University of Lethbridge Honors Folk Legend with Permanent Reading Space
The University of Lethbridge library has established a permanent tribute to Canadian country and folk music legend Ian Tyson, who passed away in 2022 at age 89. The university officially unveiled the Tyson Reading Area on Thursday, November 14, 2025, creating a dedicated space that celebrates the Longview-area rancher's literary legacy and personal interests.
A Personal Collection Comes Home
Following Tyson's death, the southern Alberta university received his entire personal library as a bequest. University staff meticulously sorted through the collection to create what has become the Tyson Reading Area. According to Nicole Eva, the University of Lethbridge's associate university librarian, the materials perfectly reflected the musician and rancher's persona.
"It all really spoke to the persona, but it was clear that he was using and reading this material," Eva stated during an interview.
The reading nook features comfortable seating with views toward Lethbridge's iconic coulees, shelves filled with books from Tyson's collection, and a glass table display showcasing an assortment of personal items including handwritten notes, letters, event tickets, and various treasures from his life and career.
Curating a Cultural Treasure
The university library retained just over 300 titles from Tyson's collection, with 260 volumes displayed in the reading area and approximately 50 additional items placed in special collections due to their significant value. Books that didn't align with the collection's focus were donated to Better World Books.
Eva noted that the university typically discourages many donations due to the extensive staff time required to process collections, but Tyson's offering was different. "But this one fit so well with what we focus on at the University of Lethbridge. It just seemed like we couldn't pass it up," she explained.
The collection includes books of local interest covering areas such as Pincher Creek, the Cypress Hills, and the Rocky Mountains, along with volumes on cowboy poetry, ranching, horses, and Western culture. Eva emphasized the research value of the materials for anyone studying southern Alberta, cowboy culture, or the folk music scene.
Surprising Choice Strengthens University Ties
Eva expressed surprise that Tyson selected the University of Lethbridge over the University of Calgary for his collection, but the folk icon had established significant connections with the southern Alberta institution. Tyson received an honorary degree from the university in 2015 and served as the headline musical act when the university celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2007.
The Juno Award-winning artist, who was inducted into multiple music halls of fame including the Canadian Country Music and Western Music Association, clearly felt a strong bond with the only university located south of Calgary. Eva noted that the collection was "local enough to southern Alberta that the university could 'rightly have it here'" and would be of considerable interest to the broader community.
The Tyson Reading Area now stands as a permanent testament to one of Canada's most beloved musical figures, offering students, researchers, and community members a unique opportunity to connect with the literary world that inspired the folk music legend throughout his life and career.
