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…
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
File pertains to 52 b&w prints of various scenic views around British Columbia. Includes views overlooking towns, skiing, beaches, A-frame cabins, highways, rivers, portraits, and the inner harbour & Empress Hotel in Victoria.
File pertains to 52 b&w prints of various scenic views around British Columbia. Includes views overlooking towns, skiing, beaches, A-frame cabins, highways, rivers, portraits, and the inner harbour & Empress Hotel in Victoria.
File consists of a scrapbook which contains mainly clippings, as well as some personal and family items, pertaining to Banff and region, events and personalities, mountain areas, local, regional and western Canadian history, and mountaineering expeditions and accomplishments. Material covers the p…
File consists of a scrapbook which contains mainly clippings, as well as some personal and family items, pertaining to Banff and region, events and personalities, mountain areas, local, regional and western Canadian history, and mountaineering expeditions and accomplishments. Material covers the period between ca.1900 and ca.1970
File consists of a scrapbook that contains postcards and photographs of churches and cathedrals from around southern England. Includes scenic views from inside and outside the buildings as well as details like pews, book collections, carved details, fonts, and painted murals.
File consists of a scrapbook that contains postcards and photographs of churches and cathedrals from around southern England. Includes scenic views from inside and outside the buildings as well as details like pews, book collections, carved details, fonts, and painted murals.
File pertains to photographs of a trip to Europe in 1914 interspersed with typed-text pages telling a story titled "The Cookies and Some of the People They Passed."
File pertains to photographs of a trip to Europe in 1914 interspersed with typed-text pages telling a story titled "The Cookies and Some of the People They Passed."
File consists of a scrapbook that contains postcards and photographs of manor homes/mansions, abbeys, and school buildings in England and Dublin, Ireland. Inludes views of the exteriors and grounds, internal halls and rooms, libraries, and schoolboys.
File consists of a scrapbook that contains postcards and photographs of manor homes/mansions, abbeys, and school buildings in England and Dublin, Ireland. Inludes views of the exteriors and grounds, internal halls and rooms, libraries, and schoolboys.
File consists of a scrapbook that contains postcards and photographs of Medieval cathedrals throughout England. Includes photographs of interiors, exteriors, and architectural and decorational details.
File consists of a scrapbook that contains postcards and photographs of Medieval cathedrals throughout England. Includes photographs of interiors, exteriors, and architectural and decorational details.
Sub-series pertains to 87 black and white negatives and includes individual, group, family and baby portraits, school portraits, classes, sports, graduation, events, yearkbook, weddings, businesses and facilities, buildings and dwellings, construction projects and government projects, courses, conv…