwest of Alberta in Peace River Country. Coming from Manitoba, Jennie benefitted from The Married Women's Property Acts (1907), allowing for married women to acquire, hold, and dispose of, any property “in all respects as if she were unmarried.” The province of Alberta would not pass the same act until 1922, making Jennie one of the few married women who owned the property she resided at.

Names are an important tool for unearthing the voices and experiences of people whose stories have been overlooked. Women in archival records are often unnamed, addressed as Mrs. Insert Husband’s Full Name, or simply left out of narratives, making it more difficult to unearth their stories.

Make sure to register today for our Family History Fair that is happening on May 16, 2026. It's a free event filled with lots of amazing speakers!

https://tinyurl.com/RDFamilyHistoryFair26