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

Bill Gibbons fonds

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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.

George Noble fonds

https://archives.whyte.org/en/permalink/descriptions299

Part Of: George Noble fonds

Scope & Content: Fonds consists of a broad-ranging commercial negative collection. Includes four series. I. Scenic and documentary views, 2839 items; includes film and glass negatives in sizes up to 8 X 10 inches. Pertains to Banff and area buildings, facilities, activities, events, such as Banff Winter Carnival a…

Date Range: [ca.1912]-1958

Reference Code: M533 / V469

Description Level: 1 / Fonds

GMD: Photograph; Negative; Photograph print; Transparency; Textual record; Corporate record

Part Of: George Noble fonds

Description Level: 1 / Fonds

Fonds Number: M 533; V 469

Sous-Fonds: M 533; V 469

Accession Number: 82, 168, 275, 940, 1157, 1992, 2020, 3513, 5281, 6753, 6841, 7135

Reference Code: M533 / V469

GMD: Photograph; Negative; Photograph print; Transparency; Textual record; Corporate record

Date Range: [ca.1912]-1958

Physical Description: ca.8500 photographs : negatives. -- 36 transparencies : stereo, colour. -- 2 textual records

History / Biographical: George Noble, 1879-1965, was a professional photographer at Banff, Alberta, Canada. Noble was born in Woolwich, England where he apprenticed as a photographer. He came to Banff in 1909 to operate a photographic business for his uncles, George and Bill Fear, who owned a curio business. In 1919, Noble bought the photographic business and, in 1932, acquired the remainder of the Fear Brothers business. He built a new studio and shop, which offered portraiture, photo- finishing and framing services and sold photographic supplies, camera equipment and English china. In addition to portraiture, George Noble and employees, such as photographer Bill Jamieson, produced a wide range of documentary, scenic and commercial views. Noble's shop offered black and white and hand-coloured prints of local events and Rocky Mountain views. George Noble was an active member of the community, serving on both the Banff School Board and the Banff Board of Trade for many years. Upon his retirement in 1957, his business was acquired by a group of investors which included Bill Jamieson, lab-technician and photographer for the Noble business from 1936 to 1957

Scope & Content: Fonds consists of a broad-ranging commercial negative collection. Includes four series.; I. Scenic and documentary views, 2839 items; includes film and glass negatives in sizes up to 8 X 10 inches. Pertains to Banff and area buildings, facilities, activities, events, such as Banff Winter Carnival and Banff Indian Days; Indigenous; scenic views of Banff and area and other Rocky Mountains locations.; II. Commercial views, 765 items; includes buildings, businesses, facilities, sports events, organizations, conventions, group portraits, displays and presentations.; III. Mixed views, 242 items; includes scenic, documentary and commercial views similar to material in previous series. Also includes some views know to have been produced by Fred Armbrister, a professional photographer who operated out of Lake Louise, Alberta, ca.1930.; IV. Portraits, ca.4600. This series contains four groups: A. 1920s-1950s, most unidentified; B. 1930s and 1940s, arranged alphabetically, many unidentified; C. 1950s, arranged alphabetically, most identified, many with proofs (prints); D. 1950s, arranged chronologically by job number.; V. Other, ca.50 items. Includes 36 colour stereo transparencies, ca.1955, re Administration Building and gardens, Banff-Jasper Highway scenics, mountain sheep, autumn colour, Banff Avenue, George Noble and staff. Also includes small number of commercial prints produced by Noble, including several large hand-painted views.; Fonds is accompanied by business record books, 1950-1958, 2 v. (M533)

Name Access: Noble, George

Subject Access: Arts; Buildings and facilities; Commerce and industry; Community life; Environment; Sports, recreation and leisure; Transportation

Access Restrictions: Some restrictions on access to originals; Copyright, privacy, commercial use and other restrictions may apply

Language: Language is English

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

Related Material: Related commercial photographs made by Bill Jamieson in the employ of George Noble are located in the Ron Duke fonds (V180 / II.A.i. - V180 / II.A.vi.; V180 / III.A.); Portrait camera and electric 3D viewer reside in Heritage collections, Whyte Museum

Creator: Noble, George

Category: Arts; Commerce and industry; Environment; Sports, recreation and leisure; Transportation

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.

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.