Photograph of construction of one of the Alcan potline buildings. In front only wall framework is done, and further down the roof is installed. Another building is constructed on the right. In the foreground there is building material on the ground. Mountains with some snow in the background.
From the years 1953-1958, Mike Kinnear took photos during his school years, until graduation, while working for Fred Ryan Ltd. after school and holidays. Photos for him was a hobby, and he took many photos of the smelter and townsite as it grew around him. Mike also took a number of photos for the Kitimat Northern Sentinel, during the Ken Brumley and Pixie Meldrum years as editors. Mike and his family left Kitimat in 1958, but he spent the best part of 40 years in the photographic field, mainly in the retail/wholesale part of the photo industry.
Custodial History
Donated by Margaret and Mike Kinnear.
Scope and Content
Photograph of construction of one of the Alcan potline buildings. In front only wall framework is done, and further down the roof is installed. Another building is constructed on the right. In the foreground there is building material on the ground. Mountains with some snow in the background.
Photograph of construction of one of the Alcan potline buildings. Building with outer structure nearly complete is on the left. On the right further back is another building, and in front of it is part of a wall structure. There is piles of building material on the ground around too. Mountains with some snow in the background.
From the years 1953-1958, Mike Kinnear took photos during his school years, until graduation, while working for Fred Ryan Ltd. after school and holidays. Photos for him was a hobby, and he took many photos of the smelter and townsite as it grew around him. Mike also took a number of photos for the Kitimat Northern Sentinel, during the Ken Brumley and Pixie Meldrum years as editors. Mike and his family left Kitimat in 1958, but he spent the best part of 40 years in the photographic field, mainly in the retail/wholesale part of the photo industry.
Custodial History
Donated by Margaret and Mike Kinnear.
Scope and Content
Photograph of construction of one of the Alcan potline buildings. Building with outer structure nearly complete is on the left. On the right further back is another building, and in front of it is part of a wall structure. There is piles of building material on the ground around too. Mountains with some snow in the background.
From the years 1953-1958, Mike Kinnear took photos during his school years, until graduation, while working for Fred Ryan Ltd. after school and holidays. Photos for him was a hobby, and he took many photos of the smelter and townsite as it grew around him. Mike also took a number of photos for the Kitimat Northern Sentinel, during the Ken Brumley and Pixie Meldrum years as editors. Mike and his family left Kitimat in 1958, but he spent the best part of 40 years in the photographic field, mainly in the retail/wholesale part of the photo industry.
Custodial History
Donated by Margaret and Mike Kinnear.
Scope and Content
Photograph of Alcan smeltersite construction in the early 1950s. Smelter buildings, smeltersite, and Kitimat River estuary visible.
From the years 1953-1958, Mike Kinnear took photos during his school years, until graduation, while working for Fred Ryan Ltd. after school and holidays. Photos for him was a hobby, and he took many photos of the smelter and townsite as it grew around him. Mike also took a number of photos for the Kitimat Northern Sentinel, during the Ken Brumley and Pixie Meldrum years as editors. Mike and his family left Kitimat in 1958, but he spent the best part of 40 years in the photographic field, mainly in the retail/wholesale part of the photo industry.
Custodial History
Donated by Margaret and Mike Kinnear.
Scope and Content
Photograph of Alcan smeltersite construction in the early 1950s. Smelter buildings, smeltersite, and Kitimat River estuary visible.
From the years 1953-1958, Mike Kinnear took photos during his school years, until graduation, while working for Fred Ryan Ltd. after school and holidays. Photos for him was a hobby, and he took many photos of the smelter and townsite as it grew around him. Mike also took a number of photos for the Kitimat Northern Sentinel, during the Ken Brumley and Pixie Meldrum years as editors. Mike and his family left Kitimat in 1958, but he spent the best part of 40 years in the photographic field, mainly in the retail/wholesale part of the photo industry.
Custodial History
Donated by Margaret and Mike Kinnear.
Scope and Content
Photograph of Alcan smeltersite construction in the early 1950s. Smelter buildings, smeltersite, and Kitimat River estuary visible.
Photograph of Alcan smeltersite construction in the early 1950s. Smelter buildings, smeltersite, and Kitimat River estuary visible. View is from very high up. Snowy mountains on each side.
From the years 1953-1958, Mike Kinnear took photos during his school years, until graduation, while working for Fred Ryan Ltd. after school and holidays. Photos for him was a hobby, and he took many photos of the smelter and townsite as it grew around him. Mike also took a number of photos for the Kitimat Northern Sentinel, during the Ken Brumley and Pixie Meldrum years as editors. Mike and his family left Kitimat in 1958, but he spent the best part of 40 years in the photographic field, mainly in the retail/wholesale part of the photo industry.
Custodial History
Donated by Margaret and Mike Kinnear.
Scope and Content
Photograph of Alcan smeltersite construction in the early 1950s. Smelter buildings, smeltersite, and Kitimat River estuary visible. View is from very high up. Snowy mountains on each side.
Photograph of the Alcan site and a camp. Gravelly raised area in foreground, that the view is looking from. Camp consists of multiple small homes. Beyond is a parking lot, some storage containers, a conveyor, and the Alcan wharf with cranes. Douglas Channel and mountains in background.
From the years 1953-1958, Mike Kinnear took photos during his school years, until graduation, while working for Fred Ryan Ltd. after school and holidays. Photos for him was a hobby, and he took many photos of the smelter and townsite as it grew around him. Mike also took a number of photos for the Kitimat Northern Sentinel, during the Ken Brumley and Pixie Meldrum years as editors. Mike and his family left Kitimat in 1958, but he spent the best part of 40 years in the photographic field, mainly in the retail/wholesale part of the photo industry.
Custodial History
Donated by Margaret and Mike Kinnear.
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Alcan site and a camp. Gravelly raised area in foreground, that the view is looking from. Camp consists of multiple small homes. Beyond is a parking lot, some storage containers, a conveyor, and the Alcan wharf with cranes. Douglas Channel and mountains in background.
One VHS Tape containing footage of "Seekwyakin Family Day". Produced for Alcan and K.C.P. by Storyteller Services Inc. Black VHS tape inside a black plastic case. Brand name '3M'
One VHS Tape containing footage of "Seekwyakin Family Day". Produced for Alcan and K.C.P. by Storyteller Services Inc. Black VHS tape inside a black plastic case. Brand name '3M'
Cartoon drawn by HEAK (Hans Kuppers). This cartoon depicts concerns about Kitimat over dwindling population, community services and the possibility of power sales.
Cartoon drawn by HEAK (Hans Kuppers). This cartoon depicts concerns about Kitimat over dwindling population, community services and the possibility of power sales.
Physical Condition
Good
Material
paper
Condition Remarks
Two sheets taped together
Width
28cm
Length
43.5 cm
Date Range
ca. 1997
Accession Number
2016.143.1
Biographical Notes
HEAK (Hans Kuppers) was a political cartoonist who worked for Alcan and created a character known as Alman for the ingot newsletter.
Kitimat was the place to be in North America in the 1950s. The massive Alcan project in the northwest British Columbia was completed in just five years - dam, tunnel, powerhouse, Kemano, transmission line, smelter, and Kitimat. Browse through Kitimat history with these project images - a BC digital collection. The project was one of the most photographed and filmed construction jobs in BC history.
Kitimat was the place to be in North America in the 1950s. The massive Alcan project in the northwest British Columbia was completed in just five years - dam, tunnel, powerhouse, Kemano, transmission line, smelter, and Kitimat. Browse through Kitimat history with these project images - a BC digital collection. The project was one of the most photographed and filmed construction jobs in BC history.