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…
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 Writing is in the form of notes and notebooks, unpublished and published manuscripts, newspaper articles and other materials.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
Stoney Nakoda Elders provided naming and other culturally relevant information during interviews held for Recognizing Relations, an archives initiative active from 2014-2023. The goal of this initiative was to name local Indigenous peoples in photographs held in the WMCR archives as well as encouraging access for Indigenous communities to these images.
Identification made through cross referencing with materials from Glenbow Archives and other fondsin photographs held in the WMCR archives
Stoney Nakoda Elders provided naming and other culturally relevant information during interviews held for Recognizing Relations, an archives initiative active from 2014-2023.
The goal of this initiative was to name local Indigenous peoples in photographs held in the WMCR archives as well as encouraging access for Indigenous communities to these images.
Stoney Nakoda Elders provided naming and other culturally relevant information during interviews held for Recognizing Relations, an archives initiative active from 2014-2023.
The goal of this initiative was to name local Indigenous peoples in photographs held in the WMCR archives as well as encouraging access for Indigenous communities to these images.
File consists of 31 postcards collected by Annie (Creagh) Wiseman between ca.1920-1940. Postcards pertain to natural views and tourist attractions in Banff, Lake Louise, the Great Divide, Kicking Horse Canyon and other nearby areas. Some postcards are annotated with correspondence sent between Anni…
Annie (Creagh) Wiseman (1891-1972) was born in Deptford, England, where she married Stanley Wilfred Ernest Wiseman. The couple had one daughter, Ethel, before moving to Winnipeg. The family returned to England following the outbreak of World War I, in which Stanley served as a Private in the 61st Battalion, Canadian Infantry. Annie and Ethel later returned to Winnipeg, where Stanley joined them following a serious injury which he sustained in active duty. In Winnipeg, Annie and Stanley had two more children: a daughter (Hilda) and a son (Stanley).
Stanley Sr. worked as a foreman for Canadian Pacific Railway, which enabled Annie to travel throughout the Canadian Rockies and other regions by train for free or a reduced price. Annie collected postcards from her travels, which included numerous visits to Banff National Park. Annie, Stanley Sr. and their two youngest children permanently settled in Victoria, B.C. in 1935.
Scope & Content
File consists of 31 postcards collected by Annie (Creagh) Wiseman between ca.1920-1940. Postcards pertain to natural views and tourist attractions in Banff, Lake Louise, the Great Divide, Kicking Horse Canyon and other nearby areas. Some postcards are annotated with correspondence sent between Annie, her children (including Hilda and Ethel), and friends of the Wiseman family.
Stoney Nakoda Elders provided naming and other culturally relevant information during interviews held for Recognizing Relations, an archives initiative active from 2014-2023.
The goal of this initiative was to name local Indigenous peoples in photographs held in the WMCR archives as well as encouraging access for Indigenous communities to these images.
Lester Gus Zarkos, b.1921 Brandon, MB. His parents and younger sister arrived Banff 1926. Lester's parents had the cafe on Banff Avenue (old location - Grizzly House) and lived upstairs. Parents separated. Lester's father Samuel Zarkos, d. 1933 (buried in old Banff Cemetary). Lester moved with his mother Alice to Chicago and lived between Chicago and St. Paul's MN until his mother died, ca. 1935.
Lester joined RCAF as a rear gunner. Never saw action and returned to Banff following the war. Lester worked at Banff Cafe as waiter. Lester and his uncle Paul Zarkos of Calgary opened a deli on Banff Ave and operated it for a number of years. Lester relocated to Calgary in 1956 and worked as waiter, maitre d', and returned to Banff in 1966 where he operated Banff Delicatessen on Banff Ave. He married H.G. in 1951. H.G. was from Nanton, Alberta and she worked at the Banff Post Office. Following Mount Royal Hotel fire, the family left and returned to the space - Welch's Chocolate Shop. 3 children: Paulette Jean, b.1952; Leslie David, b.1953, d. 1974; Carolyn Anne, b. 1955.
Scope & Content
File consists of 8 photographs of Banff Cafe staff and building
Photographs. -- [ca.1930]. -- 10 photographs : prints. -- Photographs are of Banff Indian Days, ca.1930. -- Gift of North Shore Museum and Archives of North Vancouver, 1992.
Photographs. -- [ca.1930]. -- 10 photographs : prints. -- Photographs are of Banff Indian Days, ca.1930. -- Gift of North Shore Museum and Archives of North Vancouver, 1992.
Baptie family photographs. -- [ca.1930]. -- 2 photographs : prints. -- Adam Marshall Baptie came to Canada in 1888. He was a dairyman at Exshaw, Indian Agent at Morley and Homestead Inspector at Cochrane. He also served as Justice of the Peace, postmaster and coroner. -- Photographs are portraits…
Baptie family photographs. -- [ca.1930]. -- 2 photographs : prints. -- Adam Marshall Baptie came to Canada in 1888. He was a dairyman at Exshaw, Indian Agent at Morley and Homestead Inspector at Cochrane. He also served as Justice of the Peace, postmaster and coroner. -- Photographs are portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Marshall Baptie. -- Gift of M. Baptie, 1971.
File pertains to black and grizzly bears at Spray Lakes, Banff hot springs, Hillsdale area, Johnston Canyon, Eisenhower [Castle Mountain] camp, Lake Louise area, Kicking Horse area, Vermilion Crossing, and other areas
File pertains to black and grizzly bears at Spray Lakes, Banff hot springs, Hillsdale area, Johnston Canyon, Eisenhower [Castle Mountain] camp, Lake Louise area, Kicking Horse area, Vermilion Crossing, and other areas
Stoney Nakoda Elders provided naming and other culturally relevant information during interviews held for Recognizing Relations, an archives initiative active from 2014-2023.
The goal of this initiative was to name local Indigenous peoples in photographs held in the WMCR archives as well as encouraging access for Indigenous communities to these images.
Stoney Nakoda Elders provided naming and other culturally relevant information during interviews held for Recognizing Relations, an archives initiative active from 2014-2023.
The goal of this initiative was to name local Indigenous peoples in photographs held in the WMCR archives as well as encouraging access for Indigenous communities to these images.
Stoney Nakoda Elders provided naming and other culturally relevant information during interviews held for Recognizing Relations, an archives initiative active from 2014-2023.
The goal of this initiative was to name local Indigenous peoples in photographs held in the WMCR archives as well as encouraging access for Indigenous communities to these images.
Stoney Nakoda Elders provided naming and other culturally relevant information during interviews held for Recognizing Relations, an archives initiative active from 2014-2023.
The goal of this initiative was to name local Indigenous peoples in photographs held in the WMCR archives as well as encouraging access for Indigenous communities to these images.
Stoney Nakoda Elders provided naming and other culturally relevant information during interviews held for Recognizing Relations, an archives initiative active from 2014-2023.
The goal of this initiative was to name local Indigenous peoples in photographs held in the WMCR archives as well as encouraging access for Indigenous communities to these images.
.cross referenced with Glenbow materials
Content Details
[Betsey was married to Paul Twoyoungmen, her maiden name is unknown]
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This image was part of the Recognizing Relations project, an archives initiative undertaken from 2014-2023 to name Indigenous people in photographs held by the Whyte Museum Archives. Identifications were not possible.
