In 1987, Max Patzelt donated his photograph and negative collection - over 10,000 images - to the Museum. This talented and prolific photographer and businessman operated Kitimat Photo Supply and Max's Photo Studio for over 25 years.
Max took portraits of Kitimat citizens - babies, wedding parties, school classes, sports teams, local government - and recorded events for the Northern Sentinel and Alcan's ingot. School District No. 80 published many of Max's photos in promotional materials to attract teachers to Kitimat. Max photographed for Alcan and processed prints for the ingot.
Max became a resident of Kitimat in 1956 when he hired on at Alcan as a stud puller. He arrived in Kitimat with a camera around his neck. After a year in the lines, he had had enough. He resigned from Alcan, packed his bags and headed for the CN station to head to Vancouver.
Fred Ryan had recently established his photo studio, Kitimat Photo, retail photo processing and the town's only industrial photographers located in the Smeltersite recreation hall. Fred had heard of Max's photographic knowledge and rushed to the train station to offer Max a job running the new processing machine.
Max joined Kitimat Photo and was quickly "up to his ears in negatives" (ingot, May 22, 1987). They couldn't keep photographic equipment in stock - everyone who came for work in Kitimat purchased a camera. Max recalled that during the July 1 parade in 1957, he processed approximately 3,000 rolls of black and white film. It took days to process them all. With a new town and smelter, and surrounded by innovation, photography was just booming in Kitimat. Alcan wanted to document its construction events for both town and smelter, and workers wanted to document their time here.
Max and partner, Hazel Hatton, opened Kitimat Photo Supply Ltd. in City Centre in 1960. Max and Hazel operated the business until 1967 when Max moved the portrait studio, Max's Photo Studio Ltd., to Service Centre, and operated until 1987. Hazel kept the retail business Kitimat Photo in City Centre and operated until 1985.
Scope and Content
Three green binders containing the Max Patzelt Photo Collection Directory.
6 Oct 1980
16 Apr 1981
4 May 1981
(3,10) Dec 1981
18 Jan 1982
8 Feb 1982
24 Aug 1982
17 Oct 1982
Physical Description
23 photograph prints : color
19 photograph prints : b&w
27 negatives
Custodial History
Photographs taken by Max Patzelt.
Scope and Content
Photographs showing interior and exterior views of different buildings on the Ocelot site.
Notes
Roll 5-(No5A,No7A,No8A), Roll 12-(No10,No15), Roll 15-No5, 81-12-(596,612,614,620,624), 82-01-702, 82-02-(737,740,743,790 to 793,795,796,801), Roll 33-(12,15,23,25,32,34), Roll 34-11, 82-10-(1176,1183,1187,1194,1195,1200 to 1203,1206,1208,1210,1211)
Negatives showing large steel parts for the mill and other steel structures that were on the Eurocan site after roughly the first 1.5 years of construction.
Negatives showing large steel parts for the mill and other steel structures that were on the Eurocan site after roughly the first 1.5 years of construction.
(2,16) Mar 1981
16 Apr 1981
18 Jun 1981
(8,14,15,16) Jul 1982
Physical Description
2 photograph prints : color
27 photograph prints : b&w
2 negatives
Custodial History
Photographs taken by Max Patzelt.
Scope and Content
Photographs showing construction involving numerous different kinds of piping in different areas of the methanol plant.
Notes
Roll 10-(3,12), Roll 12-17, Roll13-No18, Roll 19-No8A, Roll 21-(No5,No16,No17,No19), Roll 22-(No3A,No5A,No6A,No10A,No11A,No12A,No14A,No20A,No24A), Roll 23-(No9,No10,No16, No17,No18,No20,No21), 81-07-(300,307)
One photograph of Kitimat Night School "Talking Shop" Mrs. Rosalie Gray (teacher) and Jean Kintsos (14 May 1957). One photograph of unknown construction workers in Kitimat (no date).
Photographs taken by James Tirrul-Jones in his role as museum curator.
Scope and Content
One photograph of Kitimat Night School "Talking Shop" Mrs. Rosalie Gray (teacher) and Jean Kintsos (14 May 1957). One photograph of unknown construction workers in Kitimat (no date).
Notes
983.42.1 to 5 (Missing 2 to 4) : R51-0a and R51-4a
