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 opening to the Kitimat Yacht Club basin. Sailboats and the Alcan dock in the distance.
Photograph of the caisson dock construction for the Alcan project in Kitimat. Caisson frames are in place, and trucks are visible working bellow. Photo is a panorama.
Frank G. Hendy was a former employee of Kitimat Construction during original building.
Custodial History
Photo was donated on August 3, 1984 for the 30th anniversary.
Scope and Content
Photograph of the caisson dock construction for the Alcan project in Kitimat. Caisson frames are in place, and trucks are visible working bellow. Photo is a panorama.
Photo showing view looking toward site of Pernament Wharf from south dike of graving dock, dredge and dragon line excavating channel from graving dock to deep water, truck dumping gravel for foundation blanket into bottom dump scow.
Photo showing view looking toward site of Pernament Wharf from south dike of graving dock, dredge and dragon line excavating channel from graving dock to deep water, truck dumping gravel for foundation blanket into bottom dump scow.
Photo showing view of Kitimat River Bridge looking west, east pier in foreground showing whalers in place with sheet piling driven to grade, in center: pier, and on right: two bearing piles driven to required bearing. On left, sixty foot pile in place for splicing, temporary bridge crew completing placing rock in pier.
Photo showing view of Kitimat River Bridge looking west, east pier in foreground showing whalers in place with sheet piling driven to grade, in center: pier, and on right: two bearing piles driven to required bearing. On left, sixty foot pile in place for splicing, temporary bridge crew completing placing rock in pier.
Photo showing view of the temporary wharf area looking southeast, scow grid in front of crane at elft, cement silos centre and transit ware-house at right.
Photo showing view of the temporary wharf area looking southeast, scow grid in front of crane at elft, cement silos centre and transit ware-house at right.
photo showing view looking view behind the wharf caissons looking north showing placing of sand blanket over the rock backfill at right of the outlet of the Dredge Pipe at left.
photo showing view looking view behind the wharf caissons looking north showing placing of sand blanket over the rock backfill at right of the outlet of the Dredge Pipe at left.
Photograph of aerial of Alcan smeltersite and wharf. Smeltersite bunkhouses and the Delta King are visible on the left. Smoke coming from the potlines.
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 aerial of Alcan smeltersite and wharf. Smeltersite bunkhouses and the Delta King are visible on the left. Smoke coming from the potlines.
Aerial photo of the Kitimat river estuary showing Kitimat River, Kitimat Harbor, Minette Bay, and the Alcan company smelter site taken from the southwest looking northeast towards the Kitimat City Centre.
Aerial photo of the Kitimat river estuary showing Kitimat River, Kitimat Harbor, Minette Bay, and the Alcan company smelter site taken from the southwest looking northeast towards the Kitimat City Centre.
10 slides featuring image of Kitimat in 1980. Slides include images of the Safety Building, hospital, an aerial, Moore Creek waterfall, golf course, centennial park, Lakelse Lake, Alcan Office, and Kitimat River.
10 slides featuring image of Kitimat in 1980. Slides include images of the Safety Building, hospital, an aerial, Moore Creek waterfall, golf course, centennial park, Lakelse Lake, Alcan Office, and Kitimat River.