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

Dan McCowan and Mary McCowan fonds

https://archives.whyte.org/en/permalink/descriptions273

Part Of: Dan and Mary McCowan fonds

Scope & Content: Fonds consists of two series : I. Dan McCowan series; II. Mary E.(Fee) McCowan series. I. Dan McCowan series, ca.1905-1967?, ca.30 cm of textual records, ca.3400 photographs, 4 graphic records. Includes five sub-series: A. Correspondence; B. Writing; C. Photography; D. Professional activities; E…

Date Range: [ca.1885-1967?]

Reference Code: M55 / V408

Description Level: 1 / Fonds

GMD: Photograph; Negative; Photograph print; Transparency; Textual record; Diary; Private record; Published record

Part Of: Dan and Mary McCowan fonds

Description Level: 1 / Fonds

Fonds Number: M 55; V 408

Sous-Fonds: M 55; V 408

Accession Number: 323, 694, 3263, 6756, 6892

Reference Code: M55 / V408

GMD: Photograph; Negative; Photograph print; Transparency; Textual record; Diary; Private record; Published record

Date Range: [ca.1885-1967?]

Physical Description: ca.50 cm of textual records. -- ca.3400 photographs (ca.1000 negatives, ca.1540 lantern slides, ca.770 transparencies 35mm, 117 prints). -- 4 graphic records

History / Biographical: Dan McCowan, 1882-1956, was a naturalist, lecturer and writer at Banff, Alberta, Canada. McCowan came to Banff from Scotland in 1907. There he met Mary Ethel Fee, 1888-1973, a teacher, and they married in 1921. Mary McCowan shared an interest in Dan's work, hand-coloured his lantern slides and accompanied him on his tours. Dan McCowan was an active photographer and naturalist and lectured at hospitals during and following the First World War. He was later recommended to Sir Edward Beatty, CPR President and hired by the CPR to promote the scenic beauties and natural history of the mountains, which he did for 26 years. For a period his lantern slide presentations included motion pictures. During the 1940s, he used natural colour Kodachrome slide photography. While in England in 1936, McCowan was made a Fellow of the Royal Zoological Society. From ca.1907 onwards, he wrote for magazines and newspapers. The first of six books was published in 1936; the last in 1955. Beginning ca.1937, McCowan wrote and broadcast radio talks on natural history on CBC. These were heard widely in Canada and the United States. In 1939, McCowan accompanied the King and Queen on a portion of their railway tour through the mountains, providing information on natural history and residents. During the Second World War, he toured extensively on behalf of the YMCA. The McCowans retired to Cloverdale (now Surrey), B.C., ca.1951.

Scope & Content: Fonds consists of two series : I. Dan McCowan series; II. Mary E.(Fee) McCowan series.; I. Dan McCowan series, ca.1905-1967?, ca.30 cm of textual records, ca.3400 photographs, 4 graphic records. Includes five sub-series: A. Correspondence; B. Writing; C. Photography; D. Professional activities; E. Ephemera.; Correspondence includes incoming letters re writing, business and broadcasting. Writing is in the form of notes and notebooks, unpublished and published manuscripts, newspaper articles and other materials.; Photography includes negatives, lantern slides, 35mm transparencies and prints. Material pertains to flora, fauna, people, places and scenery, also family, activities and events. Photographs of Banff personalities and visitors are available in negative and lantern slide form, 254 items.; Lantern slides were designed for lectures such as: "On skyline trails in the Canadian Rockies"; "On nature trails at Banff and Lake Louise"; "A naturalist in the Canadian Rockies" (200 slides); "Snow peaks and flower meadows in the Canadian Rockies" (200 slides); "Over the hills and far away: a pictorial review of the Canadian Rockies"; "Victory Day, May 8th 1945, Dan McCowan presents: Bye-gone days in Banff" (exact titles were based on title slides).; II. Mary E. (Fee) McCowan series consists of diaries, 1926-1957, photocopied from 12 volumes (19 cm); and letters from Dan McCowan, 1943. Diaries discuss joint travels, activities, lecture tours for CPR (Canada, U.S., U.K.), Banff, trail rides, skyline hikes, and Royal Visit, 1939

Notes: Both Dan and Mary McCowan have written identifications on the slide mounts

Name Access: McCowan, Dan; McCowan, Mary

Subject Access: Environment; Exploration, discovery and travel; Family and personal life; Natural resources; Sports, recreation and leisure

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; series and file description; in-house electronic finding aid; online finding aid; item list and modern reference prints for photographs of Banff personalities and visitors

Related Material: Related by provenance to McCowan family photographs (V407)

Creator: McCowan, Dan; McCowan, Mary

Category: Environment; Exploration, discovery and travel; Family and personal life; Natural resources; Sports, recreation and leisure

Title Source: Title based on 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.

Banff Indian Days

https://archives.whyte.org/en/permalink/descriptions43105

Part Of: Dan and Mary McCowan fonds

Scope & Content: Item consists of group of people in regalia on horseback, Hector Crawler (Wachegiye) (Prayer Giver) and Mary Jean Crawler on the far right, at Banff Indian Days.

Date Range: ca.1915

Reference Code: V408 / PS 24-020

Description Level: 6 / Item

GMD: Photograph

1 image

Part Of: Dan and Mary McCowan fonds

Description Level: 6 / Item

Fonds Number: V408

Series: I.C.2. Dan McCowan : Photography, lantern slides

Sous-Fonds: V408

Reference Code: V408 / PS 24-020

GMD: Photograph

Date Range: ca.1915

Physical Description: 1 photograph : transparencies

Scope & Content: Item consists of group of people in regalia on horseback, Hector Crawler (Wachegiye) (Prayer Giver) and Mary Jean Crawler on the far right, at Banff Indian Days.

Subject Access: Banff Indian Days; Stoney Nakoda; First Nations; Public events

Geographic Access: Alberta

Creator: Dan McCowan

Title Source: Title based on contents of item

Processing Status: Processed

Images

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

Hector Crawler (Wachegiye) (Prayer Giver) and Peter Wesley (Ta Otha) (Moose Hunter)

https://archives.whyte.org/en/permalink/descriptions43103

Part Of: Dan and Mary McCowan fonds

Scope & Content: Item consists of Hector Crawler (Wachegiye) (Prayer Giver) and Peter Wesley (Ta Otha) (Moose Killer) dressed in regalia on horseback.

Date Range: ca.1920

Reference Code: V408 / PS 24-018

Description Level: 6 / Item

GMD: Photograph

1 image

Part Of: Dan and Mary McCowan fonds

Description Level: 6 / Item

Fonds Number: V408

Series: I.C.2. Dan McCowan : Photography, lantern slides

Sous-Fonds: V408

Reference Code: V408 / PS 24-018

GMD: Photograph

Date Range: ca.1920

Physical Description: 1 photograph : transparencies

Scope & Content: Item consists of Hector Crawler (Wachegiye) (Prayer Giver) and Peter Wesley (Ta Otha) (Moose Killer) dressed in regalia on horseback.