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.
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.
Photograph of showing the framing almost completed in Guest House No.2. Two men are visible working on it. Apartments visible behind, and townsite camp is to the left.
Donated by Jackie Worboys. Given to the Jackie Mufford Worboys family by Wally Melville.
Scope and Content
Photograph of showing the framing almost completed in Guest House No.2. Two men are visible working on it. Apartments visible behind, and townsite camp is to the left.
Photograph of #1 Guest House showing amdeck roofing in place. Two men are working on the roof, and two men are working on another structure on the left. Building material is laid on the ground around.
Donated by Jackie Worboys. Given to the Jackie Mufford Worboys family by Wally Melville.
Scope and Content
Photograph of #1 Guest House showing amdeck roofing in place. Two men are working on the roof, and two men are working on another structure on the left. Building material is laid on the ground around.
Photograph of entrance hall in guest house no. 1. On right there is a table and chair. Table has a phone and book on it. A curtain covers a doorway near it. Behind, there is a staircase going up on the right, and a stone wall in the centre that is part of the fireplace for the room at the left.
Donated by Jackie Worboys. Given to the Jackie Mufford Worboys family by Wally Melville.
Scope and Content
Photograph of entrance hall in guest house no. 1. On right there is a table and chair. Table has a phone and book on it. A curtain covers a doorway near it. Behind, there is a staircase going up on the right, and a stone wall in the centre that is part of the fireplace for the room at the left.
Photograph of inside of lounge of the Alcan Guest House No.1 on Albatross Avenue. Visible inside the lounge is a stone fireplace, chairs, tables, and a lamp. In the back on the right there are stairs leading up.
Donated by Jackie Worboys. Given to the Jackie Mufford Worboys family by Wally Melville.
Scope and Content
Photograph of inside of lounge of the Alcan Guest House No.1 on Albatross Avenue. Visible inside the lounge is a stone fireplace, chairs, tables, and a lamp. In the back on the right there are stairs leading up.
Photograph of sittingroom of upstairs suite in Guest House No. 1. Room contains a couch, chairs, tables, a lamp, and a brick fireplace. Door exiting the room is on the left.
Donated by Jackie Worboys. Given to the Jackie Mufford Worboys family by Wally Melville.
Scope and Content
Photograph of sittingroom of upstairs suite in Guest House No. 1. Room contains a couch, chairs, tables, a lamp, and a brick fireplace. Door exiting the room is on the left.