Vulcan: The Making of a Prairie Community

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Vulcan: The Making of a Prairie Community is a study by Canadian historian Paul Voisey that examines the founding and early years of Vulcan, Alberta, Canada. The book was published by the University of Toronto Press in 1988 as part of their Social History of Canada Series. Significant portions of the book formed the basis of Voisey's doctoral dissertation at the University of Toronto.

[edit] Overview

The study is divided into four sections. Section one addresses the settlement process, and argues that neither the frontier thesis nor the metropolitan thesis adequately explains the settlement process. Voisey contends that a variety of factors influence early communities, including frontier innovation, metropolitan influence, and traditional beliefs of the settlers.

The second section examines agriculture in the Vulcan area. Emphasis is placed on the factors affecting crop selection, the various techniques employed, and farm size. Section four discusses the social life of the town, including the prominent role accorded to rural schools and churches. The concluding section examines the social structure of the settlement.