On September 1, 2005, Alberta celebrated it's 100 anniversary, and
as its birthday present to the province, the Alberta Genealogical
Society <http://www.abgensoc.ca/homestead/index.htm> has presented a ditized index of the Homestead Records from 1870 to 1930.
The homestead records came into effect when individuals could apply for
a quarter section (160 acres) of their choice. Then, after paying a
$10.00 filing fee and 'proving up'* their homestead claim, the
homesteader could apply for the parent (title) to the land.
Homestead files normally contained an application for the homestead,
including the applicant's name, age, birthplace, last residence, prior
occupation, number of adults and children in the household, and a
notice that a title had been issued.
Homestead files may also contain many other documents, such as
inspector's reports, records of abandonment, handwritten letters,
wills, naturalization certificates, court proceedings, and seed grain
liens.
In 1956, all the records were microfilmed on 686 reels and transferred
from the national archives in Ottawa to Alberta. The originals were
destroyed.
*Proving up the claim included building a house and barn, fencing, and breaking and cropping a portion of the land.
