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 consists of 9 photographs collected by Maryalice Harvey Stewart (creators of images unknown). Photographs pertain to three men posing at the Banff Curling Rink; and historic views of Canmore and area, including Three Sisters, Spray Road, Railway Bridge, Main Street, and United Church.
9 photographs : b&w prints ; 20 x 15 cm and 17.5 x 13 cm
Scope & Content
File consists of 9 photographs collected by Maryalice Harvey Stewart (creators of images unknown). Photographs pertain to three men posing at the Banff Curling Rink; and historic views of Canmore and area, including Three Sisters, Spray Road, Railway Bridge, Main Street, and United Church.
File consists of biographical records and timelines of events pertaining to the lives of Norman Luxton, Elizabeth Chantler McDougall and George McDougall. Includes an obituary article for George McDougall from 1876 [two separate newspaper clippings]; an account of a buffalo round-up in 1909 by Norm…
File consists of biographical records and timelines of events pertaining to the lives of Norman Luxton, Elizabeth Chantler McDougall and George McDougall. Includes an obituary article for George McDougall from 1876 [two separate newspaper clippings]; an account of a buffalo round-up in 1909 by Norman Luxton; Article "Here's Alberta - People and Places" featuring Norman Luxton; published book "Elizabeth McDougall: Pioneer" by Edna Kells; and a program for an event celebrating the 100th anniversary of George McDougall's appointment as Chairman of the Hudson's Bay Missions, which includes a detailed timeline of the lives of George and Elizabeth McDougall, as well as their son John.
Notes
File also contains one duplicate copy of each item, excluding "Elizabeth McDougall: Pioneer"
File consists of one scrapbook [bindings removed] pertaining to the McDougall family, the Southern Alberta Pioneers' and Old Timers' Association, the Calgary Stampede and other events within Banff, Morley and Calgary. Contents include newspaper clippings [ca. 1939-1952]; booklets, programmes and fl…
File consists of one scrapbook [bindings removed] pertaining to the McDougall family, the Southern Alberta Pioneers' and Old Timers' Association, the Calgary Stampede and other events within Banff, Morley and Calgary. Contents include newspaper clippings [ca. 1939-1952]; booklets, programmes and flyers for various community events; membership cards; and a scanned copy and one original copy of a journal dated 1862, titled "Rossville Mission Journal 1862". Journal contains early newspaper articles and correspondence pertaining to George and John McDougall, and multiple religious missions and settlements located in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Image of Mrs. Nellie MacGregor Unwin (formerly Mrs. Reggie Holmes) standing in front of a bunch of thin aspen trees with a church in the background - written on the back in pencil by Catharine Whyte: "Mrs Holmes now Mrs Unwin Bear St. was meant to be Main St. Presbyterian Church & original belfry -…
Image of Mrs. Nellie MacGregor Unwin (formerly Mrs. Reggie Holmes) standing in front of a bunch of thin aspen trees with a church in the background - written on the back in pencil by Catharine Whyte: "Mrs Holmes now Mrs Unwin Bear St. was meant to be Main St. Presbyterian Church & original belfry - with bell - The bell had an outside rope with a clang for fire. Inside rope a ding dong for church service. Only fire signal in town. Log bldg on right was original Gov't. stables - on lot next to Ike Mills & later blacksmith. Lot 30."
File consists of personal mail sent to or from Eleanor Luxton between ca. 1915 and 1980. Content pertains to Valentine's day letters between Eleanor and her parents, Norman and Georgina; a personal greeting card sent from "Aida" [n.d.]; a greeting card titled "To Father" [possibly sent from Eleanor…
File consists of personal mail sent to or from Eleanor Luxton between ca. 1915 and 1980. Content pertains to Valentine's day letters between Eleanor and her parents, Norman and Georgina; a personal greeting card sent from "Aida" [n.d.]; a greeting card titled "To Father" [possibly sent from Eleanor to Norman Luxton]; a letter addressed to Eleanor from Alberta Theatre Projects with a ticket order form for local performances [1973]; a letter from Laura Oakander sent to Eleanor thanking her for a donation to the McDougall Stoney Mission Society [1980]; and invitations to round-up events hosted by the Southern Alberta Pioneers' and Old Timers' Association.
Notes
Most items in file are not dated; part of date range is estimate by the Processing Archivist based on context and formatting of contents in file
File consists of a copy of an article pertaining to St. Mary's Catholic Church in Banff, Alberta, comprising 6 pages, H27.5 x W21 cm. The undated article was written by Annalise Walker, the curator for the Canadian Architectural Archives at the University of Calgary Libraries. The article reference…
0.01 cm of textual records (6 pages ; 21 x 27.5 cm)
Scope & Content
File consists of a copy of an article pertaining to St. Mary's Catholic Church in Banff, Alberta, comprising 6 pages, H27.5 x W21 cm. The undated article was written by Annalise Walker, the curator for the Canadian Architectural Archives at the University of Calgary Libraries. The article references the architectural design of the church, biographical information about Father Robert McGuinness, and the final built decor and design (stained glass windows, gneiss stone exterior, main alter), as well as a description of the later designs for an addition.
Notes
The article was gifted to the Whyte Museum from the Canadian Architectural Archives along with the architectural and grounds plans drawings
File consists of 28 photographs, including 2 Christmas greeting cards with family photographs and 4 postcard prints, some annotated. Content pertains to various members of the Woodworth family including Percy, Maud, Benjamin and Fred Woodworth, community events, including a community play and a Chr…
One postcard print attributed to G & W Fear Photographers of Banff
Date Range
[ca. 1900 - ca. 1910]
1911
1918
[ca. 1925]
[ca. 1940 - ca. 1950]
[ca. 1960 - ca. 1965]
Physical Description
28 photographs : b&w and col. prints ; 17.5 x 13 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 28 photographs, including 2 Christmas greeting cards with family photographs and 4 postcard prints, some annotated. Content pertains to various members of the Woodworth family including Percy, Maud, Benjamin and Fred Woodworth, community events, including a community play and a Christmas party, friends of the Kidney and Woodworth families, a visit to St. George's in the Pines Anglican Church in Banff by King George VI and Queen Mary of England, and early photographs of the town of Banff.
Notes
Photographs in this file were accompanied by notes made shortly before or after accession in 1979 giving names/contextual information about photographs. Some notes are by Jim Deegan, 1987. Information has been transferred to the back of each photograph.
Most dates provided are estimates by the Processing Archivist