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
Fonds consists of materials pertaining to Ben Gadd's personal life and career as an environmental researcher, educator, interpretive guide, publisher, public speaker and author, ca.1956-2018. Fonds includes maps, research materials, publication notes/drafts, correspondence, contracts, photographs, …
ca. 7.9 metres of textual records -- ca. 274 maps -- 29 VHS tapes -- ca.15 discs with digital files -- 21 cassettes -- photographs -- oversized materials -- USB stick with 15 sldeshows
History / Biographical
Ben Gadd (1946-) is a retired naturalist, guide, geologist, instructor, freelance writer and award-winning author based in the Canadian Rockies.
Ben was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1946. He met his wife, Cia (Langdon) Gadd at Colorado College in 1965, and the couple married four weeks later. Ben and Cia had two sons, Will and Toby. Ben and his family relocated to Jasper in the late 1960s. Ben later attended the University of Lethbridge and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Earth Science in 1972.
Between 1976 and 1980, Ben taught classes at Mount Royal College and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology; he later taught additional classes at Grant MacEwan College and Lakeland College. From 1981, Ben also worked as a seasonal naturalist/guide for Parks Canada. Ben left Parks Canada in 1985 to start an independent naturalist guiding business with Cia based in Jasper and other parts of the Canadian Rockies, which the couple continued to operate for over two decades.
Ben published his best-known work, "Handbook of the Canadian Rockies", through his publishing company Corax Press in 1986. The second edition of "Handbook of the Canadian Rockies" received multiple awards after its release in 1995. Ben's fiction book, "Raven's End" won the title of Best Canadian Rockies Book at the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival in 2001 and became a Canadian bestseller. Overall, Ben has authored or co-authored 11 books and received nearly one dozen awards for his achievements as a writer, researcher and guide.
Ben continued to lead guided hikes and school programs until his retirement in 2016.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of materials pertaining to Ben Gadd's personal life and career as an environmental researcher, educator, interpretive guide, publisher, public speaker and author, ca.1956-2018. Fonds includes maps, research materials, publication notes/drafts, correspondence, contracts, photographs, video and sound recordings, and other related material. Materials donated in 2024 include one USB stick containing
Notes
Ben Gadd fonds arrangement:
Series I : Personal records
- Subseries A : Travel guides and maps
- Subseries B : Education and early writings
- Subseries C : Personal interest files
- Subseries D : Other personal and collected
Series II : Research and publication records
- Subseries A : Handbook of the Canadian Rockies
- Subseries B : Other publications
Series III : Professional records
- Subseries A : Parks Canada Records
- Subseries B : Interpretive guiding
- Subseries C : Teaching records
- Subseries D : Other contracts and projects
Series IV : Legal and financial records
- Subseries A : Legal records
- Subseries B : Financial records
File consists of hand-drawn sample illustrations produced as potential advertising material or signage for the LUX Theatre in Banff, ca. 1916. Illustrations depict animal and human figures posed in various ways to spell "LUX".
7 drawings : illustration, ink ; 39.5 x 19.5 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of hand-drawn sample illustrations produced as potential advertising material or signage for the LUX Theatre in Banff, ca. 1916. Illustrations depict animal and human figures posed in various ways to spell "LUX".
Notes
4 and 6 have ink lines on the back, in addition to a pencil sketch on 6
File consists of research notes, sample drafts, photo lists and other materials collected or produced by Ben Gadd while working on illustrations for his book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies.
File consists of research notes, sample drafts, photo lists and other materials collected or produced by Ben Gadd while working on illustrations for his book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies.
File consists of one pencil outline [possibly drawn by Ben Gadd], depicting an unidentified landscape view in West Central Alberta. Drawing was used by Ben in the creation of interpretive signs.
File consists of one pencil outline [possibly drawn by Ben Gadd], depicting an unidentified landscape view in West Central Alberta. Drawing was used by Ben in the creation of interpretive signs.
File consists of 20 illustrations (13 printed, 7 hand drawn) depicting geological movements and environmental change. Images were possibly produced by Ben Gadd as part of an interpretive program or display for travel company Rocky Mountaineer.
File consists of 20 illustrations (13 printed, 7 hand drawn) depicting geological movements and environmental change. Images were possibly produced by Ben Gadd as part of an interpretive program or display for travel company Rocky Mountaineer.
File consists of letters and six postcards sent from Molly Wright Adams to various family members between 1904 and 1905; and three ink drawings depicting climbers scaling mountains [possibly drawn by Molly]. Letters and postcards are primarily addressed to Molly's sister, Catharine (Adams) Elkin [a…
1.5 cm of textual records -- 6 postcards -- 3 drawings
Scope & Content
File consists of letters and six postcards sent from Molly Wright Adams to various family members between 1904 and 1905; and three ink drawings depicting climbers scaling mountains [possibly drawn by Molly]. Letters and postcards are primarily addressed to Molly's sister, Catharine (Adams) Elkin [addressed mostly as "Katy"]. Letters pertain to Molly's travels in California, New Mexico, and the American and Canadian Rockies.
Notes
Materials in file previously stored with one leather-bound journal and four miniature monthly planners [1904-1905]. Journal and planners have been renumbered and processed as file M555 / II / 1.
File consists of 1 b&w sketch of Bruno Engler, titled: Bruno Engler Mountain Legend 1975, signed by Carol Bortenlanger 1 b&w photograph of Bruno Engler
File consists of 1 8 x 10 photograph (print) and 1 photocopy (ca. 1923) pertaining to Vancouver Amazon women's hockey team. The photograph depicts the team with filming crew.
File consists of 1 8 x 10 photograph (print) and 1 photocopy (ca. 1923) pertaining to Vancouver Amazon women's hockey team. The photograph depicts the team with filming crew.
File consists of 1 8 x 10 photograph (print) and 1 photocopy (ca. 1923) pertaining to Vancouver Amazon women's hockey team. The photograph depicts the team with filming crew.
File consists of 1 8 x 10 photograph (print) and 1 photocopy (ca. 1923) pertaining to Vancouver Amazon women's hockey team. The photograph depicts the team with filming crew.
File consists of 14 colour and b&w oversized promotional posters and information boards for Banff Indian Days celebrations, promoted by Canadian Pacific. Posters largely feature identified and unidentified Indigenous people, notably Chief Spotted Eagle and Blind Eagle. Art medium includes oil pain…
Published and artwork attributed to Ernie Kehr, W.L. Kihn, G.H.W. Ashley, Crag & Canyon Press, Palenske, Canadian Pacific and Multi Color Poster
Date Range
[ca. 1930-1950]
1936
1937
1949
Physical Description
14 posters : colour and b&w ; 35 x 56 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 14 colour and b&w oversized promotional posters and information boards for Banff Indian Days celebrations, promoted by Canadian Pacific. Posters largely feature identified and unidentified Indigenous people, notably Chief Spotted Eagle and Blind Eagle. Art medium includes oil paint process mounted on cardboard made in Canada and distributed by Exhibits Branch Canadian Pacific, lithographic prints, and a mounted drawing attributed to Palenske. Some have annotations or stamps on the back.
Notes
Possibly unassociated shipping packing material addressed to Norman Luxton at the Trading Post from E.A. Kehr found in box - this has not been assigned a number.
D3-10, a lithographic promotional material from 1936 has an identical design to LUX / II / F1 / 47, an Indian Days poster from 1928
Items LUX / I / D3 / 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 were originally associated with LUX / I / D3a / 6, which contains brochures and a flyer from Banff Indian Days
LUX / I / D3 / 8, Palenske may have potentionally used photograph LUX / I / D3a / PA-26 as reference
Material Details
Some posters have foldable cardboard stand at back to place upright on surface, adhesives, and perhaps mounting additives.
File consists of 5 colour advertising posters, 2 calendar pages, and one hand-drawn illustration. Content pertains to 'The Banff Chairlift on Mt. Norquay'; a Laurie Signs Ltd. ad with a Nicholas Morant image and metal hanger (formerly a page from a calendar, date unknown); a 'Bourne Bros.' calendar…
File consists of 5 colour advertising posters, 2 calendar pages, and one hand-drawn illustration. Content pertains to 'The Banff Chairlift on Mt. Norquay'; a Laurie Signs Ltd. ad with a Nicholas Morant image and metal hanger (formerly a page from a calendar, date unknown); a 'Bourne Bros.' calendar dated '1913', featuring a large image of a woman named 'Berenice' on a metal hanger; 4 red and white Royal York Hotel advertising posters with cardboard attachments on back to stand upright; and an illustration addressed to Nicholas Morant (unknown artist), drawn in pencil, depicting a character covered in porcupine quills (?) with an easel, painting the message 'dere Marantz thanks 4 the encouragement'.
Notes
4 Royal York Hotel posters formerly stored in individual brown paper packaging with cardboard supports inside, labelled 'Royal York Hotel Poster' on the front of each in black marker. Original packaging has been removed for conservation reasons.
Storage Range
In file box M300 / II / C / 6 / 1 to M300 / II / C / 6 / 8 & M300 / II / C / 6 / 70 to 72
One photo album, blue, produced by Canadian Pacific Corporate Archives staff in honour of Nicholas Morant's retirement in 1981. Contains 63 photographs (9 colour, 56 b&w) pertaining to photography by and featuring Nicholas and Ivy "Willie" Morant, with typed captions and notes to Nicholas Morant by…
One photo album, blue, produced by Canadian Pacific Corporate Archives staff in honour of Nicholas Morant's retirement in 1981. Contains 63 photographs (9 colour, 56 b&w) pertaining to photography by and featuring Nicholas and Ivy "Willie" Morant, with typed captions and notes to Nicholas Morant by Canadian Pacific staff. Contains two pages of signatures by staff members, a hand-drawn illustration, and a birthday card to Nicholas signed by Willie (n.d.).
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
Pages which have been damaged by prolonged contact with the plastic pockets within the photo album have been re-housed in mylar to prevent further damage. If additional damage occurs to other pages/photos, they should be treated similarly.
File consists of one scrapbook containing ca. 65 news article clippings, 24 track and field ribbons, 5 sports team patches and 2 hand-drawn pencil illustrations of hockey goalies [one captioned "Charlie Gardiner"]. Content pertains to Jack Kidney MacAulay's hockey career including awards, Banff hoc…
2 cm of textual records (1 scrapbook : 19 pages ; 26 x 30 cm)
Scope & Content
File consists of one scrapbook containing ca. 65 news article clippings, 24 track and field ribbons, 5 sports team patches and 2 hand-drawn pencil illustrations of hockey goalies [one captioned "Charlie Gardiner"]. Content pertains to Jack Kidney MacAulay's hockey career including awards, Banff hockey games and team members [late 1930's], and numerous news articles announcing updates on local military members and obituaries of individuals local to the Banff area. Includes articles announcing marriage and death of Margaret Simpson.
File consists of one scrapbook, mostly empty, containing ca. 48 newspaper clippings, a pamphlet re: the Banff Elementary School Spring Concert in May 1969, and a signed original sketch by Peter Whyte. Content pertains to the openings of the Whyte Museum Archives and the Harvie Theatre in Banff, Pet…
4 cm of textual records (1 scrapbook : 18 pages ; 30 x 37 cm)
Scope & Content
File consists of one scrapbook, mostly empty, containing ca. 48 newspaper clippings, a pamphlet re: the Banff Elementary School Spring Concert in May 1969, and a signed original sketch by Peter Whyte. Content pertains to the openings of the Whyte Museum Archives and the Harvie Theatre in Banff, Peter and Catharine Whyte, Senator Donald Cameron and Margaret Greenham.
File consists of textual records pertaining to trips led by the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies. Includes an annotated skit performed on a 1982 trail ride, drafts of possible content for newsletters, freelance writing samples, and accounts of specific trail rides. Most items list author(s) and…
File consists of textual records pertaining to trips led by the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies. Includes an annotated skit performed on a 1982 trail ride, drafts of possible content for newsletters, freelance writing samples, and accounts of specific trail rides. Most items list author(s) and date. File also includes several annotated sketches depicting trail riders.
Notes
File contains duplicates which have been attached to each other