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 material pertaining to the separate careers and families of Jim and Dorothy Boyce, as well as material from their life together. Jim Boyce material consists mainly of business and personal papers and photographs, ca.1910-1982. Business papers arise mainly from the incorporation, …
ca.6.5 m textual records. -- ca.3500 photographs: prints, negatives, copy negatives. -- 4 photograph albums. -- 5 motion pictures: film reels; 8mm, 16mm; col.
History / Biographical
James (Jim) Hawkins Boyce, 1892-1982, was a guide, outfitter, log builder and businessman at Lake Louise and Banff, Alberta, Canada. Dorothy Boyce was a pharmacist and business woman at Calgary, Quebec and Banff, Canada.
Jim Boyce was the son of Joseph Boyce, 1856-1927, and stepson of Wilma "Josephine" Boyce, 1866-1952, of Banff, Alberta. In 1911, Jim joined his father building trails. His guiding and outfitting career began with Jimmy Simpson's outfit as a trail cook. During the 1920s Boyce formed his own outfit with Max Brooks and went on to guide prominent clients Carl Rungius, Caroline Hinman and her parties, George and Adeline Link and William D. Cox of Chicago, USA.
In addition to guiding and outfitting, Jim Boyce worked with motion picture companies on location in the Rockies with his dog teams during the 1920s. A number of well-known log buildings are testament to his log-building skills, including Skoki, Mount Temple Lodge and the Lake Louise Ski Lodge. During the 1930s, Boyce managed and expanded Skoki Lodge. He also supervised road construction on the Banff-Jasper Highway and the Alaska Alcan Military Highway for the U. S. Army during the Second World War and operated the Bar C Ranch (for William D. Cox) for many years. Boyce made his home in Banff.
Dorothy Frances Llewellyn (Whiteman) Boyce, 1901-2001, was the daughter of Rev Arthur Wellesley Richard Whiteman, 1865-1926, and Nina L. Whiteman, 1873-1956. After studying pharmacy at the University of Alberta, Dorothy came to Banff in 1922 to work for Dr. Brett. She subsequently studied at the University of Toronto, Ontario; worked at the Calgary General Hospital, Alberta, from 1926 to 1940; and during the Second World War, worked as a chemist in Quebec, Canada. After the death of her first husband, Tronson James Draper, 1879-1949, an oilman of Calgary, Alberta, Dorothy became a permanent resident of Banff. She owned and operated Travellers Digest in Banff and married Jim Boyce in 1957.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of material pertaining to the separate careers and families of Jim and Dorothy Boyce, as well as material from their life together.
Jim Boyce material consists mainly of business and personal papers and photographs, ca.1910-1982. Business papers arise mainly from the incorporation, operation and expropriation of the Lake Louise Ski Lodge (later Post Hotel) 1941-1969. Other business and personal material pertains to Skoki Lodge, 1933-1942; guiding and outfitting, 1938-1940; Army Service Forces and Alaska Alcan Military Highway, 1943-1944; Bar C Ranch, 1947-1969; laundry and rental businesses, 1962-1965, plans for Boyce house, Banff and family items. Correspondents include William D. Cox and Eldon Woolliams. Jim Boyce photographs pertain to family, friends, associates and activities, Banff and Skoki areas; includes guiding and outfitting, hunting, motion picture and dog team activities, Skoki Lodge and region, Alaska-Yukon activities, Bar C Ranch and personal material.
Papers of Dorothy Boyce, 1901-ca.1950, pertain to her childhood, university career, business life and first marriage; Dorothy Boyce photographs, ca.1920s-1940, pertain to family, friends, professional and recreational activities in Banff, Banff and Yoho National Parks, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Toronto.
Jim and Dorothy Boyce joint material includes photographs, 1900s-1990s, and incoming letters pertaining to home, travel and friends. Album includes mainly published postcards from all over the world. Fonds also includes Boyce family personal and financial papers, 1901-1928; business and estate papers of Joseph Boyce, 1908-1954; Tronson Draper and Draper family personal and professional papers and photographs, 1906-1949; and Whiteman family papers and photographs, ca.1860, 1885-ca.1925. Also included in the Boyce's personal records are film reels ca.1920-1970 which pertain mainly to the Skoki area.
Copyright, privacy, commercial use and other restrictions may apply
Language
English
Finding Aid
Finding aids and reference tools: preliminary electronic finding aid
motion picture summaries
Related Material
Transparencies by Adeline and/or George Link of trips with Jim Boyce, formerly retained by Jim Boyce, can be found in George K. K. Link fonds (M60/V276)
Accompanied by artifacts (Heritage collections, Whyte Museum)