Search Results - Research Collections - Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies

Bill Gibbons fonds

https://archives.whyte.org/en/permalink/descriptions582

Part Of: Bill Gibbons fonds

Scope & Content: Fonds consists of photographic business records of professional photographer Bill Gibbons in three series: I. Commercial black and white series, ca.1945-ca.1958, ca.5400 photographs; II. Canadian Rockies colour series, ca.1945-ca.1990, predominant ca.1966-ca.1972, ca.8000 photographs; III. Other …

Date Range: [ca.1945-ca.1990]

Reference Code: M532 / V227

Description Level: 1 / Fonds

GMD: Photograph; Negative; Photograph print; Postcard; Transparency; Textual record; Private record

Part Of: Bill Gibbons fonds

Description Level: 1 / Fonds

Fonds Number: M 532; V 227

Sous-Fonds: M 532; V 227

Accession Number: 194, 275, 1991, 2020, 5753, 5756, 6760, 7936, 7237

Reference Code: M532 / V227

GMD: Photograph; Negative; Photograph print; Postcard; Transparency; Textual record; Private record

Responsibility: Fonds consists of the private business records of Bill Gibbons. Some photographs may have been made by employees.

Date Range: [ca.1945-ca.1990]

Physical Description: ca.13,404 photographs: negatives, prints, transparencies, albums, postcards. -- 2.5 cm textual records

History / Biographical: W. J. L. "Bill" Gibbons, 1914-1994 , was a professional photographer at Banff, Alberta, Canada from 1945 until 1959. Gibbons came to Canada in 1941 and settled in Banff after the war with his wife, Ella Mae (Becker), a Banff native. He established British Photographic Laboratories, with partners Lou Crosby and Jack Anderson, in the basement of the Mount Royal Hotel, moving later to street-level. Bill and Ella Mae Gibbons travelled throughout the mountain parks photographing views for sale in the Banff shop. These were offered as hand-coloured prints, with much of the colouring done or supervised by Ella Mae.; Later the business expanded to include colour postcards and slide sets. Gibbons employed other photographers, such as Bruno Engler, for specialty work, such as ski photography, and the Banff studio also did portraiture. Gibbons himself did most of the 4 x 5 format landscape work and made extensive use of models, many of who were young women employed by his Banff store. In 1959, Gibbons sold his business to a group of Banff businessmen and moved to Vancouver. In subsequent years, he continued to be active as a photographer and in publishing, working in different areas of the world. He made several photographic trips through the mountain parks, ca.1966-1972.

Scope & Content: Fonds consists of photographic business records of professional photographer Bill Gibbons in three series: I. Commercial black and white series, ca.1945-ca.1958, ca.5400 photographs; II. Canadian Rockies colour series, ca.1945-ca.1990, predominant ca.1966-ca.1972, ca.8000 photographs; III. Other black and white series, ca. 1947, 4 photographs.; I. Commercial black and white series consists of six sub-series: A. Portraits and documentary views, 1945-1950, 2437 negatives (individual and group portraits, weddings, conferences, events, buildings, facilities and places; Banff and area); B. Banff School of Fine Arts, ca.1949, 277 negatives (privately produced views of classes, group portraits, activities, buildings and facilities); C. "S" sub-series, ca.1950, 1220 negatives (scenic views in the vicinity of Banff, Lake Louise, Banff-Jasper Highway, Jasper National Park, Radium and Columbia Valley, British Columbia and Pacific Coast, First Nations views); D. "T" sub-series, ca.1950, 482 negatives (scenic and commercial views, mainly Jasper, Banff-Jasper Highway and Lake Louise areas); E. Rolliflex and panorama negatives, 1949-1958, 584 negatives (Banff Winter Carnival, Banff School of Fine Arts, and Banff and area); F. Other, ca.1945-1951, 364 items (material similar to that in other series, some unidentified). Accompanied by small number of prints and postcards; also, publication: "Photographing the Canadian Rockies" by Bill J. L. Gibbons, 1948.; II. Canadian Rockies colour series consists of four sub-series: A. CR1 to CR84, ca.1966-ca.1972, ca.260 prints; B. CR1 to CR443, ca.1966-ca.1972, ca.5130 photographs; C. CR35-2 to CR35-81, ca.1966-ca.1972, ca.2310 photographs; D. Other photographs, ca.1945-ca.1990. Series consists primarily of commercial colour negatives and corresponding proof prints pertaining to Banff, Jasper and Yoho National Parks, also some transparencies and oversize display prints.; III. Other black and white series. Series consists of 2 black and white prints of crash landing at Sunshine with Al Gaetz and Dick Pike, 1947 and two copy negatives with prints of Bruno Engler and Ella Mae Gibbons, ca.1947.; Textual records are record book, 1945-1953, 62 p; and book layout.

Name Access: Gibbons, Bill

Subject Access: Arts; Buildings and facilities; Commerce and industry; Education; Environment; Family and personal life; Sports, recreation and leisure

Access Restrictions: Some restriction/s on access; Copyright, privacy, commercial use and other restrictions may apply

Language: Language is English

Finding Aid: Finding aids and reference tools: arrangement outline; series and file description; electronic finding aid; selected modern reference prints

Creator: Gibbons, Bill

Category: Arts; Commerce and industry; Education; Environment; Family and personal life; Sports, recreation and leisure

Title Source: Title based on accession records and contents of fonds

Processing Status: Processed

This material is presented as originally created; it may contain outdated cultural descriptions and potentially offensive content. Read more.

Lloyd Harmon fonds

https://archives.whyte.org/en/permalink/descriptions211

Part Of: Lloyd Harmon fonds

Scope & Content: Fonds consists of a broad-ranging commercial negative collection in two series. Mainly scenic, skiing and documentary views of Banff and area, the Rocky Mountains and some other Alberta and British Columbia locations. Photographs include many Banff personalities known to the photographer. I. Candi…

Date Range: 1928-1954

Reference Code: V108

Description Level: 1 / Fonds

GMD: Photograph; Negative; Photograph print; Transparency

Part Of: Lloyd Harmon fonds

Description Level: 1 / Fonds

Fonds Number: V 108

Sous-Fonds: V 108

Accession Number: 2895

Reference Code: V108

GMD: Photograph; Negative; Photograph print; Transparency

Date Range: 1928-1954

Physical Description: ca.2325 photographs : negatives; some prints and transparencies

History / Biographical: Lloyd Harmon, 1914-2000, was a professional photographer who specialized in ski, action and scenic photography at Banff, Alberta, Canada. Harmon was a son of photographer Byron Harmon and worked in his father's business with his brother, Don Harmon, ca.1933-1941 and 1945-1954. During World War II, he served with the RCAF in Burma, Italy and North Africa. After leaving Banff, Harmon worked in the oil industry at Calgary. During the 1950s he married Elizabeth Ellwood. He retired to Canada's west coast.

Scope & Content: Fonds consists of a broad-ranging commercial negative collection in two series. Mainly scenic, skiing and documentary views of Banff and area, the Rocky Mountains and some other Alberta and British Columbia locations. Photographs include many Banff personalities known to the photographer.; I. Candid, action and scenic views. -- [ca.1928-ca.1954]; predominantly 1933-[ca.1940]. -- ca.1750 items : mainly negatives; 12.5 x 17.5 cm or smaller; most are 8 x 10.5 cm or smaller. -- Series pertains to skiers, ski action and competition, ski touring; Mount Norquay, Sunshine, Assiniboine, Skoki and Yoho regions; scenic views in Banff, Jasper and Yoho National Parks and Revelstoke area; Banff Indian Days and Indigenous peoples; horses and trail riding; Banff buildings and facilities; personal and family photographs. Views were taken for personal and business purposes. Includes early vest pocket camera shots and later view camera work. Negatives are not numbered by the photographer except for a small sub-series with original numbers 1 through 86. Some negatives accompanied by duplicate views. (V108 / 1 - 1927); II. Scenic and commercial views. -- [ca.1928-ca.1954]; predom.1946-1954. -- ca.575 items : mainly negatives; 12.5 x 17.5 cm or smaller. -- Series includes landscape views in Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, Yoho and Waterton National Parks, Windermere and Golden areas; Calgary and southern Alberta towns; Banff townsite, buildings and area; ski areas; Indigenous portraits; wildlife; lodges, bungalow camps, etc. -- Some views may be attributed to Don Harmon. -- Most negatives are numbered by the photographer using a block numeric system ranging from 50 to 2800. Unnumbered negatives are retained in proximity to similar material. Some negatives are accompanied by duplicate views, copy negatives or positive transparencies. (V108 / 1928 - 2509)

Name Access: Harmon, Lloyd

Subject Access: Arts; Environment; Sports, recreation and leisure; Banff Indian Days; Indigenous Peoples; First Nations; Stoney Nakoda

Access Restrictions: No restrictions on access; Copyright, privacy, commercial use and other restrictions may apply

Language: Language is English

Finding Aid: Finding aids and reference tools: basic description in Archives Finding Aids computer database. Selected reference prints available in visual reference file. Also available is a list of unverified identifications of people and places provided by volunteers.

Creator: Harmon, Lloyd

Category: Arts; Environment; Sports, recreation and leisure

Title Source: Fonds title based on accession record. Series titles based on contents of series.

Processing Status: Processed

This material is presented as originally created; it may contain outdated cultural descriptions and potentially offensive content. Read more.

3 unknown people and Tom Kaquitts (Sûga Wakâ) (Dog God) (right)

https://archives.whyte.org/en/permalink/descriptions49205

Part Of: Bill Gibbons fonds

Scope & Content: Item consists of three unknown individuals and Tom Kaquitts (Sûga Wakâ) (Dog God) (right) posed together in a group photo.

Date Range: 1950

Reference Code: V227 / 5283

Description Level: 6 / Item

GMD: Photograph; Negative

1 image

Part Of: Bill Gibbons fonds

Description Level: 6 / Item

Fonds Number: V227

Sous-Fonds: V227

Accession Number: n/a

Reference Code: V227 / 5283

GMD: Photograph; Negative

Date Range: 1950

Physical Description: 1 Negative

Scope & Content: Item consists of three unknown individuals and Tom Kaquitts (Sûga Wakâ) (Dog God) (right) posed together in a group photo.

Notes: Note: Any descriptive information or identification of people has been provided by research done through the Recognizing Relations

Name Access: Gibbons, Bill; Kaquitts, Tom

Subject Access: First Nations; Indigenous Peoples; Stoney Nakoda; Stoney

Geographic Access: Alberta

Language: English

Related Material: Recognizing Relations number: RR 296

Creator: Gibbons, Bill

Title Source: Stoney Nakoda Elders provided naming and other culturally relevant information during interviews held for Recognizing Relations, an archives initiative active from 2014-2023.; The goal of this initiative was to name local Indigenous peoples in photographs held in the WMCR archives as well as encouraging access for Indigenous communities to these images.