Dr Bruce P. Dancik Collection of Angling Books
Dr Bruce P. Dancik has taken on many roles at the University of Alberta including Professor and Associate Vice-President (Academic). Dr Dancik was the Director of the Devonian Botanic Gardens from 2001 to 2011 and today he is Professor Emeritus in the U of A's Department of Renewable Resources. The Dancik Collection consists of more than 3,000 books and numerous ephemeral publications. Many are titles of extreme rarity, often illustrated with woodcuts, copper or steel engravings, chromolithographs, and photoengravings. Beyond documenting the history and practice of angling, the collection is a significant research resource for freshwater biologists, limnologists, and ichthyologists, and for the study of ecology and wildlife resource management. Dr Dancik continues to work in forestry, science, and scientific editing and publishing. He has received many awards for his dedication to the advancement of science and protection of the environment. The Dancik Collection was donated to the library over a period of several years by Bruce Dancik, and some further book acquisitions were made possible with funds generously contributed by Brenda Laishley and other donors. We invite you to support the collection.
Getting started: Most student researchers will want to employ a series of keyword searches in the University of Alberta Library catalogue in order to find relevant print and digital materials in all U of A library locations and collections, including the Dancik Collection. Those who wish to browse this specific collection can do so by searching “Bruce P. Dancik Collection of Angling Books” in the library catalogue for books or by using the finding aid to identify ephemeral publications. For more information about research in the Peel library, see Finding and Requesting Peel Library Materials.
Further resources: The Dancik Collection was celebrated in a major exhibition with an award-winning book/catalogue, A Contemplative Angler (2018-2019), and an award-winning short film.
Collection Formats: 19th Century, 20th Century, 21st Century, Books, Ephemera -- click to see other collections with this format
The Jolly Angler: or, Water Side Companion. Containing an Account of all the Best Places for Angling, as well as the Tackle, Baits, & Other Requisites to Form an Expert Angler by J. March, published by March & Steill in 1836 (SH 439 M28 1836).
Longman's 1836 edition of The Fly-fisher's Entomology: Illustrated by Coloured Representations of the Natural and Artificial Insect. And Accompanied by a Few Observations and Instructions Relative to Trout-and-grayling Fishing by Alfred Ronalds (SH 451 R66 1836).
Houghton's 1883 edition of Fishing with the Fly: Sketches by Lovers of the Art, with Illustrations of Standard Flies by Charles F. Orvis (SH 441 O78 1883).
First published in 1914, this is a new edition of How to Dress Salmon Flies: A Handbook for Amateurs (Black, 1977) by Thomas Edwin Pryce-Tannatt (SH 451 P79 1914).
Bookplate of Dr Bruce P. Dancik.