Skip header and navigation

Narrow Results By

2 records – page 1 of 1.

Robert J. McGuinness fonds

https://archives.whyte.org/en/permalink/descriptions276
Part Of
Robert J. McGuinness fonds
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of two series: I. St. Mary's Parish, ca.1945-1983, 0.16 cm, and contains two sub-series: A. Architecture, ca.1945-1983 (architectural plans, general information); B. Correspondence and Newspaper Clippings (pertaining to Father McGuinness and St. Mary's Parish), 1950-1978. II. McGuinn…
Date Range
1940-1950
1954
1955
1960
1977
1978
1980-1983
Reference Code
M460
Description Level
1 / Fonds
GMD
Textual record
Plan
Postcard
Private record
Part Of
Robert J. McGuinness fonds
Description Level
1 / Fonds
Fonds Number
M 460
Sous-Fonds
M 460
Accession Number
960
3707
2018.9000
Reference Code
M460
GMD
Textual record
Plan
Postcard
Private record
Date Range
1940-1950
1954
1955
1960
1977
1978
1980-1983
Physical Description
1.11 cm of textual records (34 pages : 29 x 42 cm or smaller) -- 9 architectural drawings : annotations ; 89 x 58 cm or smaller
History / Biographical
Originally from ancient Iveagh, which is now County Down, Ireland, the McGuinness family eventually migrated to Liverpool at an unknown time. The McGuinness family were provision merchants in Liverpool, but found supplies limited so they emigrated to Canada. Born on June 20, 1886 in Liverpool, Father Robert James McGuinness moved to Belleville, Ontario, Canada with his family in 1890. He had 7 brothers and sisters, including Oswald A. McGuinness, who settled in Invermere, British Columbia. Robert attended St. Lawrence College in Ampleforth, Yorkshire, and completed his studies at St. Servan in Rhiems, France, qualifying as an engineer. He held a position with the federal government upon his return to Canada, however when World War I broke out Robert served in the 29th Battalion of CRTS building pontoons behind European battle lines. After returning to Canada, Robert worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway as an architectural engineer, which brought him west to Banff, Alberta. Robert was the resident architectural engineer overlooking the construction of the Banff Springs Hotel expansion in the 1920's. In the late 1920's, Robert traveled to Rome to enter the seminary and four years later he was ordained as a priest. After serving as priest in Calgary, Robert was appointed Catholic priest in Banff in 1936, where he lived and worked until his death in 1961. To fulfill a personal dream, Robert designed and supervised the construction of the new church building and grounds for St. Mary's Parish (St. Mary's of the Assumption) which was completed in 1951. During his years in Europe, Robert visited ancient churches and cathedrals which influenced the design of the church, primarily the Norman Chateau architectural style. Robert was also a talented artist. Some of his work can be seen in galleries in New York and in Banff. His work has been reproduced for Canadian Pacific Railway tourism material, including the Spiral Tunnels postcard included in this fonds. Robert died in Calgary on June 17, 1961, just shy of his 75th birthday, after being ill for a few months.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of two series:
I. St. Mary's Parish, ca.1945-1983, 0.16 cm, and contains two sub-series: A. Architecture, ca.1945-1983 (architectural plans, general information); B. Correspondence and Newspaper Clippings (pertaining to Father McGuinness and St. Mary's Parish), 1950-1978.
II. McGuinness Family, 1953-1977, 1 cm (private records, including handwritten notes, a memoir, and a postcard).
Notes
. IYounger brother Oswald was a surveyor who built the road from Invermere to Calgary
There is some indication that Robert had a role in the construction of the Bow River Bridge or the collection of the stones used for the bridge, but this is unconfirmed
Name Access
McGuinness, Robert J.
Subject Access
Architecture
Art
Banff
Buildings
Churches
Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
Family and personal life
Professional and Personal Life
Religions
St. Mary's of the Assumption Catholic Church
Geographic Access
Alberta
Banff
Banff National Park
Canada
Ontario
Access Restrictions
No restrictions on access
Copyright, privacy, commercial use and other restrictions may apply
Language
Language is English
Related Material
08.3 / Si 3m / Pam
08.3 / B22 stm / Pam
08.3 / Sa 2 / Pam
Creator
McGuinness, Robert J.
Category
Family and personal life
Religions
Biographical Source Notes
Based on contents of the fonds
https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/g/o/g/Laurie-Goggin/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0444.html
"St. Mary's of the Assumption" pamphlet printed by the Crag and Canyon in Banff (08.3/Sa 2/Pam)
http://www.stmarysparishbanff.ca/history/
Title Source
Title based on accession records
Processing Status
Processed
Less detail
This material is presented as originally created; it may contain outdated cultural descriptions and potentially offensive content. Read more.

St. Mary's Church in Banff, Alberta

https://archives.whyte.org/en/permalink/descriptions54485
Part Of
Robert J. McGuinness fonds
Scope & Content
File consists of a copy of an article pertaining to St. Mary's Catholic Church in Banff, Alberta, comprising 6 pages, H27.5 x W21 cm. The undated article was written by Annalise Walker, the curator for the Canadian Architectural Archives at the University of Calgary Libraries. The article reference…
Date Range
[ca.1980-1983]
Reference Code
M460 / I / A / 10
Description Level
5 / File
GMD
Textual record
Part Of
Robert J. McGuinness fonds
Description Level
5 / File
Fonds Number
M460
Series
M460 / I : St. Mary's Parish
Sous-Fonds
M460
Sub-Series
M460 / I / A : Architecture
Accession Number
3707
Reference Code
M460 / I / A / 10
GMD
Textual record
Date Range
[ca.1980-1983]
Physical Description
0.01 cm of textual records (6 pages ; 21 x 27.5 cm)
Scope & Content
File consists of a copy of an article pertaining to St. Mary's Catholic Church in Banff, Alberta, comprising 6 pages, H27.5 x W21 cm. The undated article was written by Annalise Walker, the curator for the Canadian Architectural Archives at the University of Calgary Libraries. The article references the architectural design of the church, biographical information about Father Robert McGuinness, and the final built decor and design (stained glass windows, gneiss stone exterior, main alter), as well as a description of the later designs for an addition.
Notes
The article was gifted to the Whyte Museum from the Canadian Architectural Archives along with the architectural and grounds plans drawings
Name Access
McGuinness, Robert J.
Walker, Annalise
Subject Access
Architecture
Banff
Banff National Park
Buildings
Churches
St. Mary's of the Assumption Catholic Church
Stone structures
Biographical
Geographic Access
Alberta
Banff
Banff National Park
Canada
Language
English
Creator
Walker, Annalise
Category
Religions
Title Source
Title given by author
Processing Status
Processed
Less detail
This material is presented as originally created; it may contain outdated cultural descriptions and potentially offensive content. Read more.
Back to Top