Fonds constitutes the principal resource for the study of the history of Canadian mountaineering. It provides a wealth of information on individual alpinists, expeditions, mountains, national parks, conservation, climbing, alpine organizations, publications, guiding, scientific study and the Alpin…
ca.42 m of textual records. -- ca.12,500 photographs: prints, stereographic prints, transparencies, slides, negatives, postcards. -- 85 photograph albums. -- 8 motion pictures: films, video recordings. -- 3 sound recordings
History / Biographical
The Alpine Club of Canada, the national mountaineering club, was co-founded in 1906 by A. O. Wheeler and Elizabeth Parker, and other like-minded climbers. The club espoused scientific study and exploration, cultivation of art, public education, acquisition of climbing skills, and preservation of natural areas within the mountainous regions of Canada. Through a national executive, local sections and volunteer committees, the club provided climbing camps, clubhouse, huts, and publications, including the Canadian Alpine Journal. ACC expeditions and projects resulted in pioneer exploration, first ascents, and included mountain warfare training during the Second World War. In recent years, the club's membership has increased dramatically with the popularity of climbing and its programs have evolved to serve the needs of unguided climbers using sophisticated technical aids.
Scope & Content
Fonds constitutes the principal resource for the study of the history of Canadian mountaineering. It provides a wealth of information on individual alpinists, expeditions, mountains, national parks, conservation, climbing, alpine organizations, publications, guiding, scientific study and the Alpine Club itself.
The fonds consists of four Sous-fonds: I. Alpine Club of Canada records; II. Mount Everest Expedition (1982) records; III. Personal papers and photographs; IV. Other material. Club administration records (series I.A.) pertain to executive positions; head office; finance; camps, climbing and treks; expeditions; huts and properties; clubhouses; library; publications; photography; other committees; other activities; and other. Other club records include section records (series I.B.), hut registers and summit records (series I.C.).
Photographs pertain to mountain peaks, glaciers, landscapes and scenery; mountaineering and alpine recreation; mountaineers and personalities, including portraits; huts; events and other subjects. A significant portion pertain to Alpine Club camps (ca.225 prints, 8 negatives and 5 albums containin…
Most items, including the six photograph albums, were likely produced by private individuals and club members. Includes photographs by: M. E. Alford, L. M. S. Amery, Fred Armbrister, A. H. Bent, B. C. Government, Eric Brooks, Allan Carpe, P. A. Carson, W. M. Docharty, Mary Fallis, Marion Fawdry, E. Feuz, F. W. Godsal, Douglas Griffin, L. G. Grimble, Klaus Hahn, Don Harmon, E. W. D. Holway, Frank Jacobs, Wally Joyce, E. Mills, C. H. Mitchell, Elfreda Pigou, Jaroslav Ruza, Mary Schaffer, W. E. Stone, J. M. Thorington, W. J. Topley, Hap Trevelyan, Underwood and Underwood, Valentine and Sons, Charles Walcott, Bradford Washburn and A. G. Wehrli. Many items are not credited.
Date Range
[ca.1900-1960]
Physical Description
ca.720 photographs (ca.560 prints, ca.40 negatives, ca.120 transparencies, 6 albums of ca.350 prints)
Scope & Content
Photographs pertain to mountain peaks, glaciers, landscapes and scenery; mountaineering and alpine recreation; mountaineers and personalities, including portraits; huts; events and other subjects. A significant portion pertain to Alpine Club camps (ca.225 prints, 8 negatives and 5 albums containing over 300 prints). Camps and expeditions documented include: Yoho Valley (1906) (1919); Paradise Valley (1907); Sherbrooke Lake (1911); Vermilion Pass (1912); Mount Robson (1913); Cathedral Mountain (1913); Upper Yoho Valley (1914); Ptarmigan Lake (1915); Healy Creek (1916); Lake of Hanging Glacier (1928); Coast Range (1952); Eremite Valley and others. Portraits include those of Charles Fay, Jean Habel, Frank R. Oastler, James F. Porter, H. E. Sampson, Charles D. Walcott and A. O. Wheeler. Includes series of British Columbia air photos of B.C. locations in the 1950s (AC 055 / 60-66). Contains many unidentified and undated items.
Textual items are diaries pertaining to ACC summer camps and Maligne Lake ski camp. Photographs pertain to Glacier ACC camp, 1947; Peyto Lake camp, 1948; Freshfield Glacier camp, 1949; Mount Assiniboine camp, 1952; Scott Glacier [Hooker Icefield], 1953; Glacier camp 1956; and Maligne Lake ski camp…
Textual items are diaries pertaining to ACC summer camps and Maligne Lake ski camp. Photographs pertain to Glacier ACC camp, 1947; Peyto Lake camp, 1948; Freshfield Glacier camp, 1949; Mount Assiniboine camp, 1952; Scott Glacier [Hooker Icefield], 1953; Glacier camp 1956; and Maligne Lake ski camp, 1957. Prints have identifications on reverse.
Display photographs consists of photographs selected and numbered by the ACC for display in clubhouses, huts and other locations. Photographic subjects include mountain peaks, landscapes and scenery, both regional and international; mountaineering and alpine recreation; camps and expeditions; flor…
Display photographs consists of photographs selected and numbered by the ACC for display in clubhouses, huts and other locations. Photographic subjects include mountain peaks, landscapes and scenery, both regional and international; mountaineering and alpine recreation; camps and expeditions; flora and fauna; clubhouse views; and portraits of mountaineers, alpine club members, executive officers and prominent personalities. Also includes a group photograph of the 1906 founding meeting of the Alpine Club of Canada in Winnipeg (ACOOP/77)
Included are ca.180 photographs which were submitted to the ACC though various photographic competitions (AC 00P / 11, 21, 29, 30, 32, 36, 41, 55 - 57, 63, 76, 109, 111, 202, 223, 230, 240, 244, 284 - 443).
A. T. Wiebrecht AC00P/223,353-366,373-379,382-387,397,400;
Walter Wilcox AC00P/20,130,136,154,255-257;
A. O. Wheeler AC00P/207,208,212,213;
LIST OF SUBJECTS :
Philip Stanley Abbot AC00P/245;
L. S. Amery AC00P/206,222;
F. C. Bell AC00P/87;
Cora Johnstone Best AC00P/104;
John F. Brett AC00P/96;
A. P. Coleman AC00P/82;
J. H. Cuntz AC00P/116;
Edward VII AC00P/203;
Charles E. Fay AC00P/69;
Sandford Fleming AC00P/250;
W. W. Foster AC00P/76,89;
Rex Gibson AC00P/75,90;
H. A. V. Green AC00P/92;
C. Hasler AC00P/134;
James Hector AC00P/93;
J. W. A. Hickson AC00P/86;
John Hunter AC00P/264;
Judas Hunter AC00P/238;
Enos Hunter AC00P/239;
Stanley L. Jones AC00P/242;
Lino Lacedelli AC00P/268;
Ben Lomond AC00P/411;
C. H. Mitchell AC00P/79;
John Muir AC00P/66;
A. H. MacCarthy AC00P/70,76;
Leonard H. Marvin;
S. H. Mitchell AC00P/84,235;
T. B. Moffat AC00P/83;
Don Munday AC00P/74;
Phyl Munday AC00P/418;
Tenzing Norgay AC00P/72;
James Outram AC00P/80;
J. D. Patterson AC00P/98;
Elfreda Pigou AC00P/418;
H. E. Sampson AC00P/97;
Benjamin Frank Seaver AC00P/110,115?,116,243;
A. S. Sibbald AC00P/95;
W. E. Stone AC00P/73;
W. R. Tweedy AC00P/81;
Sidney R. Vallance AC00P/91;
Frank N. Waterman AC00P/237;
C. G. Wates AC00P/94;
A. O. Wheeler AC00P/206;
E. O. Wheeler AC00P/71,85;
Hector Wheeler AC00P/247;
Edward Whymper AC00P/93,251;
Walter Wilcox AC00P/264;
Tom Wilson AC00P/236,264;
T. Fraser, L.O. Armstrong, Tom Martin, W. H. Bedford, Alex Gordon; Jean Parker, Stanley Wills, Stanley Mitchell, L. Q. Coleman; J. W. Kelly, W. J. Taylor, A. O. Wheeler, Elizabeth Parker, E. A. Haggan, J. C. Herdman, A. P. Coleman, Dean Paget, William Brewster ACOOP/77