Title: Rev. J. A. Lousley Fonds

Dates: 1900 – 1948

Extent: 3 folders textual material + photographs

Repository: The United Church of Canada Archives Manitoba Northwestern Ontario Conference and All Native Circle Conference

Retrieval Numbers: Accession: Ex-100; I.D.: 3270; Location: PP24

Historical Note

Rev. J. Albert Lousley (1870-1962) served the Methodist and United Churches of Canada for over thirty years. Lousley was born in Peterborough, Ontario, on May 24, 1870. He attended Albert College in Belleville, Ontario in 1895, Wesley College, Winnipeg in 1897, and Victoria University, Toronto, from 1898 to 1900. Lousley was ordained in the First Methodist Church in Brandon, Manitoba in June of 1900. Later that year, he married Effie Amelia Wilkinson from Brantford, Ontario.

Rev. Lousley’s first charge was in Napinka, Manitoba, in 1902. From there he served Norway House, in northern Manitoba, as Principal of the Residential School, until he was removed from the position in 1916 by the Methodist Church because of concerns voiced by government and parents over the operation of the school. From 1916 to 1920, he served Treherne (Methodist), Manitoba, and from 1920 to 1927, he served Victoria Avenue Methodist/United Church in Brandon. He subsequently served United Church congregations at Neepawa from 1927 to 1931, Arden until 1936, and then the home mission field of Gregg and Wellwood. Rev. Lousley retired in 1940 but came out of retirement to serve Lakeview United Church in Ontario for several years.

Rev. Lousley and his wife Effie eventually retired to Creston, British Columbia, in 1949. They had a large family of seven children: Hugh, Bruce, Wilkie, Florence and three other daughters (Mrs. H. Boyer of Bagot, and Mrs. A.E. Boggiss and Mrs. A.T. Cairncross of Long Branch, Ontario). Rev. J.A. Lousely passed away in 1962.

Sources: Rev. George H. Cornish, LL.D., Cyclopaedia of Methodism in Canada, Volume II (Toronto: Methodist Book and Publishing House, 1903); ‘Ex-Manitoba Methodist Leader Dies’ Tribune, Jan 4/62

Content and Scope

The surviving records of Rev. J. A. Lousley include: an Autobiography, detailing Lousley’s life and work, dating from 1948; and Photographs, including 20 b/w photos pertaining to the First Methodist Church and Mission House at Island Lake, and canoe trips between Island Lake, God’s Lake, Oxford House and Norway House, dating from 1900 and 1914.  All the photographs have been digitized. (See Lousley Fonds Photos)

Custodial History

The records of Rev. Lousley came to the archives of the Conference of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario as part of a transfer of records around 1970.

Documentation Digitization

Relevant items in this fonds related to Indian Residential Schools are included in The United Church of Canada Archives Manitoba Northwestern Ontario Conference and All Native Circle Conference 2014 Index of IRS Related Records and were digitized for submission to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Contact the Keeper of the Archives for more information.

Language:  The records are in English.

Restriction on Access: No restrictions apply.         

Accruals: No further accruals are expected.