Richard Faries (1870-1964) was educated at Moose Fort, Diocese of Moosonee and the Diocesan College, Montreal.  He was ordained deacon in 1894 and priest in 1898.  He was appointed missionary in charge at York Factory, Hudson’s Bay in 1898 when that post was part of the Diocese of Moosonee.  York Factory became part of the Diocese of Keewatin in 1902.  In 1917, he was appointed archdeacon of York, Diocese of Keewatin.  In 1926, he travelled to England to do deputation work for the British Commonwealth Missionary Society (B.C.M.S.) and to see a new Cree Hymnal printed for the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (S.P.C.K.).  The Faries Cree Hymnal is still used in the Diocese of Keewatin.  After returning to York Factory in 1927, Faries became seriously ill with typhoid fever while his wife was ill with a nervous ailment.  He spent the winter of 1934-1935 in Toronto, working on a Cree dictionary.  From 1946-1950, he spent summers only at York Factory.

Fonds consists of the original handwritten manuscript and two typescript copies of Faries’ autobiography, photographs to accompany the text, telegrams and letters concerning Faries’ illness and death, and a manuscript copy of a dictionary of the Cree language, edited by Faries.

Title based on contents of fonds.

See also entries under this heading in the classified catalogue.

Cree Dictionary published in 1938 under the direction of the General Synod of the Church of England in Canada.  See BP50 W13.11.

The photographs in the Richard Faries fonds are located in P7564.  Item listing available.