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
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 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 1 postcard, 1 set of typed and annotated notes, 1 page with an attached card and newspaper clipping, and assorted memos, receipts and letters. Content pertains to correspondence between Nicholas and Ivy 'Willie' Morant and 'Clara A (?) K H' , correspondence between Nicholas and Ivy…
File consists of 1 postcard, 1 set of typed and annotated notes, 1 page with an attached card and newspaper clipping, and assorted memos, receipts and letters. Content pertains to correspondence between Nicholas and Ivy 'Willie' Morant and 'Clara A (?) K H' , correspondence between Nicholas and Ivy 'Willie' Morant, a 1935 Winnipeg Free Press article with an image by Nicholas Morant, a small folder of Nicholas Morant's typed notes recounting an unfinished story, receipts and correspondence ranging from 1957 to 1990 sent by various photography and film companies to Nicholas Morant, and 1982 handwritten letter on back of colour image of 2 trains, titled "The Great Daily Race of the Broadway and Century" (postcard?), sender unknown.
Notes
Postcard was originally located inside book 'It's Me O Lord' by Rockwell Kent, reference code M300 / III / D / 5 / 36
Handwritten note on back of M300 / III / A / 8 / 41 is cut off / incomplete at bottom.
Storage Range
In file box M300 / III / A / 8 / 1 to M300 / III / A / 8 / 41.
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
Any items with risky materials such as ink or adhesives attached must be covered with acid-free paper to protect adjacent items. Contents must be stored in appropriate conditions.
File consists of 3 published books by Rockwell Kent, annotated. Consists of 1 copy of 'N by E' (1931) with a personal letter to Nick and Ivy 'Willie' Morant attached; 1 copy of 'It's Me O Lord' (1955) with typed correspondence from Rockwell Kent to Nick and Willie Morant dated 1956, 1957 and 1960, …
File consists of 3 published books by Rockwell Kent, annotated. Consists of 1 copy of 'N by E' (1931) with a personal letter to Nick and Ivy 'Willie' Morant attached; 1 copy of 'It's Me O Lord' (1955) with typed correspondence from Rockwell Kent to Nick and Willie Morant dated 1956, 1957 and 1960, as well as a 1966 Christmas card; 1 copy of 'Of Men and Mountains' (1959) with a personal note to Nick and Willie from Rockwell.
Storage Range
In file box M300 / III / D / 5 / 35 to M300 / III / D / 5 / 37
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 the surface, such as adhesives, must be covered with an acid-free paper barrier to protect adjacent items.
File consists of 4 published travel and trail guides and 2 other published books. Content pertains to one Rockies/Selkirks guide (signed by Nicholas Morant); 1 rock-climbing guide book signed with letter to Nick Morant by author Murray Toft; 'The Magic of Lake O'Hara' guide book signed with letter …
File consists of 4 published travel and trail guides and 2 other published books. Content pertains to one Rockies/Selkirks guide (signed by Nicholas Morant); 1 rock-climbing guide book signed with letter to Nick Morant by author Murray Toft; 'The Magic of Lake O'Hara' guide book signed with letter to Nick Morant by author Don Beers; Via Rail Canada travel guide book signed with letter to Nick Morant by author Bill Coo; and 2 books, both signed with personal notes to Nick and 'Willie' Morant by author Dan McCowan.
Storage Range
In file box M300 / III / D / 5 / 1 to M300 / III / D / 5 / 11
File consists of 5 typed notes by Nicholas Morant with background/supplementary information pertaining to specific negatives/transparencies in his collection (see notes); 4 letters addressed to Morant pertaining to specific photos in collection (written by W. H. Towhey, Martha Roberts, George Ross …
Date Range
[ca. 1935- ca. 1939]
1940
[ca. 1950 - ca. 1970]
1963
1967
1968
1970
1973
1976
1977
1984
Reference Code
M300 / I / A1 to M300 / I / A5 (V500 Document File)
14 Textual Records: typed and written notes, letters/correspondence, poster advertisement, annotated sketches
History / Biographical
Charles B. Hill-Tout (1858-1944) was an amateur anthropologist with a particular interest in Canadian Indigenous cultures. Hill-Tout was the author of multiple anthropological books, and was also the president of the anthropological section of the Royal Society of Canada and a fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain later in his career.
Betty and Benny Fox, acrobatic performers known as "The Sky Dancers", were known for performing balancing and acrobatic stunts atop a 20-inch wide round platform attached to building rooftops. Betty and Benny Fox became popular performers around the late 1930's and performed in multiple National Fairs and other public venues throughout the 1940's. Although Benny continued to perform until the 1960's, multiple female acrobatic performers replaced the original Betty Fox as "Betty" in acts following the World War II era.
Scope & Content
File consists of 5 typed notes by Nicholas Morant with background/supplementary information pertaining to specific negatives/transparencies in his collection (see notes); 4 letters addressed to Morant pertaining to specific photos in collection (written by W. H. Towhey, Martha Roberts, George Ross [2 letters]) ; 2 articles/news clippings, one titled "Sitting Eagle Honored" (1984) pertaining to the building of a bronze statue of John Hunter, a.k.a. Sitting Eagle, in Calgary, and one pertaining to Charles B. Hill-Tout of Victoria, B.C. and his collection of British medals; one ad/poster pertaining to aerial performers "Sky Dancers: Betty and Benny Fox"; and 2 hand-drawn and annotated pencil sketches by Nicholas Morant depicting view of mountains and lakes from "Little Beehive", and Yoho Valley view from Spiral Tunnel.
Notes
5 typed notes related to items: V500/I/A2/R-75 ; V500/I/A2/R-85 ; V500/I/A3/57-319 A to M ; V500/I/A3/57-341-1&2 ; V500/I/A3/57-366A
Letters to Nicholas Morant related to items: V500/I/A2/F-10 ; V500/I/A2/R-74 ; V500/I/A3/57-310 ; V500/I/A3/57-490-1
Articles/news clippings related to items: V500/I/A2/O-6 ; V500/I/A3/57-103
"Sky Dancers" poster related to: V500/I/A2/N-16
Sketches by Nicholas Morant related to items: V500/I/A5/Z-549 ; V500/I/A5/Z-771