Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | William McLellan fonds |
| Reference code: | 0282 |
| Date: | 1913-1915 (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 0.5 cm textual records
22 photographs |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Processed by Karen Burgess February 2008 Added to new database October 2023 – TD |
| Note: | This fonds has been identified as having Indigenous related content. Researchers may encounter language that is outdated and offensive. To learn more about Indigenous records at the South Peace Regional Archives please see our guide. |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
William John McLellan was born December 6, 1894 on a farm between Fort Saskatchewan and Edmonton. He was the youngest of seven children. He attended the new University of Alberta until he joined the army in 1916. During the summers of 1913 and 1915 he worked with a surveying crew in the Peace River country where he took these pictures to show the folks back home what the country and the work was like. At the time of his discharge, in 1919 he was training for the RCAF in England. He married Ada Biggs in 1923 who had an 8 year old daughter. Later they had another daughter and a son. He died at age 46 (ca. 1940).
Custodial history
The records were donated to the South Peace Regional Archives January 8, 2008, by Jean McLellan Pardo, William’s daughter.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of 22 photographs William took in the summers of 1913 and 1915 while he was working on a survey crew in the Peace River country, and copies of 5 letters he wrote to his mother during the summer of 1915. An accrual consists of a biography of William written by daughter, Jean McLellan Pardo and a story written by Jean based on family memories.
Notes
Access points
- Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)
- Textual record (documentary form)
- Exploration, discovery and travel* (subject)
Series descriptions
| Reference code | Title | Dates | Physical description |
| 0282.01 | Item – On the Peace River | ca. 1913 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Copy of a photograph showing a survey crew sitting in their boat. |
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| 0282.02 | Item – On the Peace River – No. 2 Gang | ca. 1913 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Copy of a photograph showing five men sit in a boat near the shore. Camp kitchen with a pile of pots is seen in the bank. |
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| 0282.03 | Item – On the Peace River – No. 1 Camp | ca. 1913 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Copy of a photograph showing a camp set up showing tents set up among the brush. |
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| 0282.04 | Item – On the Peace River | ca. 1913 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Survey crew standing in front of a camp tent. |
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| 0282.05 | Item – Peace River Crossing | ca. 1913 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Peace River Crossing – The Mayor’s residence. |
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| 0282.06 | Item – Shoal Lake | ca. 1913 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 3 in. |
| Scope and content:
Taken from a boat showing the shore of the lake. |
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| 0282.07 | Item – [George Nicol and Charlie with Indigenous Girl] | ca. 1913 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
George Nicol and Charlie standing with an Indigenous girl. The caption on the back of the photograph says “Geo. Nicol + Charlie Calling a Bluff”. |
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| 0282.08 | Item – Tommy Towers and Ray on the Peace River | ca. 1915 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Tommy Towers (or Powers?) and Ray in a canoe on the Peace River. |
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| 0282.09 | Item – Camp at Peace River Crossing | ca. 1915 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
An overexposed photo of the survey crew camp showing tents, supplies and men. |
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| 0282.10 | Item – On the Scow at Peace River Crossing | ca. 1915 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
A group of surveyors in a scow on the Peace River. |
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| 0282.11 | Item – Harry Hunt and Bill Hierlicky | ca. 1915 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Copy of a photograph showing Harry Hunt and Bill Hierlicky in a motorboat on the river in the summer of 1915. |
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| 0282.12 | Item – Landing the Horses | 1915 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Copy of a photograph showing men leading the horses off a scow docked on the Peace River. |
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| 0282.12a | Item – Landing the Horses | 1915 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Men lead horses off a scow docked on the Peace River. |
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| 0282.13 | Item – H.P. Keith, D.L.S. | ca. 1915 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Copy of a photograph showing H.P. Keith sitting in front of his tent, reading. |
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| 0282.14 | Item – Cutting McKenzie’s Hair | ca. 1915 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
A man standing shows the length of McKenzie’s hair as he cuts it. |
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| 0282.15 | Item – Cutting a Surveyor’s Hair | ca. 1915 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Two men stand as one cuts the other’s hair. |
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| 0282.16 | Item – The Bald Headed Row | ca. 1915 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
A row of men show their newly shorn heads peeking above the back of a scow on the Peace River. |
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| 0282.17 | Item – [Survey Crew Enroute to Peace River Crossing] | ca. 1915 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Image shows a survey crew posing with an Indigenous girl in the center. The caption on the back of the photograph says “Oh the way from Reno to the ‘Xing. |
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| 0282.18 | Item – Peace River Surveying Trip | ca. 1915 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Hunt (left) and William McLellan (right) sit in the doorway of a tipi. |
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| 0282.19 | Item – Inspector Anderson at Peace River Crossing | ca. 1915 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Copy of a photograph showing Inspector Anderson driving a early model car down a street in Peace River. |
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| 0282.20 | Item – Hudson Bay Co. Boat on the Peace River | ca. 1915 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Copy of a photograph showing the Hudson Bay Company Boat docked at Peace River. |
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| 0282.21 | Item – Surveyors Moving a Shed | ca. 1915 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Five men stand in front of a shed that is loaded and ready to move. Supply sheds are seen in the background. |
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