Fonds consists of three series: I. Personal, literary and research papers, 1907-ca.1935; II. Mary Schaffer photographs, 1893-ca.1920; II. Other, 1895-1928. I. Papers series consists of four sub-series: A. Correspondence, 1908-1922; B. Literary manuscripts (original and published), 1907-ca.1925; …
35 cm of textual records. -- ca.2025 photographs (ca.1550 transparencies, ca.400 negatives, 75 prints). -- 7 photograph albums (ca.1760 prints)
History / Biographical
Mary Schaffer, 1861-1939, also known as Mary Schaffer Warren, was an American explorer, photographer and artist who visited the Canadian Rockies and Selkirk Mountains frequently beginning in 1888, finally settling in Banff, Alberta in 1912. Born Mary Townsend Sharples to moderately wealthy Quaker parents at West Chester, Pennsylvania, she first visited the Canadian Rockies and Selkirk Mountains in 1888 with her friend Mary Vaux. She returned the following year with her husband, Dr. Charles Schaffer, and until Charles died in 1903, the Schaffers travelled annually to the mountains to study botany. Using Dr. Schaffer's data and her drawings and photographs, Mary Schaffer and Stewardson Brown completed "Alpine flora of the Canadian Rocky Mountains" in 1907.
Schaffer continued to travel in the Canadian mountains, often through remote regions. In 1908, she reached Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park, Alberta, and returned in 1911 to survey the region. "Old Indian Trails of the Canadian Rockies," 1911, recounts her adventures of 1907 and 1908. Schaffer settled in Banff in 1912 and married her guide, Billy Warren, in 1915.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of three series: I. Personal, literary and research papers, 1907-ca.1935; II. Mary Schaffer photographs, 1893-ca.1920; II. Other, 1895-1928.
I. Papers series consists of four sub-series: A. Correspondence, 1908-1922; B. Literary manuscripts (original and published), 1907-ca.1925; C. Maps of Maligne Lake; D. Other, 1905-ca.1935. Literary manuscripts pertain to the Athabasca River, Maligne Lake, Howse, Yellowhead and Athabasca passes; hunting; Dr. Gilbert Atkin and Nurse Fulcher's medical mission to Ya Ha Tinda Ranch; Banff, Revelstoke BC, Saskatchewan River; Stoney Nakoda; Palliser Expedition; and Mary Schaffer life and activities.
II. Photographs series consists of four sub-series: A. Lantern slides; B. Photograph albums; C. Negatives; D. Prints. Lantern slides pertain to Mary Schaffer's trips to Maligne Lake and Yellowhead Pass, mountain scenics, nature subjects (animals, birds, flowers); and includes Mary Schaffer's lantern slide presentations "In the Heart of the Canadian Rockies", accompanied by scripts; Philip Moore's Indigenous lecture series, mainly copies from books and other graphic sources; and Mary Schaffer's slides of China and Japan. Photograph albums, 1908-ca.1921, pertain mainly to trips in the Canadian Rocky and Selkirk Mountains, especially expeditions to the Yoho and Ptarmigan Valleys, Nakimu Caves, North Saskatchewan River, Wilcox Pass and Maligne Lake. Two albums pertain to travels in Mexico and Asia. Negatives pertain mainly to Schaffer's trips and explorations, Glacier House and environs, alpine flora and fauna, mountain views, portraits, Sampson Beaver family, 1902-1911.
III. Other material series consists of diaries of Molly Adams, 1908, and Mrs. H. H. Sharples, 1911, and original manuscripts and published reports by other writers, 1895-1928.
Negatives pertain mainly to flora and explorations. Many mountain and plant views are unidentified. Includes two photographs of the Sampson Beaver family
Negatives pertain mainly to flora and explorations. Many mountain and plant views are unidentified. Includes two photographs of the Sampson Beaver family
Access Restrictions
Access by appointment only
Finding Aid
Item list available. Some reference prints are available.
Title Source
Title based on contents of file
Content Details
This material is presented as originally created, it contains outdated cultural descriptions and potentially offensive content. Materials in historical collections reflect the attitudes, ideas, and norms of the era and culture in which they were created or collected. Offensive or harmful terms are retained for historical accuracy or to document the issues and social context of a specific time and the attitudes and opinions of the people who created the material.
LIST OF NEGATIVES (V527/NG) :
1 [Plant] / Mary Schaffer. -- 1906
2 Mt. Forbes and Lyall Ice Fields from junction of Bear Creek and Saskatchewan River / Mary Schaffer. -- 1906
Album pertains to travels to Lake Louise, Field, Glacier House and expeditions from 1904-1908 seasons. Includes the following locations: Lake Louise, Field BC, Glacier House, Ross Peak, Badger Pass, Pipestone, Ptarmigan and Molar Pass, Nashan Valley, Wilcox Pass, Pinto summit, Mount Columbia, Mou…
Photographers include Mary Schaffer, Elliott Barnes, [Henrietta] Tuzo, and possibly J. N. Collie. Album includes annotations by Mary Schaffer, as well as later annotations by unknown person
Date Range
1898-[1908]
Physical Description
1 photograph album (781 prints)
Scope & Content
Album pertains to travels to Lake Louise, Field, Glacier House and expeditions from 1904-1908 seasons. Includes the following locations: Lake Louise, Field BC, Glacier House, Ross Peak, Badger Pass, Pipestone, Ptarmigan and Molar Pass, Nashan Valley, Wilcox Pass, Pinto summit, Mount Columbia, Mount Athabasca, Nakimu Caves, Illecillewaet Glacier, Athabasca Glacier, Hornady Glacier, Peyto Glacier, Crowfoot Glacier, Elliott Barnes ranch, Jimmy Simpson cabins, Vermilion Lakes. People include: Stoney Indians, Beaver family, A. P. Coleman and party (on Wilcox Pass 1907), Jimmy Simpson, Swift family, Tom Wilson, Sid Unwin, Mollie Adams, Elliott Barnes and others. Also includes landscape views from J. N. Collie trips of 1889 and 1902; flora and fauna. It appears that several photographs were removed from the album, prior to donation.
Album pertains to travels in the following areas: Ptarmigan Lake, Twin Falls, Laughing Falls, Pipestone Pass, Sheep Creek, Bear Creek, Pinto Lake, Wild Fowl [Waterfowl?] Lake, Bow Summit, Crowfoot Glacier, Peyto Glacier, Elliott Barnes ranch. People include: Stoney Indians, Beaver family, A. P. Co…
Photographers include Mary Schaffer, HT or TH, and possibly Elliott Barnes. Album includes annotations by Mary Schaffer, some of which have been later covered with photographs
Date Range
1906-[1908?]
Physical Description
1 photograph album (422 prints)
Scope & Content
Album pertains to travels in the following areas: Ptarmigan Lake, Twin Falls, Laughing Falls, Pipestone Pass, Sheep Creek, Bear Creek, Pinto Lake, Wild Fowl [Waterfowl?] Lake, Bow Summit, Crowfoot Glacier, Peyto Glacier, Elliott Barnes ranch. People include: Stoney Indians, Beaver family, A. P. Coleman, Jimmy Simpson, Swift family, Tom Wilson, Sid Unwin and others
Transparencies are hand-coloured and black and white lantern slides by Mary Schaffer, mainly resulting from her exploratory wilderness trips between 1907 and 1911 to Maligne Lake and the Yellowhead area. The regions involved are primarily Jasper National Park and northern Banff National Park. The t…
Transparencies are hand-coloured and black and white lantern slides by Mary Schaffer, mainly resulting from her exploratory wilderness trips between 1907 and 1911 to Maligne Lake and the Yellowhead area. The regions involved are primarily Jasper National Park and northern Banff National Park. The transparencies depict mountain travel and activities, landscape views and Stoney Nakoda.
Also includes transparencies of mountain flora and fauna, close-up botanical photographs, and views from Glacier, B.C. and vicinity
Finding Aid
Copy prints are available for reference use
Location (Copy)
Reference prints are available
Title Source
Title based on contents of file
Content Details
LIST OF LANTERN SLIDES - V527 / PS 1 :
#1 - She who colored slides [Mary Schaffer] / [Mollie Adams?]