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 the Huts Committee reports at various Annual General Meetings, correspondence about staff at the Vancouver Section's office, the Publications Committee reports to the Board, and a proposal to the Board for a Marketing Committee. Includes a position paper presented by the Mountain M…
File consists of the Huts Committee reports at various Annual General Meetings, correspondence about staff at the Vancouver Section's office, the Publications Committee reports to the Board, and a proposal to the Board for a Marketing Committee. Includes a position paper presented by the Mountain Management Committee, the Awards Committee reports to the Board, and the Winnipeg Section's Annual Report from 1988. The Annual report of the Summit Register Co-ordinator 1988, meeting minutes for the Executive Committee in 1988, and the Expeditions Committee reports. Meeting minutes of the Semi-Annual Board Meeting in 1988, as well as the Annual General Meeting minutes, and Board of Directors meeting minutes.
Notes
Original file contained Executive Correspondence, Strategic Plans, Business Proposals and other Executive records that were separated into M200 / I / E: Executive Records section, due to the fact that those records were relevant Club-wide, and did not constitute as Club meeting minutes or Club reports.
File consists of meeting minutes of the Executive Committee, a Staff Priorities Report, a Governance Committee report, correspondence between Executive Committee members, and other committee reports to the Board from 1993 and 1994. Includes the First Quarter Report to the Board on Alpine Club Activ…
File consists of meeting minutes of the Executive Committee, a Staff Priorities Report, a Governance Committee report, correspondence between Executive Committee members, and other committee reports to the Board from 1993 and 1994. Includes the First Quarter Report to the Board on Alpine Club Activities from March 1994, the Facilities Report from 1994, and a Supplementary Report to the Executive Committee from March 1994
File consists of the Executive Committee meeting minutes and reports from March 11 -12, 1995. Includes position descriptions for the Club Secretary and the Communications/Marketing position.
File consists of the Executive Committee meeting minutes and reports from March 11 -12, 1995. Includes position descriptions for the Club Secretary and the Communications/Marketing position.
File consists of 2 posters printed (colour) on construction paper, advertising "A Talk Without Words" presentation by Nicholas and Ivy Morant. Posters have mostly identical texts, with variation in bottom text describing the location/date/time of presentation (one says "Ballroom Wednesday 8:30 P.M.…
"A Talk Without Words" was a sideshow presentation with musical accompaniment featuring Nicholas and Ivy Morant's professional and travel photography. The presentations were put on around the 1960's, and continued for about 15 years.
Scope & Content
File consists of 2 posters printed (colour) on construction paper, advertising "A Talk Without Words" presentation by Nicholas and Ivy Morant. Posters have mostly identical texts, with variation in bottom text describing the location/date/time of presentation (one says "Ballroom Wednesday 8:30 P.M.", two say "The Ballroom Sunday 9:00 P.M").
Notes
2 copies originally came from set of 52 and were selected for processing. The other 50 copies are currently in oversize storage with other non-annotated items from Nicholas Morant accession #7784 (upstairs vault).
Storage Range
In file box M300 / II / C / 6 / 1 to M300 / II / C / 6 / 8
& M300 / II / C / 6 / 70 to 72
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 49 b&w prints, various sizes, pertaining to a wide range of topics and dates. Contains professional photographs of Nicholas Morant at various ages, some of him working; picture of Nicholas Morant by Ivy Morant (1949) in a Beefeater costume, posing for a cover photograph for Christm…
Produced by Nicholas Morant, Ivy 'Willie' Morant, Laird Brown and Ace Williams
Date Range
[ca. 1930 - ca. 1940]
[ca. 1940 - ca. 1944]
1949
[ca. 1950 - ca. 1960]
1964
ca. 1979
[ca. 1980]
Physical Description
49 Photographs: prints; b&w
Scope & Content
File consists of 49 b&w prints, various sizes, pertaining to a wide range of topics and dates. Contains professional photographs of Nicholas Morant at various ages, some of him working; picture of Nicholas Morant by Ivy Morant (1949) in a Beefeater costume, posing for a cover photograph for Christmas dinner menus at Empress Hotel, 1949; pictures by unknown photographer(s) of Nicholas Morant taking WWII action shots, and other photographs by Morant of soldiers; other miscellaneous photographs by Nicholas Morant of balance beam performers, factory workers, staged promotional images, etc.
Storage Range
In file box V500 / II / C / 5 / PA - 326 to V500 / II / C / 5 / PA - 648
Photographic prints in this file are not to be accessed or distributed without the explicit permission of their identified copyright owners.
Reproduction Restrictions
Photographic prints in this file are not to be reproduced without the explicit permission of their identified copyright owners.
Language
English
Conservation
Prints with ink or other risky materials attached need to be stored in mylar to protect adjacent prints. File must be stored in appropriate conditions.
One yellow/beige mailing envelope, addressed to Nicholas Morant at home address in Banff. Handwritten label by Morant referencing "Rungius" (likely Carl Rungius), possibly the sender. Previously contained 4 non-annotated copies of Audubon magazine (November 1984 issue) which have been moved to box …
One yellow/beige mailing envelope, addressed to Nicholas Morant at home address in Banff. Handwritten label by Morant referencing "Rungius" (likely Carl Rungius), possibly the sender. Previously contained 4 non-annotated copies of Audubon magazine (November 1984 issue) which have been moved to box of non-annotated Morant textual content in upstairs vault (accn. 7784).
Notes
Various labels and stamps on front of envelope:
“RUNGIUS – AUDUBON” (in black marker)
“AUDUBON 950 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 10022” “Mr. Nicholas Morant P.O. Box 1288 Banff, Alberta T0L 0C0 CANADA” (blue and white mailing label on front centre)
Customs clearance stamp, Edmonton
“PRINTED MATTER” (stamp x2 on front)
“NEW YORK NOV. 20 ’84 N.Y. U.S. POSTAGE 1.81” (red ink postage stamp on white sticker)
File consists of 7 cassette tapes and 10 VHS tapes re: Nicholas Morant and the Canadian Pacific Railway. Includes 6 cassette tapes with recorded 1986/1987 interviews with Nicholas Morant; 1 cassette recording of steam locomotive sounds used for a Revelstoke Museum exhibit on Nicholas Morant; and 10…
File consists of 7 cassette tapes and 10 VHS tapes re: Nicholas Morant and the Canadian Pacific Railway. Includes 6 cassette tapes with recorded 1986/1987 interviews with Nicholas Morant; 1 cassette recording of steam locomotive sounds used for a Revelstoke Museum exhibit on Nicholas Morant; and 10 VHS tapes containing various content, including footage of Nick Morant receiving the Order of Canada in 1990, TV and film features on Nicholas Morant and TV news broadcasts discussing CP Rail and/or Nicholas Morant.
Notes
Originally stored in box for mandarin oranges, accompanied by business card for J.C. Edgar Rozon.
S20/III/A6/10: Order of Canada Awards - Rideau Hall - October 24, 1990
S20/III/A6/11: Nick Morant Tape 1 1986 Interviews
S20/III/A6/12: Nick Morant Tape 2 cont.'d 1986 1986 interviews continued
S20/III/A6/13: Nick Morant tape #3 1986 Interviews N. Morant
S20/III/A6/14: Nick Morant Tape #4 1987 Interviews
S20/III/A6/15: Nick Morant Tape #5 1987 1987 Interviews
S20/III/A6/16: Nick Morant Tape #6 1987 Interviews
S20/III/A6/17: CPR Sounds. Nick Morant Steam Locos [On front of cassette:] "NICHOLAS MORANT DEDICATION OF RVELSTOKE [sic] MUSEUM - STEAM LOCO SOUNDS - EDITED TO 9 mins."
File consists of the time distribution of the Executive Secretary/Bookkeeper, reports to the Board of Directors, as well as meeting minutes of the Board of Directors. Also includes correspondence about proposed ski camps in 1988, a Marketing Feasibility study/final report for 1987, and corresponden…
File consists of the time distribution of the Executive Secretary/Bookkeeper, reports to the Board of Directors, as well as meeting minutes of the Board of Directors. Also includes correspondence about proposed ski camps in 1988, a Marketing Feasibility study/final report for 1987, and correspondence between Club members on the operation of the A.C.C.
