Fonds consists of papers, photographs and sound recording produced by and pertaining to Jimmy Simpson and the Simpson family. Material is arranged in seven series. I. Jimmy Simpson Sr. papers and photographs, ca.1901-1972, ca.74 cm of textual records, 23 photograph albums (ca.2875 prints), 425 tra…
2.5 m textual records. -- ca.1605 photographs: ca.755 prints, 410 negatives, ca.430 transparencies. -- 29 photograph albums (ca.3000 prints). -- 1 sound recording: audio disc
History / Biographical
Justin James McCarthy (Jimmy) Simpson, 1877-1972, was a trapper, guide and outfitter and lodge owner at Banff and Bow Lake, Alberta, Canada. Born in Stamford, Lincolnshire, Simpson was sent to Canada by his family in 1896. He worked briefly at Laggan (Lake Louise), Alberta for the Canadian Pacific Railway, travelled extensively and returned to the Rockies to work on the trail and trap. By the early 1900s, he was a successful guide and outfitter with Carl Rungius and the Alpine Club of Canada as clients. Starting in 1920, Simpson began building Num-Ti-Jah Lodge at Bow Lake as a base for hunting and climbing parties. Simpson and Williamina (Billie) Ross Reid, 1891-1968, married in 1916 and had three children. The lodge was run mainly by Billie Simpson and in 1945 the business was turned over to Jimmy Simpson Jr., 1922-2003 . Daughters Margaret Simpson, 1917-1941, and Mary Simpson (Hallock), 1919-2002, were internationally-famous figure skaters.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of papers, photographs and sound recording produced by and pertaining to Jimmy Simpson and the Simpson family. Material is arranged in seven series.
I. Jimmy Simpson Sr. papers and photographs, ca.1901-1972, ca.74 cm of textual records, 23 photograph albums (ca.2875 prints), 425 transparencies. Includes business and personal correspondence, business records and subject files, 1903-1972; literary papers, 1912-1972; and other papers, 1903- 1957. Business records pertain mainly to guiding, outfitting and hunting operations. Correspondents include Carl Rungius, J. Monroe Thorington, L. S. Amery, Louis Agassiz Fuertes, William S. Ladd, C. Hart Merriam, Allan Brooks and others; also federal and provincial government departments, Canadian Pacific Railway, etc., regarding hunting, game regulations, park boundaries, licences, permits, horses, etc. Albums pertain mainly to hunting trips, including those with Carl Rungius, Caroline Hinman and McAleenan family, ca.1901-ca.1920, 23 items. Transparencies pertain to McAleenan family trips.
II. Simpson family papers, photographs and sound recording, ca.1900-1987, ca.1.5 m of textual records, ca.675 photographic prints, 6 photograph albums (ca.460 prints), 410 photographic negatives, 1 sound recording. Textual records include large series of alphabetical files, 1907-1987; correspondence, ca.1910-ca.1985; school records, 1923-1936; Num-Ti-Jah Lodge registers, 1939-1957; other material, 1929-1942. Photographs pertain to Jimmy Simpson and family; friends and guests; lodges and camps, including Num-Ti-Jah Lodge; Banff home and community; pack trips; scenic views; other.
III. Billie Simpson papers, 1913-1968, 6.5 cm of textual records. Includes Billie Simpson correspondence, literary and dramatic papers.
IV. Simpson Sisters professional papers and photographs, 1929-1955, ca.20 cm and 3 v. of textual material, ca.15 cm of print material, 86 photographic prints. Material pertains to the professional skating career of Margaret Simpson and Mary Simpson.
V. Mary Simpson Hallock papers, 1960-1955, 1.5 cm of textual records.
VI. Jimmy Simpson Jr. papers, 1947-1983, 1 cm of textual records.
VII. Other material, before 1970, 1 cm of textual records and art works.