Beta Sigma Phi is a non-acedemic sorority. Beta, Sigma, and Phi come from the first letters of the Greek words for life, learning, and friendship. Social and mostly community based, the Kitimat group compiled many scrapbooks showcasing events and other activities among their members from 1971-1990.
Custodial History
Donated by Ruth Brady.
Scope and Content
Seven Scrapbooks from the Beta Sigma Phi showing their activities and events.
Scrapbook 1 - Beta Sigma Phi yearbook 1971-1972. Black cover.
Scrapbook 2 - 1978-1982. White cover.
Scrapbook 3 - 1971-1977. White cover with Beta Sigma Phi coat of arms with text "Vita Scientia Amicitia" drawn in gold, black, and green.
Scrapbook 4 - 1989-1990. Light blue cover with painting printed in centre.
Scrapbook 5 - Green cover with rose image on second page with text "Beta Nu 1975~76" bellow.
Scrapbook 6 - 1987-1988. Beige cover with small, square image of a sunset and trees.
Scrapbook 7 - 1982-1984. Cream cover with gold border.
Loose items - Photo of seven ladies. Founder's Day 1977 handmade card with painted rainbow. 1987-1988 Build Bridges of Friendship gold stickers.
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.
Boxes contain file folders. Each file folder holds photographs taped together to produce a panoramic view on the subject described in the folder. Some of these photographs are attached to paper, some are attached to other folders, whole or part. Some contain documents. Some have descriptive documents stapled to the folder. Some have photographs stapled to the outside of the folder.
Two boxes of file folders containing text and photographs.
9 envelopes containing 335+ photographs
1 envelope containing negatives and contact sheets
Extent
.5
History / Biographical
Files compiled by Diane Hewlett, District of Kitimat Economic Development Officer 1999-2009 to promote Kitimat as a movie and television location and to attract business or industry.
Custodial History
Compiled by Diane Hewlett, given to the Museum by Beth Vines, Records Manager for the District of Kitimat.
Scope and Content
Boxes contain file folders. Each file folder holds photographs taped together to produce a panoramic view on the subject described in the folder. Some of these photographs are attached to paper, some are attached to other folders, whole or part. Some contain documents. Some have descriptive documents stapled to the folder. Some have photographs stapled to the outside of the folder.
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.
Planning documents for Kitimat/Alcan's 40th Anniversary in 1994, including meeting minutes, correspondence, and draft itineraries.
- July 1st week celebrations - Canada 125 letter, 14 June 1993
- Alcan 40th Anniversary Celebration Committee meeting minutes, 2 June 1994
- Inter-office memo from Dennis Affleck to Anne Berrisford, 9 June 1994
- Alcan 40th Anniversary Celebration Committee meeting minutes, 9 June 1994
- Letter to Anne Berrisford form Gail Guise, 14 June 1994
- Letter to Les & Beth Holroyd from Allan C. Hewitson, 14 June 1994
- Memo from Tudor Williams to Anne Berrisford, 16 June 1994
- Memo to Anne Berrisford from Art Pugh, 17 June 1994
- Letter to Anne Berrisford from Martin Gould, 17 June 1994
- Letter to Eric S. Sykes from J. Michael Roberts, 21 June 1994
- Alcan 40th Anniversary Celebration Committee Meeting, 16 June 1994
- Letter to Mr. Hewitson from Joe Iannarelli (x2), 22 June 1994
- Message from Anne Berrisford to Wayne L, 22 June 1994
- Messages from Eric Sykes to multiple recipients, 22 June 1994
- Letter to Hon. and Mrs. Michael Harcourt from Eric Sykes, 24 (13?) June 1994
- Letter to Mr. Eric S. Sykes from Bill Rich, 24 June 1994
- Letter to Eric Sykes from David G. Mortimer, 26 June 1994
- Letter to Anne Berrisford from David Dunsmuir, 13 July 1994
- July 14, 1994 Ad #3 for insertion Wed/Sat, 20/23 July (2 similar documents)
- Alcan 40th Anniversary Celebration Committee Meeting, 21 July 1994
- Kitimat 40th Anniversary, Commemorative Ingot Pouring schedule, 28 July 1994
- Pioneer's Memorial schedule, 5 Aug 1994
- Friday Aug 5th, 1994 bus schedules
- Saturday Aug 6th, 1994 bus schedules
- Sunday Aug 7th, 1994 + Monday, August 8th bus schedules
- Alcan's 40th Anniversary itinerary, 6 Aug 1994
- Bus schedules/itineraries, Wed. August 3rd - Tues. August 9th
- 4 floor plans for Alcan Anniversary Party
- Kitimat 40th Anniversary Pioneer Memorial Ceremony script, 5 August 1994
- Kitimat 40th Anniversary Chamber of Commerce Lunch script, 5 August 1994
- Proposed itinerary - Kitimat 40th Anniversary Guests - Wed. 3 August - Sun, 7 Aug - prepared by Elizabeth Hardy, July 28, 1994
Planning documents for Kitimat/Alcan's 40th Anniversary in 1994, including meeting minutes, correspondence, and draft itineraries.
- July 1st week celebrations - Canada 125 letter, 14 June 1993
- Alcan 40th Anniversary Celebration Committee meeting minutes, 2 June 1994
- Inter-office memo from Dennis Affleck to Anne Berrisford, 9 June 1994
- Alcan 40th Anniversary Celebration Committee meeting minutes, 9 June 1994
- Letter to Anne Berrisford form Gail Guise, 14 June 1994
- Letter to Les & Beth Holroyd from Allan C. Hewitson, 14 June 1994
- Memo from Tudor Williams to Anne Berrisford, 16 June 1994
- Memo to Anne Berrisford from Art Pugh, 17 June 1994
- Letter to Anne Berrisford from Martin Gould, 17 June 1994
- Letter to Eric S. Sykes from J. Michael Roberts, 21 June 1994
- Alcan 40th Anniversary Celebration Committee Meeting, 16 June 1994
- Letter to Mr. Hewitson from Joe Iannarelli (x2), 22 June 1994
- Message from Anne Berrisford to Wayne L, 22 June 1994
- Messages from Eric Sykes to multiple recipients, 22 June 1994
- Letter to Hon. and Mrs. Michael Harcourt from Eric Sykes, 24 (13?) June 1994
- Letter to Mr. Eric S. Sykes from Bill Rich, 24 June 1994
- Letter to Eric Sykes from David G. Mortimer, 26 June 1994
- Letter to Anne Berrisford from David Dunsmuir, 13 July 1994
- July 14, 1994 Ad #3 for insertion Wed/Sat, 20/23 July (2 similar documents)
- Alcan 40th Anniversary Celebration Committee Meeting, 21 July 1994
- Kitimat 40th Anniversary, Commemorative Ingot Pouring schedule, 28 July 1994
- Pioneer's Memorial schedule, 5 Aug 1994
- Friday Aug 5th, 1994 bus schedules
- Saturday Aug 6th, 1994 bus schedules
- Sunday Aug 7th, 1994 + Monday, August 8th bus schedules
- Alcan's 40th Anniversary itinerary, 6 Aug 1994
- Bus schedules/itineraries, Wed. August 3rd - Tues. August 9th
- 4 floor plans for Alcan Anniversary Party
- Kitimat 40th Anniversary Pioneer Memorial Ceremony script, 5 August 1994
- Kitimat 40th Anniversary Chamber of Commerce Lunch script, 5 August 1994
- Proposed itinerary - Kitimat 40th Anniversary Guests - Wed. 3 August - Sun, 7 Aug - prepared by Elizabeth Hardy, July 28, 1994
Photographs of a tent being set up in the Riverlodge parking lot for Kitimat/Alcan's 40th Anniversary Celebrations. Includes both interior and exterior views.
Photographs of a tent being set up in the Riverlodge parking lot for Kitimat/Alcan's 40th Anniversary Celebrations. Includes both interior and exterior views.
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 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.
Collection of items from the Kitimat Chinese Canadian Association, showing activities, events, and community involvement, Photos + albums, VHS videos, and letters.
The Kitimat Chinese Association was founded in 1985. Their purpose was to strengthen ties between the Chinese-Canadian community and the rest of Kitimat by sharing Chinese culture and contributing to community events. They held three annual gatherings - Chinese New Year, Christmas, and a summer picnic - and participated in other activities such as Multicultural Day, Canada Day, and Canada Cancer Society's Relay of Life. The association disbanded in December 2008 as most of the members got older and retired.
Custodial History
Donated by Huey-lin Wu
Scope and Content
Collection of items from the Kitimat Chinese Canadian Association, showing activities, events, and community involvement, Photos + albums, VHS videos, and letters.
The Kitimat Chinese Association was founded in 1985. Their purpose was to connect all Chinese Canadians in Kitimat, with the local people too. They encouraged the members involved in the community to show and share Chinese culture with the people in Kitimat. Like activities in Multicultural Day, Canada Day, Canada Cancer Society's Relay of Life, etc. Every year they had three gatherings, summer picnic, Christmas and Chinese New Year. The association disbanded in December 2008 as most of the members got older and retired.
Custodial History
Donated by Huey-lin Wu
Scope and Content
1 photo album containing various photos from Kitimat Chinese Association events. Photos include-
Children and adults in traditional Chinese clothes
Traditional dances
Groups and children at the First Baptist Church
A meeting in a classroom
Radley Park picnic
Events at Frank Melanson Memorial Hall
Christmas events
New Years event 1997 (year of the ox)
Potluck Dinners
Flyer for Multicultural Festival Potluck Dinner and Performance 1997
