Herbert Girling (1891-1920) lived and worked in Nottingham, England before he responded to a call for men by the Colonial and Continental Church Society. He studied at Emmanuel College, Saskatoon from 1909-1913. Girling was ordained deacon in 1914 and priest in 1916. He began missionary service under the direction of Archdeacon C.E. Whittaker in Fort McPherson and Kittigazuit, NWT. 1915-1919 he was Missionary with the Inuit in the Bernard Harbour and Coronation Gulf areas. During that time he made extensive travels and did significant translation in the Copper Eskimo language. He died in Ottawa while on furlough.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of articles by and about Girling regarding his work among the Blond Eskimo or Copper Inuit and photographs taken while in the north. There is also a list of articles published in the Mission World by and about Girling and his work.
A later donation includes Girling's Copper Eskimo [Inuinnaqtun/Inuinnaztun] and English Dictionary and supplemental aids (grammar and phrases).
Gabriel Eldon Merritt (1888-1940) left St. John, NB for the north in 1914. He served at Inman River and Bernard Harbour until 1929 and at Cambridge Bay from 1929-1930. He left the north due to illness in 1930 and settled in Ottawa, ON. He was ordained deacon in 1924.
Scope and Content
Microfilm consists of 8 diaries kept during period of service in Yukon and Arctic, April 1914 to July 1930.
Finding Aids
Finding aid available. See: Microfilm collections- Gabriel Eldon Merritt Diaries