Black book containing "History of our Cabin up Clague Mt.," photocopies of the cabin's logbook from September 1960 to January 1969, several photocopied pictures from 1970, a typewritten logbook of local and regional excursions taken by the Mendel family from 1963 to 1968, and several newspaper articles.
This material relates to a cabin on Clague Mountain, originally begun by Robert 'Bob' Hesse in the late 1950s and completed by Gisela's husband Hans in 1960. It remained in the Mendel family for 15 years before being demolished in 1975.
Custodial History
Donated to the Museum by Mendel's daughter, Fredrika Lyne, on November 14th 2023.
Scope and Content
Black book containing "History of our Cabin up Clague Mt.," photocopies of the cabin's logbook from September 1960 to January 1969, several photocopied pictures from 1970, a typewritten logbook of local and regional excursions taken by the Mendel family from 1963 to 1968, and several newspaper articles.
Peak book from Squirrel Mountain. First page reads "Peak Book. From 23rd May 1945. To For All Who Believe in God and His Wonderful Nature. "Kreuzberg"" Rest of book contains comments from visitors of the peak from all over the world. Cover is black, but very stained and degraded. Turning orange.
Peak book from Squirrel Mountain. First page reads "Peak Book. From 23rd May 1945. To For All Who Believe in God and His Wonderful Nature. "Kreuzberg"" Rest of book contains comments from visitors of the peak from all over the world. Cover is black, but very stained and degraded. Turning orange.
Notes
Poor condition. Colour stains, falling apart. Main register indicates there should be a second book, but the other is currently missing.
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.
Elizabeth Anderson Varley, author of 'Kitimat My Valley' was born and raised in the Kitimat Valley. The book is a memoire of her life and the life of her family members, during the tenure as missionairies and ranchers in the area.
Custodial History
Obtained directly from Elizabeth Varley
Scope and Content
Textual records consisting of typewritten and handwritten notes pertaining to the creation of the book Kitimat My Valley.
62 photographs of the Anderson family, other early settlers and missionaries, and Haisla people, 1878-1947.
The fonds consists of minutes of meetings, correspondence, and newspaper clippings of the Kitimat Centennial Committee.
1- Minutes. – 1965-1967. – 1 cm of textual records.
Series consists of minutes of the Kitimat Centennial Committee.
2- Correspondence. – 1964-1970. – 1 cm of textual records.
Series consists of correspondence of the Committee.
3- Newspaper Clippings. – 1965-1967. – 0.5 cm of textual records.
Series consists of newspaper clippings pertaining to the activities of the Committee. Index to clippings written on original file folder.
The Kitimat Centennial Committee was formed in 1964. The purpose of the Committee was to coordinate local activities during the celebration of Canadian confederation in 1967. The Committee organized local celebrations and, after an initial project could not be completed, raised funds for the construction of the Kitimat Centennial Museum building, completed in 1969.
Scope and Content
The fonds consists of minutes of meetings, correspondence, and newspaper clippings of the Kitimat Centennial Committee.
1- Minutes. – 1965-1967. – 1 cm of textual records.
Series consists of minutes of the Kitimat Centennial Committee.
2- Correspondence. – 1964-1970. – 1 cm of textual records.
Series consists of correspondence of the Committee.
3- Newspaper Clippings. – 1965-1967. – 0.5 cm of textual records.
Series consists of newspaper clippings pertaining to the activities of the Committee. Index to clippings written on original file folder.
Formed in 1957, the Kitimat Fine Arts Association promoted cultural events in Kitimat, including art shows, symphony performances and workshops on art. The Association became inactive in 1960.
Scope and Content
The fonds consists of the minutes of meetings of the Kitimat Fine Arts Association.
The Kitimat Business and Professional Women's Club was founded in 1957. Its purpose was to provide a network for local businesswomen. The club sponsored international dinners, a graduation tea, & two scholarships. The club disbanded in 1977.
Scope and Content
The fonds consists of scrapbooks and a financial ledger.
Notes
Title based on the content of the fonds. For conservation reasons, researchers are requested to use photocopies of the original Club records.
Photograph of Dave and Tommy the Squirrel? Dave was base camp cook at the Iron Mountain site. The squirrel also liked Dave's cooking. It is clinging to his shirt and grabbing a snack he is handing to it. Dave is standing in a doorway.
Photos from Kim Creed from the Iron Mountain mine sites. Kim worked at the mine. The photo collection shows the diamond driller that helped to drill out thousands of feet of drill core back in the early 1960s.
Custodial History
These photos belonged to Kim Creed. They were given to Walter Thorne who donated them to the museum.
Scope and Content
Photograph of Dave and Tommy the Squirrel? Dave was base camp cook at the Iron Mountain site. The squirrel also liked Dave's cooking. It is clinging to his shirt and grabbing a snack he is handing to it. Dave is standing in a doorway.
Photograph of George, Herb, and Roger in front of 'Mud' room built to put dirty, greasy clothes in. Also an indoor shower. George was the driller. Diamond driller helper is Roger, Herb's son. Alex - Geologist came up and cut boards (siding) with chain saw on site.
Photos from Kim Creed from the Iron Mountain mine sites. Kim worked at the mine. The photo collection shows the diamond driller that helped to drill out thousands of feet of drill core back in the early 1960s.
Custodial History
These photos belonged to Kim Creed. They were given to Walter Thorne who donated them to the museum.
Scope and Content
Photograph of George, Herb, and Roger in front of 'Mud' room built to put dirty, greasy clothes in. Also an indoor shower. George was the driller. Diamond driller helper is Roger, Herb's son. Alex - Geologist came up and cut boards (siding) with chain saw on site.
Notes
For more info on the diamond driller, please see Walter Thorne's article in NSP Feb/March 2022.
Photos from Kim Creed from the Iron Mountain mine sites. Kim worked at the mine. The photo collection shows the diamond driller that helped to drill out thousands of feet of drill core back in the early 1960s.
Custodial History
These photos belonged to Kim Creed. They were given to Walter Thorne who donated them to the museum.
Scope and Content
Photograph of Kim - diamond drillers helper holding drilling core sample drill pipe. He is on a helicopter pad.
Notes
For more info on the diamond driller, please see Walter Thorne's article in NSP Feb/March 2022.
Photograph of Kim, George, and Herb on temporary drilling platform. Moved each hole drilled. Drill was mounted on skids. Log A-frame tall enough to include 30' drilling space in air frame = 40 feet high. One of Kim's? extra jobs was to prepare base area for next drill hole (done while george drilled).
Photos from Kim Creed from the Iron Mountain mine sites. Kim worked at the mine. The photo collection shows the diamond driller that helped to drill out thousands of feet of drill core back in the early 1960s.
Custodial History
These photos belonged to Kim Creed. They were given to Walter Thorne who donated them to the museum.
Scope and Content
Photograph of Kim, George, and Herb on temporary drilling platform. Moved each hole drilled. Drill was mounted on skids. Log A-frame tall enough to include 30' drilling space in air frame = 40 feet high. One of Kim's? extra jobs was to prepare base area for next drill hole (done while george drilled).
Notes
For more info on the diamond driller, please see Walter Thorne's article in NSP Feb/March 2022.
Photograph of Herb on drill. Looks like he's just finishing off a drill. George who is marching was head driller. 5' short drills placed on top of 10' drills. Tough dirty (greasy) work. Continuous work bonus on depths drilled for crew.
Photos from Kim Creed from the Iron Mountain mine sites. Kim worked at the mine. The photo collection shows the diamond driller that helped to drill out thousands of feet of drill core back in the early 1960s.
Custodial History
These photos belonged to Kim Creed. They were given to Walter Thorne who donated them to the museum.
Scope and Content
Photograph of Herb on drill. Looks like he's just finishing off a drill. George who is marching was head driller. 5' short drills placed on top of 10' drills. Tough dirty (greasy) work. Continuous work bonus on depths drilled for crew.
Notes
For more info on the diamond driller, please see Walter Thorne's article in NSP Feb/March 2022.
Photograph of the first Kitimat Public Library. Mt. Elizabeth can be seen in the background, and in front of the Library is a woman pushing a child in a stroller.
Photograph of the first Kitimat Public Library. Mt. Elizabeth can be seen in the background, and in front of the Library is a woman pushing a child in a stroller.
