Photographs, ca.1910-ca.1934, pertain to Radium Hot Springs and surrounding hotels and facilities; Kootenay National Park gate and area; Banff-Windermere Highway; fire near Floe Creek, 1926; Waterton Lakes National Park, 1927; and Bow Valley between Banff and Castle Mountain. Textual records are l…
132 photographs : prints, postcards, negatives. -- .5 cm of textual records
History / Biographical
Major A. I. Robertson was a British Columbia Land Surveyor at Radium Hot Springs and Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Robertson was involved in the Radium townsite survey. Maud V. Robertson developed and operated a tea room in the townsite near the west gate to Kootenay National Park, B.C.
Scope & Content
Photographs, ca.1910-ca.1934, pertain to Radium Hot Springs and surrounding hotels and facilities; Kootenay National Park gate and area; Banff-Windermere Highway; fire near Floe Creek, 1926; Waterton Lakes National Park, 1927; and Bow Valley between Banff and Castle Mountain. Textual records are legal papers, 1928-1934, re property in Radium Hot Springs (site of Maud V. Robertson's tea room); greeting cards from Tom Wilson, 1930, n.d.; and ephemera, 1923-1928, re Banff-Windermere highway and Walter J. Nixon, outfitter, of Invermere, B.C.
Fonds consists of personal and business papers regarding automobile traffic, visitation and tourism in Banff National Park, east gate; clippings and ephemera regarding history and personalities of the Bow Valley; prints and copy negatives pertaining mainly to Exshaw, Rocky Mountains Park entrance, …
4 cm textual records: originals and photocopies. -- ca.45 photographs: prints, postcards, copy negatives
History / Biographical
Annie Staple, 1883-1973, was born in Shrawley, Worcestershire, England. While working as a caregiver in a hospital in Derbyshire, she met Tom Staple. Annie and Tom were married in 1907 and immigrated to Canada. Tom became a warden for Rocky Mountains Park in 1913. Tom's assigned area was Kananaskis and a house (Gateway Lodge) was built for Tom and Annie between Kananaskis and Exshaw in 1916. In addition to area patrols, Tom's warden duties included issuing permits to visitors entering the park by automobile. The permit process included sealing guns, collecting park fees and distributing metal plates (the precursor to the park pass system). During Tom's absences, Annie issued the permits to automobile visitors. In 1916 Annie became the gatekeeper of the east-gate, which at that time was a table set up at the side of the road. Tom Staple died in 1919 while Annie was pregnant with their fourth child. Annie continued to work as the keeper of the east gate until 1948, when she retired.
In 1930 the park boundary was moved west of Canmore and while the entrance was under construction, Parks authorities relocated Annie to the west entrance of Yoho Park. Annie worked the winter of 1930-1931 at the Upper Hot Springs in Banff and returned to her position as keeper of the east gate in the spring of 1931. Construction of the new gate and a residence for Annie and her family lasted six years and during this period, the park boundary was moved again.
Following her retirement in 1948, Annie Staple moved to Seebe to live with her daughter's family and in 1953, she moved to Calgary to live with her sister, Nellie Whitburn. Following Nellie's death, Annie returned to live with her daughter's family in Canmore.
Annie and Tom Staple had four children, Joyce (1909-2001), Tom (1912-1941), Geoffrey (1913-1973), and Albert b.1920.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of personal and business papers regarding automobile traffic, visitation and tourism in Banff National Park, east gate; clippings and ephemera regarding history and personalities of the Bow Valley; prints and copy negatives pertaining mainly to Exshaw, Rocky Mountains Park entrance, Spray River warden cabin, Lake Minnewanka and Banff; postcards views of Banff and Rocky Mountains by Byron Harmon and Wm. J. Gibbons.
The Archives General File is an artificial collection of accessions which do not constitute separate fonds or collections or cannot be placed within existing fonds or collections. Included in the collection are textual records of many types, such as manuscripts, reports, letters, diaries, speeches…
57 cm textual records. -- 50 cm of photographs : prints. -- 189 photographs (15 framed prints, 51 transparencies, 79 negatives; 44 copy negatives). -- 3 photograph albums (139 prints). -- 6 motion pictures. -- 9 sound recordings
Scope & Content
The Archives General File is an artificial collection of accessions which do not constitute separate fonds or collections or cannot be placed within existing fonds or collections. Included in the collection are textual records of many types, such as manuscripts, reports, letters, diaries, speeches, poetry, plans and others; photographs in the form of prints, negatives, transparencies, albums, postcards, etc.; sound recorded interviews and programmes; and motion pictures. Material pertains broadly to the Banff area and many other areas within the Archives collecting mandate.
Notable items include: Walter Wilcox letter; George Kinney report; interviews with Bill Round and Edward Feuz; original copy of Treaty Number Seven; Mary Schaffer material, including letters, notes, photograph and report; reports on the Nakimu Caves; film pertaining to Banff Winter Carnival; Georgia Engelhard letters and photos; plans for buildings and structures; George Noble photograph; W. S. Park photograph.
Fonds consists of photographic business records of professional photographer Bill Gibbons in three series: I. Commercial black and white series, ca.1945-ca.1958, ca.5400 photographs; II. Canadian Rockies colour series, ca.1945-ca.1990, predominant ca.1966-ca.1972, ca.8000 photographs; III. Other …
Fonds consists of the private business records of Bill Gibbons. Some photographs may have been made by employees.
Date Range
[ca.1945-ca.1990]
Physical Description
ca.13,404 photographs: negatives, prints, transparencies, albums, postcards. -- 2.5 cm textual records
History / Biographical
W. J. L. "Bill" Gibbons, 1914-1994 , was a professional photographer at Banff, Alberta, Canada from 1945 until 1959. Gibbons came to Canada in 1941 and settled in Banff after the war with his wife, Ella Mae (Becker), a Banff native. He established British Photographic Laboratories, with partners Lou Crosby and Jack Anderson, in the basement of the Mount Royal Hotel, moving later to street-level. Bill and Ella Mae Gibbons travelled throughout the mountain parks photographing views for sale in the Banff shop. These were offered as hand-coloured prints, with much of the colouring done or supervised by Ella Mae.
Later the business expanded to include colour postcards and slide sets. Gibbons employed other photographers, such as Bruno Engler, for specialty work, such as ski photography, and the Banff studio also did portraiture. Gibbons himself did most of the 4 x 5 format landscape work and made extensive use of models, many of who were young women employed by his Banff store. In 1959, Gibbons sold his business to a group of Banff businessmen and moved to Vancouver. In subsequent years, he continued to be active as a photographer and in publishing, working in different areas of the world. He made several photographic trips through the mountain parks, ca.1966-1972.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of photographic business records of professional photographer Bill Gibbons in three series: I. Commercial black and white series, ca.1945-ca.1958, ca.5400 photographs; II. Canadian Rockies colour series, ca.1945-ca.1990, predominant ca.1966-ca.1972, ca.8000 photographs; III. Other black and white series, ca. 1947, 4 photographs.
I. Commercial black and white series consists of six sub-series: A. Portraits and documentary views, 1945-1950, 2437 negatives (individual and group portraits, weddings, conferences, events, buildings, facilities and places; Banff and area); B. Banff School of Fine Arts, ca.1949, 277 negatives (privately produced views of classes, group portraits, activities, buildings and facilities); C. "S" sub-series, ca.1950, 1220 negatives (scenic views in the vicinity of Banff, Lake Louise, Banff-Jasper Highway, Jasper National Park, Radium and Columbia Valley, British Columbia and Pacific Coast, First Nations views); D. "T" sub-series, ca.1950, 482 negatives (scenic and commercial views, mainly Jasper, Banff-Jasper Highway and Lake Louise areas); E. Rolliflex and panorama negatives, 1949-1958, 584 negatives (Banff Winter Carnival, Banff School of Fine Arts, and Banff and area); F. Other, ca.1945-1951, 364 items (material similar to that in other series, some unidentified). Accompanied by small number of prints and postcards; also, publication: "Photographing the Canadian Rockies" by Bill J. L. Gibbons, 1948.
II. Canadian Rockies colour series consists of four sub-series: A. CR1 to CR84, ca.1966-ca.1972, ca.260 prints; B. CR1 to CR443, ca.1966-ca.1972, ca.5130 photographs; C. CR35-2 to CR35-81, ca.1966-ca.1972, ca.2310 photographs; D. Other photographs, ca.1945-ca.1990. Series consists primarily of commercial colour negatives and corresponding proof prints pertaining to Banff, Jasper and Yoho National Parks, also some transparencies and oversize display prints.
III. Other black and white series. Series consists of 2 black and white prints of crash landing at Sunshine with Al Gaetz and Dick Pike, 1947 and two copy negatives with prints of Bruno Engler and Ella Mae Gibbons, ca.1947.
Textual records are record book, 1945-1953, 62 p; and book layout.
File consists of 5 cm of handwritten and typed correspondence, 23 x 34 cm or smaller. File pertains to correspondence between Carl Rungius and the Wardle family, as well as correspondence between Dorothy and Jon Whyte regarding gifting copies to the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies. File docume…
File consists of 5 cm of handwritten and typed correspondence, 23 x 34 cm or smaller. File pertains to correspondence between Carl Rungius and the Wardle family, as well as correspondence between Dorothy and Jon Whyte regarding gifting copies to the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies. File documents, among other things, the death of Louise (Carl's wife) in 1940; exhibiting Carl's work in the National Gallery of Canada, 1942 and 1956; and Carl's visits to the Wardle family home in Ottawa. Records also include a postcard and two Mayfair articles from 1943.
Notes
In 1983, Dorothy gifted photocopies of Carl's correspondence with her family. In 2003, the originals were donated as part of Dorothy's estate. The photocopies (accn. 5296) were discarded.
Carl Rungius was a wildlife and landscape painter who frequented and had a studio in Banff. The Wardle family was good friends with Rungius.
Fonds consists of letters, 1929-1972, including letters to Leslie Peters, 1929-1972 and Julius Peters, 1931-1938; Christmas cards from Beil to members of the Peters family; miscellaneous brochures, pamphlets, etc. illustrated with Beil's works; photographs. Papers discuss Banff Winter Carnival ice…
3 cm of textual records. -- 80 photographs : prints, postcards
History / Biographical
Charlie Beil, 1894-1976, was an artist at Banff, Alberta, Canada. Beil pursued his interest in art after meeting artist Charlie Russell in Glacier Park, Montana, USA. Prior to that, he worked as a cowboy and served in the U.S. Cavalry. Beil came to Banff in 1930 and settled there permanently in 1934. He established a studio and began to produce murals, dioramas and bronze sculptures. Beil was well-known for the latter and was active as an artist until his death. Charles Beil married Olive Luxton (1915-1983), ca.1940.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of letters, 1929-1972, including letters to Leslie Peters, 1929-1972 and Julius Peters, 1931-1938; Christmas cards from Beil to members of the Peters family; miscellaneous brochures, pamphlets, etc. illustrated with Beil's works; photographs. Papers discuss Banff Winter Carnival ice sculptures, Olive Beil, Grey Owl, and Beil's life and work as an artist, particularly in the 1930s and 1940s as he was becoming established in Banff. Photographs pertain to paintings, models and sculptures by Charlie Beil; also Calgary Stampede, Banff and Sunshine area views.
File consists of 8 hand-written letters with envelopes and an assortment of smaller correspondence, H28 x W21.5 cm or smaller.
M413 / I / 1 : Each letter is addressed to Charlie and is dated, signed, and written on a business or organization's letterhead, as follows: August 27, 1929, signed by Fri…
File consists of postcards and souvenir postcard booklets sent to members and friends of the Luxton family, including Eleanor, Norman and Georgina Luxton. Content pertains to locations and landmarks in various regions, including Canada, the United States, England, France and the Ivory Coast. File a…
ca. 250 prints : b&w and col. postcards ; 16 x 12 cm or smaller -- 1 b&w photograph : print ; 16 x 10.5 cm
Scope & Content
File consists of postcards and souvenir postcard booklets sent to members and friends of the Luxton family, including Eleanor, Norman and Georgina Luxton. Content pertains to locations and landmarks in various regions, including Canada, the United States, England, France and the Ivory Coast. File also includes one b&w photograph depicting a group of unidentified children.
Notes
Items in this file have been organized by geographical location. See "Content Details" entry field for contents of individual folders.
File consists of handwritten letters and 6 postcards which Molly Wright Adams sent to her sister, Catharine (Adams) Elkin, between 1891 and 1903. Contents pertain to Molly's travels in Europe, including trips to Switzerland, Italy, England, Germany, and the Netherlands.
File consists of handwritten letters and 6 postcards which Molly Wright Adams sent to her sister, Catharine (Adams) Elkin, between 1891 and 1903. Contents pertain to Molly's travels in Europe, including trips to Switzerland, Italy, England, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Notes
Items in file are accompanied by two envelopes addressed to Catharine Elkin and her husband, Dr. William Elkin.
Fonds consists of b&w photographs and postcards of Laggan, Lake Louise, Field, B.C., Cave and Basin pool, Lake Louise school, Moraine Lake, Bow River, Castle Mountain, Yoho Glacier, Mt. Lefroy, and Stony Creek Bridge ca.1921. Also included is a photograph of Ada Wilson (outfitter Tom Wilson's daugh…
55 photographs: prints, postcards; b&w. -- 2 textual records
History / Biographical
Marjorie Helen Folger Dean (b.1902 in Fargo, North Dakota, d.1974) and her family lived at Laggan, Lake Louise ca.1906-1918. Her father, William Dean (1878-1974) was a locomotive engineer with the C.P.R., 1911-1922. Her mother, Sarah Elizabeth Folger Dean, was born in 1883 in Delhi, Ontario and died in 1963. Marjorie Dean married Hargreaves Greenhough on August 6, 1925 in Edmonton, Alberta.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of b&w photographs and postcards of Laggan, Lake Louise, Field, B.C., Cave and Basin pool, Lake Louise school, Moraine Lake, Bow River, Castle Mountain, Yoho Glacier, Mt. Lefroy, and Stony Creek Bridge ca.1921. Also included is a photograph of Ada Wilson (outfitter Tom Wilson's daughter). Textual records include letter from Mary Audrey Dean Davidson to Pat Brewster, 1975 and letter from Dorothy Mae Dean Quigg to Audrey Davidson describing Laggan, its residents and facilities, ca.1906-1918.