Newspapers, correspondence, information compiled by the Northern Sentinel Press Ltd. in the creation of newspaper articles. Information compiled from Kitimat General Hospital Society, BC Centennial Committee, Kitimat Public Health, Canadian Red Cross, Lehndorff (City Centre Mall owners), Canadian Association of Smelter and Allied Workers - Local No.1, United Steelworkers of America, Kitamaat Village Council, District of Kitimat, Kitimat Community Council, Kitimat Chamber of Commerce, Kitimat Scholarship Association, Board of School Trusteees, Delta King photographs, Kitimat Steelworkers Union Members photographs, Miss Kitimat photographs.
Given to museum by Rosalina Cordeiro - Editor of the Northern Sentinel Press Ltd.
Scope and Content
Newspapers, correspondence, information compiled by the Northern Sentinel Press Ltd. in the creation of newspaper articles. Information compiled from Kitimat General Hospital Society, BC Centennial Committee, Kitimat Public Health, Canadian Red Cross, Lehndorff (City Centre Mall owners), Canadian Association of Smelter and Allied Workers - Local No.1, United Steelworkers of America, Kitamaat Village Council, District of Kitimat, Kitimat Community Council, Kitimat Chamber of Commerce, Kitimat Scholarship Association, Board of School Trusteees, Delta King photographs, Kitimat Steelworkers Union Members photographs, Miss Kitimat photographs.
Notes
Was 992.6 Photographs described at the item level.
The fonds consists of logbooks of the First Cabin, also known as “Harley’s Cabin”, on Clague Mountain recording the names and comments of the hikers who had used the cabin.
4 folders
1-1 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook I, 1957-1958 (include some 1961 notations)
1-2 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook II, 1958-1961
1-3 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook III, 1961-1962
1-4 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook III (photocopy)
The First Cabin, also known as “Harley’s Cabin”, was constructed in 1957 at the 1800-foot level of Clague Mountain to provide refuge for hikers and to make skiing on the mountain possible in the winter. A four-man team including Harley Robertson, with John Layman as foreman, was chiefly responsible for its construction.
Scope and Content
The fonds consists of logbooks of the First Cabin, also known as “Harley’s Cabin”, on Clague Mountain recording the names and comments of the hikers who had used the cabin.
4 folders
1-1 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook I, 1957-1958 (include some 1961 notations)
1-2 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook II, 1958-1961
1-3 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook III, 1961-1962
1-4 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook III (photocopy)
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds.
Donated in 1970.
Subdivision plan of part of district lots 6038, 6039 and part of block 29, plan 3435 range 5, Coast District. District Municipality of Kitimat. Plan 4228. November 5, 1961.
Plan of subdivision of parts of D.L. 6046 & west half of D.L. 6045, and parcel. "X" (former block 78 and adjoining road plan 3549) range 5, Coast District. District Municipality of Kitimat. Plan 4639. August 27, 1963.
Plan of portions of block 29 map 3435 district lots 6038, 6039, 6042 & 6043 range 5, Coast District. District Municipality of Kitimat. Plan 3743. November 4, 1957.
Donated by Rick Wozney. Aluminum Company of Canada, Limited (Registered Owner).
Scope and Content
District of Kitimat lot and block plans.
Subdivision plan of part of district lots 6038, 6039 and part of block 29, plan 3435 range 5, Coast District. District Municipality of Kitimat. Plan 4228. November 5, 1961.
Plan of subdivision of parts of D.L. 6046 & west half of D.L. 6045, and parcel. "X" (former block 78 and adjoining road plan 3549) range 5, Coast District. District Municipality of Kitimat. Plan 4639. August 27, 1963.
Plan of portions of block 29 map 3435 district lots 6038, 6039, 6042 & 6043 range 5, Coast District. District Municipality of Kitimat. Plan 3743. November 4, 1957.
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.
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.
Photograph of Kitimat Baseball Team. 7 boys standing in back row, and 5 knealing in the front with bats. Team coach squating on the left with a glove. Buildings and mountians in background.
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 Kitimat Baseball Team. 7 boys standing in back row, and 5 knealing in the front with bats. Team coach squating on the left with a glove. Buildings and mountians in background.
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.
