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
Sub-series pertains to 84 b&w and colour prints depicting assorted activities and events around Banff National Park. Includes pack trips, skiing, backcountry huts [Abbot Pass Hut and Bow Hut], community events, shops, a Canada Day Parade, the Canadian Centennial in 1967, a Royal visit in 1959, chur…
84 photographs : b&w and col. ; 25.1 x 20.1 cm or smaller
History / Biographical
See fonds level description
Scope & Content
Sub-series pertains to 84 b&w and colour prints depicting assorted activities and events around Banff National Park. Includes pack trips, skiing, backcountry huts [Abbot Pass Hut and Bow Hut], community events, shops, a Canada Day Parade, the Canadian Centennial in 1967, a Royal visit in 1959, churches, school programs, the 1967 Mount Royal Hotel fire, Banff Indian Days, high altitude mountaineering, conferences, boating on the Bow River, and rodeos.
File consists of architectural and grounds plans and drawings for St. Mary's Parish in Banff, comprising 9 sheets, H58 x W89 cm to H43 x W58 cm. Plans are possibly diazotype (diazo) prints. Designed by Father Robert McGuinness. Donated by Stevenson Raines Barrett Christie Hutton Seton & Partners (l…
9 architectural drawings : annotations ; 89 x 58 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of architectural and grounds plans and drawings for St. Mary's Parish in Banff, comprising 9 sheets, H58 x W89 cm to H43 x W58 cm.
Plans are possibly diazotype (diazo) prints.
Designed by Father Robert McGuinness.
Donated by Stevenson Raines Barrett Christie Hutton Seton & Partners (later Raines Finlayson Barrett) to the Canadian Architectural Archives at the University of Calgary.
Notes
Father Robert McGuinness was an engineer with the Canadian federal government and the Canadian Pacific Railway before entering the priesthood. After becoming ordained in Rome, Father McGuinness traveled around Europe and his designs for St. Mary's Parish were influenced by the ancient stone churches he visited during his travels.
The church was known by different names, including: St. Mary of the Assumption and St. Mary's Catholic Church. It is currently called St. Mary's Parish.
File pertains to 16 black and white photographs of buildings and activities around the Banff townsite including skiing at Mt. Norquay, swimming at the Upper Hot Springs, visiting the Cave & Basin, children holding skates, Banff Avenue, and Monachello standing outside Rundle United Church. Photos we…
File pertains to 16 black and white photographs of buildings and activities around the Banff townsite including skiing at Mt. Norquay, swimming at the Upper Hot Springs, visiting the Cave & Basin, children holding skates, Banff Avenue, and Monachello standing outside Rundle United Church. Photos were taken by Placido Monachello, annotated, and sent to his [then] fiance Leona in Hamilton, Ontario.
Image of the Banff townsite - visible are the Presbyterian Church, Auditorium, and Standish & Son building, among many others - in winter [possibly taken from the Bald Spot on Norquay]
Image of the Banff townsite - visible are the Presbyterian Church, Auditorium, and Standish & Son building, among many others - in winter [possibly taken from the Bald Spot on Norquay]
Image of the downtown area of Banff - visible are the Mount Royal Hotel, Cascade Hotel, and St. George's-in-the-Pines Church, among other buildings - in winter [possibly taken from the Bald Spot on Norquay]
Image of the downtown area of Banff - visible are the Mount Royal Hotel, Cascade Hotel, and St. George's-in-the-Pines Church, among other buildings - in winter [possibly taken from the Bald Spot on Norquay]
Image of the Banff downtown area with several hotels, churches, businesses, and homes visible, as well as the Bow River in the distance [possibly taken from the Bald Spot on Norquay]
Image of the Banff downtown area with several hotels, churches, businesses, and homes visible, as well as the Bow River in the distance [possibly taken from the Bald Spot on Norquay]
File pertains to 68 b&w prints of various buildings' interiors and exteriors around Banff, Edmonton, Radium, and Wapta. Includes St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Mineral Springs Hospital (located on the south side of the Bow River), the Voyager Inn, the Rimrock Inn, the Parks Canada Administration B…
File pertains to 68 b&w prints of various buildings' interiors and exteriors around Banff, Edmonton, Radium, and Wapta. Includes St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Mineral Springs Hospital (located on the south side of the Bow River), the Voyager Inn, the Rimrock Inn, the Parks Canada Administration Building, Num-ti-Jaw Lodge, the lobby of the Bank of Montreal, various unidentified houses (both intact and being demolished), a federal building in Edmonton, the Radium Hot Springs Inn, the Wapta Inn, alters and shrines (interior and exterior), and the interiors of various hotels - including public spaces and rooms.