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 opening to the Kitimat Yacht Club basin. Sailboats and the Alcan dock in the distance.
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
Photograph of 2 combined negatives. Neagtive 1 shows a ship on the channel. Negative 2 shows people sitting at crowded tables in a room with a screen at the back.
Photos donated by Joan Smith for Anglican Church 50th Anniversary. Donated in April 2003.
Scope and Content
Photograph of 2 combined negatives. Neagtive 1 shows a ship on the channel. Negative 2 shows people sitting at crowded tables in a room with a screen at the back.
Aerial photo of the Alcan aluminum smelter site, and the Douglas Channel. Taken from the north looking south. Note - bottom left corner is a portion of the Anderson Creek construction camp.
Aerial photo of the Alcan aluminum smelter site, and the Douglas Channel. Taken from the north looking south. Note - bottom left corner is a portion of the Anderson Creek construction camp.
Photo showing aerial view of the graving dock looking north showing caisson contruction nearing its final stages, the smelter site is in the background.
Photo showing aerial view of the graving dock looking north showing caisson contruction nearing its final stages, the smelter site is in the background.
Photograph of an aerial view of the Alcan Smelter. Gearbulk ship is at dock and behind it on the right is the Kitimat Yacht Club. Other buildings and potlines extend further back. Dead trees and smog is visible running along the mountains in the background. Eurocan site also visible in background. Mountain tops have snow.
Belonged to Joe and Pat Goncalves. Photo possibly by Max Patzelt.
Scope and Content
Photograph of an aerial view of the Alcan Smelter. Gearbulk ship is at dock and behind it on the right is the Kitimat Yacht Club. Other buildings and potlines extend further back. Dead trees and smog is visible running along the mountains in the background. Eurocan site also visible in background. Mountain tops have snow.
Photograph of an aerial view of the Alcan Smelter. Gearbulk ship is at dock on the right and behind it is the Kitimat Yacht Club. Other buildings and potlines to the left and further back. Dead trees and smog is visible running along the mountains in the background. Eurocan site and sandhill also visible in background. Mountain tops have snow.
Belonged to Joe and Pat Goncalves. Photo possibly by Max Patzelt.
Scope and Content
Photograph of an aerial view of the Alcan Smelter. Gearbulk ship is at dock on the right and behind it is the Kitimat Yacht Club. Other buildings and potlines to the left and further back. Dead trees and smog is visible running along the mountains in the background. Eurocan site and sandhill also visible in background. Mountain tops have snow.
Photograph of an aerial view of the Alcan Smelter. Gearbulk ship is at dock on the right and behind it is the Kitimat Yacht Club. Other buildings and potlines to the left and further back. Dead trees and smog is visible running along the mountains in the background. Eurocan site and sandhill also visible in background. Mountain tops have snow.
Belonged to Joe and Pat Goncalves. Photo possibly by Max Patzelt.
Scope and Content
Photograph of an aerial view of the Alcan Smelter. Gearbulk ship is at dock on the right and behind it is the Kitimat Yacht Club. Other buildings and potlines to the left and further back. Dead trees and smog is visible running along the mountains in the background. Eurocan site and sandhill also visible in background. Mountain tops have snow.
