James McNay was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, on January 31, 1907. Between 1951 and 1953, he worked in the payroll department for Alcan. He had to leave his wife Effie and his two young daughters, Margaret and Diane, aged 6 and 5 in 1951, at home in Surrey, B.C., during his 3-4 month stints in Kitimat. To fill some of his free time and show his family where he was and what Kitimat was like, he spent many hours walking in the area with a 35mm Kodak camera. He photographed the scenic beauty of the area and parts of the construction of both the smelters and the town. He died in Surrey on August 7, 1983.
Custodial History
Donated by Margaret McNay. Images were taken by her father and sent to their family in Surrey in the 1950s.
Scope and Content
Slide showing the early Haisla Bridge. Bridge is orange, and construction is still underway. Dirt slope on left side with river underneath.
Photographs of 2nd Kitimat Guide Co.
a- Thinking day Feb 22, 56. District Commissioner Leslie Creed. Assistant Leader Josephine Rewers, 2nd Kitimat Guide co. Sitting on gym floor.
b- 2nd Kitimat Girl Guide co. 1st birthday party Feb 57. Assistant Leader Joe Rewers. District Commissioner Les Creed, Velma Kernigham. Cutting a cake.
Gabriel (Gabor) Nyeste was one of the leaders of the Scouts of the First Kitimat Troop (Boy Scouts). He moved to Kitimat to work on the Alcan project and left in the early 60s. He passed away in Kamloops in July 2020.
Custodial History
Donated by Gabriel Nyeste, Aug 6 1983.
Scope and Content
Photographs of 2nd Kitimat Guide Co.
a- Thinking day Feb 22, 56. District Commissioner Leslie Creed. Assistant Leader Josephine Rewers, 2nd Kitimat Guide co. Sitting on gym floor.
b- 2nd Kitimat Girl Guide co. 1st birthday party Feb 57. Assistant Leader Joe Rewers. District Commissioner Les Creed, Velma Kernigham. Cutting a cake.
Title based on content of photograph. -- Haisla Bridge, Kitimat's first permanent bridge was completed by the end of 1953 and officially opened in 1957. -- The cost was over one million dollars. District of Kitimat Collection. District of Kitimat Collection 987.10.2
Slide showing area of Haisla Bridge construction. Dirt mound/slope on left leads to road. River and bridge construction structure are visible in back. Squirrel Mountain in background.
James McNay was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, on January 31, 1907. Between 1951 and 1953, he worked in the payroll department for Alcan. He had to leave his wife Effie and his two young daughters, Margaret and Diane, aged 6 and 5 in 1951, at home in Surrey, B.C., during his 3-4 month stints in Kitimat. To fill some of his free time and show his family where he was and what Kitimat was like, he spent many hours walking in the area with a 35mm Kodak camera. He photographed the scenic beauty of the area and parts of the construction of both the smelters and the town. He died in Surrey on August 7, 1983.
Custodial History
Donated by Margaret McNay. Images were taken by her father and sent to their family in Surrey in the 1950s.
Scope and Content
Slide showing area of Haisla Bridge construction. Dirt mound/slope on left leads to road. River and bridge construction structure are visible in back. Squirrel Mountain in background.
James McNay was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, on January 31, 1907. Between 1951 and 1953, he worked in the payroll department for Alcan. He had to leave his wife Effie and his two young daughters, Margaret and Diane, aged 6 and 5 in 1951, at home in Surrey, B.C., during his 3-4 month stints in Kitimat. To fill some of his free time and show his family where he was and what Kitimat was like, he spent many hours walking in the area with a 35mm Kodak camera. He photographed the scenic beauty of the area and parts of the construction of both the smelters and the town. He died in Surrey on August 7, 1983.
Custodial History
Donated by Margaret McNay. Images were taken by her father and sent to their family in Surrey in the 1950s.
Scope and Content
Slide showing concrete foundations for Haisla Bridge seen through trees. Other construction material around.
Slide showing road leading to Haisla Bridge from Service Centre side. Area in foreground is cleared, and further back alongside the road is forest. A pink/red car is coming up the road.
James McNay was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, on January 31, 1907. Between 1951 and 1953, he worked in the payroll department for Alcan. He had to leave his wife Effie and his two young daughters, Margaret and Diane, aged 6 and 5 in 1951, at home in Surrey, B.C., during his 3-4 month stints in Kitimat. To fill some of his free time and show his family where he was and what Kitimat was like, he spent many hours walking in the area with a 35mm Kodak camera. He photographed the scenic beauty of the area and parts of the construction of both the smelters and the town. He died in Surrey on August 7, 1983.
Custodial History
Donated by Margaret McNay. Images were taken by her father and sent to their family in Surrey in the 1950s.
Scope and Content
Slide showing road leading to Haisla Bridge from Service Centre side. Area in foreground is cleared, and further back alongside the road is forest. A pink/red car is coming up the road.
James McNay was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, on January 31, 1907. Between 1951 and 1953, he worked in the payroll department for Alcan. He had to leave his wife Effie and his two young daughters, Margaret and Diane, aged 6 and 5 in 1951, at home in Surrey, B.C., during his 3-4 month stints in Kitimat. To fill some of his free time and show his family where he was and what Kitimat was like, he spent many hours walking in the area with a 35mm Kodak camera. He photographed the scenic beauty of the area and parts of the construction of both the smelters and the town. He died in Surrey on August 7, 1983.
Custodial History
Donated by Margaret McNay. Images were taken by her father and sent to their family in Surrey in the 1950s.
Scope and Content
Slide showing construction material for the Haisla Bridge at the bridge site.
James McNay was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, on January 31, 1907. Between 1951 and 1953, he worked in the payroll department for Alcan. He had to leave his wife Effie and his two young daughters, Margaret and Diane, aged 6 and 5 in 1951, at home in Surrey, B.C., during his 3-4 month stints in Kitimat. To fill some of his free time and show his family where he was and what Kitimat was like, he spent many hours walking in the area with a 35mm Kodak camera. He photographed the scenic beauty of the area and parts of the construction of both the smelters and the town. He died in Surrey on August 7, 1983.
Custodial History
Donated by Margaret McNay. Images were taken by her father and sent to their family in Surrey in the 1950s.
Scope and Content
Slide showing rise of dirt road over bridge start in early Haisla Bridge construction.
The fonds consists of the diary of George Anderson (1892-1899, 1921-1924) when he was in Kitamaat. The fonds also includes the 1892 diary of Cora Anderson.
George Anderson grew up in Ontario and, with his wife, Cora, came to Kitamaat in 1891 as lay missionaries. They were the first permanent white settlers in the area. They established a residential home for First Nation students, administered the local school and were responsible for providing religious services to the Haisla peoples until an ordained minister arrived in the area.
Scope and Content
The fonds consists of the diary of George Anderson (1892-1899, 1921-1924) when he was in Kitamaat. The fonds also includes the 1892 diary of Cora Anderson.
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds. For conservation reasons, researchers are requested to use a photocopy of the original diary.
Aerial view of the Kitimat River Bridge site looking south showing falsework for steel erection. The building at lower left is the Club House of the Kitimat Rod and Gun Club.
Aerial view of the Kitimat River Bridge site looking south showing falsework for steel erection. The building at lower left is the Club House of the Kitimat Rod and Gun Club.
Slide showing dirt road leading to a bridge over a river/creek, possibly Anderson Creek. Grassy area on other side with white foundation structures for transmission line. Mountains in background. Mount Elizabeth partially visible on left side.
James McNay was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, on January 31, 1907. Between 1951 and 1953, he worked in the payroll department for Alcan. He had to leave his wife Effie and his two young daughters, Margaret and Diane, aged 6 and 5 in 1951, at home in Surrey, B.C., during his 3-4 month stints in Kitimat. To fill some of his free time and show his family where he was and what Kitimat was like, he spent many hours walking in the area with a 35mm Kodak camera. He photographed the scenic beauty of the area and parts of the construction of both the smelters and the town. He died in Surrey on August 7, 1983.
Custodial History
Donated by Margaret McNay. Images were taken by her father and sent to their family in Surrey in the 1950s.
Scope and Content
Slide showing dirt road leading to a bridge over a river/creek, possibly Anderson Creek. Grassy area on other side with white foundation structures for transmission line. Mountains in background. Mount Elizabeth partially visible on left side.
1. Photograph of driving the last spike in the Kitimat/Terrace Railway, 8 Jul 1955. (formerly 982.46.20a, Tirrul-Jones Collection)
2. Photograph of Sikorsky Helicopter crossing a mile-deep gorge with cargo.
3. Two photographs of the Kenney Dam.
4. Photograph of green space beside town housing, Partridge Street.
5. Photograph of Tony, Josephine and Vincent Heslenfeld's Panabode home on Pintail Street.
6. Photograph of Kemano showing aerial tramway and railroad slash.
7. Photograph of Kemano Powerhouse construction.
3 photograph prints : colour ; 25cm x 20.5cm
3 photograph prints : b&w ; 25cm x 20.5cm
1 photograph print : b&w ; 25.5cm x 17.5cm
1 photograph print : b&w ; 17.5cm x 12.5cm
History / Biographical
Purchased from the National Geographic Society Magazine for exhibition use.
Scope and Content
1. Photograph of driving the last spike in the Kitimat/Terrace Railway, 8 Jul 1955. (formerly 982.46.20a, Tirrul-Jones Collection)
2. Photograph of Sikorsky Helicopter crossing a mile-deep gorge with cargo.
3. Two photographs of the Kenney Dam.
4. Photograph of green space beside town housing, Partridge Street.
5. Photograph of Tony, Josephine and Vincent Heslenfeld's Panabode home on Pintail Street.
6. Photograph of Kemano showing aerial tramway and railroad slash.
7. Photograph of Kemano Powerhouse construction.