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 smeltersite from Douglas Channel side. On right is Delta King and the bunkhouses, and on the left is Hospital Beach.
Taken from top deck of Delta King showing Rec. Hall + Feed Ryan's workshop at left. Prior to closing of Helen's Cafe. Note Pum.p + Steam in forground. The pump was used to keep waterout of Coffer Dam around Delta King + is used to heat Rec. Hall, Hospital, School, Bunkhouses, and Cafeteria
Taken from top deck of Delta King showing Rec. Hall + Feed Ryan's workshop at left. Prior to closing of Helen's Cafe. Note Pum.p + Steam in forground. The pump was used to keep waterout of Coffer Dam around Delta King + is used to heat Rec. Hall, Hospital, School, Bunkhouses, and Cafeteria
Newspapers, correspondence, information compiled by the Northern Sentinel Press Ltd. in the creation of newspaper articles. Information compiled from Kitimat General Hospital Society, BC Centennial Committee, Kitimat Public Health, Canadian Red Cross, Lehndorff (City Centre Mall owners), Canadian Association of Smelter and Allied Workers - Local No.1, United Steelworkers of America, Kitamaat Village Council, District of Kitimat, Kitimat Community Council, Kitimat Chamber of Commerce, Kitimat Scholarship Association, Board of School Trusteees, Delta King photographs, Kitimat Steelworkers Union Members photographs, Miss Kitimat photographs.
Given to museum by Rosalina Cordeiro - Editor of the Northern Sentinel Press Ltd.
Scope and Content
Newspapers, correspondence, information compiled by the Northern Sentinel Press Ltd. in the creation of newspaper articles. Information compiled from Kitimat General Hospital Society, BC Centennial Committee, Kitimat Public Health, Canadian Red Cross, Lehndorff (City Centre Mall owners), Canadian Association of Smelter and Allied Workers - Local No.1, United Steelworkers of America, Kitamaat Village Council, District of Kitimat, Kitimat Community Council, Kitimat Chamber of Commerce, Kitimat Scholarship Association, Board of School Trusteees, Delta King photographs, Kitimat Steelworkers Union Members photographs, Miss Kitimat photographs.
Notes
Was 992.6 Photographs described at the item level.
1 film reel of 'The Kitimat Story'. In a large, brown film box. Heavy. Box has old labels on it. One peeled off, and the other is a label from Canadian National Express. Under that is embossed label saying "Made in USA", Top there is hand written text that reads "J.E. Mitchell Kitimat". There is also a DVD included with copy of the footage.
Originally owned by Donald R.C. Morris. Donated by Patricia Morris.
Scope and Content
1 film reel of 'The Kitimat Story'. In a large, brown film box. Heavy. Box has old labels on it. One peeled off, and the other is a label from Canadian National Express. Under that is embossed label saying "Made in USA", Top there is hand written text that reads "J.E. Mitchell Kitimat". There is also a DVD included with copy of the footage.
Notes
Note on DVD says that it is "Alcan Builds in Kitimat", but comparing to our own footage, the proper title is 'The Kitimat Story'.
Photograph of an aerial of the Kitimat River estuary. Edge of plane visible on the left. Beyond the estuary the Alcan smelter site is visible. Smoke is coming off the smelter operations. Snowy mountains in background.
From the years 1953-1958, Mike Kinnear took photos during his school years, until graduation, while working for Fred Ryan Ltd. after school and holidays. Photos for him was a hobby, and he took many photos of the smelter and townsite as it grew around him. Mike also took a number of photos for the Kitimat Northern Sentinel, during the Ken Brumley and Pixie Meldrum years as editors. Mike and his family left Kitimat in 1958, but he spent the best part of 40 years in the photographic field, mainly in the retail/wholesale part of the photo industry.
Custodial History
Donated by Margaret and Mike Kinnear.
Scope and Content
Photograph of an aerial of the Kitimat River estuary. Edge of plane visible on the left. Beyond the estuary the Alcan smelter site is visible. Smoke is coming off the smelter operations. Snowy mountains in background.
Title based on content of fond.
1. John Manders on the stairwell of the Delta King
2. John Manders w/fellow from Ireland, walking down hallway of Delta King
3. John Manders w/Mike Durin outside walkway on the Delta King
4. Panoramic view, Anderson Creek Camp, new bunkhouses, on the left, old
bunkhouses, Anderson Creek Bridge at the back, a bit of trailer court on the right
5. Anderson Creek Camp - old bunkhouses, Anderson Creek Bridge, Trailer Camp
6. Anderson Hill Trailer Camp
7. John Manders (right) & friend, outside CN Station
8. Locomotive, one of the first trains in Kitimat
9. Smeltersite looking southeast
10. John Manders on his 1996 Harley Davidson, FLHT
11. Slide Photo locomotive, one of the first trains in Kitimat
12. Slide photo John Manders (right) & friend, outside CN station
13. Slide photo Smeltersite looking southeast
14. Kitimat Hotel, which opened May 26, 1955
15. Panoramic view, Anderson Hill Trailer Camp & Anderson Creek Camp were two
separate places. In the panormaic view Anderson Creek Camp has barracks -
located in the left background. Anderson Hill Trailer Camp is located in the
foreground - all the way across the panoramic view
Cartoon drawn by HEAK (Hans Kuppers). This cartoon depicts concerns about Kitimat over dwindling population, community services and the possibility of power sales.
Cartoon drawn by HEAK (Hans Kuppers). This cartoon depicts concerns about Kitimat over dwindling population, community services and the possibility of power sales.
Physical Condition
Good
Material
paper
Condition Remarks
Two sheets taped together
Width
28cm
Length
43.5 cm
Date Range
ca. 1997
Accession Number
2016.143.1
Biographical Notes
HEAK (Hans Kuppers) was a political cartoonist who worked for Alcan and created a character known as Alman for the ingot newsletter.
Molly worked + lived in Kitimat (1954-55). Worked at Alcan Pryde Machine Shop, last girl on Kitimat Constructors payroll. Liver at hospital, Smeltersite.
Scope and Content
Collection of photos consisting of Alcan, Smeltersite, Delta King, the sandhill, Kitimat River, Hirsch Creek bridge, Douglas Channel, and the wharf
Notes
Photos were most likely colour origianlly, but have degraded into a pink tone
