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

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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