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 N/W corner of smeltersite, showing stripping and backfill in the primary area for service buildings. Machinery visible at work, and debris are piled up on right side.
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 N/W corner of smeltersite, showing stripping and backfill in the primary area for service buildings. Machinery visible at work, and debris are piled up on right side.
Photograph of view looking north-east over initial area cleared for smelter service building construction. Light area has been gravel filled, dark area overburden to be stripped. Trucks and machinery visible at work.
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 view looking north-east over initial area cleared for smelter service building construction. Light area has been gravel filled, dark area overburden to be stripped. Trucks and machinery visible at work.
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
Slide of Pete Kitchen climbing ladder on service building.
Photograph of looking west, smeltersite service building area, showing compaction roller operating. Truck in centre. Building visible on hill in background.
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 looking west, smeltersite service building area, showing compaction roller operating. Truck in centre. Building visible on hill in background.
