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.
23 maps of northwestern British Columbia, from the Seven Sisters westward to Port Essington.
2018.9.1a-b – Seven Sisters / Dorreen
2018.9.2a-c – Usk / Chist Creek
2018.9.3a-c – Lakelse / Terrace
2018.9.4a-b – Alastair Lake
2018.9.5a-b – Salvus, Coast District Range 5
2018.9.6a-d – Ecstall River / Port Essington
2018.9.7a-g – Kitimat Arm, Kildala River, Mt. Aetna, Mount Elizabeth, Mount Davies, private logging roads
Maps were collected and annotated by Gisela Mendel throughout her time in northwest BC and donated to the Museum in 2018.
Scope and Content
23 maps of northwestern British Columbia, from the Seven Sisters westward to Port Essington.
2018.9.1a-b – Seven Sisters / Dorreen
2018.9.2a-c – Usk / Chist Creek
2018.9.3a-c – Lakelse / Terrace
2018.9.4a-b – Alastair Lake
2018.9.5a-b – Salvus, Coast District Range 5
2018.9.6a-d – Ecstall River / Port Essington
2018.9.7a-g – Kitimat Arm, Kildala River, Mt. Aetna, Mount Elizabeth, Mount Davies, private logging roads
A view camera with a brown wood frame, red plastic accordion body, and metal parts like its knobs and ridges for adjusting the body. There are markings on a metal piece stuck on the wooden end that read: "REMBRANDT PORTRAIT CAMERA MODEL II BURKE & JAMES CHICAGO ILL., U.S.A.". the lens is missing. It was used in Max's Photo Studio Ltd.
A view camera with a brown wood frame, red plastic accordion body, and metal parts like its knobs and ridges for adjusting the body. There are markings on a metal piece stuck on the wooden end that read: "REMBRANDT PORTRAIT CAMERA MODEL II BURKE & JAMES CHICAGO ILL., U.S.A.". the lens is missing. It was used in Max's Photo Studio Ltd.
a) A black camera with dials, numbers, letters, and symbols. There are markings at the front "LEICAFLEX SL2 Leitz WETZLAR"
b) A black camera lens with numbers, letters, and 3 dials
c) A black camera lens hood that fits over the camera lens with buttons in order to attach it, there are numbers and letters printed on it. The cap fits over the hood and reads: "GERMANY LEITZ WETZLAR"
a) A black camera with dials, numbers, letters, and symbols. There are markings at the front "LEICAFLEX SL2 Leitz WETZLAR"
b) A black camera lens with numbers, letters, and 3 dials
c) A black camera lens hood that fits over the camera lens with buttons in order to attach it, there are numbers and letters printed on it. The cap fits over the hood and reads: "GERMANY LEITZ WETZLAR"
a) A camera lens with markings that read: "Mamiya" it has buttons on the side that can attach it to the lens
b) A seiko lens with a Mamiya RB67 lens hood. The lens has buttons, dials and numbers on the sides, the lens hood is made of rubber and can be extended.
c) A Mamiya professional camera body it has a dial and lever at one side and another dial in the other, the bottom has screw groves to attach it to a tripod
d) A Mamiya RB67 view finder is attached at the top. It is a square shape with the model at the front edge, it can slide to the left to remove it.
e) A Mamiya roll film back with a lever at the top with the number "120 S"
a) A camera lens with markings that read: "Mamiya" it has buttons on the side that can attach it to the lens
b) A seiko lens with a Mamiya RB67 lens hood. The lens has buttons, dials and numbers on the sides, the lens hood is made of rubber and can be extended.
c) A Mamiya professional camera body it has a dial and lever at one side and another dial in the other, the bottom has screw groves to attach it to a tripod
d) A Mamiya RB67 view finder is attached at the top. It is a square shape with the model at the front edge, it can slide to the left to remove it.
e) A Mamiya roll film back with a lever at the top with the number "120 S"
a) A Nikon F3 camera. it has dials and levers at the top, buttons at the front, screw grooves at the bottom to attach it to a tripod, a square metal label holder at the back, a round viewfinder with a rubber rim. the back can be opened to put in film.
b) A Zoom-NIKKOR 35-70mm lens. It is a long lens with numbers and three large dials to adjust focus and zoom.
c) A Vivitar 72mm SKYLIGHT lens filter. This filter is screwed onto the Nikkor zoom lens. It has a black metal frame with a glass lens.
d) A black large lens hood, it has a small cylinder screw that can be tightened onto a lens with the rubber strips inside.
e) A yellow and black nylon Nikon strap. the strap can be adjusted and it has leather staps at the end to attach onto the camera.
f) A black Nikon lens cap with a grey metal frame.
a) A Nikon F3 camera. it has dials and levers at the top, buttons at the front, screw grooves at the bottom to attach it to a tripod, a square metal label holder at the back, a round viewfinder with a rubber rim. the back can be opened to put in film.
b) A Zoom-NIKKOR 35-70mm lens. It is a long lens with numbers and three large dials to adjust focus and zoom.
c) A Vivitar 72mm SKYLIGHT lens filter. This filter is screwed onto the Nikkor zoom lens. It has a black metal frame with a glass lens.
d) A black large lens hood, it has a small cylinder screw that can be tightened onto a lens with the rubber strips inside.
e) A yellow and black nylon Nikon strap. the strap can be adjusted and it has leather staps at the end to attach onto the camera.
f) A black Nikon lens cap with a grey metal frame.
a) A Nikon F3 camera. it has dials and levers at the top, buttons at the front, screw grooves at the bottom to attach it to a tripod, a glass display at the back for the ASA/ISO, a round viewfinder with a rubber rim. the back can be opened to put in film.
b) A Zoom-NIKKOR 35-105mm lens. It is a long lens with numbers and two dials. the Lens can be extended. It has colored numbers at the side
c) A B+W 52 E lens filter. This filter is screwed onto the Nikkor zoom lens. It has a black metal frame with a glass lens.
d) A black Nikon HK-11 lens hood, it has a small cylinder screw that can be tightened onto a lens with the rubber strips inside. it has black felt inside
e) A yellow and black nylon Nikon strap. the strap can be adjusted and it has leather staps at the end to attach onto the camera.
f) A black Nikon lens cap
a) A Nikon F3 camera. it has dials and levers at the top, buttons at the front, screw grooves at the bottom to attach it to a tripod, a glass display at the back for the ASA/ISO, a round viewfinder with a rubber rim. the back can be opened to put in film.
b) A Zoom-NIKKOR 35-105mm lens. It is a long lens with numbers and two dials. the Lens can be extended. It has colored numbers at the side
c) A B+W 52 E lens filter. This filter is screwed onto the Nikkor zoom lens. It has a black metal frame with a glass lens.
d) A black Nikon HK-11 lens hood, it has a small cylinder screw that can be tightened onto a lens with the rubber strips inside. it has black felt inside
e) A yellow and black nylon Nikon strap. the strap can be adjusted and it has leather staps at the end to attach onto the camera.
f) A black Nikon lens cap
a) A Mamiya Professional Camera. It has no lens. The top has a glass view finder. One side has a dial, the other side has a lever with a dial, there is a chart with numbers above the dial. Underneath, has Mamiya branding and a hole with screw grooves to attach a tripod to it. The front has a hole to attach a lens or extension tube. The back can be detached or reattached with the two locks.
b) A Mamiya plastic back panel with "Mamiya" marked at the front.
c) A Mamiya lens cap it has ridges on the side with a "Mamiya" marking at the front
a) A Mamiya Professional Camera. It has no lens. The top has a glass view finder. One side has a dial, the other side has a lever with a dial, there is a chart with numbers above the dial. Underneath, has Mamiya branding and a hole with screw grooves to attach a tripod to it. The front has a hole to attach a lens or extension tube. The back can be detached or reattached with the two locks.
b) A Mamiya plastic back panel with "Mamiya" marked at the front.
c) A Mamiya lens cap it has ridges on the side with a "Mamiya" marking at the front
A Linhof large format camera. There is a view finder at side with rubber eye cup. A hand screw at the top. There are dials, buttons, and levers around the camera. At one side there is a door that reveals a bellows lens when opened. A tripod mount at the bottom. There is a leather strap attached on one side.
A Linhof large format camera. There is a view finder at side with rubber eye cup. A hand screw at the top. There are dials, buttons, and levers around the camera. At one side there is a door that reveals a bellows lens when opened. A tripod mount at the bottom. There is a leather strap attached on one side.
a) A leather hard shell camera case with a strap. There are snap buttons to close and open it. There is a hand turnable screw to securly hold the camera in the case.
b) An Agfa Flexilette camera. It has a dual lens with three dials, at the front with markings: "AGFA COLOR APOTAR 1: 2.8/45" Dial at top to change numbers in window with button there is a window and some dried glue around it, the viewfinder is possibly missing. There are two dials at the bottom. the sides have metal loops to hook a strap.
a) A leather hard shell camera case with a strap. There are snap buttons to close and open it. There is a hand turnable screw to securly hold the camera in the case.
b) An Agfa Flexilette camera. It has a dual lens with three dials, at the front with markings: "AGFA COLOR APOTAR 1: 2.8/45" Dial at top to change numbers in window with button there is a window and some dried glue around it, the viewfinder is possibly missing. There are two dials at the bottom. the sides have metal loops to hook a strap.
Physical Condition
Fair
Material
metal
plastic
glass
leather
Condition Remarks
The leather bag is bent at the front, the lens is dirty
Front has 3 lenses with brand information "Marksman MADE IN CAMERA FOR BERNARD MARKS & CO." viewfinder, lever and dial at side. At top is a Leather strap, lever for "TIME (arrow) SNAP" and a viewfinder. The back can be opened to reveal the inside of the camera.
Front has 3 lenses with brand information "Marksman MADE IN CAMERA FOR BERNARD MARKS & CO." viewfinder, lever and dial at side. At top is a Leather strap, lever for "TIME (arrow) SNAP" and a viewfinder. The back can be opened to reveal the inside of the camera.
a) A dark brown Zeiss Ikon camera case. The camera case can come apart and be reatached. The bottom has a hand turnable screw to snugly attach a camera onto it.
b) A Zeiss Ikon camera. At the front there is a lens, markings read "Carl Zeiss 2,8/50 3458458" "Contaflex SYNCHRO-COMPUR" there are three dials and a flash. Two dials at the top with numbers. The back has a view finder and film compartment. The bottom has two hand turnable screws and a screw hole for a tripod. At either side there is a metal loop for a camera strap.
c) A rubber Zeiss Ikon rubber lens hood the sides have markings "1109 S27 Zeis Ikon AG Germany"
a) A dark brown Zeiss Ikon camera case. The camera case can come apart and be reatached. The bottom has a hand turnable screw to snugly attach a camera onto it.
b) A Zeiss Ikon camera. At the front there is a lens, markings read "Carl Zeiss 2,8/50 3458458" "Contaflex SYNCHRO-COMPUR" there are three dials and a flash. Two dials at the top with numbers. The back has a view finder and film compartment. The bottom has two hand turnable screws and a screw hole for a tripod. At either side there is a metal loop for a camera strap.
c) A rubber Zeiss Ikon rubber lens hood the sides have markings "1109 S27 Zeis Ikon AG Germany"
