Fonds consists of personal and professional papers of Iva Smith, 1904-1973, and of Len Smith, 1935-1963; personal papers of Zaidee Stewart, 1905-1950; Smith family photographs, ca.1890-ca.1960; also newsclippings, tourist information, other print material. Iva Smith papers include personal correspo…
39 cm of textual records. -- ca.525 photographs : prints, negatives. -- 1 photograph album (ca.75 prints)
History / Biographical
Iva (Stewart) Smith , 1894-1975, and Leonard James Smith, 1890-1969, were business operators at Banff, Alberta, Canada. Iva Stewart and her mother Zaidee Stewart, 1875-1962, came to Banff as visitors in 1913 and decided to stay. Iva operated the Canadian Pacific Railway station news stand from 1914 until ca.1924. She married Len Smith in 1922.
After working at various other CPR facilities, including Lake Louise Chalet in the 1920s and Wapta Bungalow Camp, ca.1931, Iva Smith became manager of Becker's Bungalows on Tunnel Mountain in Banff, ca.1935 Len Smith worked at the Bow River boat house and was Captain of the "Lake Minnewanka" for over thirty years. He was also an ice-maker at Edmonton, Calgary, Lethbridge and Banff, Alberta for forty-five years. Zaidee M. Stewart worked at the boat operation tea house and wrote poetry, publishing "Banff Holiday" in 1950.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of personal and professional papers of Iva Smith, 1904-1973, and of Len Smith, 1935-1963; personal papers of Zaidee Stewart, 1905-1950; Smith family photographs, ca.1890-ca.1960; also newsclippings, tourist information, other print material.
Iva Smith papers include personal correspondence, 1904-1973, and business papers pertaining to the CPR news stand, 1914-1924. Len Smith professional papers pertain to his work as boat engineer. Zaidee Stewart papers include correspondence, diaries, poetry and papers re the publication "Banff Holiday."
Family photographs pertaining to Iva and Len Smith, family, friends and associates, activities, careers, trips and world travels; Banff people, places and events, especially Banff Winter Carnival and Banff Indian Days; film making, including Pajamas (1926) and Eternal Love (1928); Lake Louise and Lake Minnewanka areas; canoeing; scenic views; and other collected items.