James McNay was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, on January 31, 1907. Between 1951 and 1953, he worked in the payroll department for Alcan. He had to leave his wife Effie and his two young daughters, Margaret and Diane, aged 6 and 5 in 1951, at home in Surrey, B.C., during his 3-4 month stints in Kitimat. To fill some of his free time and show his family where he was and what Kitimat was like, he spent many hours walking in the area with a 35mm Kodak camera. He photographed the scenic beauty of the area and parts of the construction of both the smelters and the town. He died in Surrey on August 7, 1983.
Custodial History
Donated by Margaret McNay. Images were taken by her father and sent to their family in Surrey in the 1950s.
Scope and Content
Slide showing interior of an Alcan potline building. Dark interior, with light rows on cieling visible.
Photo depicts Sam Hanna directing a crane operator in hoisting a crucible filled with molten aluminum on a potline.
Notes
Title based on content of photograph. -- Famed Canadian documentary photographer Malak Karsh was hired in the 1950s by Alcan to take photographs of Arvida and Kitimat. Many were published in Alcan literature and textbooks on Canada. A colourized version of this photograph appears in "The Story of British Columbia", The Story of Canada Series, 1966. Alcan Collection
Photograph of aerial view looking east showing status of construction of potlines 7 and 8. Note substation 7 and rectifier bldg. 207 in foreground. Building construction shows framework.
Bud Powell is a longtime resident of Kitimat and former smeltersite resident. He worked for Alcan.
Custodial History
Donated by Bud Powell.
Scope and Content
Photograph of aerial view looking east showing status of construction of potlines 7 and 8. Note substation 7 and rectifier bldg. 207 in foreground. Building construction shows framework.
Photo showing general view of the site of Potlines #3 and 4 looking south east, Moore creek channel in foreground and dredge pipe discharging at left centre.
Photo showing general view of the site of Potlines #3 and 4 looking south east, Moore creek channel in foreground and dredge pipe discharging at left centre.
