The fonds consists of Clague's correspondence with Jennie Lomas of Duncan, BC.
4 folders
1-1 Herbert Clague, correspondence, 1910
1-2 Herbert Clague, correspondence, 1911
1-3 Herbert Clague, correspondence, 1910
1-4 Herbert Clague, correspondence (typescript), 1911
Herbert (Bert) Clague was born in Sheffield, England, and gained a certificate in practical metallurgy from Sheffield University. In 1906, he came to Canada, first working in Montreal and Prince Rupert. He established his permanent home in Duncan, BC in 1910. Clague articled as a BC Surveyor and, during the summers of 1910 and 1911, conducted provincial government surveys in the Kitimat Valley. In 1912, he married Jennie Lomas of Duncan, BC. Clague Mountain in the Kitimat area is named in his honour.
Scope and Content
The fonds consists of Clague's correspondence with Jennie Lomas of Duncan, BC.
4 folders
1-1 Herbert Clague, correspondence, 1910
1-2 Herbert Clague, correspondence, 1911
1-3 Herbert Clague, correspondence, 1910
1-4 Herbert Clague, correspondence (typescript), 1911
Notes
Title based on the contents of the fonds. Typescripts of the correspondence are available.
The fonds consists of minutes, financial records, correspondence, constitutions, and files pertaining to the Arts and Crafts Fairs, the creation of K.O.A.T.A. and a Juried Art Show. Also includes 4 rubber stamps, and an album containing clippings, pamphlets and photos, gallary forms, Kitimat Community Arts Council logo, and a guest book.
Founded in 1970, incorporated in 1971, the role of the Kitimat Community Arts Council was to increase and broaden the opportunities for Kitimat citizens to enjoy and to participate in cultural and creative arts activities. Some of these activities include Arts and Crafts Fairs, sponsoring cultural performances and lobbying for funding for the Mount Elizabeth Theatre building. The council also sponsored K.A.O.T.A., a store selling local arts and crafts. The council disbanded in 1994.
Scope and Content
The fonds consists of minutes, financial records, correspondence, constitutions, and files pertaining to the Arts and Crafts Fairs, the creation of K.O.A.T.A. and a Juried Art Show. Also includes 4 rubber stamps, and an album containing clippings, pamphlets and photos, gallary forms, Kitimat Community Arts Council logo, and a guest book.
Notes
Title based on the contents of the fonds. 2 boxes + guest book.
Formed in 1957, the Kitimat Fine Arts Association promoted cultural events in Kitimat, including art shows, symphony performances and workshops on art. The Association became inactive in 1960.
Scope and Content
The fonds consists of the minutes of meetings of the Kitimat Fine Arts Association.
The fonds consists of correspondence of Margaret Butcher to various family members describing her life in Kitamaat (Kitimat) and actibities at the Elizabeth Long Memorial Home.
Margaret Butcher emigrated to Canada around 1915. In 1916, she accepted a nursing position at the Kitamaat Girls Home (later the Elizabeth Long Memorial Home) a facility in Kitamaat supported by the Women's Missionary Society (Methodist) of British Columbia. She remained in Kitimat until 1919, when she moved to California.
Scope and Content
The fonds consists of correspondence of Margaret Butcher to various family members describing her life in Kitamaat (Kitimat) and actibities at the Elizabeth Long Memorial Home.
Notes
Title based on the contents of the fonds. Copies from originals held in the BC Archives and Records Service (Add.MSS 362)
Donor requested that copying be restricted to a few pages for research use, and that direct requests for complete copies be sent to the Provincial Archives. Copyright remains with Ms. Butcher's literary heirs. (See accession file)
Gabriel (Gabor) Nyeste was one of the leaders of the Scouts of the First Kitimat Troop (Boy Scouts). He moved to Kitimat to work on the Alcan project and left in the early 60s. He passed away in Kamloops in July 2020.
Custodial History
Donated by Gabriel Nyeste, Aug 6 1983.
Scope and Content
Pictures, clippings, letters of early Girl Guide and Boy Scout Movement in Kitimat, B.C. 1955-1961.
Collection of folders and other materials relating to early Kitimat.
Misc items
985.65.1 - 1 menu - Kitimat Constructors Dec 25th, 1951
985.65.2 - official opening of the 1st Kitimat School, Sept 26, 1952
985.65.2 - 1st airmail despatch from Kitimat (Queen Charlotte Airlines Ltd)
985.65.3a - to Mrs. Whiting - 1st airmail left Kitimat - Sept 20, 1952
985.65.3b - Envelope signed by Postmaster
985.65.4 - Clipping - Postmark 'Kitimat'
Clippings
985.65.5 - Yacht Becomes 'Work' Vessel (Nechako)
985.65.6 - Alcan Asks Gov't Okay Kitimat to be Planned Town
985.65.7 - Terrace-Kitimat Rail Line Approved
985.65.8 - Striking Kitimat Men Here
985.65.9 - Beauty, Thrills in Aluminum City
985.65.10 - City Hacked Out of Wilderness
985.65.11 - 7-year Canasa, US Aluminum Pact Set - Kitimat Major Supplier
985.65.12 - Kitimat Power Repairs Rushed
985.65.13 - Conciliation Board Called for Kitimat
985.65.14 - Biggest Industrial Project is Speeded (Alum Co. Ltd, will be world's largest alum maker)
985.65.15 - B.C.'s Huge Aluminum Project
985.65.16 - Cdn Affairs: B.C. A Land of Infinite Borders
985.65.17 - Underground Powerhouse was carved from bedrock a quarter-mile inside DuBose Mtn
985.65.18 - Extract from "The Seattle Times" April 14, 1952 "Cheap Canada Aluminum Poses Problem"
985.65.34 - Kitimat Constructors Instructions to Employees, 1952
985.65.35 - The School 'The Apha' 1953 - Kitimat Smelter Site School
985.65.36 - Detailed Map BC Coast page one & two
985.65.39 - Book - The Alcan Story - presented by Dietrich-Collins Equipment Ltd
Delta King clippings
985.65.44 - Kitimat Gets Floating Hotel May 13, 1952
985.65.45 - Delta King Sails Back to Bright Lights April 29, 1959
985.65.46 - Gould's Latest Dream - The Delta King (Don't Count Barney Out)
985.65.47 - Delta King Returning
985.65.48 - Delta King May Find a Home - San Francisco Chronicle, June 13, 1964
985.65.53 - Water Sweeps into Reservoir as Alcan Pushes Huge Project - Oct, 1952
985.65.54 - Cdn West Coast, Carl Agar, a disciple of Igor Sikorsky, making aviation history
985.65.55 - Magazine Article: At Kitimat, Men Juggle Geography (fortune mag. 1952)
985.65.57-68 - coloured photos 1952 - sandhill
985.65-70 - clipping - construction world mag "Several Alcan Project Features Greatest in the World
Al Beaton's Books 'Casey Sez'
985.65.19-33
986.5.1 - Booklet - Electrical Eng. & Operating Aspects of Alcan's BC Project
986.5.5 - Kitimat Constructors Organizational Chart
986.5.3 - Resident Angler's License #21913K H.M. Whiting - 1953
986.5.4 - Kitimat Rod and Gun Association Life Membership - H. Whiting
Collection of photos and printed matter relative to early Kitimat (1950's). This collection was owned by Mr. H. M. (Hal) Whiting project manager for Kitimat Constructors builders of Kitimat.
Scope and Content
Collection of folders and other materials relating to early Kitimat.
Misc items
985.65.1 - 1 menu - Kitimat Constructors Dec 25th, 1951
985.65.2 - official opening of the 1st Kitimat School, Sept 26, 1952
985.65.2 - 1st airmail despatch from Kitimat (Queen Charlotte Airlines Ltd)
985.65.3a - to Mrs. Whiting - 1st airmail left Kitimat - Sept 20, 1952
985.65.3b - Envelope signed by Postmaster
985.65.4 - Clipping - Postmark 'Kitimat'
Clippings
985.65.5 - Yacht Becomes 'Work' Vessel (Nechako)
985.65.6 - Alcan Asks Gov't Okay Kitimat to be Planned Town
985.65.7 - Terrace-Kitimat Rail Line Approved
985.65.8 - Striking Kitimat Men Here
985.65.9 - Beauty, Thrills in Aluminum City
985.65.10 - City Hacked Out of Wilderness
985.65.11 - 7-year Canasa, US Aluminum Pact Set - Kitimat Major Supplier
985.65.12 - Kitimat Power Repairs Rushed
985.65.13 - Conciliation Board Called for Kitimat
985.65.14 - Biggest Industrial Project is Speeded (Alum Co. Ltd, will be world's largest alum maker)
985.65.15 - B.C.'s Huge Aluminum Project
985.65.16 - Cdn Affairs: B.C. A Land of Infinite Borders
985.65.17 - Underground Powerhouse was carved from bedrock a quarter-mile inside DuBose Mtn
985.65.18 - Extract from "The Seattle Times" April 14, 1952 "Cheap Canada Aluminum Poses Problem"
985.65.34 - Kitimat Constructors Instructions to Employees, 1952
985.65.35 - The School 'The Apha' 1953 - Kitimat Smelter Site School
985.65.36 - Detailed Map BC Coast page one & two
985.65.39 - Book - The Alcan Story - presented by Dietrich-Collins Equipment Ltd
Delta King clippings
985.65.44 - Kitimat Gets Floating Hotel May 13, 1952
985.65.45 - Delta King Sails Back to Bright Lights April 29, 1959
985.65.46 - Gould's Latest Dream - The Delta King (Don't Count Barney Out)
985.65.47 - Delta King Returning
985.65.48 - Delta King May Find a Home - San Francisco Chronicle, June 13, 1964
985.65.53 - Water Sweeps into Reservoir as Alcan Pushes Huge Project - Oct, 1952
985.65.54 - Cdn West Coast, Carl Agar, a disciple of Igor Sikorsky, making aviation history
985.65.55 - Magazine Article: At Kitimat, Men Juggle Geography (fortune mag. 1952)
985.65.57-68 - coloured photos 1952 - sandhill
985.65-70 - clipping - construction world mag "Several Alcan Project Features Greatest in the World
Al Beaton's Books 'Casey Sez'
985.65.19-33
986.5.1 - Booklet - Electrical Eng. & Operating Aspects of Alcan's BC Project
986.5.5 - Kitimat Constructors Organizational Chart
986.5.3 - Resident Angler's License #21913K H.M. Whiting - 1953
986.5.4 - Kitimat Rod and Gun Association Life Membership - H. Whiting
Collection of photographs regarding early Kitimat and Kitimat Constructors. Photo content includes Kitimat Constructors equipment work ares, shops, bunkhouses, and camp, Anderson Creek Mess Hall - smelterite, Inside Delta King, Sports girls and boys basketball, and Hudson's Bay Trading.
Collection of photographs regarding early Kitimat and Kitimat Constructors. Photo content includes Kitimat Constructors equipment work ares, shops, bunkhouses, and camp, Anderson Creek Mess Hall - smelterite, Inside Delta King, Sports girls and boys basketball, and Hudson's Bay Trading.
The fonds consists of logbooks of the First Cabin, also known as “Harley’s Cabin”, on Clague Mountain recording the names and comments of the hikers who had used the cabin.
4 folders
1-1 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook I, 1957-1958 (include some 1961 notations)
1-2 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook II, 1958-1961
1-3 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook III, 1961-1962
1-4 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook III (photocopy)
The First Cabin, also known as “Harley’s Cabin”, was constructed in 1957 at the 1800-foot level of Clague Mountain to provide refuge for hikers and to make skiing on the mountain possible in the winter. A four-man team including Harley Robertson, with John Layman as foreman, was chiefly responsible for its construction.
Scope and Content
The fonds consists of logbooks of the First Cabin, also known as “Harley’s Cabin”, on Clague Mountain recording the names and comments of the hikers who had used the cabin.
4 folders
1-1 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook I, 1957-1958 (include some 1961 notations)
1-2 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook II, 1958-1961
1-3 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook III, 1961-1962
1-4 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook III (photocopy)
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds.
Donated in 1970.
Beta Sigma Phi is a non-acedemic sorority. Beta, Sigma, and Phi come from the first letters of the Greek words for life, learning, and friendship. Social and mostly community based, the Kitimat group compiled many scrapbooks showcasing events and other activities among their members from 1971-1990.
Custodial History
Donated by Ruth Brady.
Scope and Content
Seven Scrapbooks from the Beta Sigma Phi showing their activities and events.
Scrapbook 1 - Beta Sigma Phi yearbook 1971-1972. Black cover.
Scrapbook 2 - 1978-1982. White cover.
Scrapbook 3 - 1971-1977. White cover with Beta Sigma Phi coat of arms with text "Vita Scientia Amicitia" drawn in gold, black, and green.
Scrapbook 4 - 1989-1990. Light blue cover with painting printed in centre.
Scrapbook 5 - Green cover with rose image on second page with text "Beta Nu 1975~76" bellow.
Scrapbook 6 - 1987-1988. Beige cover with small, square image of a sunset and trees.
Scrapbook 7 - 1982-1984. Cream cover with gold border.
Loose items - Photo of seven ladies. Founder's Day 1977 handmade card with painted rainbow. 1987-1988 Build Bridges of Friendship gold stickers.
The Kitimat Heritage Advisory Commission was created in the mid-1970's by the Disstrict of Kitimat to protect and preserve the heritage of the town of Kitimat. The Commission consisted of one District Council Member, the Museum Curator (or Executive Director) and volunteers from the community.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of historical photographs and an aluminum plaque for the former Hudson's Bay store located at Smeltersite.
Fonds consists of two files of materials collected and produced by the Kitimat Valley Naturalists:
F1) Contents of the secretary-treasurer's duotang, 1996-1998. Includes meeting minutes, correspondence, receipts, financial documents, mailing lists, 1997 annual report, photocopied map, events schedule, Federation of BC Naturalists membership info, sign-up sheet for Douglas Channel boat trip, correspondence from Creston Valley Wildlife Area, materials re: Gisela Mendel Native Plant Garden, draft write-up for Iron Oxbow Wildlife Viewing Area along the Kitimat River, and ephemera from the inside front cover of the duotang (receipt from Fed. of BC Naturalists, business cards for Aurora Charters and Reid Crowther Consulting Engineers).
F2) Materials related to Pine Creek Protective Covenant, 2003-2014. This covenant was established by Rio Tinto Alcan, the Haisla Nation, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, to protect the Pine Creek hiking trail and its watercourse near Minette Bay. Folder includes correspondence, signage text, Land Title Act forms, maps, and a Master Watercourse Crossing List from Coastal GasLink.
The Kitimat Valley Naturalists are a non-profit organization with the goal of learning about and enjoying the natural history of the Kitimat Valley. They were founded in 1996 and are still active as of 2023. Their projects include an annual Christmas bird count, construction of bat condos, monitoring amphibian numbers, and mapping eelgrass beds in the Douglas Channel.
Custodial History
Items were donated by Susan and Walter Thorne, longtime members of the Kitimat Valley Naturalists, on February 16th 2023. The fonds was arranged and described by Museum staff in April 2023.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of two files of materials collected and produced by the Kitimat Valley Naturalists:
F1) Contents of the secretary-treasurer's duotang, 1996-1998. Includes meeting minutes, correspondence, receipts, financial documents, mailing lists, 1997 annual report, photocopied map, events schedule, Federation of BC Naturalists membership info, sign-up sheet for Douglas Channel boat trip, correspondence from Creston Valley Wildlife Area, materials re: Gisela Mendel Native Plant Garden, draft write-up for Iron Oxbow Wildlife Viewing Area along the Kitimat River, and ephemera from the inside front cover of the duotang (receipt from Fed. of BC Naturalists, business cards for Aurora Charters and Reid Crowther Consulting Engineers).
F2) Materials related to Pine Creek Protective Covenant, 2003-2014. This covenant was established by Rio Tinto Alcan, the Haisla Nation, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, to protect the Pine Creek hiking trail and its watercourse near Minette Bay. Folder includes correspondence, signage text, Land Title Act forms, maps, and a Master Watercourse Crossing List from Coastal GasLink.
Notes
Three reports collected by the KVN - "An Assessment of the Kitimat Iron Oxbow Proposed Wildlife Viewing Area," "Blue Carbon - The Case for the Conservation and Enhancement of Estuarine Processes and Sediments in BC," and "Coastal Wetlands Habitat Assessment and Classification for Northwestern British Columbia" - have been added to the Museum's Reference Library.
Conservation
Removed from original duotang/folders. Staples removed.
Storage Location
Box 29
Arrangement
F1) has been left in original order, apart from ephemera which was removed from the inside cover of the duotang.
F2) has been arranged in roughly chronological order.
Fonds contains documents, photographs, photocopies, and maps collected by Arvid Hardin throughout his ten years in Kitimat. Areas of focus include high school life, the Kitimat Army Cadets, and the creation of Hirsch Creek Park, the Kitimat Community Centre, and the Kitimat trail system.
Arvid Hardin (born c. 1941) lived in Kitimat from 1953 to 1963. He graduated from Mount Elizabeth Secondary School in 1959, served as an active member of the Kitimat Army Cadet Corps, and was involved with the creation of Hirsch Creek Provincial Park. Around 2008, he collaborated with E.E. 'Bill' Duyvewaardt and other former Kitimat Cadets to write a 'historical profile' of the Cadets and their activities.
Custodial History
Materials from accession 2009.15 were donated by Arvid Hardin to the Museum on June 10th, 2009.
Materials from accession 2022.18 were donated by Arvid Hardin on May 10th, 2022.
Scope and Content
Fonds contains documents, photographs, photocopies, and maps collected by Arvid Hardin throughout his ten years in Kitimat. Areas of focus include high school life, the Kitimat Army Cadets, and the creation of Hirsch Creek Park, the Kitimat Community Centre, and the Kitimat trail system.
Conservation
Many pages old and yellowing. Staples, paper clips, and other metal fasteners removed from all papers in March & May 2022.
Storage Location
Box 39
Photo storage
Related Material
Artifacts donated by Arvid Hardin include a proclamation (2009.15.6), gazette (2009.15.7), and high school certificate (2009.15.11).
Fonds contains 18 black-and-white photographs taken by Jozef Dziuba in the early 1950s. Subjects include views of the channel and the Alcan project, planes and helicopters landing, ships and boats including the Delta King, sports & games (races, high jump, baseball), industrial tanks, the Hudson's Bay Company building steps, and an overhead view of the community including employee housing.
Jozef Dziuba came to Kitimat in the early 1950s to work as a construction worker, and remained here to work at the smelter and raise a family.
Custodial History
Donated to the Kitimat Museum & Archives on March 13th 2023.
Scope and Content
Fonds contains 18 black-and-white photographs taken by Jozef Dziuba in the early 1950s. Subjects include views of the channel and the Alcan project, planes and helicopters landing, ships and boats including the Delta King, sports & games (races, high jump, baseball), industrial tanks, the Hudson's Bay Company building steps, and an overhead view of the community including employee housing.
Conservation
Photos removed from black backing on June 12th/13th 2023. Pages have been scanned to remove original order and are stored under Y:\Holly Peterson.
The fonds consists of minutes of meetings, correspondence, and newspaper clippings of the Kitimat Centennial Committee.
1- Minutes. – 1965-1967. – 1 cm of textual records.
Series consists of minutes of the Kitimat Centennial Committee.
2- Correspondence. – 1964-1970. – 1 cm of textual records.
Series consists of correspondence of the Committee.
3- Newspaper Clippings. – 1965-1967. – 0.5 cm of textual records.
Series consists of newspaper clippings pertaining to the activities of the Committee. Index to clippings written on original file folder.
The Kitimat Centennial Committee was formed in 1964. The purpose of the Committee was to coordinate local activities during the celebration of Canadian confederation in 1967. The Committee organized local celebrations and, after an initial project could not be completed, raised funds for the construction of the Kitimat Centennial Museum building, completed in 1969.
Scope and Content
The fonds consists of minutes of meetings, correspondence, and newspaper clippings of the Kitimat Centennial Committee.
1- Minutes. – 1965-1967. – 1 cm of textual records.
Series consists of minutes of the Kitimat Centennial Committee.
2- Correspondence. – 1964-1970. – 1 cm of textual records.
Series consists of correspondence of the Committee.
3- Newspaper Clippings. – 1965-1967. – 0.5 cm of textual records.
Series consists of newspaper clippings pertaining to the activities of the Committee. Index to clippings written on original file folder.
The Surf Inlet Gold Mine was located on Princess Royal Island above Surf Inlet. Limited production began in 1902 and then ceased in 1905. The mine reopened production in 1917, after major development occurred. It was then operated by the Tonapah Belmont Development Company of Philadelphia. The mine closed in 1926. Three mines were opened in 1934 by Surf Inlet Consolidated Gold Mines, including the Surf Inlet Mine, the Pugsley Mine and the Belmont Mine. These closed permanently in 1943.
Custodial History
Donated by Bulkley Valley Museum/Dirk Mendel
Scope and Content
Folders containing financial records, correspondence, assey certificates, production statistics, post office documents, payroll records + steam ship manifests. Inclusive dates: 1924-1925, 1938-1943.
Notes
Removed financial records from amongst payroll slips. Removed manifests to Box #3 due to size. Reordered assey certificates by date.
Condition notes: mold
Surf Inlet Envelope #1 - Removed Acc'ts Payable info from payroll summery file (June 30/40 - Jan/40). Removed what looks like a seperate fonds. Surf Post Office. Major mold.
Envelope # 2 - Removed Union Steamship manifest, will have to store elsewhere.
Envelope # 3 - Reordered assey certificates by date (year). Ran July/24-Aug/25, then started June/24-
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.
Kendall Ludwick arrived in Kitimat in 1952. He worked for The Aluminum Company of Canada Ltd. first as an expeditor then as Assistant Building Superintendent. His family arrived in October 1952 and his children attended the Smeltersite School (Kitimat School).
Custodial History
Items brought in by Kendall Ludwick's daughter, Dianne Mayes
Scope and Content
Memorabilia of the family's time in Kitimat.
Notes
Kitimat School memorabilia
Al Beaton cartoon book
"The Alpha: Kitimat School Yearbook
Five b&w photographs
Kitimat Souvenir Papoose on cedar packboard
Kitimat Souvenir small pink china pitcher
This fonds consists of materials created or collected by Gisela Mendel throughout her time in British Columbia, particularly during her tenure as the Museum's first curator (1969-1981). It is divided into three series:
Series 1: Photographs - approx. 330 photographs, negatives, and slides taken by Gisela Mendel, showing the local area, flora and fauna, Museum displays, Kitamaat Village and its residents, traditional Haisla cultural activities, etc.
Series 2: Kitimat Flora Collection - 12 boxes of pressed and dried flora from the local area, with associated information.
Series 3: Logbooks and scrapbooks - logbooks from Clague and Squirrel Mountains (1957-1969), accounts of Mendel family outings (1963-1968), scrapbook/photo album from Stikine road trip (1999), textual material and photos on regional hiking rails from binder on assembled by Gisela.
Series 4: Maps - 23 regional maps collected and annotated by Gisela.
ca. 10.5 cm textual material (logbooks, scrapbooks)
23 maps
History / Biographical
Gisela Heimbach Mendel was the first curator of the Kitimat Museum and Archives (then known as the Kitimat Centennial Museum). She was born in Germany in 1922 and worked as a pharmacist in East Prussia when the Russians invaded. She fled the Russians and immigrated to Canada in 1952 with her husband, Hans, and their children. Unhappy with the geography of Southern Ontario - in her words, she was a "mountain woman" - she chose Kitimat as her home.
In her earliest years in Kitimat (beginning 1956), Gisela collected botanical specimens for the Royal BC Museum in Victoria. She served as the first curator of the Kitimat Centennial Museum from the building's opening in 1969 until her retirement in 1981, when she and Hans moved to Smithers. Gisela was responsible for not only showcasing local art and history, but building a strong and varied permanent collection of artifacts and archival items upon which future curators could build.
As she was working in a relatively young community, town history was not considered a priority so much as regional history, natural history and Haisla First Nations cultural traditions, which Gisela documented with great intensity. One of her projects was creating an ethno-botanical dictionary with the help of Haisla elders, identifying the Haisla names and traditional uses for various plants. In 1972, the Northern Sentinel reported that each weekend Gisela made the rounds of her secret botanical hunting grounds to replace the display of floral specimens in her exhibits. She was a tremendous record-keeper and journalist, had a great life of the outdoors, and developed many close friendships in Kitimat and Kitamaat Village. Her thirst for information was incredible, and the Museum and the community benefitted immensely from her passion for gathering and recording knowledge. In the 1990s she received the Award of Merit from the BC Museums Association in recognition of her work. She passed away in 2008.
Custodial History
Materials in this fonds were created by Gisela Mendel during her time as Museum Curator, or donated by her, her family members, or other community members following her retirement.
Scope and Content
This fonds consists of materials created or collected by Gisela Mendel throughout her time in British Columbia, particularly during her tenure as the Museum's first curator (1969-1981). It is divided into three series:
Series 1: Photographs - approx. 330 photographs, negatives, and slides taken by Gisela Mendel, showing the local area, flora and fauna, Museum displays, Kitamaat Village and its residents, traditional Haisla cultural activities, etc.
Series 2: Kitimat Flora Collection - 12 boxes of pressed and dried flora from the local area, with associated information.
Series 3: Logbooks and scrapbooks - logbooks from Clague and Squirrel Mountains (1957-1969), accounts of Mendel family outings (1963-1968), scrapbook/photo album from Stikine road trip (1999), textual material and photos on regional hiking rails from binder on assembled by Gisela.
Series 4: Maps - 23 regional maps collected and annotated by Gisela.