Fonds consists of untitled manuscript by Alex McCoubrey includes excerpts and elaborations of his mountaineering diaries, 1927-1953. Pertains to early climbing experiences with his father, 1927; climbing trips with various companions, 1932-1938; descriptions of ski and ski mountaineering trips an…
Alex McCoubrey, b.ca.1916, of Winnipeg, Manitoba was introduced to mountaineering in the Canadian Rockies at the age of eleven by his father, A. A. McCoubrey. Alex McCoubrey was also involved in early ski mountaineering, making his first trip at the age of seventeen.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of untitled manuscript by Alex McCoubrey includes excerpts and elaborations of his mountaineering diaries, 1927-1953. Pertains to early climbing experiences with his father, 1927; climbing trips with various companions, 1932-1938; descriptions of ski and ski mountaineering trips and first ascent of Mount Field, 1934-1938; 1942 season of climbing; ACC ski camps, 1943; ACC summer camps, 1952-1953; account of being lost near Mount Brown, 1953. Provides detailed accounts of travels, climbs, friends and acquaintances, particularly Grahame Cairns, Norman H. Brewster, Ken Jones; also Margaret Fleming, Bob Hind, Roger Neave and Rex Gibson. Geographic areas discussed include: Lake O'Hara, Lake Louise, Yoho, Glacier, Skoki, Jasper and Vancouver Island areas.
Fonds includes motion pictures by Alice Wright of horse trips and travels in the Canadian Rockies and miscellaneous papers and ephemera pertaining to Mount Robson Ranch, Berg Lake Chalet and Mount Robson region and history. Films pertain mainly to the Mount Robson and Jasper, Alberta areas; also B…
Alice Wright, d.ca.1982, was owner of the Mount Robson Ranch and operator of the Berg Lake Chalet in the Mount Robson area of British Columbia, Canada. She also lived at Red Pass and Sidney, B.C.
Scope & Content
Fonds includes motion pictures by Alice Wright of horse trips and travels in the Canadian Rockies and miscellaneous papers and ephemera pertaining to Mount Robson Ranch, Berg Lake Chalet and Mount Robson region and history. Films pertain mainly to the Mount Robson and Jasper, Alberta areas; also Banff and Lake Louise. Textual records include a transcript of a portion of a diary of George MacDougal, 1827, describing a trip through Yellowhead Pass, Tete Jaune Cache to Jasper House. Also includes a memorandum of the British Columbia Parks Branch, 1975, re the future of the Berg Lake Chalet; annotations by Alice Wright.
Fonds constitutes the principal resource for the study of the history of Canadian mountaineering. It provides a wealth of information on individual alpinists, expeditions, mountains, national parks, conservation, climbing, alpine organizations, publications, guiding, scientific study and the Alpin…
ca.42 m of textual records. -- ca.12,500 photographs: prints, stereographic prints, transparencies, slides, negatives, postcards. -- 85 photograph albums. -- 8 motion pictures: films, video recordings. -- 3 sound recordings
History / Biographical
The Alpine Club of Canada, the national mountaineering club, was co-founded in 1906 by A. O. Wheeler and Elizabeth Parker, and other like-minded climbers. The club espoused scientific study and exploration, cultivation of art, public education, acquisition of climbing skills, and preservation of natural areas within the mountainous regions of Canada. Through a national executive, local sections and volunteer committees, the club provided climbing camps, clubhouse, huts, and publications, including the Canadian Alpine Journal. ACC expeditions and projects resulted in pioneer exploration, first ascents, and included mountain warfare training during the Second World War. In recent years, the club's membership has increased dramatically with the popularity of climbing and its programs have evolved to serve the needs of unguided climbers using sophisticated technical aids.
Scope & Content
Fonds constitutes the principal resource for the study of the history of Canadian mountaineering. It provides a wealth of information on individual alpinists, expeditions, mountains, national parks, conservation, climbing, alpine organizations, publications, guiding, scientific study and the Alpine Club itself.
The fonds consists of four Sous-fonds: I. Alpine Club of Canada records; II. Mount Everest Expedition (1982) records; III. Personal papers and photographs; IV. Other material. Club administration records (series I.A.) pertain to executive positions; head office; finance; camps, climbing and treks; expeditions; huts and properties; clubhouses; library; publications; photography; other committees; other activities; and other. Other club records include section records (series I.B.), hut registers and summit records (series I.C.).
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…
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.
Fonds consists of two series: I. Expeditions and trips series, 1946-1974; II. General files series, 1913-1978. Expeditions and trips series pertains to mountaineering expeditions and trips of Arnold Wexler and companions to western and northern Canada and locations in the United States. Canadian…
Arnold Wexler was responsible for the creation of most material. Fonds also contains material created by A. C. Faberge, Alvin E. Peterson, Donald Hubbard, William L. Putnam, Samuel V. Moore, Mike Banks, and others
Date Range
1913-1978, predominant 1946-1974
Physical Description
ca.4100 photographs (ca.3000 transparencies, ca.700 negatives, ca.400 prints). -- 7 photograph albums (ca.190 prints). -- ca.40 cartographic records. -- 16 cm of textual records. -- 5 cm of print material. -- 5 graphic records
History / Biographical
Arnold Wexler, 1918-1997, was a research engineer and mountaineer in the Washington, DC area of the United States. He was a member of numerous scientific and mountaineering organizations and was actively involved in the testing of mountaineering equipment. Wexler climbed extensively in North America, Europe and South America, and also travelled throughout Asia. He is credited with over 100 ascents, almost half being first ascents.
Wexler was a key organizer and participant of expeditions to western and northern Canada beginning in 1946. Noteworthy ascents of that first expedition, to the northern Selkirks of British Columbia, were the second ascent of Mount Sir Sandford and first ascents of Sentinel Peak, Unicorn and East Blackfriar. Also, near the end of that trip, an accident claimed the life of an expedition member. Wexler and his associates made annual expeditions and trips to Canada from 1946 until 1955, and subsequently in the years 1961, 1962, 1963, and 1970 through 1974
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of two series: I. Expeditions and trips series, 1946-1974; II. General files series, 1913-1978.
Expeditions and trips series pertains to mountaineering expeditions and trips of Arnold Wexler and companions to western and northern Canada and locations in the United States. Canadian expedition destinations included the Selkirk Mountains, Cariboo Mountains, Rocky Mountains, Monashee Mountains, Coast Range, Bugaboo Mountains, Logan Mountains, Battle Range and Adamant Range. Mountaineers involved were Arnold Wexler, Sterling B. Hendricks, Donald Hubbard, Alvin (Pete) E. Peterson, Alex C. Faberge, Chris G. Scoredos, Charles C. Haworth Jr., Samuel V. Moore, Arthur Lembeck, Norman Goldstein, W. L. Putnam, A. J. Kauffman and others. Series includes extensive photographs, trip diaries and maps.
General files series consists of files pertaining to mountaineering, equipment, locations, climbing associates and expeditions. Includes correspondence, checklists, exhibition prints, climbing portraits, and research material in the form of topical files, maps and print material
Fonds consists of records pertaining to the career of George William Rance who worked with the photography division of the Associated Screen News (ASN) travelling the world aboard the Empress ships. Rance also worked in the camera shop in the Banff Springs Hotel, Banff, Alberta and ASN's Head Offi…
The Associated Screen News (ASN), established in Montreal in 1920 as a subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway, produced photographs, newsreels, shorts, travelogues, motion pictures, and industrial films featuring the CPR's extensive transportation services. In developing its international travel business, the CPR established a steamship company, the Empress Line. ASN photographers travelled aboard the CPR and Empress Line ships photographing the various travel and cruise destinations to which they were assigned, promoting the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Empress ships. In 1935 ASN purchased the famous Notman & Sons photographic studio in Montreal.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of records pertaining to the career of George William Rance who worked with the photography division of the Associated Screen News (ASN) travelling the world aboard the Empress ships. Rance also worked in the camera shop in the Banff Springs Hotel, Banff, Alberta and ASN's Head Office in Montreal, Quebec. Fonds consists of Associated Screen News photographs of Cochrane to Banff motor road, Banff townsite and environs, Banff-Lake Louise road, Mount Assiniboine, Waterton Lakes National Park, ca.1925. Also included in the fonds are photographs of various cruise destinations of the CPR Empress Line including Grenada, Rio de Janeiro, Martinique, Barbados, and the Empress of Australia, ca.1938 and 1 William Notman & Sons photograph of the Bow River Bridge and Cascade Mountain, ca.1905.
Tom Rance (info supplied with accession record); E.J.Hart, The Selling of Canada; Jonathan Hanna, Robert C. Kennell, and Carol Lacourte, Portraits of Canada: Photographic Treasures of the CPR.
Fonds pertains primarily to Richard and Lily Bagge's honeymoon trip to the Canadian Rockies ca.1902 and consists of 8 b&w photographs of scenes from Banff National Park and the Rocky Mountains. Also included are 2 Bagge family portraits and 1 photocopy of a portrait of H.E. Ambassador and Mrs. R.R…
Richard Bagge, the Swedish-Norwegian Consulate General to Quebec married Lily Alette Schwartz, the daughter of Richard Bagge's predecessor, in 1902 in Quebec, Canada. Richard and Lily travelled west through the Rocky Mountains to Vancouver and Victoria on their honeymoon.
In 1905, Richard Bagge was transfered to Hamburg, Germany as Swedish Consulate General and in 1908, he was transfered to Shanghai, China. Richard Bagge died in Shanghai in 1910 from dysentry and Lily and their son Kenty travelled to Sweden, settling in Saltsjöbaden in 1912.
Kenty Bagge joined the Swedish diplomatic service and retained his Canadian citizenship until 1963, when he renounced his Canadian citizenship in order to accept the appointment of Swedish Ambassador to Canada in Ottawa, Ontario.
Scope & Content
Fonds pertains primarily to Richard and Lily Bagge's honeymoon trip to the Canadian Rockies ca.1902 and consists of 8 b&w photographs of scenes from Banff National Park and the Rocky Mountains. Also included are 2 Bagge family portraits and 1 photocopy of a portrait of H.E. Ambassador and Mrs. R.R Bagge, Ottawa, Ontario, 1963.
Fonds consists of records pertaining primarily to Christian and Evelyn Bakgaard's honeymoon trip in the Skoki area with the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies in 1956. Records include b&w prints and colour negatives re the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies, ca.1956; letters from Ray Bagley, a…
Christian Buur Bakgaard, b.1930 in Hammerum, Denmark was a carpenter and general contractor.
Evelyn May Bakgaard (née Rieger), b.1924 Delia, Alberta, d.2003 Calgary, Alberta, attended Delia High School with her twin sister Alice, graduating with honours in 1942. Evelyn attended the Edmonton Normal School, the University of Alberta and the University of Victoria, B.C. Evelyn's first teaching position was at Haven School near Beaverlodge, Alberta and was followed by a number of rural teaching positions from 1946 to 1957. After 14 years of teaching, Evelyn retired in order to devote her attention to her children and her parents.
Evelyn married Christian Buur Bakgaard in 1953 and in the summer of 1956 they took a belated honeymoon to the Skoki area with the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies. Evelyn and Christian were both novice horseriders and the Skoki trip was their only trail ride.
Evelyn and Christian Bakgaard were divorced in 1983.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of records pertaining primarily to Christian and Evelyn Bakgaard's honeymoon trip in the Skoki area with the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies in 1956. Records include b&w prints and colour negatives re the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies, ca.1956; letters from Ray Bagley, a staff member of the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies, 1955 and 1956; Trail Riders bulletin, brochures, and an annotated map, 1955-1957.
Fonds consist primarily of warden service photographs, including Bert Davies on horse, horse patrol and backcountry activities, warden cabins in Banff National Park; photographs by British Photographic Laboratories of Banff Winter Carnival beard-growing contest; view of Loder Mine at Exshaw, Albert…
40 photographs : prints, negative. -- 1 textual record
History / Biographical
H. C. (Bert) Davies, 1908-1973, was a national park warden and businessman at Banff, Alberta, Canada
Scope & Content
Fonds consist primarily of warden service photographs, including Bert Davies on horse, horse patrol and backcountry activities, warden cabins in Banff National Park; photographs by British Photographic Laboratories of Banff Winter Carnival beard-growing contest; view of Loder Mine at Exshaw, Alberta; and portrait of Bert Davies with parents, 1913. Fonds also includes letter from Silas Abraham to Bert Davies re coat, 1941