The Nicholas Morant fonds consists of Morant's freelance work from his early days with the Winnipeg Free Press to his retirement from the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1981. It is national in scope and also includes some international material. The fonds is comprised of three series: I. Photograp…
Nicholas Everard Morant, 1910-1999, was a professional photographer based at Banff, Alberta, Canada. He was a Canadian commercial photographer of international repute and Canada's premier railway photographer of the 20th century.
Morant was born at Kamloops, British Columbia, the son of Francis and Mollie Morant. After attending the University School at Victoria, Morant served as Special Photographer to the CPR from 1929 to 1935 and again from 1944 to 1981. From 1935 to 1939, he was a cameraman for the Winnipeg Free Press, and from 1940 to 1944 worked with the Wartime Information Branch of the federal government (later to be known as the National Film Board Stills Division).
Morant had a prolific career as a freelance commercial, portrait, magazine, landscape and documentary photographer. His work appeared in numerous books and magazines, including Time, Life, Liberty, Saturday Evening Post, (Toronto) Star Weekly, Northern Sportsman, Reader's Digest, Country Guide, The Standard, National Home Monthly, Canadian Photography, Outdoor Canada, National Geographic, the Globe & Mail, Winnipeg Tribune, New York Daily News, and the two Canadian Pacific Railway magazines, The Spanner and Rail News.
Two wartime images were featured on postage stamps, while three landscape views appeared on Canadian $10, $50 and $100 bills. His images were also used for corporate annual reports, postcards, brochures, calendars and advertisements. From the 1950s to 1980s Morant gave public slide shows of his work, two of the most popular being "A Talk Without Words" and "The World At Your Feet".
Morant married Ivy May "Willie" Young in 1936 when he was a photographer with the Winnipeg Free Press. Beginning in 1929, and until the end of her life, Morant's travelling and working companion was his wife, "Willie," 1910-1986.
Scope & Content
The Nicholas Morant fonds consists of Morant's freelance work from his early days with the Winnipeg Free Press to his retirement from the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1981. It is national in scope and also includes some international material. The fonds is comprised of three series: I. Photography; II. Professional records; III. Personal and family records.
I. Photography series consists of: A. Negatives and transparencies, B. Transparencies, C. Prints, D. Other photographs. II. Professional records series consists of: A. Working records, B. Career records, C. Topical files. III. Personal and family records series consists of: A. Nick and Willie Morant, B. Nick Morant funeral and memorial, C. Francis and Mollie Morant, D. Collected material
Notes
Full summary of sub-sub-series levels:
I / A : 1) Darkroom Files [ a) Negative Albums b) Black/White Series I and II c) Colour Series I and II
d) Leica Negs ]
2) GD Files
I / B : 1) Presentations [ a) Topical Files b) Thematic Files ]
2) General Files
3) Other
I / C : 1) Print Files
I / D : 1) Exhibition and Display Prints
2) Photographs used by John Garden
3) Other Photographs
II / A : 1) Log Books
2) Notebooks
II / B : 1) Career Binders [ a) Postcards b) Brochures and Advertising c) clippings and articles
d) Calendar Photographs ]
2) Scrapbooks [ a) Content 1933 - 1946 b) Content 1940 - 1980 ]
II / C : 1) Numbered / Titled Files [ a) Group A b) Group B c) Group C d) Group D e) Group H
f) Group P g) Group R ]
2) Other Topical Files [ a) Railway; i) Timetables ii) Publications iii) Other
b) Photography; i) Textual Records ii) Print Material
c) Travel d) Exhibitions and Galleries e)Personal f) Other ]
3) Postcards, Greeting Cards and Ephemera Collection
4) Published Images and Text
5) Professional Photography
6) Promotional Items, Awards and Correspondence
7) Presentation and Interview Materials
III / A : 1) Correspondence
2) Personal Papers [ a) Personal Records b) Notes and Notebooks c) Lists and Card Files
d) Awards and Retirement ]
3) Personal Photographs
4) House Records [ a) Construction b) Household Records ]
5) Business, Financial and Legal Papers
6) Interviews, Reminiscences Personal Recordings
7) Other Records (Signs, Cartoons, Drawings, etc.)
8) Personal Correspondence and Notes
9) Travel Documents and Maps
III / B : 1) Nick Morant Funeral, Memorial and Estate
III / C : 1) Mollie Morant Papers
2) Other Family Papers
III / D : 1) Sound Recordings
2) Biographical Material
3) Other Papers and Photographs [ a) Burton Wheatley Family b) Other ]
4) Personal and Family Photography
5) Personal Interest and Gifts
File consists of 2 books; one 18th century, one 20th century stamp book. Includes 1723 copy of ‘A Life of Mahomet’ by Humphrey Prideaux; missing front/back covers, replaced with plain brown paper covers. Handwritten title ‘Mahomet’ written on front cover and side binding in different handwritings; …
Humphrey Prideaux (1648-1724) was born in Cornwall and eventually became a Doctor of Divinity. Prideaux was an author of multiple textual works pertaining to faith and particularly Christianity. He was the Dean of Norwich from 1702 until his death in 1724.
Scope & Content
File consists of 2 books; one 18th century, one 20th century stamp book. Includes 1723 copy of ‘A Life of Mahomet’ by Humphrey Prideaux; missing front/back covers, replaced with plain brown paper covers. Handwritten title ‘Mahomet’ written on front cover and side binding in different handwritings; front believed to be by Nicholas Morant (?), side unknown. Also includes book of Japanese stamps collected by Nicholas Morant; many not dated, various designs and sizes, annotated on covers with Nicholas Morant's personal ink stamp.
Storage Range
In file box M300 / III / D / 5 / 75 to M300 / III / D / 5 / 91
File pertains mainly to Rocky Mountain wildlife, including bear, moose, mountain sheep, beaver, muskrat, squirrel, osprey, Canada goose and other birds. Also includes domestic sheep, cattle and horses
File pertains mainly to Rocky Mountain wildlife, including bear, moose, mountain sheep, beaver, muskrat, squirrel, osprey, Canada goose and other birds. Also includes domestic sheep, cattle and horses
File pertains to BC museum train, Canadian Pacific Railway. Includes two sets labelled: BC museum train, key set, April 1'78, 14 items; BC train 2860, April 1'78, 9 items
File pertains to BC museum train, Canadian Pacific Railway. Includes two sets labelled: BC museum train, key set, April 1'78, 14 items; BC train 2860, April 1'78, 9 items
Notes
NM note: fibre-based prints made by Nicholas Morant
File consists of 4 published books. Contains 1 copy of 'New World Ballads' by John Murray Gibbons (1939) with a note to Nicholas Morant from the author inside; 1 copy of 'Tom Brown's School Days' (1894) with a certificate attached labelling the book as a prize for Mollie Wylde (Morant) dated 'Xmas …
John Murray Gibbons , Mollie Morant , R.C. MacBeth , Stephen Coleridge
Date Range
1894
1896
1921
1923
1931
1939
Physical Description
4 Textual Records: books
Scope & Content
File consists of 4 published books. Contains 1 copy of 'New World Ballads' by John Murray Gibbons (1939) with a note to Nicholas Morant from the author inside; 1 copy of 'Tom Brown's School Days' (1894) with a certificate attached labelling the book as a prize for Mollie Wylde (Morant) dated 'Xmas 1896'; 1 copy of 'The Romance of the Canadian Pacific Railway' by R.C. MacBeth (1931) signed by author and annotated by Nicholas Morant; 1 copy of 'Letters to My Grandson' by Stephen Coleridge (1921) with writing prize certificate for Nicholas Morant from the Victoria University Boys' School, dated 1923.
Storage Range
In file box M300 / III / D / 5 / 26 to M300 / III / D / 5 / 29
Contains 1 copy of 'The Silent Force' by T. Morris Longstreth (1927) with attached print and annotations; 1 field journal, lined, labelled 'G. T. P. Ry. No. 1060', signed by 'H.S. Jordan' listing property payment amounts in Vancouver, dated 1914-1916; 1 copy of 'Lake Louise: A Diamond in the Wilder…
Produced by T. Morris Longstreth , H.S. Jordan , Jon Whyte and Carole Harmon , Kathleen Mann , Arnold Newman
Date Range
1927
1939
1979
1982
Physical Description
Textual Records: books
Scope & Content
Contains 1 copy of 'The Silent Force' by T. Morris Longstreth (1927) with attached print and annotations; 1 field journal, lined, labelled 'G. T. P. Ry. No. 1060', signed by 'H.S. Jordan' listing property payment amounts in Vancouver, dated 1914-1916; 1 copy of 'Lake Louise: A Diamond in the Wilderness' by Jon Whyte and Carole Harmon (1982) with personal note to Nicholas and Ivy 'Willie' Morant by Jon Whyte; 1 copy of 'Design from Peasant Art' by Kathleen Mann (1939) containing various sketches and collected clippings by Ivy 'Willie' Morant; 1 copy of 'The Great British' by Arnold Newman (1979) with personal note to Nicholas and Ivy 'Willie' Morant from 'Carol and Don'.
Storage Range
In file box M300 / III / D / 5 / 30 to M300 / III / D / 5 / 34
Items in this file are not to be accessed or distributed without the explicit permission of their identified copyright owners.
Reproduction Restrictions
Items in this file are not to be reproduced without the explicit permission of their identified copyright owners.
Language
English
Conservation
Items in this file with risky materials attached to surface, such as adhesives, must be covered with an acid-free paper barrier to protect adjacent items.
File consists of 5 textual items, various authors. Content pertains to a copy of 'The Last of the Buffalo' given to Nicholas Morant in 1940 by Norman Luxton; an Illustrated booklet hand-drawn by Cyril Harris for Nicholas and Ivy Morant; a copy of 'Paintings from the Wild' by Clarence Pillenius; a 1…
File consists of 5 textual items, various authors. Content pertains to a copy of 'The Last of the Buffalo' given to Nicholas Morant in 1940 by Norman Luxton; an Illustrated booklet hand-drawn by Cyril Harris for Nicholas and Ivy Morant; a copy of 'Paintings from the Wild' by Clarence Pillenius; a 1946 journal publication containing a poem written by Mollie Morant; and a copy of 'Weathered Wood' by F.O. 'Pat' Brewster, signed.
Storage Range
In file box M300 / III / D / 5 / 1 to M300 / III / D / 5 / 11
File pertains to scenic views, cities and town, buildings, bridges, ships and boats, totems poles. Includes the following areas: Revelstoke, Kamloops, Thompson Rivers, Nelson, Emerald Lake, Ashcroft, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Victoria, north coastal BC
File pertains to scenic views, cities and town, buildings, bridges, ships and boats, totems poles. Includes the following areas: Revelstoke, Kamloops, Thompson Rivers, Nelson, Emerald Lake, Ashcroft, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Victoria, north coastal BC
Notes
NM note: fibre-based prints made by Nicholas Morant
File consists of 23 negative photographs (colour and b&w), 30 colour transparencies and 1 colour print. Content pertains to Banff National Park AB views. Includes Balfour Glacier, Hector Lake, Bow Lake, Banff Springs Hotel, Banff Springs Hotel golf course, views from Chateau Lake Louise (1960s), Ti…
54 Photographs: negatives, transparencies, print; b&w and colour
Scope & Content
File consists of 23 negative photographs (colour and b&w), 30 colour transparencies and 1 colour print. Content pertains to Banff National Park AB views. Includes Balfour Glacier, Hector Lake, Bow Lake, Banff Springs Hotel, Banff Springs Hotel golf course, views from Chateau Lake Louise (1960s), Timberline Hotel, Banff. Print photograph depicts bagpipe player near Banff Springs Hotel.
Notes
Contains duplicates. Negatives, transparencies and print stored in separate file boxes.
File pertains to Canadian Pacific Railway hotels, specifically the Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City; Royal York Hotel, Toronto; Hotel Saskatchewan, Regina; Banff Springs Hotel, Alberta; Chateau Lake Louise, Alberta; Empress Hotel, Victoria; and Empress Hotel Motor Lodge, Victoria. Includes labelled …
File pertains to Canadian Pacific Railway hotels, specifically the Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City; Royal York Hotel, Toronto; Hotel Saskatchewan, Regina; Banff Springs Hotel, Alberta; Chateau Lake Louise, Alberta; Empress Hotel, Victoria; and Empress Hotel Motor Lodge, Victoria. Includes labelled set: BSH public rooms 1966, 2 items (folder 38)
Item is a three-page typed document on yellow tissue paper released by the Canadian Pacific Railway's Solicitor Office in 1895. Pertains to the death of Burton Wheatley, CPR Engineer, in 1894 at Field Hill, B.C. and provides a statement waiving CPR's liability in Wheatley's death. spaces on last pa…
1 Textual Record (3 pages): tissue paper; non-annotated
History / Biographical
Burton Wheatley was an engineer for the Canadian Pacific Railway company, who died during a railway accident in 1894 which occurred at Field Hill, B.C. The Wheatley family were related to Ivy "Willie" Morant (1910-1986), wife of photographer Nicholas Morant.
Scope & Content
Item is a three-page typed document on yellow tissue paper released by the Canadian Pacific Railway's Solicitor Office in 1895. Pertains to the death of Burton Wheatley, CPR Engineer, in 1894 at Field Hill, B.C. and provides a statement waiving CPR's liability in Wheatley's death. spaces on last page of the document to write the date and witness signatures have not been filled in (likely a copy of a completed form).
Notes
Item was previously numbered as M27/3/O.S./"H" and is entered into database twice; more recently updated as item in Nicholas Morant fonds
File consists of 1 map and 3 published books. Contains 'Ordnance Survey: Contoured Road Map of Exmoor' (1930), annotated by Mollie Morant; 1 copy of 'Tidewater to Timberline' by Dan McCowan (1951) with handwritten note by the author to Nicholas and Ivy 'Willie' Morant; 1 copy of 'Indians in the Roc…
Textual Records & Cartographic Record: 3 books, 1 map
Scope & Content
File consists of 1 map and 3 published books. Contains 'Ordnance Survey: Contoured Road Map of Exmoor' (1930), annotated by Mollie Morant; 1 copy of 'Tidewater to Timberline' by Dan McCowan (1951) with handwritten note by the author to Nicholas and Ivy 'Willie' Morant; 1 copy of 'Indians in the Rockies' by Jon Whyte (1985), with personal note from Jon to Nicholas and Willie; 1 copy of 'Ornamente der Volksunst' with note by Nicholas Morant inside - annotation identifies it as a 1937 Christmas gift to Willie, but copy was printed in 1953.
Storage Range
In file box M300 / III / D / 5 / 38 to M300 / III / D / 5 / 45
File consists of 5 published books and 1 magazine. Content includes 1 copy of 'Rails in the Canadian Rockies' with a note to 'Nick and Willie' Morant written by author Adolf Hungry Wolf; 1 copy of 'Virden Days: Memories of No. 19 E.F.T.S. R.C.A.F. 1941-1944' with an attached letter to Mollie Morant…
Produced by Adolf Hungry Wolf, D.M. Bain, Erling Strom
Date Range
1945
1946
1977
1979
1987
1988
Physical Description
6 Textual records: 5 books, 1 magazine
Scope & Content
File consists of 5 published books and 1 magazine. Content includes 1 copy of 'Rails in the Canadian Rockies' with a note to 'Nick and Willie' Morant written by author Adolf Hungry Wolf; 1 copy of 'Virden Days: Memories of No. 19 E.F.T.S. R.C.A.F. 1941-1944' with an attached letter to Mollie Morant, dated 1946; 1 copy of 'Canadian Pacific Air Lines: Its History and Aircraft' with note from the author D.M. Bain to Nicholas Morant; 1 copy of Liberty Magazine signed by Mollie Morant with a biographical article on Nicholas Morant inside (pg. 18-19); 1 copy of '1988 Audubon Nature Yearbook' annotated by Nicholas Morant, with a typed letter to Nicholas Morant from the Yearbook's editor attached at the back; 1 copy of 'Pioneers on Skis' signed by author Erling Strom with Calgary Herald clipping and notes by Morant.
Storage Range
In file box M300 / II / C / 4 / 7 to M300 / II / C / 4 / 12
File consists of 4 published books. Contains 1 copy of 'The Curiosities of Natural History' by Frank Buckland (1891) with handwritten message inside, 'From C. French [?] to R. French [?]' ; 1 copy of 'Birds of Canada's Mountain Parks' by Edmond Cloutier (1950), with handwritten note cards between p…
File consists of 4 published books. Contains 1 copy of 'The Curiosities of Natural History' by Frank Buckland (1891) with handwritten message inside, 'From C. French [?] to R. French [?]' ; 1 copy of 'Birds of Canada's Mountain Parks' by Edmond Cloutier (1950), with handwritten note cards between pages 70 and 71; 1 copy of 'The Geological Story of Jasper National Park Canada' by E.M. Kindle (n.d., originally published 1929) with charts attached inside; and 1 copy of 'Book of Knots' with attached mail order book, with redone cover annotated by Nicholas Morant.
Storage Range
In file box M300 / III / D / 5 / 38 to M300 / III / D / 5 / 45