Answer

Research Plan for a Contextual Historical Narrative Report on the History of AU Ranch

1.0 Introduction

This paper presents a research plan for a contextual historical narrative report on the history of AU Ranch, which is an imaginary heritage ranch within Southern Alberta. The areas covered in this paper are approach and methodology to be employed in researching the AU Ranch, annotated bibliography of secondary and primary sources to be consulted for the research, preliminary visual images, and initial themes and topics. This plan also covers the list of potential material culture resources to back furnishing the site, schedule, and budget breakdown. For the purpose of this paper, the primary assumption is that there exist no records of the AU Ranch within any public archive. The search will be limited to archival and library documentary materials hosted on Glenbow website. Sources on material culture will be accessed from retail catalogues and Artefacts Canada online.

1.2 Approach and Methodology

This section describes the procedure or step that will be embraced when it comes to conducting the research and the methods that will be adopted for this process. Qualitative research approach, particularly epistemology, will be adopted for this research. Epistemology is a philosophy that focuses on the sources of knowledge and is concerned with nature, possibilities, limitations and sources of knowledge within the field of study[1]. To glean the relevant information for establishing adequate knowledge about AU Ranch, a research methodology that integrates primary and secondary sources will be adopted for this research. Primary sources of information will include oral history interviews and photographs. Secondary sources of information will take into consideration peer review journal and books.  This section will describe the procedure or step that will be embraced when it comes to conducting the research and the methods that will be adopted for this process.

Nine primary stages will be involved in the process of conducting the research on AU Ranch. Kean[2] emphasizes adequate preparation and planning prior to embarking on the process of conducting a heritage research. In relation to this, the first step of the research process will involve research planning and preparation. This step will entail gathering research materials and resources required for the execution of the research including video and audio recording instruments or equipment, digital cameras or smartphone for taking photographs, and personal items. Larmour[3] provides seven basic recommendations for choosing a recording instrument. First, the instrument should be sturdy and reliable, as well as affordable. Second, the recorder should be solid state and with the ability to create uncompressed WAVE audio files, particularly of CD quality, 44.1 kHz sampling rate, and 16 bit. It is significant to note that the bit depth and sampling rate of the digital audio file possess the greatest impact on the accuracy and quality of a digital audio recording instrument[4]. Third, the capacity of the recording medium should be comprehended. Fourth, the audio record should be examined for features such as on and off switch and uncompressed sound recording option. Fifth, the video recorder should possess features such as lens for professional quality zoom, external microphones’ audio input, capability of recording high quality video, capability of monitoring audio, and headphone jack among others. Sixth, microphone requirements should be considered. There exist two types of microphones including condenser and dynamic. Condenser microphones have higher sensitivity than dynamic microphones, but require a supply of power that can either be a phantom power or batter. On the other hand, dynamic microphones are not as sensitive as condenser microphones and do not require extra power of any form. Moreover, these types of microphones are more durable. Even though these two types of microphones can work, the recorder should have the ability to accommodate any of them, especially the phantom microphone.  

The second step of the research process will involve conducting a brief historical information search of the local area in which the ranch is situated, particularly the region around Highway 22. This step will enable the researcher to be acquainted with preliminary information about the ranch and the contextual environment in which it is found. The third stage of the research process will entail consultations with the present management of AU Ranch, particularly the AU Heritage Ranch Society, to make arrangements for site visitation. This process will be targeted at securing the necessary permission for visiting the site and taking photos of the structures to be studied as well as observing and documenting other pertinent information that can be employed in comprehending the ranch.

In the fourth stage, the researcher will focus on the performance of in-depth secondary information search about AU Ranch and documentation of the findings. This step will be associated with the employment of digital technology, particularly Glenbow website will be employed in collecting primary and secondary sources of information that can be used to establish the historical context associated with this research project. The secondary sources will include ten published articles or books, whereas the primary sources will encompass ten archival collections. It is vital to note that the site possess two large frame gambrel-roofed horse barns (1916 and 1924) and a large two-storey four-square style ranch house (1912). As such, the research will focus on comparative analysis of barns and ranch houses established between 1894 and 1940s. According to City of Calgary[5], gathering information about structures requires the consideration of two major sources of information including site-specific information and contextual history information. Site specific information will focus on aspects such as date of construction, original layout and appearance, materials employed in construction, and relationship to the surrounding community, as well as historical photographs of ranch houses and barns during the period under investigation.  Contextual historical information about the ranches that existed between 1894 and 9140s will also be gleaned. Contextual history information allows heritage researches to establish sense of site specific information associated with historical sites and assess the sites’ broader significance within the historical and architectural contexts. In this manner, information about the contextual history of sites enables heritage investigators to place such sites or structures within the history of societies that developed and used them. Contextual information about ranches that existed during the period of study will be gleaned from secondary sources, particularly articles and books accessed from Glenbow website.

The fifth stage of the research process will focus site visitation and taking of photographs. Photographs of all details of the ranch house and barn at the site will be taken and employed as a basis for comparative analysis of the site and other ranches that existed during 1894 and 1940s in Alberta. The sixth stages will focus on making oral history interview arrangements with the four living respondents. Certain measures will be embraced in this stage, especially when it comes to preliminary meeting with interviewees and the selection of appropriate instrument for recording interviews with respondents. The seventh stage will focus on the performance of oral history interview. The oral history interviews will be conducted with the four living individuals who worked on the ranch during the 1940s. This step will be accomplished after preliminary meetings with respondents or narrators. Some measures will be embraced during the performance of interviews with each of the four narrators. It is significant to note that the preliminary meeting will serve as an opportunity to inform the narrators about the places for recording the interviews. For instance, narrators will be informed that the recording of the interviews will occur in quite environments. Prior to the commencement of the interviews, the researcher will have to ease the tension by engaging narrators in talks about other events such as the weather and family life among others. Furthermore, the researcher will focus on establishing rapport with narrators by carefully listening to their narrations and responding to narrators effectively and explaining to them the connections between various interview topics, as suggested by Raleigh[6]. Skills recommended by Gorden will be employed in questioning the narrators. These skills include wording queries to make them suitable for the topic and clear, listening to narrators, observing non-verbal behaviors of narrators, remembering issues spoken by narrators, and judging the validity, completeness, and relevance of responses so that the researcher can know when to probe, follow-up, or thank the narrator[7]. Probing will be employed in gathering in-depth information from narrators about interview topics. Narrators’ postures, gestures, tones, and expressions will be observed during the interview process to enable the researcher to comprehend exact message being conveyed by them. Follow-up and clarification questions will be employed in ascertaining the validity of the responses provided by narrators and ensuring clarity of answers. Comparison questions will be employed in exploring interview topics in detail. For example, narrators will be asked to provide their opinions on how the compare the AU Ranch to other ranches that existed during the period under study. In addition, troubling situations such as uncomfortable questions will be avoided during the interviewing process. Errors made by narrators during their testimonies will also be ignored, but notes that correct such errors will be put in transcriptions. Compiling a draft report for review will be done in the eighth stage of the interviewing process. This stage will then be followed by the last step of the research process which is the ninth stage. The ninth stage will focus on the compilation of the final report for review. The final report will be subjected to further scrutiny to eliminate potential errors and ensure that the final product is flawless.

While the steps outlined above will be employed in accomplishing this study, various methods of heritage research will be involved. When it comes the methods that will be employed in conducting the study, philosophical or fundamental methods that include induction and deduction, analysis and synthesis, and generalizations will be embraced, as evident in the study executed by Vintoniv[8]. The general scientific methods that will be employed in conducting the research are historical, social, cultural, and system approaches. Moreover, historical techniques such as historical-comparative, historical-typological, and retrospective that permit the consideration of the object or phenomenon under investigation, which in this case is AU Ranch, from the historical viewpoint will be adopted for this research. 

Alvez[9] emphasize the significance of digital technology in producing and disseminating historical knowledge. In relation to this, digital technologies will be employed in gleaning contextual historical information about ranching and ranches from 1894 to 1940s to provide a comparative basis for the research about AU Ranch. Glenbow website, Artefacts Canada, and retail catalogues online will be the primary digital technologies employed in this study. When it comes to the execution of historical research, digital technology presents benefits in terms of processing and storage capacity. Digital technology stores adequate quantity of information in a very limited space[10]. Furthermore, digital technology is efficient when it comes to processing large quantities of data.

Apart from the focus on digital technologies, this study will also focus on the analysis of historical photographs. According to Carter[11], the employment of photographs in historical publications can be accomplished in an effective manner when the researching of such photographs occurs beyond their superficial or surface appearance. It is vital to note that photographs of ranches that existed between 1894 and 1940s will be employed as a basis for comparative analysis, which will in turn inform the generation of ideas about the AU Ranch during this period. These photographs will be employed in exploring the cultural and social life that existed at the ranch during the period under investigation. The preference of photographs as sources of information for this study is attributed to the benefits that they present to heritage research. Photographs can be employed in studying material culture including details or particulars of things or events taken for granted by contemporaries and omitted from texts Tinkler[12]. Apart from being used to study material culture in the past, photos can also be employed in studying material culture over time. In relation to this, the examination of various photos of different ranches over time, particularly between 1894 and 1940s, the changes the comparative analysis of the changes in material culture can be accomplished in an effective way. Photographs can also be used to map approaches and ideas concerning to social world aspects. As such, by employing photographs in this study, insights into detailed ideas about the AU Ranch will be accomplished.

1.3 Annotated Bibliography

The existing archival collection of books and articles on ranching in Alberta provide in-depth information that can be employed in understanding ranching in this province. The scope covered by these articles are early ranching in Alberta, history and evolution of ranching in Alberta, women ranchers, and the social and economic significance of ranching. Moreover, cattle ranching and horse ranching, agricultural practices in ranching, and daily life in ranches are covered. This section presents an annotated bibliography for primary and secondary sources on ranching in Alberta.

1.3.1 Secondary Sources

Benson, Kristi. “Cowboys and Cattle Barons: Status and Hierarchy on Alberta’s Early Corporate Ranches.” Alberta History 48, no. 4 (2000): 2.

This article examines the social and economic aspects of ranching in the early years of the twentieth century by focusing on four ranches including Bar U, Walrond, Oxley, and Cochrane. This article explores daily ranch life during this period by focusing on residence, salaries, business relationships, and task allocation among cowboys, foremen, cooks, ranch management, and mid-level ranch management. These aspects relate to some of the themes of my study, which make this article pertinent to my research.

Brado, Edward. Cattle kingdom: Early ranching in Alberta. Heritage House Publishing Co, 2004.

This book explores early ranching in Canada, covering the early years of the 19^th century up to the 1940s, which is the era under investigation in this study in relation to ranching. This book is resourceful to this research, as it incorporates archival sources such as photographs and memoirs, as well as material culture that will for the comparative analysis basis for this research.  

Evans, Simon M. The Bar U & Canadian Ranching History. Vol. 8. University of Calgary Press, 2004.

This book integrates the ranching history in Alberta with larger issues associated with ranch historiography within the Canadian West and American West, which enhances the overall comprehension of ranching history. Moreover, this book is pertinent to my research as it covers various aspects of material culture associated with ranching in the early years of twentieth century, which is a focus of my study.

Elofson, Warren M. Frontier Cattle Ranching in the Land and Times of Charlie Russell: A re-examination of the free-range cattle ranching era in Montana, Southern Alberta, and Southern Saskatchewan. McGill-Queen’s Press-MQUP, 2004.

This book examines free-range cattle ranching in the era that this research focuses on. The relevance of this book to this study lies in the fact that it explores a range of artifacts that were associated with ranching during late 1890s and 1940s.  

Herbert, Rachel. Ranching Women in Southern Alberta. University of Calgary Press, 2017.

This book focuses on ranching in Southern Alberta in relation to women in the period between 1880s and 1930s, which is in line with the period under investigation in this study (1894 to 1940s). This book is relevant to the study as it examines the material culture associated with ranching during this period, which is a focus of this research.

Kelly, Leroy Victor. The range men: Pioneer ranchers of Alberta. Heritage House Publishing Co, 2009.

This book explores early ranching in Alberta by focusing on the period between 1751 and 1912. The book features a range of material culture aspects and archival sources that provide robust evidence of early ranching in Alberta. As such, this book will be resourceful to the research when it comes to gleaning information for comparative analysis of ranching in Albert in early years of the 20^th century, which a focus of my study. 

Lupton, A. A. “Cattle Ranching in Alberta 1874-1910: Its Evolution and Migration.” The Albertan Geographer 3 (1967): 48-58.

This article explores cattle ranching in Alberta between 1874 and 1910, which also covers a portion of the era of focus for my research. The relevance of this article to my research lies in the fact that examines the evolution of ranching in this period, and this can inform the comparative analysis of my study in relation to material culture such as barns, saddle, and clothing, as well as ranching structures.

Mather, Ken. Frontier cowboys and the Great Divide: Early ranching in BC and Alberta. Heritage House Publishing Co, 2013.

This book provides an in-depth exploration of early ranching in Alberta and features resourceful photographs of early ranches of up to 1920s, buildings in these ranches, and barns. Therefore, information gleaned from this source will be a significant addition to this research when it comes to the execution of comparative analysis with the aim of establishing historical contextual information about AU Ranch.

McKinney, Amy L. “Ranching Women in Southern Alberta.” (2018): 570-572.

This article explores ranching in Southern Alberta by focusing on women in the period between 1880s and 1930s, which is within the scope of the timeframe under investigation for this research. This article is valuable to the research as it presents its historical analysis of ranching in Southern Alberta by examining various archival sources including memoirs, letters, photographs, and material culture such as clothing and saddles, which are associated with various research themes.

Young, Nancy. “The reins in their hands: ranchwomen and the Horse in Southern Alberta 1880-1914.” Alberta History 52, no. 1 (2004): 2-9.

This article explores the theme of ranchwomen and the Horse within Southern Alberta in the period between 1880 and 1914. The article explores the social life of ranchers, users of horses, location of ranches, and various aspects of material culture in ranches that will employed as the basis for comparative analysis in this research.

1.3.2 Primary Sources

Jack Dillon and saddle, Calgary, Alberta (NA-5368-2)

This picture portrays Jack Dillon in 1930s with a saddle. This source will be vital to my study in that it show cases a saddle that was used in ranches in the era or period studied in my research. As such, this photo will be employed for comparative analysis.

Aerial view of Bow River ranch, Springbank, Alberta (NA-5199-54)

This photograph taken in 1940s displays an aerial view of Bow River ranch. This photo will contribute to my research by providing evidence for comparative analysis of ranches, which can in turn inform the generation of contextual historical information about AR Ranch.

Barn of Round Top T Ranch [or Round T Ranch] near High River, Alberta (NA-67-10)

This photo shows a barn in a ranch in 1930s. This source will contribute to be research by providing a basis for comparative analysis of barns, which will in turn inform the production of historical knowledge about AU Ranch.

Senator Dan Riley cattle on Little Bow, Alberta (NA-67-3)

This photo taken in 1930s displays Senator Dan Riley on full cowboy clothing or attire. As such, this source will be employed for conducting a comparative analysis of material culture aspects of ranching such as clothing, thereby enhancing the generation of historical knowledge about AU Ranch.

Senator Dan Riley and cattle on Little Bow River, Alberta (NA-67-4)

This photograph that was taken in 1930s shows Senator Dan Riley on a horse at the bank of a river, with other horses at the background. This source will be employed in analyzing ranching practices such as watering of animals, particularly horses and cattle during my period of study, which will in turn provide a picture of such practices in AU Ranch.

Joan Oliver feeding cattle on Diamond L Ranch, Millarville area, Alberta (NB-37-28)

This photograph, which was taken in 1930s, shows Joan Oliver feeding cattle. This source will be employed in performing a comparative analysis of ranching practices of ranchers, particularly ranchers in AU Ranch, in 1930s.

Saddle horses in rope corral, Brower Ranch, Aden, Alberta in (NA-2489-14)

This photograph, which is taken in 1930s, displays evidence of material culture aspects such as types of horses that were reared in ranches in this era. As such, this source will inform my analysis of the nature of horses that were reared in AU Ranch.

Buffalo Head Ranch house, Longview (NA-695-5)

This photograph, which is taken in 1930s, displays the structures such as cowsheds that were used during this period. This source will provide a comparative analysis basis for my research during this period in relation to material culture in AU Ranch.

Dipping vat and corrals on ranch of Garret Elkink, New Holland (NA-2927-30)

This photograph is taken in 1930s and displays aspects of material culture such as corrals and dipping vat that were used during this era. Therefore, this source will be employed as a source of evidence for the nature of corrals and dipping vat in AU Ranch.

Buildings on Belgian Horse Ranch, Springbank area, Alberta (NA-3350-2)

This photo is taken in 1920s and shows the buildings including barn, cowsheds, and feeding places for horses and cattle during this period. As such, this photograph will be used as a comparative analysis basis for material culture aspects that existed in AU Ranch.

1.4 Preliminary Visual Images

Visual images presented below belong to ranches that existed in Alberta between 1894 and 1940s, and they will be employed as comparative basis for establishing the contextual information about AU Ranch:

Figure I: Aerial view of Bow River ranch, Springbank, Alberta in 1940s

Source: Glenbow Archives NA-5199-54

This photo shows an aerial view of a ranch and will be employed in analyzing the structures and buildings in 1940s in AU Ranch.

Figure II: Senator Dan Riley cattle on Little Bow, Alberta in 1930s

Source: Glenbow Archives NA-67-3

This photo will used to analyze material culture aspects such as clothing in AU Ranch in 1930s.

Figure III: Senator Dan Riley and cattle on Little Bow River, Alberta in 1930s

Source: Glenbow Archives NA-67-4

This photograph will be employed in conducting comparative analysis of ranchers’ practices such as watering animals, particularly horses and cattle.

Figure IV: Barn of Round Top T Ranch [or Round T Ranch] near High River, Alberta in 1930s

Source: Glenbow Archives NA-67-10

This photo will be employed in analyzing the nature of barns in AU Ranch in 1930s.

Figure V: Joan Oliver feeding cattle on Diamond L Ranch, Millarville area, Alberta in 1930s

Source: Glenbow Archives NB-37-28

This photograph will be used for comparative analysis of cattle feeding practices in the AU Ranch in 1930s by comparing these practices to those in other ranches during this era.

 

Figure VI: Saddle horses in rope corral, Brower Ranch, Aden, Alberta in 1930s

Source: Glenbow Archives NA-2489-14

This photo will be employed in generating historical context knowledge about AU Ranch in terms of material culture such as type of horses reared in 1930s.

Figure VII: Buffalo Head Ranch house, Longview, Alberta in 1930s

Source: Glenbow Archives NA-695-5

This photo will be used to analyze the type of structures, particularly cowsheds, in AU Ranch in 1930s by comparing this ranch to other ranches that existed at that time such as Buffalo Head Ranch.

Figure VIII: Dipping vat and corrals on ranch of Garret Elkink, New Holland, Alberta in 1930s

Source: Glenbow Archives NA-2927-30

This photograph will be used to analyze material culture such as corrals and dipping vat in AU Ranch in 1930s.

Figure IX: Cowboy roping a steer on Minor Brothers ranch near Medicine Hat, Alberta in 1930s

Source: Glenbow Archives NA-5611-53

This photograph will be employed in analyzing ranching practices in AU Ranch such as roping steers.

Figure X: Hay stacks and stacker at Stampede ranch, near High River, Alberta in 1940s

Source: Glenbow Archives NA-2017-4

This photograph will be employed in analyzing material culture such as hay stacker and hay stacks in 1940s.

Figure XI: Branding cattle on Ova Brower Ranch, Aden, Alberta in 1940s

Source: Glenbow Archives NA-2489-8

This photo will be used to conduct the analysis of ranching practices in AU Ranch in 1940s.

Figure XII: ‘Will Somers’, thoroughbred stallion, EP Ranch, Pekisko, Alberta in 1920s

Source: Glenbow Archives NA-2046-7

This photo will be used to analyze the types of horses kept in AU Ranch in 1920s.

Figure III: Barn on EP Ranch, Pekisko, Alberta in 1931

Source: Glenbow Archives NA-2800-15

This photograph will be employed in analyzing the type of barns in AU Ranch in 1931.

Figure IV: Ranch owned by Frank Reeve near Morley, Alberta in 1920s

Source: Glenbow Archives NA-4320-18

This photo will be employed in analyzing the nature of houses in AU Ranch in 1920s.

Figure V: Buildings on Belgian Horse Ranch, Springbank area, Alberta in 1920s

Source: Glenbow Archive NA-3350-2

This photo will be employed in conducting a comparative analysis of structures including barns and cowsheds in AU Ranch in 1920s.

1.5 Initial Themes and Topics

Initial themes and topics that relate to this research are as follows:

• Silent transformation in history
• Significance of heritage resource sites
• Evolution of heritage resource sites over time
• Original layout of heritage site
• Challenges associated with the management of heritage site
• Missing information or Information shortage in heritage site
• Relationships between disciplines
• Conducting heritage resource interviews
• Analyzing and generating resourceful or tangible information about heritage sites from data gleaned from narrators
• Architectural materials between 1894 and 1940s
• Barns during 1894 and 1940s
• Ownership or ranches during 1894 and 1940s
• Role of Ranches in Economic Growth from 1894 t0 1940s
• Social life in ranches from 1894 to1940s

1.6 List of Potential Material Culture Resources to Back Furnishing the Site

Material culture involves physical objects, spaces, and resources that individuals employ in defining their culture. These aspects include neighborhoods, homes, churches, synagogues, schools, cities, plants and factories, offices, mosques, temples, production means, tools, stores, and products among others ().

• Barns
• Ranch houses
• Ranch Structures
• Water Points
• Hay
• Cattle Reared
• Horses Reared
• Ranchers’ Attire
• Saddles
• Clothing

 

1.7 Schedule

The research schedule is provided in the table below:

 

Month One:	Planning and Preparation
Week I:	Visiting Ranch Managements
Week 2:	Collection of Research resources
Week 3:	Gathering research resources
Week 4:	Gathering personal items
Month Two:	Brief Historical Search of the Area and Consultation of Ranch Managements
Week 1	Brief historical search of the area
Week 2	Consultation with management
Week 3	Preliminary visit at the site
Week 4	Final consultation with management
Month Three	In-depth secondary information search about AU Ranch
Week 1:	Secondary information search about material culture
Week 2:	Secondary information search about ranch structures
Week 3	Secondary information search about ranching practices
Week 4:	Compilation of findings
Month Four:	Site Visitation and Taking of Photographs.
Week 1:	Visitation of AU Ranch and familiarization with the ranch
Week 2:	Taking photographs of material culture aspects

 

[1]Kean, Hilda. “London Stories. Personal Lives, Public History.” In The Public History Reader, edited by Hilda Keen, and Paul Martin, 173–92. London and New York: Routledge, 2013.

[2] Ibid

[3] Larmour, Judy. Types of Interview & Framing of Questions, excerpt from “How to Do Oral History.” In Heritage Notes 11, Forthcoming Reprint, 2017. Edmonton: Alberta Historical Resources Foundation/Alberta Culture and Tourism.

[4] Ibid

[5] City of Calgary. A Guide to Researching Building History. Available at: https://www.calgary.ca/CA/city-clerks/Documents/Administration-services/2013-Guide%20to%20Researching%20Building%20History.pdf?noredirect=1

[6] Raleigh Yow, Valerie. “Interviewing Techniques and Strategies.” In The Oral History Reader. 3rd ed., edited by Robert Perks, and Alistair Thomson, 153–78. London: Routledge, 2016.

[7] Ibid

[8] Vintoniv, Khrystyna. “The Ukrainian Documentary Heritage in Canadian Virtual Space: Digital Exhibitions, Encyclopedias and Databases,” European Researcher 59, no. 9 (2013): 2278–83.

[9] Alves, Daniel. “Introduction: Digital Methods and Tools for Historical Research.” International Journal of Humanities and Arts Computing 8, 1 (2014): 1–12.

[10] Ibid

[11] Carter, John E. “The Trained Eye: Photographs and Historical Context,” Public Historian 15, no. 1 (1993): 55–66.

[12] Tinkler, Penny. “Studying Found Photographs.” In Using Photographs in Social and Historical Research, 33–60. Los Angeles, London: SAGE, 2013.

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Week 3:	Taking photographs of structures such as barn
Week 4:	Compilation of findings
Month Five:	Conducting Oral Interview
Week 1:	Interviewing narrator 1 and transcription of outcomes
Week 2:	Interviewing narrator 2 and transcription of outcomes
Week 3:	Interviewing narrator 2 and transcription of outcomes
Week 4:	Interviewing narrator 2 and transcription of outcomes
Month Six:	Compilation of Findings and Final Report
Week 1	Compilation of interview findings
Week 2:	Compilation of draft report
Week 3:	Compilation of final report
Week 4:	Presentation of the final report

Table I: Research Schedule

 

 

Source: Author

1.8 Budget Breakdown

The table below shows the budget breakdown for the research.

Item	Actual Cost ($)	Estimated Cost ($)
Ballpark Fee Plus Expenses	2,500	2,700
Travel for research and Interviews	3,200	3,400
Accommodation	4,500	4,700
Photocopying	3,500	4,000
Hiring a digital camera for the six months	1,800	1,900
Purchasing a laptop for data storage	800	1,000
TOTAL	16,300	17,700

1520,000

In conclusion, this paper has effectively presented the research plan for AU Ranch, which is established on four acres in the foothills off Highway 22 south of Calgary. The plan details the approach and method of research, annotated bibliography of primary and secondary sources to be used in conducting the research, preliminary visual photographs of ranches in Alberta, themes and topics covered, aspects of material culture involved, schedule, and budget.