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 the smeltersite bunkhouses, and other houses further up the hill.
Slide showing the smeltersite bunkhouses. The Hudson's Bay Company building is to the right. Construction material is visible on the beach in the fireground. Powerline poles also visible on far right.
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 the smeltersite bunkhouses. The Hudson's Bay Company building is to the right. Construction material is visible on the beach in the fireground. Powerline poles also visible on far right.
Slide showing an airplane flying over the beach at smeltersite. Behind on the slope, the smeltersite bunkhouses are visible. Pipes can also be seen at the back of the beach area.
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 an airplane flying over the beach at smeltersite. Behind on the slope, the smeltersite bunkhouses are visible. Pipes can also be seen at the back of the beach area.
Photograph of the Albatross Avenue bunkhouse and in the background the burgeoning Nechako neighbourhood, which at the time of this picture was a hive of busy consturction activity.
Malcolm Baxter died in 2020. His father Basil, was very instrumental in the organization of Kitimat in the early years. Basil was married to Cathy Baxter and they had two sons - Malcolm and Michael.
Custodial History
Part of items collected by Malcolm Baxter, former editer of NSP. Brought into the museum by Judith Cullington, Malcolm's sister-in-law.
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Albatross Avenue bunkhouse and in the background the burgeoning Nechako neighbourhood, which at the time of this picture was a hive of busy consturction activity.
Photograph shows 5 totem poles some topped with various figures others not. 2 houses stand behind them a short distance with a wide view of the mountains behind them.
1 photograph : b&w ; 25.5 x 20.7 cm
1 negative : b&w ; 12.6 x 10 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph shows 5 totem poles some topped with various figures others not. 2 houses stand behind them a short distance with a wide view of the mountains behind them.
Photo depicts the men in charge of operations. From left is Vice President A.W. Whitaker Jr. seen sitting in a helicopter; Project Manager Percy E. Radley; Chief Resident Engineer John Kendrick. The three men are all taking a look at what could be a map.
Photo depicts the men in charge of operations. From left is Vice President A.W. Whitaker Jr. seen sitting in a helicopter; Project Manager Percy E. Radley; Chief Resident Engineer John Kendrick. The three men are all taking a look at what could be a map.
Rectangular ingot with ALCAN engraved in the front in capital letters. Silver in colour. Corners are rounded.
Physical Condition
Fair
Material
metal
Condition Remarks
Many scratches, stains, and other marks across the surface, both front and back. Many small holes in back. Stains in various colours - white, pinkish, brown (possible rust).
