Love, Rodeo & a Piece of History: The Thode Letters

The Calgary Stampede’s Collections & Archives team recently received a remarkable donation from the family of the late Earl Thode (1900-1964). A celebrated Saddle Bronc Rider, Earl was a three-time Stampede Champion and was awarded one of the earliest bronze works created by famed sculptor Charlie Biel. While this unique bronze is a major highlight among the items donated, the collection also includes handwritten letters and artifacts that offer a glimpse into his life and love story with Edna “Blodie” Cole (1909-2003), a nurse from Canmore, Alberta.

“The collection offers a distinct snapshot of rodeo culture at that point in its history,” says Jessica Smallman, Collections Specialist. “One noteworthy letter describes a saga of a missing coat and the efforts of multiple cowboys like Pete and Harry Knight to return this coat to Edna and being thwarted by difficult Canadian customs agents.”

The collection includes many pieces of Stampede-specific history that represent the bookends of Earl’s rodeo career. Earl first competed in the Saddle Bronc event at the Calgary Stampede in 1929, and the certificate of his championship win that year, which was also donated to the Stampede by the Thode family, was signed by none other than Guy Weadick. Earl retired at 37 after his last Champion title win in 1938, when he won a prestigious bronze created by Charlie Biel, which depicts a bronc rider beneath a bucking horse.

His romance with Edna began when she treated him for a rodeo injury in a Calgary hospital. Over the next decade, they exchanged hundreds of letters detailing their courtship, engagement, marriage and early parenthood.

Beyond their love story, the letters provide insight into rodeo life, long-distance relationships, and historical details about ranching, medical practices and world events.

“The letters have so much present-day relevance,” says Brenna Perera, Collections Assistant. “Their correspondence is very relatable, even almost a century later, because it shows how their experiences of loneliness and longing that go hand in hand with the ups and downs of relationships are truly timeless.”

Earl frequently mentioned fellow rodeo cowboys, their performances and injuries. Other amusing anecdotes include tales at the ranch, and Edna lamenting her unmarried status at 22. Later letters feature drawings Earl made for their son, Ernest, often depicting cowboys and broncos.

This collection, generously donated by Tom and Mary Thode, is a treasured addition to the Calgary Stampede Archives and will soon be displayed at the Sam Centre, preserving a unique piece of rodeo history. Find more of Stampede's greatest stories at Sam Centre.