author
Alexander Fraser
1860–1936
A Scottish-born Canadian historian and archivist, he helped preserve Ontario’s early records and turned local history into lively, readable work for a broad audience. His books and public lectures often centered on Scottish heritage, Toronto, and the early history of Upper Canada.
3 Audiobooks
Gearr-sgeoil air Sir Seoras Uilleam Ros
by Alexander Fraser
The Ontario Archives: Scope of its Operations
by Alexander Fraser
The Clan Fraser in Canada: Souvenir of the First Annual Gathering
by Alexander Fraser
About the author
Born in Inverness-shire, Scotland, in 1860, he moved to Canada in 1886 and began working in journalism at the Toronto Mail. Over time he became known as a historian, lecturer, and public servant, with a strong interest in Scottish-Canadian life and the documentary record of Ontario’s past.
Fraser is best remembered as Ontario’s first archivist, serving from 1903 to 1935. In that role, he helped gather, organize, and promote historical records that might otherwise have been lost, and he also served as secretary to the lieutenant-governor of Ontario for many years. His published work includes historical studies, commemorative volumes, and writing on clans, settlement, and Toronto’s past.
He died in 1936, but his influence lasted well beyond his lifetime. For readers interested in Canadian history, especially the story of Ontario and Scottish communities in Canada, his work offers a direct link to how that history was collected, interpreted, and shared in the early twentieth century.