Black book containing "History of our Cabin up Clague Mt.," photocopies of the cabin's logbook from September 1960 to January 1969, several photocopied pictures from 1970, a typewritten logbook of local and regional excursions taken by the Mendel family from 1963 to 1968, and several newspaper articles.
This material relates to a cabin on Clague Mountain, originally begun by Robert 'Bob' Hesse in the late 1950s and completed by Gisela's husband Hans in 1960. It remained in the Mendel family for 15 years before being demolished in 1975.
Custodial History
Donated to the Museum by Mendel's daughter, Fredrika Lyne, on November 14th 2023.
Scope and Content
Black book containing "History of our Cabin up Clague Mt.," photocopies of the cabin's logbook from September 1960 to January 1969, several photocopied pictures from 1970, a typewritten logbook of local and regional excursions taken by the Mendel family from 1963 to 1968, and several newspaper articles.
This fonds consists of materials created or collected by Gisela Mendel throughout her time in British Columbia, particularly during her tenure as the Museum's first curator (1969-1981). It is divided into three series:
Series 1: Photographs - approx. 330 photographs, negatives, and slides taken by Gisela Mendel, showing the local area, flora and fauna, Museum displays, Kitamaat Village and its residents, traditional Haisla cultural activities, etc.
Series 2: Kitimat Flora Collection - 12 boxes of pressed and dried flora from the local area, with associated information.
Series 3: Logbooks and scrapbooks - logbooks from Clague and Squirrel Mountains (1957-1969), accounts of Mendel family outings (1963-1968), scrapbook/photo album from Stikine road trip (1999), textual material and photos on regional hiking rails from binder on assembled by Gisela.
Series 4: Maps - 23 regional maps collected and annotated by Gisela.
ca. 10.5 cm textual material (logbooks, scrapbooks)
23 maps
History / Biographical
Gisela Heimbach Mendel was the first curator of the Kitimat Museum and Archives (then known as the Kitimat Centennial Museum). She was born in Germany in 1922 and worked as a pharmacist in East Prussia when the Russians invaded. She fled the Russians and immigrated to Canada in 1952 with her husband, Hans, and their children. Unhappy with the geography of Southern Ontario - in her words, she was a "mountain woman" - she chose Kitimat as her home.
In her earliest years in Kitimat (beginning 1956), Gisela collected botanical specimens for the Royal BC Museum in Victoria. She served as the first curator of the Kitimat Centennial Museum from the building's opening in 1969 until her retirement in 1981, when she and Hans moved to Smithers. Gisela was responsible for not only showcasing local art and history, but building a strong and varied permanent collection of artifacts and archival items upon which future curators could build.
As she was working in a relatively young community, town history was not considered a priority so much as regional history, natural history and Haisla First Nations cultural traditions, which Gisela documented with great intensity. One of her projects was creating an ethno-botanical dictionary with the help of Haisla elders, identifying the Haisla names and traditional uses for various plants. In 1972, the Northern Sentinel reported that each weekend Gisela made the rounds of her secret botanical hunting grounds to replace the display of floral specimens in her exhibits. She was a tremendous record-keeper and journalist, had a great life of the outdoors, and developed many close friendships in Kitimat and Kitamaat Village. Her thirst for information was incredible, and the Museum and the community benefitted immensely from her passion for gathering and recording knowledge. In the 1990s she received the Award of Merit from the BC Museums Association in recognition of her work. She passed away in 2008.
Custodial History
Materials in this fonds were created by Gisela Mendel during her time as Museum Curator, or donated by her, her family members, or other community members following her retirement.
Scope and Content
This fonds consists of materials created or collected by Gisela Mendel throughout her time in British Columbia, particularly during her tenure as the Museum's first curator (1969-1981). It is divided into three series:
Series 1: Photographs - approx. 330 photographs, negatives, and slides taken by Gisela Mendel, showing the local area, flora and fauna, Museum displays, Kitamaat Village and its residents, traditional Haisla cultural activities, etc.
Series 2: Kitimat Flora Collection - 12 boxes of pressed and dried flora from the local area, with associated information.
Series 3: Logbooks and scrapbooks - logbooks from Clague and Squirrel Mountains (1957-1969), accounts of Mendel family outings (1963-1968), scrapbook/photo album from Stikine road trip (1999), textual material and photos on regional hiking rails from binder on assembled by Gisela.
Series 4: Maps - 23 regional maps collected and annotated by Gisela.
Large wooden plaque.
The plaque took over 5,000 hours to complete, from 1965 to 1967. Fifteen hardwood veneers were used including walnut, yew, maple, cherry, and mahogany.
The plaque depicts our ten provinces, each with a coat of arms that includes symbols of the provincial resources and manufacturing. Western provinces are on the left—when facing the plaque – and eastern provinces are on the right. All provincial coat of arms hang on a chain linking them together in the shape of an eagle watching over the provinces. Religion and government are represented with a church and the parliament buildings in Ottawa inside a face, representative of one—a complete nation with music, sport, industry and religion. On the maple leaf stalk there are two beavers.
The first Canadian house, a teepee, has two men seated inside—a First Nations man wearing a headdress and an RCMP officer in uniform, both smoking pipes, symbols of peace. A knot in the wood has been strategically placed by Mr. Dal Monte as the eye of the RCMP officer.
Large wooden plaque.
The plaque took over 5,000 hours to complete, from 1965 to 1967. Fifteen hardwood veneers were used including walnut, yew, maple, cherry, and mahogany.
The plaque depicts our ten provinces, each with a coat of arms that includes symbols of the provincial resources and manufacturing. Western provinces are on the left—when facing the plaque – and eastern provinces are on the right. All provincial coat of arms hang on a chain linking them together in the shape of an eagle watching over the provinces. Religion and government are represented with a church and the parliament buildings in Ottawa inside a face, representative of one—a complete nation with music, sport, industry and religion. On the maple leaf stalk there are two beavers.
The first Canadian house, a teepee, has two men seated inside—a First Nations man wearing a headdress and an RCMP officer in uniform, both smoking pipes, symbols of peace. A knot in the wood has been strategically placed by Mr. Dal Monte as the eye of the RCMP officer.
Physical Condition
Good
Material
Wood
Date Range
1965-1967
Accession Number
2016.3.1
Biographical Notes
This plaque was created by Mr. Dal Monte to celebrate and honour his new home, Canada. Mr. Dal Monte conducted extensive research to learn about the provinces. He had always wanted to create inlay and thought of this project to commemorate the Canadian centennial. The new flag was being planned at the time, and Kitimat was multi-ethnic with 60+ nationalities represented and all working together.
2 photograph print : b&w ; 19 x 24cm
1 photograph print : b&w ; 24 x 17cm
1 photograph print : b&w ; 12.5 x 9cm
Custodial History
Photographs taken by Gisela Mendel in her role as museum curator.
Scope and Content
Four photographs showing a decaying totem pole at Kitselas Canyon (the fortress) and a view of the canyon looking North.
Notes
71.83 & 71.83.1 to 3 : Series number assigned as is due to these photographs being found at a later time after the collection was already entered into the database.
8 photograph prints : b&w ; 7 x 10.5cm
12 photograph prints : b&w ; 8 x 8cm
7 photograph prints : b&w ; 12.5 x 9cm
1 photograph print : b&w ; 7.5 x 6.5cm
Custodial History
Photographs taken by Gisela Mendel in her role as museum curator.
Scope and Content
Photographs of David Cordellas house ; Beaver Pond ; Schack close to Minette bay ; Various Fossils ; Copper River Fossil Beds.
Notes
76.15.1 to 14 , 76.15.15.2 to 5 , 76.15.16.14 to 16 , 76.15.17 to 27 (Missing 76.15.21 to 23 and 25)
: Series number assigned as is due to these photographs being found at a later time after the collection was already entered into the database.
Photograph of Aerial Tramway/Copper Mine 1914 in Rocher De Boule (back of photograph has written "7 Sisters & Tower of W-Uranium Mine Rocher De Boule").
Photographs taken by Gisela Mendel in her role as museum curator.
Scope and Content
Photograph of Aerial Tramway/Copper Mine 1914 in Rocher De Boule (back of photograph has written "7 Sisters & Tower of W-Uranium Mine Rocher De Boule").