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.
Folder containing newspaper clipping from Mike Kinnear regarding various Kitimat events. Most articles are related to Mike Kinnear; either about him or his family, or including his photos.
The Duke of Edinburgh pours first ingot at Kitimat Work on 3 August 1954.
Kingfisher underpass construction and General Construction paving machine. July 28, 1955.
Portable classroom frames at Nechako Centre. July 28, 1955.
Jim Molyneaux at third base during a Kitimat-Terrace baseball game. August 25, 1955.
Children from townsite and smeltersite on a new fire pumper for Fire Prevention Week. Sept 15, 1955.
Highschool and movie theatre construction. Sept 22, 1955.
Townsite Folk Amazed At Methods Used In Fire Fighting And Prevention.
Kitimat Fire Prevention Week description.
Anglican Church Framework.
Construction of the Public Safety Building.
Construction of National Employment Service building.
Letter regarding voting in Kitimat from J.M. Kinnear.
Kitimat Curling Rink.
Imperials basketball game. Jan 26, 1956.
Runners up of the A and B event (curling). Feb 12, 1958.
Installation of President Ray Brown. March 1, 1956.
Youngsters shopping for candy at their first townsite matinee. March 8, 1956.
Parents watching pupils at Open House, and a car under the snow. March 15, 1956.
Open house at Nechako School, and gymnastic class display at townsite school. March 15, 1956.
Paving of Pintail Street and construction of neighbourhood A school. May 24, 1956.
Ladies curling team winners and runner ups. March 29, 1956.
Hudson's Bay Company building construction in City Centre. May 31, 1956.
Baseball game at Alcan field. June 7, 1956.
Five Little League Teams Start Season. June 21, 1956.
Junior Shooters Show Keen Marksmanship. Oct 5, 1956.
Interior of Kitimat Recreations Ltd. Anderson Ck. bowling alley and billiards centre.
Nechako School children pageant and student made Christmas village scene.
Guitarist Dick Stewart performing.
Kitimat highschool graduates of 1956 in 1966.
Grade 5 school children choir and grade 1 and 2 at opening of new school auditorium.
Minstrel show performers
Winners of commerce class business course project
Neighbourhood B highschool development.
Frozen Kitimat River and Kitimat Christmas nativity decoration at home.
Panabode construction at Kitimat Golf Club.
Junior Curlers Take Over.
Christening Party for baby Linda Jean Spracklin.
Nechako Centre skating rink.
Photographing woman in swimsuit.
Mike Kinnear in California.
Kitimat first citizen of the year Mrs. Ada Hayes.
Nechako School auditorium basketball game.
Cormorant elementary school in winter and curling club.
Basketball game between 1955 Sheardown Trophy winning team and 1951 Northern BC champions.
Garry Fricker crowned king of hearts.
Kitimat River Bridge photo by Mike Kinnear. First entrant in the Sentinel photo competition.
Junior Champions Take 1956 Baseball Honors.
Colors being received before remembrance day ceremony at Nechako school and basketball team.
Slugger Jim Perrin hitting baseball.
Baseball game as well as players in dugout.
Kitimat's Dick Hayes stops ball in baseball game.
First baseman Jack Connolly catching ball at baseball game.
Young Nechako Pupils Show Artistic Talents.
Kinnear Keen To See More Youths Use of Gyms.
Guy Kinnear Transferred to Arvida.
Sternwheeler Calls Here on Way to Become Museum Piece (Delta King).
California Here I Come and Ode To The Delta King.
The Leading Lady On Local Water Front - The Gallant Little Hi-Gear.
West Coast Terminals Ltd. and Highway Motor Express Ltd. ad.
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
Folder containing newspaper clipping from Mike Kinnear regarding various Kitimat events. Most articles are related to Mike Kinnear; either about him or his family, or including his photos.
The Duke of Edinburgh pours first ingot at Kitimat Work on 3 August 1954.
Kingfisher underpass construction and General Construction paving machine. July 28, 1955.
Portable classroom frames at Nechako Centre. July 28, 1955.
Jim Molyneaux at third base during a Kitimat-Terrace baseball game. August 25, 1955.
Children from townsite and smeltersite on a new fire pumper for Fire Prevention Week. Sept 15, 1955.
Highschool and movie theatre construction. Sept 22, 1955.
Townsite Folk Amazed At Methods Used In Fire Fighting And Prevention.
Kitimat Fire Prevention Week description.
Anglican Church Framework.
Construction of the Public Safety Building.
Construction of National Employment Service building.
Letter regarding voting in Kitimat from J.M. Kinnear.
Kitimat Curling Rink.
Imperials basketball game. Jan 26, 1956.
Runners up of the A and B event (curling). Feb 12, 1958.
Installation of President Ray Brown. March 1, 1956.
Youngsters shopping for candy at their first townsite matinee. March 8, 1956.
Parents watching pupils at Open House, and a car under the snow. March 15, 1956.
Open house at Nechako School, and gymnastic class display at townsite school. March 15, 1956.
Paving of Pintail Street and construction of neighbourhood A school. May 24, 1956.
Ladies curling team winners and runner ups. March 29, 1956.
Hudson's Bay Company building construction in City Centre. May 31, 1956.
Baseball game at Alcan field. June 7, 1956.
Five Little League Teams Start Season. June 21, 1956.
Junior Shooters Show Keen Marksmanship. Oct 5, 1956.
Interior of Kitimat Recreations Ltd. Anderson Ck. bowling alley and billiards centre.
Nechako School children pageant and student made Christmas village scene.
Guitarist Dick Stewart performing.
Kitimat highschool graduates of 1956 in 1966.
Grade 5 school children choir and grade 1 and 2 at opening of new school auditorium.
Minstrel show performers
Winners of commerce class business course project
Neighbourhood B highschool development.
Frozen Kitimat River and Kitimat Christmas nativity decoration at home.
Panabode construction at Kitimat Golf Club.
Junior Curlers Take Over.
Christening Party for baby Linda Jean Spracklin.
Nechako Centre skating rink.
Photographing woman in swimsuit.
Mike Kinnear in California.
Kitimat first citizen of the year Mrs. Ada Hayes.
Nechako School auditorium basketball game.
Cormorant elementary school in winter and curling club.
Basketball game between 1955 Sheardown Trophy winning team and 1951 Northern BC champions.
Garry Fricker crowned king of hearts.
Kitimat River Bridge photo by Mike Kinnear. First entrant in the Sentinel photo competition.
Junior Champions Take 1956 Baseball Honors.
Colors being received before remembrance day ceremony at Nechako school and basketball team.
Slugger Jim Perrin hitting baseball.
Baseball game as well as players in dugout.
Kitimat's Dick Hayes stops ball in baseball game.
First baseman Jack Connolly catching ball at baseball game.
Young Nechako Pupils Show Artistic Talents.
Kinnear Keen To See More Youths Use of Gyms.
Guy Kinnear Transferred to Arvida.
Sternwheeler Calls Here on Way to Become Museum Piece (Delta King).
California Here I Come and Ode To The Delta King.
The Leading Lady On Local Water Front - The Gallant Little Hi-Gear.
West Coast Terminals Ltd. and Highway Motor Express Ltd. ad.
