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Andy Russell fonds

https://archives.whyte.org/en/permalink/descriptions336
Part Of
Andy Russell fonds
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of seven series: I. Personal and professional series, 1937-1993 (diaries, correspondence, filing systems and papers pertaining to awards, memberships, biography and other); II. Business series, 1948-1982 (pertaining to guiding, outfitting, trail riding, ranching, Andy Russell and S…
Date Range
[1867]-1993, predominant 1908-1993
Reference Code
M153 / S43 / V555
Description Level
1 / Fonds
GMD
Motion picture
Film
Photograph
Album
Negative
Photograph print
Sound recording
Textual record
Diary
Private record
Published record
Part Of
Andy Russell fonds
Description Level
1 / Fonds
Fonds Number
M 153
S 43
V 555
Sous-Fonds
M153/S43/V555
Accession Number
963, 5777, 5964, 6338, 6339, 6547, 6567
Reference Code
M153 / S43 / V555
GMD
Motion picture
Film
Photograph
Album
Negative
Photograph print
Sound recording
Textual record
Diary
Private record
Published record
Date Range
[1867]-1993, predominant 1908-1993
Physical Description
6 m of textual records and printed material. -- ca.6100 photographs : prints, negatives, transparencies. -- 1 photograph album (49 prints). -- 29 motion pictures. -- 5 sound recordings
History / Biographical
Andy Russell, 1915-2005, was a trapper, guide and outfitter, writer, photographer, cinematographer, lecturer and environmental advocate in the Pincher Creek, Alberta, Canada.
Russell was born in Lethbridge, Alberta and spent his childhood on a ranch in the foothills near Pincher Creek. He became a skilled horseman, hunter, fisherman and trapper, and, in 1936, was employed by Bert Riggall, a pioneer guide and outfitter of wilderness pack trips in the southern Rockies since 1907. He became Riggall's partner in 1939 and took over the business when Riggall retired in 1946. Andy Russell and Kathleen (Kay) Riggall married in 1938 and raised five children at their ranch bordering Waterton Lakes National Park, where family businesses included guiding, saddlehorses and ranching. 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).
Russell continued as a renowned guide and outfitter with a wealthy repeat clientele until he was forced out of guiding by 1960 with the advance of the oil industry concerns upon wilderness areas in southern Alberta and British Columbia. Russell began to write nature articles in 1945 and after 1960 concentrated upon writing, photography, film making, lecturing and ranching. He wrote for numerous magazines and newspapers, produced radio broadcasts, and, using colour motion picture photography, developed programs on wildlife and wilderness habitat research for live public performances. Russell's films launched his career as an author of popular wildlife and mountain culture books, which included Grizzly Country. In later years, he was an active writer, consultant and advocate of wilderness and environmental management and received numerous awards and honours, including Member of the Order of Canada.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of seven series: I. Personal and professional series, 1937-1993 (diaries, correspondence, filing systems and papers pertaining to awards, memberships, biography and other); II. Business series, 1948-1982 (pertaining to guiding, outfitting, trail riding, ranching, Andy Russell and Sons, royalties and lecturing); III. Writing, broadcasting and public appearances series, 1908-1990 (papers and photographs pertaining to writing, book projects, columns, broadcasts, reviews, advertising, promotion and other); IV. Photography and cinematography series, 1909-1990 (details below); V. Wildlife study and conservation activities series, 1945-[198-]; VI. Other activities series, 1931-[199-] (politics, interviews, information files); VII. Russell family series, [1867]-1983.
Photography and cinematography series consists of: Riggall/Russell guiding activity photographs, 1909-1962, ca.280 items; Andy Russell and Sons Production Ltd / Andy Russell professional photographs and films, ca.1940- ca.1990, ca.4200 photographs (mainly transparencies), 28 motion pictures, accompanied by some textual and printed items; personal and family photographs, 1916-1989, ca.1550 items; collected photographs, ca.1940-197-, ca.75 items. Professional photography and cinematography primarily arose from field work by Andy, Dick and Charlie Russell and pertains mainly to flora, fauna and landscape of the Canadian Rockies in continental divide region, British Columbia, Yukon and Alaska.
Motion pictures, ca.1950-1974, include original film "Grizzly Country" by Dick, Charlie and Andy Russell, produced by Evan J. Anton, ca.1969, copy print of same; also unedited wildlife and landscape footage of Waterton area, Yukon and British Columbia.
Sound recordings are interviews with Andy Russell, [ca.1970]-1988.
Name Access
Russell, Andy
Subject Access
Arts
Environment
Exploration, discovery and travel
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
video reference copy for "Grizzly country"
sound recording reference copy recordings
Related Material
Related to the Kay Russell family fonds (M36/V36) and the Bert Riggall fonds (M376/V26)
Creator
Russell, Andy
Category
Arts
Environment
Exploration, discovery and travel
Family and personal life
Sports, recreation and leisure
Biographical Source Notes
Russell family
Title Source
Title based on accession record
Processing Status
Processed
Less detail
This material is presented as originally created; it may contain outdated cultural descriptions and potentially offensive content. Read more.

Bert Riggall fonds

https://archives.whyte.org/en/permalink/descriptions587
Part Of
Bert Riggall fonds
Scope & Content
Fonds includes seven series: I. Personal and professional, 1884-1959; II. Business and financial, ca.1910-1959; III. Professional photography, 1900-1955; IV. Writing, 1906-1957; V. Natural history, 1904-1954; VI. Other interests, 1913-1956; VII. Riggall family, ca.1865-1959. Personal and pro…
Date Range
[ca.1865]-1959, predominant [ca.1890]-1959
Reference Code
M376 / V26
Description Level
1 / Fonds
GMD
Photograph
Album
Negative
Photograph print
Transparency
Textual record
Diary
Map
Private record
Published record
Part Of
Bert Riggall fonds
Description Level
1 / Fonds
Fonds Number
M 376
V 26
Sous-Fonds
M 376
V 26
Accession Number
5777, 7200, 7201, 7772 (unproc)
Reference Code
M376 / V26
GMD
Photograph
Album
Negative
Photograph print
Transparency
Textual record
Diary
Map
Private record
Published record
Date Range
[ca.1865]-1959, predominant [ca.1890]-1959
Physical Description
ca.13,100 photographs: ca.7080 prints, ca.5310 negatives, ca.700 transparencies. -- 9 photograph albums. -- ca.2 m textual records, print material and graphic records. -- 33 cartographic records
History / Biographical
Frederick Herbert (Bert) Riggall, 1884-1959, was a mountain guide, outfitter, hunter, trapper, rancher, naturalist, photographer, writer and gunsmith/loader in southern Alberta. Born in 1884 at Gayton-le-Wold Grange, Lincolnshire, his family moved to Grimsby where his father was an auctioneer and, in 1905, served as Mayor. In England, Riggall was an athlete, avid sportsman and naturalist. He was exposed to alpine country on school holidays in Switzerland and, determined to visit Canada, left for North America in 1904.
Upon arriving in western Canada, Riggall worked for a year at Craighurst Farm near Calgary. There he met Dorothea (Dora) Williams, 1877-1951, an Irish Quaker ranch cook who had emigrated with her sister Anna in 1902. In 1905, Bert worked on the Correction Land Survey in southwestern Alberta and explored Waterton Lakes. Bert and Dora married in 1906 and until 1946 they homesteaded and ranched adjacent to Waterton Lakes National Park.
Initially, Bert and partner Jack Hazzard built boats and guided fishing parties on Waterton Lakes. In 1909, with partner Cyril Watmough, the Riggalls began guiding and outfitting summer and fall hunting and fishing trips for numerous repeat clients, especially, after 1913, four Minneapolis, Minnesota families: Bovey, Crosby, Bennett and McKnight. Hunts involved Big Horn Sheep, goats, black and grizzly bears. Bert served as chief guide and Dora as camp cook. Prior to 1911, the Riggalls worked at Gloyne's oil camp and Oil City to supplement their income. In 1911, Bert and partner Cyril Watmough made a 1000 mile (1600 km) exploratory trip from Fort Steele, B.C. to the Yellowhead Pass and beyond. Following that trip, Riggall concentrated guiding activities on the continental divide as far north as the Highwood region, but primarily in the upper Oldman River Valley and Gap in the Livingstone Range. Their outfit grew to include numerous saddle and pack horses.
Of five children, only two daughters survived infancy. Kay Riggall (Russell), 1909-1984, and Doris (Babe) Riggall (Burton), 1910-1999, were both able riders, markswomen and packtrain workers. They accompanied their parents on summer back country trips starting in 1918. Bert Riggall was renowned for his knowledge of botany, geology, zoology, wilderness life and lore as well as literature and current affairs. He was especially endeared to his clients for his skill as a raconteur and campfire storyteller. He wrote articles for magazines such as: Arms and the Man, American Rifleman, Field and Stream and the Boone and Crockett Club's book: North American Big Game. Riggall was an accomplished semi-professional photographer who specialized in wildlife studies, panoramic landscapes, Dufaycolor and later Kodachrome transparencies. His photographs appear in Department of Interior Reports and other publications.
Bert's heart problems forced the Riggalls to move to Pincher Creek in 1947. Daughter Kay and son-in-law Andy Russell continued the packtrain and guiding business until 1960. After Dora's death, Bert experienced medical problems and lived with or close to Doris.
Scope & Content
Fonds includes seven series: I. Personal and professional, 1884-1959; II. Business and financial, ca.1910-1959; III. Professional photography, 1900-1955; IV. Writing, 1906-1957; V. Natural history, 1904-1954; VI. Other interests, 1913-1956; VII. Riggall family, ca.1865-1959.
Personal and professional series consists of diaries and notes, correspondence and personal papers.
Business and financial series consists of guiding and ranching records, gunsmithing, shooting and loading records; and legal and financial records.
Professional photography series consists of standard photographs, panoramas, transparencies and textual records
Writing series contains manuscripts, published magazines, book outlines, newspaper articles and letters to the editor
Natural history series contains bird and plant records, and other natural history papers
Other interests series consist of clippings, annotated books and collected material
Riggall family series contains Bert and Dora Riggall family papers and photographs, Williams family photographs, Frederick W. and Fanny Riggall papers and photographs, and Allan Riggall papers and photographs. Negatives and transparencies pertain to Andy Russell as a young man with Bert Riggall.
Notes
Some transparencies in V110 Dick Russell are marked Andy Russell, some marked 64 dup; V110 - original transparencies have full set of duplicates (2 sets were made, 1 for Dick Russell and the other is part of this accession)
Name Access
Riggall, Bert
Subject Access
Arts
Environment
Exploration, discovery and travel
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
basic description for processed material
Related Material
Related to the Andy Russell fonds (M153/S43/V555) and the Kay Russell family fonds (M63/V63)
Creator
Riggall, Bert
Category
Arts
Environment
Exploration, discovery and travel
Family and personal life
Sports, recreation and leisure
Title Source
Title based on accession record and contents of fonds
Processing Status
Processed / Unprocessed
Less detail
This material is presented as originally created; it may contain outdated cultural descriptions and potentially offensive content. Read more.

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

Jim Brewster family fonds

https://archives.whyte.org/en/permalink/descriptions109
Part Of
Jim Brewster family fonds
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of papers and photographs of James Irvine (Jim) Brewster, Fern Brewster, Dell Brewster and the Brewster family. I. James Irvine Brewster papers and photographs, before 1948 and ca.1959, consist mainly of professional papers and photographs relating to guiding and outfitting activitie…
Date Range
[ca.1875-ca.1978]
Reference Code
M436 / V90
Description Level
1 / Fonds
GMD
Photograph
Album
Negative
Photograph print
Textual record
Corporate record
Diary
Map
Plan
Private record
Published record
Part Of
Jim Brewster family fonds
Description Level
1 / Fonds
Fonds Number
M 436
V 90
Sous-Fonds
M 436
V 90
Accession Number
79, 85, 108, 357, 451, 1618, 3350, 3808, 5274, 6019, 2021.26, 2023.09
Reference Code
M436 / V90
GMD
Photograph
Album
Negative
Photograph print
Textual record
Corporate record
Diary
Map
Plan
Private record
Published record
Date Range
[ca.1875-ca.1978]
Physical Description
24 cm of textual records. -- ca.830 photographs : prints, negatives. -- 12 photograph albums (ca.1000 prints). -- 1 motion picture
History / Biographical
James Irvine Brewster, 1882-1947, came to Banff with his parents in 1888. While still boys, he and his brother Bill started guiding fishing parties and later formed an outfitting partnership. With silent partners Fred Hussey and Phil Moore, they established Brewster Brothers in 1904. Jim Brewster and Hussey left the business in 1906. In 1909, Jim returned to guide the business. Under his control, it became a major transportation supplier, Brewster Transport Company. Fern Brewster, 1902-1967, daughter of Jim Brewster and Lade Brewster (d.1915), was a sportswoman, businesswoman and homemaker. She was involved in the operation of Sunshine ski area and was a director of Brewster Transportation after her father's death. Fern Brewster's married names were Clarkson and Dooley. Adele (Dell) Brewster (Sibbald), 1896-1983, Jim Brewster's second wife, was also a director of Brewster Transportation.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of papers and photographs of James Irvine (Jim) Brewster, Fern Brewster, Dell Brewster and the Brewster family.
I. James Irvine Brewster papers and photographs, before 1948 and ca.1959, consist mainly of professional papers and photographs relating to guiding and outfitting activities, and to Brewster Transport Company records, including Sunshine ski area records. Series includes correspondence, diaries, legal papers, Sunshine Lodge addition papers, Brewster house plans and other material. Correspondence is incoming and outgoing letters between Brewster and Hussey, clients, and associates regarding guiding and outfitting, real estate speculation and personal matters, etc. 1906-1907. Diaries pertain to guiding, hunting and horse trips, 1897-1901, 1904-1906; entries mainly record clients, territory covered and game observations and records. Also includes articles and hand-drawn map by Brewster on hunting, 1903-1906. Includes 54 photographs pertaining to Brewster Transport after Jim Brewster period.
II. Fern Brewster papers and photographs, before 1967, includes mainly personal papers, correspondence, recipes, press clippings and photographs regarding friends and family, education, Jim Brewster's death and cooking. Correspondents include Carl Rungius, Les Peters, Charlie Beil and Fern Bedaux.
III. Dell Brewster papers, 1925-1967, pertain mainly to Jim Brewster's death. Dell Brewster photographs pertain to the Sibbald, Grier and McDougall families.
IV. Brewster family papers and photographs pertain to Jack Walker Brewster, and Brewster family and friends.
V. Other material, before 1978, consists of greeting cards.
VI. Later Acquisitions, pertain to various Brewster family members including Fern Brewster, Jim Brewster, and Pat Brewster.
Name Access
Brewster, Dell
Brewster, Fern
Brewster, Jack Walker
Brewster, Jim
Subject Access
Brewster Transport Company
Family and personal life
Sports, recreation and leisure
Transportation
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: arrangement outline
file description and index
electronic finding aid
microfilm copies of albums
photographic copy of map
video copy of motion picture
Creator
Brewster, Dell
Brewster, Jim
Category
Family and personal life
Sports, recreation and leisure
Transportation
Title Source
Title based on contents of fonds
Processing Status
Processed
Unprocessed
Less detail
This material is presented as originally created; it may contain outdated cultural descriptions and potentially offensive content. Read more.
Part Of
Arthur Oliver Wheeler fonds
Scope & Content
File pertains to the 1885 & 1894 personal diaries/daytimers of A. O. Wheeler. M546 / 1 : Includes working in [?] department. Leisure and theatre. End of January problems with leg. Financial details. Early April travel to join North West Rebellion, arrives in Qu'Appelle April14, first full day in ca…
Date Range
1885-1894
Reference Code
M546 / 1 to 2
Description Level
5 / File
GMD
Diary
  2 images     2 Electronic Resources  
Part Of
Arthur Oliver Wheeler fonds
Description Level
5 / File
Fonds Number
M546 / V771
Sous-Fonds
M546
Accession Number
2014.8312
Reference Code
M546 / 1 to 2
GMD
Diary
Date Range
1885-1894
Physical Description
2.7 cm of textual records (2 volumes ; 9 x 14.2 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description
Scope & Content
File pertains to the 1885 & 1894 personal diaries/daytimers of A. O. Wheeler. M546 / 1 : Includes working in [?] department. Leisure and theatre. End of January problems with leg. Financial details. Early April travel to join North West Rebellion, arrives in Qu'Appelle April14, first full day in camp April 15. April 23 regarding Riel’s location. May 8 Battleford engagement with Poundmaker and Big Bear and discussion of the wounded from the Fish Creek fight. May 10 passed site of Fish Creek Battle and was shot in shoulder. May 12 discussion of Battle of Batoche. May 15 Riel taken prisoner and discussion of “half breeds.” June 3 short description of Battle of Loon Lake. Returned home July 20 and continues with office work, correspondence and financial matters. M546 / 2 : Includes travel to/from Calgary, Winnipeg. Camp preparations. Notations of climbs, measurements and/or distances. Throughout December work on irrigation map. Documentation of day to day activities, office work, correspondence, leisure. Diary blank up to June 4th.
Notes
Blank pages not scanned
Name Access
Wheeler, A. O. (Arthur Oliver)
Wheeler, Arthur Oliver
Subject Access
Climbing
North West Rebellion
Family and personal life
Leisure
Professional and Personal Life
Sports and recreation
Record keeping
Travel and Exploration
Weather
Travel
Work
Geographic Access
Calgary
Alberta
Winnipeg
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Canada
Language
English
Creator
Wheeler, Arthur O.
Title Source
Title based on contents of file
Processing Status
Processed
Electronic Resources
Images
thumbnail
thumbnail
Less detail
This material is presented as originally created; it may contain outdated cultural descriptions and potentially offensive content. Read more.

Tom Wilson family fonds

https://archives.whyte.org/en/permalink/descriptions38
Part Of
Tom Wilson family fonds
Scope & Content
Fonds includes textual records and photographs generated and collected by the Wilson family and pertaining to Tom Wilson, son Ed Wilson, daughter Ada Wilson and other family members. Textual records include: Ed Wilson's scrapbook, 1881-1968, which includes mainly items pertaining to Tom Wilson, Ed …
Date Range
1861-1982
Reference Code
M10 / V701
Description Level
1 / Fonds
GMD
Photograph
Negative
Photograph print
Textual record
Diary
Private record
Published record
Scrapbook
Part Of
Tom Wilson family fonds
Description Level
1 / Fonds
Fonds Number
M 10
V 701
Sous-Fonds
M 10
V 701
Accession Number
551, 981, 1234, 1578, 1634, 2097, 3039, 7750 (unproc)
Reference Code
M10 / V701
GMD
Photograph
Negative
Photograph print
Textual record
Diary
Private record
Published record
Scrapbook
Date Range
1861-1982
Physical Description
2 v. and 2 cm of textual records. -- ca.400 photographs : prints, copy negatives. -- 1 cm of print material
History / Biographical
The Wilson family were guides, outfitters and ranchers at Morley, Kootenay Plains, Banff and Nordegg, Alberta, Canada. Thomas Edmonds (Tom) Wilson, 1859- 1933, and Minnie McDougall Wilson, 1865-1936, had six children, including sons John Clark Wilson, 1888-1932, and Thomas Edmonds (Ed) Wilson, 1892-1973. Daughters were Ada, 1886-1967?, Rene, Bessie and Dora. Tom Wilson is credited with the discovery of Lake Louise in July of 1882, while working as a packer on the Canadian Pacific Railway survey through the mountains. In 1883, Wilson established his own business at Banff, Lake Louise and Field, British Columbia. After selling the business in 1904, Tom Wilson operated a horse ranch at Kootenay Plains. He later retired to Banff. Ed Wilson was born at Morley and raised in Banff. Around 1910 he began working for Brewster Trading Company at Banff and, later, Lake Louise. Just before the First World War, he moved to Nordegg, where he worked for the Bighorn Trading Company for many years.
Scope & Content
Fonds includes textual records and photographs generated and collected by the Wilson family and pertaining to Tom Wilson, son Ed Wilson, daughter Ada Wilson and other family members.
Textual records include: Ed Wilson's scrapbook, 1881-1968, which includes mainly items pertaining to Tom Wilson, Ed Wilson, the Wilson family, and early guiding and exploration in the Canadian Rockies (photocopy in two volumes); miscellaneous papers, 1905-1929, including a holograph speech by D. D. Galletly on the cave at Banff; letter and note re sale of horses to Frank Wellman, 1920; letters to Catharine Whyte from Ada Wilson re personal matters and Wilson family history, 1964-1965; transcripts of manuscripts by Tom Wilson and B. M. (Bess) Wilson re the CPR and tourism and 1916 pack trip Lake Louise to Kootenay Plains; letters of Col. Robert O'Hara to Tom Wilson, 1895- 1914, re Mount Assiniboine and Lake O'Hara; letter by Catharine Robb Whyte to Tom Link, 1965, re Lake O'Hara history based partly upon above material; diary, Trip to ranch by B. M. Wilson; essay, The last of the pathfinders by Dorie (Wilson) Legit; programmes, articles, clippings re Tom Wilson, 1924-1982; Eliza Edmonds certificate, 1845, and later clipping.
Photographs pertain to outfitting and guiding activities of Tom, John and Ed Wilson, including clients, associates and trips throughout the Rocky Mountains; Wilson family, friends and associates; Stoney Indians; Kootenay Plains; Banff people and events; Banff townsite and surrounding area; Canadian Pacific Railway; Nordegg area; 1861-1930. Includes photograph of Tom Wilson at Lake Louise inscribed to A. O. Wheeler, 1932. Many of the early photographs were taken by clients of Tom Wilson. Later, after settling at Kootenay Plains, Wilson was apparently given a camera by Mary Vaux and likely took many of the Stoney Indians views. Ed Wilson was an amateur photographer and likely took most of the views of staff at Lake Louise and of Nordegg.
Name Access
Wilson, Ada
Wilson, Ed
Wilson, Tom
Subject Access
Exploration, discovery and travel
Family and personal life
First nations
Sports, recreation and leisure
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
modern reference prints
Creator
Wilson, Ed
Wilson, Tom
Category
Exploration, discovery and travel
Family and personal life
First nations
Sports, recreation and leisure
Title Source
Title based on contents of fonds
Processing Status
Processed / Unprocessed
Less detail
This material is presented as originally created; it may contain outdated cultural descriptions and potentially offensive content. Read more.

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