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 4 audiotape film reels with music content recorded by Nicholas Morant. Pertains to music/audio used in slideshow presentation series "A Talk Without Words" by Nicholas and Ivy "Willie" Morant (see "History/Bio"). Items (in order) are labelled "Introduction", "Showtape", "Introducti…
"A Talk Without Words" was an original presentation by Nick and Ivy "Willie" Morant featuring some of their photographs taken while travelling across Canada for work, as well as photographs from their travels in Peru. The presentation involved a brief introduction by Nick and Willie, followed by an approximately one-hour long slideshow accompanied by music which was recorded by Nick. The couple presented this slideshow, and similar variations, to the public for about 15 years (ca. 1950 to ca. 1965).
Scope & Content
File consists of 4 audiotape film reels with music content recorded by Nicholas Morant. Pertains to music/audio used in slideshow presentation series "A Talk Without Words" by Nicholas and Ivy "Willie" Morant (see "History/Bio"). Items (in order) are labelled "Introduction", "Showtape", "Introduction B" and "Showtape B".
Notes
Item S20/II/C/7/1 originally stored in brown paper Canadian Pacific mailing envelope with shipping label: "INTRODUCTION NICHOLAS MORANT BOX 1288 BANFF, ALBERTA CANADA"
Items S20/II/C/7/2 to 4 were attached by string tied around them.
Item S20/II/C/7/2 has label taped to inside of clear plastic container reading: "SHOWTAPE. Nova Scotia 123 Trees Prairies Quiet Places World at Feet Mountains 123 Exit Music."
Item S20/II/C/7/3 and S20/II/C/7/4 were in brown paper Canadian Pacific envelope labelled: "SHOWTAPE B INTRODUCTION B Excludes - Peru - Soundpix"
S20/II/C/7/3 in "Scotch Tape" brand box labelled "Introduction B .... Okay for Revere or Magnecord."
S20/II/C/7/4 in "audiotape" brand box labelled "Showtape B. Okay for Revere and Magnecord."
https://www.whyte.org/nicholas-morant-later-career
Also referenced in book "Nicholas Morant's Canadian Pacific" by John F. Garden (Revelstoke: Footprint Publishing, 1991) under chapter "A Talk Without Words"
File consists of a scrapbook containing magazine and newspaper clippings of articles and advertisements featuring Nicholas Morant's photographs. Also includes articles, notices, and ads for Morant's lectures and photography shows. Many clippings are the front covers of various Canadian magazine pub…
4.5 cm of textual records (139 pages ; 29 x 37 cm)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File consists of a scrapbook containing magazine and newspaper clippings of articles and advertisements featuring Nicholas Morant's photographs. Also includes articles, notices, and ads for Morant's lectures and photography shows. Many clippings are the front covers of various Canadian magazine publications.
Includes articles and ads for travel destinations throughout Canada, articles featuring other Canadian photographers, and pages from calendars.
File consists of 168 negative photographs (colour, b&w) and 54 colour transparencies. Content pertains to cruise ships, glaciers and scenery, travellers, activities in British Columbia and Alaska. Includes ships: Princess Kathleen (betw.1948 and 1952), Princess Marguerite II and Princess Patricia.
222 Photographs: negatives and transparencies; b&w, colour
Scope & Content
File consists of 168 negative photographs (colour, b&w) and 54 colour transparencies. Content pertains to cruise ships, glaciers and scenery, travellers, activities in British Columbia and Alaska. Includes ships: Princess Kathleen (betw.1948 and 1952), Princess Marguerite II and Princess Patricia.
Notes
Contains duplicates. Negatives and transparencies are stored in separate file boxes.
File consists of 45 negative photographs (b&w, colour) and 33 colour transparencies. Content pertains to Canadian Pacific Railway hotels: Algonquin Hotel, St. Andrew's NB; Digby Pines Hotel, Digby NS; Ascot Hotel, Montreal QC(?); and Le Baron Hotel, Sherbrooke QC.
78 Photographs: negatives and transparencies; b&w and colour
Scope & Content
File consists of 45 negative photographs (b&w, colour) and 33 colour transparencies. Content pertains to Canadian Pacific Railway hotels: Algonquin Hotel, St. Andrew's NB; Digby Pines Hotel, Digby NS; Ascot Hotel, Montreal QC(?); and Le Baron Hotel, Sherbrooke QC.
Notes
Some of photographs are duplicates. Negatives and transparencies stored in separate file boxes.
File consists of 85 b&w prints and 1 colour print, various sizes. Content pertains to CPR, construction sites, horses and ranching, wildlife/landscapes, Indigenous art, and images from scenes in several provinces across Canada (BC, AB, NB, NS, QC) created for use in Canadian Pacific travel promotio…
Produced by Nicholas Morant and Ivy 'Willie' Morant
Date Range
[ca. 1935 - ca. 1940]
[ca. 1950 - ca. 1960]
[ca. 1980 - 1986]
Physical Description
86 Photographs: prints; b&w and colour
Scope & Content
File consists of 85 b&w prints and 1 colour print, various sizes. Content pertains to CPR, construction sites, horses and ranching, wildlife/landscapes, Indigenous art, and images from scenes in several provinces across Canada (BC, AB, NB, NS, QC) created for use in Canadian Pacific travel promotions. Also contains three portrait images of Stoney Nakoda chiefs including John Hunter and Jacob Two-Young-Man, and two images of an older Nicholas Morant (at least one taken by Ivy 'Willie' Morant, depicting Nicholas Morant in train tunnel holding camera equipment). Many images in this file are stamped on the reverse side as property of Miller Services Ltd.
Storage Range
In file box V500 / II / C / 5 / PA - 326 to V500 / II / C / 5 / PA - 648
File consists of 4 published texts (3 books and 1 chapbook) all annotated by Nicholas Morant. Content includes 1 copy of 'The Canadian' (1986), chapbook 'The Singing Gipsy' by Mollie Morant (1941), 'Reminiscences of a Raconteur' by George H. Ham (1921) with attached clipping inside, and 'Trail Life…
Produced by Canadian Pacific, Mollie Morant, George H. Ham, B.W. Mitchell
Date Range
1921
1924
1941
1986
Physical Description
Textual Records: books, chapbook
Scope & Content
File consists of 4 published texts (3 books and 1 chapbook) all annotated by Nicholas Morant. Content includes 1 copy of 'The Canadian' (1986), chapbook 'The Singing Gipsy' by Mollie Morant (1941), 'Reminiscences of a Raconteur' by George H. Ham (1921) with attached clipping inside, and 'Trail Life in the Canadian Rockies' by B.W. Mitchell (1924).
Storage Range
In file box M300 / III / D / 5 / 16 to M300 / III / D / 5 / 19.
File consists of 6 textual items (2 books, 4 booklets). Includes copies of the following texts:
- “Mammals of the Eastern Rockies and Western Plains of Canada” (A.L. Rand, 1948) with attached newspaper clipping inside about flying squirrel.
- “History of Lake O’Hara” (Lillian Gest, 1961) with signe…
File consists of 6 textual items (2 books, 4 booklets). Includes copies of the following texts:
- “Mammals of the Eastern Rockies and Western Plains of Canada” (A.L. Rand, 1948) with attached newspaper clipping inside about flying squirrel.
- “History of Lake O’Hara” (Lillian Gest, 1961) with signed note by author inside front cover.
- “They Came West” (F.O. ‘Pat’ Brewster, 1979) with handwritten note by author to Nicholas Morant inside.
- “The Rundle Adventure Story” (John Travis, 1968) with brief signed note by author inside.
- “The Death of Albert Johnson” (Frank W. Anderson, 1968) with several articles / clippings from 1985 & 1987 pertaining to ‘Mad Trapper’ Albert Johnson attached to inside of front and back covers.
- “The CPR Comes to Calgary” (CP Rail, 1975), signed ‘C. Wickstone’ on back cover.
Notes
Text “The Death of Albert Johnson” was originally stored in an envelope labelled “MAD HATTER” with additional annotations inside (see ‘Conservation’).
Storage Range
In file box M300 / III / D / 5 / 75 to M300 / III / D / 5 / 91
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
Envelope previously containing “The Death of Albert Johnson” has been kept with respective text in storage, in protective wrapping to prevent damage to adjacent items.
File consists of 126 colour transparencies, various sizes, most of which are individually titled. Content pertains to numerous landscape views across Canada (including scenes in British Columbia, Alberta, the Canadian prairies, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia), with a majority depicting the Canadia…
File consists of 126 colour transparencies, various sizes, most of which are individually titled. Content pertains to numerous landscape views across Canada (including scenes in British Columbia, Alberta, the Canadian prairies, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia), with a majority depicting the Canadian Rockies regions. Content also includes other assorted images pertaining to the Stoney Nakoda community, as well as Canadian Pacific tourism-related images.
Storage Range
In file box V500 / II / C / 5 / NS - 410 to 535 and V500 / III / D / 4 / NS - 1 to 9
File consists of 6 textual records. Content includes volumes 1, 6, 8 and 10 of 'Canadian Pacific in the Rockies', all signed by D.M. Bain with personal messages to Nicholas and Ivy 'Willie' Morant; 1 copy of 'Canadian Pacific's Big Hill', with written note to 'Willie' Morant on the cover and other …
File consists of 6 textual records. Content includes volumes 1, 6, 8 and 10 of 'Canadian Pacific in the Rockies', all signed by D.M. Bain with personal messages to Nicholas and Ivy 'Willie' Morant; 1 copy of 'Canadian Pacific's Big Hill', with written note to 'Willie' Morant on the cover and other annotations by 'Buck' Brump; 1 copy of 'Snow War: An Illustrated History of Rogers Pass Glacier National Park', with personal note inside by Buck Brump written in 1984.
Notes
Texts by D.M. Bain originally from box labelled 'Bain Books' which contained 10 books by the author in total; only the 4 in this file were annotated and signed.
Storage Range
In file box M300 / II / C / 4 / 1 to M300 / II / C / 4 / 12