Educator.
Born at Gilmonby Hall, Bowes, Yorkshire, England on 6 February 1872, he graduated from Durham Grammar School and the Agricultural College at Hollesley, Suffolk. He first immigrated to Canada in 1889 and briefly settled in Manitoba at Birtle before returning to England in 1893 to teach at Southampton for two years. Returning to Manitoba in 1895, he attained his provincial teaching certificate and taught at North Lakeland School (1896) and within Portage la Prairie (1897-1898). He returned again to England to enlist with the Northumberland Hussars Yeomanry, then served two years in the Boer War [South African War]. His wartime service earned him two service medals with five clasps. He reportedly became Assistant Police Commissioner of Victoria.
Around 1900, he made yet another voyage across the Atlantic Ocean to Manitoba, settling on Good Street in Winnipeg and working as a life insurance agent. On 23 September 1903, he married Annie Birtle Haines (1881-1967, daughter of John Haines) at St. George’s Anglican Church in Birtle. They had two children: John Emerson “Morley” Headlam (1904-1991, husband of Venie Moore) and Helen Ruth Phoebe Headlam (1916-?, wife of Bernard C. Deaville). He farmed for several years before re-entering the classroom in 1909 and residing at 516 Balmoral Street in Winnipeg (1911). He was then Principal of Winkler School (1911-1912), Minitonas School (1912-1914), Hazelridge School (1914-1916). In early 1916, he took a six-week furlough from teaching to attend an officer training course with an eye to enlisting for military service with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He appears to have opted out of military service and returned instead to Hazelridge School (1916-1917), after which he was Principal of Lundi School / Riverton School (1917-1918). Next, he joined the teaching staff of St. John’s College (1918-1939) until retirement. He was a founding member of Community Hockey League, also serving as its first President, and later as an honourary life member.
He died at his Winnipeg residence, 559 Rosedale Avenue, on 11 January 1943 and was buried in the St. John’s Cemetery.
Birth, marriage, and death registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.
1911 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.
“Wedded at Birtle,” Manitoba Free Press, 1 October 1903, page 8.
“This school will not neglect English,” Manitoba Free Press, 20 September 1911, page 16.
“Hazelridge notes,” Manitoba Free Press, 20 January 1916, page 2.
Birth notice, Winnipeg Tribune, 6 October 1916, pg 18.
“Teachers to meet here next week,” Manitoba Free Press, 30 March 1918, page 7.
“Headlam - Moore bridal held in flower-decked Chapel of St. St. John’s College,” Winnipeg Tribune, 30 April 1938, page 13.
“Headlam - Moore nuptial vows taken in St. John’s College School Chapel,” Winnipeg Free Press, 2 May 1938, page 11.
“Deaville - Headlam bridal plans made,” Winnipeg Free Press, 2 September 1942, page 8.
“Deaville - Headlam bridal held in St. John’s College Chapel,” Winnipeg Tribune, 5 sept 1942, page 13.
“A. M. Headlam dies at home on Monday,” Winnipeg Free Press, 12 January 1943, page 2.
“A. M. Headlam, former School Master, dies,” Winnipeg Tribune, 12 January 1943, page 11.
Winnipeg estate file #30966, Archibald M. Headlam, Archives of Manitoba.
“In the realm of sport [Another personality who will be sorely missed],” Winnipeg Free Press, 14 January 1943, page 13.
Obituary [Annie Birtle Headlam], Winnipeg Free Press, 26 June 1967, page 32.
Obituary [John Emerson Morley Headlam], Winnipeg Free Press, 6 June 1991, page 33.
Summative half-yearly returns for school districts (A 0051), GR0571, Archives of Manitoba.
School division half-yearly attendance reports (E 0757), Archives of Manitoba.
South African War Service Files, Medals, and Land Applications, Library and Archives Canada.
Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Henderson Directories Limited, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 5 October 2024
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