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.
Metal mug with glass bottom. Silver in colour. Handle on one side. The bottom is wider than the top and has a thick rim around the base. Small, decorative etchings under the inscriptions on front.
Metal mug with glass bottom. Silver in colour. Handle on one side. The bottom is wider than the top and has a thick rim around the base. Small, decorative etchings under the inscriptions on front.
Physical Condition
Good
Material
pewter
Condition Remarks
Some minor smudges from use. Glue or tape reside on bottom.
Height
13 cm
Width
12.5 cm
Diameter
11 cm
Inscriptions
"KITIMAT FIRE DEPARTMENT / MAX PATZELT / MAY 1957."
"FINEST ENGLISH PEWTER / MADE IN SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND."
Accession Number
2023.8.1
Biographical Notes
Max Patzelt was a member of the Kitimat Volunteer Fire Department from 1957 to 1972. He also worked as a photographer and served in many other community organizations.
