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.
Fair; many documents have yellow glue stains on back (presumably from having been pasted into a scrapbook), many have slightly ragged edges.
History / Biographical
Dennis Tupman taught at Mount Elizabeth Secondary School from 1957 to 1971 and was well-regarded for developing the school's band program - the first in the community. He also led the United Church Choir, the Little Symphony, and the Community Choir; worked as a school counsellor; and volunteered with the Community Help Organization and the Family Forum Society. Under his leadership, the MESS Band travelled to Montreal to play at Expo 67, and won a Northwest provincial competition to play at Queen Elizabeth's visit to Vancouver in 1971.
Custodial History
Items were donated to the Museum on January 25th 2024 by Tupman's daughter, Raechel.
Scope and Content
Fonds contains 8 programmes for concerts and other events, collected by Tupman during his career in Kitimat.
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.
The fonds consists of minutes, financial records, correspondence, constitutions, and files pertaining to the Arts and Crafts Fairs, the creation of K.O.A.T.A. and a Juried Art Show. Also includes 4 rubber stamps, and an album containing clippings, pamphlets and photos, gallary forms, Kitimat Community Arts Council logo, and a guest book.
Founded in 1970, incorporated in 1971, the role of the Kitimat Community Arts Council was to increase and broaden the opportunities for Kitimat citizens to enjoy and to participate in cultural and creative arts activities. Some of these activities include Arts and Crafts Fairs, sponsoring cultural performances and lobbying for funding for the Mount Elizabeth Theatre building. The council also sponsored K.A.O.T.A., a store selling local arts and crafts. The council disbanded in 1994.
Scope and Content
The fonds consists of minutes, financial records, correspondence, constitutions, and files pertaining to the Arts and Crafts Fairs, the creation of K.O.A.T.A. and a Juried Art Show. Also includes 4 rubber stamps, and an album containing clippings, pamphlets and photos, gallary forms, Kitimat Community Arts Council logo, and a guest book.
Notes
Title based on the contents of the fonds. 2 boxes + guest book.
The fonds includes minutes, correspondence, reports and plans, arts and crafts festival publicity, constitution, financial records, and scrapbook of the Kitimat Crafts Alive Society.
Kitimat Crafts Alive Society was formed in 1980. Its purposes included the promotion of arts and crafts in Kitimat by hosting and arts and crafts festival twice a year. The Society became inactive in 1983.
Scope and Content
The fonds includes minutes, correspondence, reports and plans, arts and crafts festival publicity, constitution, financial records, and scrapbook of the Kitimat Crafts Alive Society.
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 Northern BC Winter Games Committee (Kitimat) was formed in 1983 to coordinate the local arrangements of the Northern BC Winter Games held in Kitimat in February 1985. The Committee disbanded shortly after the conclusion of the Games.
Scope and Content
The fonds consists of minutes, program, guest book and scrapbook of the Northern BC Winter Games Committee (Kitimat).
Jamieson came to Kitimat from Vancouver to work on the Alcan project in 1952. With his first pay cheque he bought a small "Pony Kodak" camera at the local store (Hudson Bay?), and started taking coloured slides of the Kitimat from 1952-1953. Left Kitimat at the end of August 1953 to move to Montreal.
Scope and Content
Collection of 167 slides of the Kitimat project taken from summer 1952 - summer 1953.
Fonds consists of over 200 photograph slides and photograph negatives from 1952 & 1953. Images are of Caisson dock construction, wharf and smeltersite construction.
Approximately 200 photograph slides and photographs
History / Biographical
Fred DeLory was an engineer on the Aluminum Company of Canada Ltd. smeltersite construction project f rom 1952 to 1953. He worked in an office that was located uphill from where the first pot lines were located. He went on to become a professor of civil engineering at the University of Toronto.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of over 200 photograph slides and photograph negatives from 1952 & 1953. Images are of Caisson dock construction, wharf and smeltersite construction.
Gabriel (Gabor) Nyeste was one of the leaders of the Scouts of the First Kitimat Troop (Boy Scouts). He moved to Kitimat to work on the Alcan project and left in the early 60s. He passed away in Kamloops in July 2020.
Custodial History
Donated by Gabriel Nyeste, Aug 6 1983.
Scope and Content
Pictures, clippings, letters of early Girl Guide and Boy Scout Movement in Kitimat, B.C. 1955-1961.
Collection of photographs regarding early Kitimat and Kitimat Constructors. Photo content includes Kitimat Constructors equipment work ares, shops, bunkhouses, and camp, Anderson Creek Mess Hall - smelterite, Inside Delta King, Sports girls and boys basketball, and Hudson's Bay Trading.
Collection of photographs regarding early Kitimat and Kitimat Constructors. Photo content includes Kitimat Constructors equipment work ares, shops, bunkhouses, and camp, Anderson Creek Mess Hall - smelterite, Inside Delta King, Sports girls and boys basketball, and Hudson's Bay Trading.
67 photograph prints : b&w ;
1 photograph print : sepia ; 12.5 x 9
History / Biographical
After coming to Canada as a Polish soldier under British command, Feliks Rewers (who was an avid photographer) was assigned to work at Kitimat in 1950. He worked three years and in his free time took many pictures.
Custodial History
Wanda Rewers
Scope and Content
Collection of 68 photographs taken during the construction of the town of Kitimat, the aluminum smelter, and other areas from 1950-1953.
Notes
Open table tennis championship trophy included in collection. Title based on contents of fonds.
Title based on content of fond.
1. John Manders on the stairwell of the Delta King
2. John Manders w/fellow from Ireland, walking down hallway of Delta King
3. John Manders w/Mike Durin outside walkway on the Delta King
4. Panoramic view, Anderson Creek Camp, new bunkhouses, on the left, old
bunkhouses, Anderson Creek Bridge at the back, a bit of trailer court on the right
5. Anderson Creek Camp - old bunkhouses, Anderson Creek Bridge, Trailer Camp
6. Anderson Hill Trailer Camp
7. John Manders (right) & friend, outside CN Station
8. Locomotive, one of the first trains in Kitimat
9. Smeltersite looking southeast
10. John Manders on his 1996 Harley Davidson, FLHT
11. Slide Photo locomotive, one of the first trains in Kitimat
12. Slide photo John Manders (right) & friend, outside CN station
13. Slide photo Smeltersite looking southeast
14. Kitimat Hotel, which opened May 26, 1955
15. Panoramic view, Anderson Hill Trailer Camp & Anderson Creek Camp were two
separate places. In the panormaic view Anderson Creek Camp has barracks -
located in the left background. Anderson Hill Trailer Camp is located in the
foreground - all the way across the panoramic view
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.
Fonds contains documents, photographs, photocopies, and maps collected by Arvid Hardin throughout his ten years in Kitimat. Areas of focus include high school life, the Kitimat Army Cadets, and the creation of Hirsch Creek Park, the Kitimat Community Centre, and the Kitimat trail system.
Arvid Hardin (born c. 1941) lived in Kitimat from 1953 to 1963. He graduated from Mount Elizabeth Secondary School in 1959, served as an active member of the Kitimat Army Cadet Corps, and was involved with the creation of Hirsch Creek Provincial Park. Around 2008, he collaborated with E.E. 'Bill' Duyvewaardt and other former Kitimat Cadets to write a 'historical profile' of the Cadets and their activities.
Custodial History
Materials from accession 2009.15 were donated by Arvid Hardin to the Museum on June 10th, 2009.
Materials from accession 2022.18 were donated by Arvid Hardin on May 10th, 2022.
Scope and Content
Fonds contains documents, photographs, photocopies, and maps collected by Arvid Hardin throughout his ten years in Kitimat. Areas of focus include high school life, the Kitimat Army Cadets, and the creation of Hirsch Creek Park, the Kitimat Community Centre, and the Kitimat trail system.
Conservation
Many pages old and yellowing. Staples, paper clips, and other metal fasteners removed from all papers in March & May 2022.
Storage Location
Box 39
Photo storage
Related Material
Artifacts donated by Arvid Hardin include a proclamation (2009.15.6), gazette (2009.15.7), and high school certificate (2009.15.11).
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.
Two photographs: Matt Gooding's boat that was build in Arvida and shipped to Kitimat showing in the Kitimat harbour and "My first fishin in the Kitimat River with Doug Cohoon."
1 photograph print : b&w ; 3 x 5
1 photograph print : b&w ; 9.5 x 6.5
Scope and Content
Two photographs: Matt Gooding's boat that was build in Arvida and shipped to Kitimat showing in the Kitimat harbour and "My first fishin in the Kitimat River with Doug Cohoon."
