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

Scope & Content: Fonds consists of three series: A. Kay Russell personal series, 1922-1984; B. Russell family correspondence series, 1921-1984; C. Russell family papers and photographs series, 1909-1983. Kay Russell personal series contains diaries, notes and other papers. Diaries pertain to hunting and pack tri…

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

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

Physical Description: 2.4 m of textual records. -- ca.620 photographs (ca.570 prints, ca.45 negatives, 6 transparencies)

History / Biographical: Anna Kathleen (Kay) Russell, 1909-1984, was a camp cook, homemaker and naturalist who lived and worked near Waterton Lakes National Park in southern Alberta, Canada. Kay Riggall was the daughter of guide and outfitter Bert Riggall, and Dora Riggall, and the sister of Doris (Babe) Riggall (Burton). Kay worked with her father as a camp cook until her marriage in 1938 to Andy Russell, who later took over Riggall's businesses. Kay Russell was an avid diarist who faithfully documented her personal and family life while working in the Riggall and Russell family businesses and raising five children on the family ranch. Children are: Richard "Dick" H. (b.1938); Andrew Charles "Charlie" (b.1941); Harold John "John" (b.1944); Hugh Gordon Riggall "Gordon" (b.1947); Lorenda Anne "Anne" (b.1952).

Scope & Content: Fonds consists of three series: A. Kay Russell personal series, 1922-1984; B. Russell family correspondence series, 1921-1984; C. Russell family papers and photographs series, 1909-1983.; Kay Russell personal series contains diaries, notes and other papers. Diaries pertain to hunting and pack trips, vacations, daily life of the Russell family, and the natural environment in which they lived.; Russell family correspondence series contains family correspondence and general correspondence. Family correspondence consists of letters sent and received within the family by Kay, Andy, Dick, Charlie, John, Gordon and Anne Russell; also Babe Burton, Harold and Lorenda Russell, Fannie Riggall and others. General correspondence consists of letter and cards to the Russell family from numerous friends and acquaintances.; Russell family papers and photographs series consists of financial papers, 1952-1983, Bert Riggall estate papers, 1955-1962, photographs, 1909-1980, and other material. Photographs pertain mainly to the Riggall and Russell families, including: Kay Riggall and Riggall family; Riggall home, hunting, activities, Twin Butte and Waterton areas; wedding and honeymoon photographs of Kay and Andy Russell, 1938; Kay and Andy Russell and children; Russell home, Hawk's Nest, ranch, pets, horses; friends and relatives; hunting and fishing; wildlife and natural history.

Notes: One large b&w print (approx. 28x35cm) of a giraffe was moved from unprocessed box to V63 / O.S. for proper storage.

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

Access Restrictions: Access by advance appointment only; Some restrictions on access and reproduction; Copyright, privacy, commercial use and other restrictions may apply