Unveiled during the opening of Rutherford Library in 1951, the mural Alberta History in the Rutherford South Reading Room was a gift to the University of Alberta by artist Henry George Glyde, a faculty member and head of the Department of Art. In the decades since, there have been conversations and reflections from University of Alberta faculty, staff and students, and a number of artists and writers, on how the work portrays Indigenous history and European settler history in Alberta.
In January 2021, the Library and Museums portfolio formed a Working Group to consider what should be done with the mural, given changing community views and the fact that the mural is actively deteriorating. Since September 2021, there has been a public website on the project that includes a feedback form where anyone can submit their thoughts and opinions on the mural and the project.
Suggested outcomes
A number of options have been suggested by the community including keeping the mural in its current place, covering it up and removal. A 2019 report completed by the Canadian Conservation Institute states that the potential conservation of the mural in its current place is complex and may not be possible due to the mural’s current poor condition and instability of the material with which the work was made.
Leaving the mural as-is or covering it up is not an option for several reasons. First, inaction is not a decision, it merely passes the burden forward. Further, inaction could be seen as negligence on the university’s part for not caring for a work of art and could infringe upon the moral rights of the artist and his estate. Covering the mural does not address the issue of the mural actively deteriorating.
Given the condition and instability of the mural, the probable outcome for the mural is removal. As the mural is painted directly onto the wall, removal of the mural without destruction is almost impossible. However, removal of the mural and its ultimate destruction also presents a number of challenges. It would require a formal and legal process to remove a museum object from a public institution that requires final approval by the University of Alberta Board of Governors.
Existing documentation and resources
Regardless of the outcome, the University of Alberta Museums Art Collection has completed detailed, high-resolution photographs of the mural that can be seen on the University of Alberta Museums Search Site. We also have extensive documentation about the mural’s creation, including Glyde's preparatory drawings in the University of Alberta Museums Art Collection, and many of the conversations that have occurred around the mural. All of these images and documentation would remain part of the University of Alberta Museums and/or Archives in perpetuity, enabling the mural to continue to serve as a resource for teaching and research. We have heard from our community that these resources would be valuable if the mural is removed and destroyed.
The last year of conversations and discussions have been both challenging and enlightening. This Working Group has committed to arriving at a decision around the mural that is in the best interest of the university community both now and for future generations. Please reach out to us using the feedback form on our project webpage if you wish to share your thoughts and take a look at the resources available. This webpage will also be kept up to date with progress made by the Working Group on this project.
Dr. Dale Askey
Vice-Provost (Library and Museums) & Chief Librarian