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 two men standing in front of Anderson Creek falls. They are standing on a gravel shore in front of the falls basin.
One photograph of Victoria Day (May 19, 1958) at the Kitamaat Village with Hieda Grant, Velma Ross, and Mary Starr. One photograph of artist (Mrs. Jessie Webster) at work [ca. 1977].
1 photograph print : b&w ; 9 x 13cm
1 photograph print : b&w ; 13 x 9cm
Custodial History
Photographs taken by Gisela Mendel in her role as museum curator.
Scope and Content
One photograph of Victoria Day (May 19, 1958) at the Kitamaat Village with Hieda Grant, Velma Ross, and Mary Starr. One photograph of artist (Mrs. Jessie Webster) at work [ca. 1977].