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 mountain with narrow waterfall flowing down from snowmelt into Douglas Channel. Possibly Gardner Canal.
Photographs of snowshoe hike on Clague Mountain. 1st Kitimat Scout Troop.
a- 1st Kitimat Scout Troop. Assistant Scout Master Werner Beck. Scouts: Brian Lumley, Eric Harris, Bob Nyeste. Standing near forest holding their snowshoes.
b- 1st Kitimat Scouot Troop. Brian Lumley, Eric Harris, Bob Nyeste, Deitlef Beck. Snowshoe hike, Clague Mountain. Group is standing in icy road with snowshoes in snowbacnk on left.
c- Deitlef Beck standing with Gabe Nyeste. Others are Hanson, Eric Harris, Brian Lumley, and ?. Cabin on stilts behind them. Man up in cabin door.
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 snowshoe hike on Clague Mountain. 1st Kitimat Scout Troop.
a- 1st Kitimat Scout Troop. Assistant Scout Master Werner Beck. Scouts: Brian Lumley, Eric Harris, Bob Nyeste. Standing near forest holding their snowshoes.
b- 1st Kitimat Scouot Troop. Brian Lumley, Eric Harris, Bob Nyeste, Deitlef Beck. Snowshoe hike, Clague Mountain. Group is standing in icy road with snowshoes in snowbacnk on left.
c- Deitlef Beck standing with Gabe Nyeste. Others are Hanson, Eric Harris, Brian Lumley, and ?. Cabin on stilts behind them. Man up in cabin door.
Peak book from Squirrel Mountain. First page reads "Peak Book. From 23rd May 1945. To For All Who Believe in God and His Wonderful Nature. "Kreuzberg"" Rest of book contains comments from visitors of the peak from all over the world. Cover is black, but very stained and degraded. Turning orange.
Peak book from Squirrel Mountain. First page reads "Peak Book. From 23rd May 1945. To For All Who Believe in God and His Wonderful Nature. "Kreuzberg"" Rest of book contains comments from visitors of the peak from all over the world. Cover is black, but very stained and degraded. Turning orange.
Notes
Poor condition. Colour stains, falling apart. Main register indicates there should be a second book, but the other is currently missing.
The fonds consists of logbooks of the First Cabin, also known as “Harley’s Cabin”, on Clague Mountain recording the names and comments of the hikers who had used the cabin.
4 folders
1-1 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook I, 1957-1958 (include some 1961 notations)
1-2 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook II, 1958-1961
1-3 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook III, 1961-1962
1-4 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook III (photocopy)
The First Cabin, also known as “Harley’s Cabin”, was constructed in 1957 at the 1800-foot level of Clague Mountain to provide refuge for hikers and to make skiing on the mountain possible in the winter. A four-man team including Harley Robertson, with John Layman as foreman, was chiefly responsible for its construction.
Scope and Content
The fonds consists of logbooks of the First Cabin, also known as “Harley’s Cabin”, on Clague Mountain recording the names and comments of the hikers who had used the cabin.
4 folders
1-1 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook I, 1957-1958 (include some 1961 notations)
1-2 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook II, 1958-1961
1-3 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook III, 1961-1962
1-4 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook III (photocopy)
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds.
Donated in 1970.
Photograph of Onorio Angelo Iacobelli in Kemano sometime between 1952 and 1955. He is crouched with a mountain in the background. There is a low cloud billowing in front of the mountain behind him.
Donated by Onorio Iacobelli's granddaughter, Francesca Iacobelli.
Scope and Content
Photograph of Onorio Angelo Iacobelli in Kemano sometime between 1952 and 1955. He is crouched with a mountain in the background. There is a low cloud billowing in front of the mountain behind him.
Edwin Charles Bateman (Ted) was a Commando in WWII, and later enjoyed his hobbies of cycle racing, ballroom dancing, and photography. He lived in Toronto, LA, and finally Vancouver in the early 50s. After arriving in vancouver he was offered a job as an assistant surveyor in Kitimat. He was subsequently offered a job as a lineman with what became BC Tel.
Custodial History
Judith Saunders
Scope and Content
Photograph of aerial view of townsite clearing and Haisla bridge.
Edwin Charles Bateman (Ted) was a Commando in WWII, and later enjoyed his hobbies of cycle racing, ballroom dancing, and photography. He lived in Toronto, LA, and finally Vancouver in the early 50s. After arriving in vancouver he was offered a job as an assistant surveyor in Kitimat. He was subsequently offered a job as a lineman with what became BC Tel.
Custodial History
Judith Saunders
Scope and Content
Photograph of aerial view of townsite clearing. Built homes can be seen.
Alice Dicker's father, Benard, came to Canada to work in 1955. He was a forman D-shift for Alcan. He married Anna in 1959. Alice and her sister Claudia were born in Kitimat and the family lived here until 1969, at which time they returned to Germany.
Scope and Content
Photograph of view from a field looking across Kitimat neighbourhoods and homes.
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 view of Hospital Beach from likely the Delta King. Buildings and boats visible.
