Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | Monkman Pass Highway Association fonds |
| Reference code: | 0446 |
| Date: | 1933-1982 (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 11 cm textual records
29 photographs 2 maps |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Processed by Karen Burgess April 2011 Added to new database April 2025 – TD |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
Mr. Arthur Smith came to the Lake Saskatoon District in 1912 to join his father, George Smith, who was homesteading in the area. With him he brought registered cattle and later he grew registered wheat. In 1920 he married Jessie Hazard. When the Monkman Pass Highway Association (MPHA) was formed in 1936, both Arthur and Jessie joined the organization to pressure the government to build a Coastal Outlet for the marketing of grain and produce from the Peace Country. The MPHA promoted the linking of Rio Grande, AB with Prince George, BC through a mountain pass which the Indigenous people used, a distance of 132 miles. When support was not forthcoming from government sources, the MPHA began to build the road with donated supplies and volunteer labour. Art became the Publicity Director for the MPHA, and Jessie travelled everywhere with him, speaking out for the cause, until lack of funds and the outbreak of World War II forced the organization to stop the project.
Mr. Smith continued to farm at Lake Saskatoon until 1943, when they moved to Dawson Creek, BC.
Alex Watt was the secretary of the Monkman Pass Highway Association and one of the pathfinders.
Custodial history
The records were discovered on an abandoned homestead where the Red Willow River runs into the Wapiti River, by the Grande Prairie River Rats, a boating club. They were in an old barn which may have belonged to Arthur Smith. They were donated to the Grande Prairie Museum in 1972.
The Grande Prairie Museum transferred the records to the South Peace Regional Archives in 2000.
An accrual of records preserved by Frances Harris Watt was donated to South Peace Regional Archives in 2010 by Jean Harris.
An accrual was brought in October 10, 2013 by Peter Martin who is a relative of Crosbie McNaught.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of letters written by or addressed to Arthur Smith, in his position as Publicity Director of the MPHA, and correspondence, minutes, 2 maps, and 29 photographs collected by Alex Watt, Secretary of the MPHA. Included are three pamphlets, a copy of “Monkman Pass and Trail History” (1982), a hand drawn map of the trail, 11 newspapers (1936-1937), news clippings, correspondence received by Crosbie McNaught, speeches and radio addresses given by D.W. Albright, and a minute book (April-Oct. 1939).
Notes
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title of fonds based on contents.
Access points
- Textual record (documentary form)
- Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)
- Cartographic material (documentary form)
- Transportation (subject)
Table of contents
0446.01, Photographs, 1936-1939
0446.03, Publicity Director, 1936-1939
0446.04, Printed Documents, 1936-1982
0446.05, Crosbie McNaught, 1937-1939
0446.06, D.W. Albright, 1937-1939
Series descriptions
| Series 0446.01: Photographs
Date: 1936-1939 (date of creation) Scope and content: The fonds consists of 29 photographs of the building of the Monkman Pass Highway preserved by Alex Watt. Physical description: 29 photographs Access points: • Graphic material – photograph (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
|||
| File / item list | |||
| Reference code | Title | Dates | Physical description |
| 0446.01.01-.02 | Item – Monkman Pass Trail “Blazers” | 1937 | 2 photographs : b&w ; 2.5 x 4.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
A volunteer road crew, one showing the men at work and one a caboose camp with men eating at a long table. |
|||
| 0446.01.03 | Item – Monkman Pass Trail Blazing Party | 1937 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
Monkman Pass trail blazing party with pack horses leading. |
|||
| 0446.01.04-.06 | Item – Monkman Pass Transport Ltd. Crew Monkman Pass Transport Ltd. |
1937-1938 | 3 photographs : b&w ; 3 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Monkman Pass trail being worked on with the aid of Monkman Pass Transport’s crew, picturing the machine they travelled in and their camp. |
|||
| 0446.01.07 | Item – “Tarzan Boulevard “is Cut Out | 1937-1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
The “Tarzan Boulevard” part of the Monkman Pass trail being worked on with the aid of Monkman Pass Transport Ltd. crew. |
|||
| 0446.01.08 | Item – Helmer Johnson’s Crew – Monkman Pass Highway R.E. Leake, Beaverlodge |
1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
Helmer Johnson’s crew working on the Monkman Pass Highway in July 1938. |
|||
| 0446.01.09 | Item – Monkman Pass Transport Tractor R.E. Leake, Beaverlodge |
1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
Monkman Pass Transport tractor on the new trail. |
|||
| 0446.01.10 | Item – Kinuseo Bridge During High Water Levels R.E. Leake, Beaverlodge |
1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
Kinuseo Bridge showing high water levels and the first truck to cross the bridge hauled by Monkman Pass Transport tractor. |
|||
| 0446.01.11 | Item – The Monkman Pass Trail | 1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
The Monkman Pass Trail. |
|||
| 0446.01.12 | Item – Prince George Party Checking Monkman Pass Work | 1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 4 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
The Monkman Pass work done by the crew north from Hansard (on the CNR) being checked over by a party from Prince George, August 21, 1938. Surnames L-R: Pitman, Hewlett, Caine, Moffat, Lyle, Pitman, May, Smith, Wozney, Jackson, Leith, Green. Men at the back: Kelly, McDonald. |
|||
| 0446.01.13 | Item – Monkman Pass Aerial | 1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
The Monkman Pass as seen from the air. |
|||
| 0446.01.14 | Item – Two Men in a Canoe | 1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Two unidentified men in a canoe. |
|||
| 0446.01.15 | Item – Monkman Creek and Waterfall R.E. Leake, Beaverlodge |
1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
One of the many falls along Monkman Creek. |
|||
| 0446.01.16 | Item – Monkman Pass Highway | 1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
The cameraman views the Monkman Pass Highway bridge as it appears looking between the two horses pulling in front of him. |
|||
| 0446.01.17 | Item – Helmer Johnson’s Crew at Canyon Creek R.E. Leake, Beaverlodge |
ca. 1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
Helmer Johnson’s crew at Canyon Creek standing on the finished bridge on the Monkman Pass Highway. |
|||
| 0446.01.18-19 | Item – Driving over the Kinuseo Bridge R.E. Leake, Beaverlodge |
1938 | 2 photographs : b&w ; 3 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
A car makes its way over the Kinuseo Bridge on the Monkman Pass Highway. |
|||
| 0446.01.20 | Item – Near Canyon Creek on the Monkman Pass Highway R.E. Leake, Beaverlodge |
1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
Near Canyon Creek on the Monkman Pass Highway. |
|||
| 0446.01.21 | Item – Three Miles From Kinuseo Falls on the Monkman Pass Highway R.E. Leake, Beaverlodge |
1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
Three miles From Kinuseo Falls on the Monkman Pass Highway. |
|||
| 0446.01.22 | Item – Kinuseo Bridge | 1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 4.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Kinuseo Bridge on the Monkman Pass Highway. |
|||
| 0446.01.23-.24 | Item – Machinery Stuck on the Monkman Pass Highway Project | 1938 | 2 photographs : b&w ; 3 x 4.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Machinery in the “souphole” on the Monkman Pass Highway. |
|||
| 0446.01.25 | Item – Final Camp – Monkman Pass Highway Project | 1939 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 4.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
The final camp on the Monkman Pass Highway project. |
|||
| 0446.01.26-29 | Item – Kinuseo Falls Cabin R.E. Leake, Beaverlodge |
1939 | 4 photographs : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Kinuseo Falls cabin in 1939. In three of the photographs there are people on the front porch. |
|||
| Series 0446.02: Secretary
Date: 1936-1982 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of records preserved by Alex Watt who was the secretary of the Monkman Pass Highway Association, including minutes of the organization and correspondence about the project. Physical description: 1 cm textual records Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) Publication status: Published
|
|||
| Series 0446.03: Publicity Director
Date: 1936-1939 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of letters written by or addressed to Arthur Smith, in his position as Publicity Director of the MPHA, and an invoice for supplies. Physical description: 1 cm textual records Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
|||
| Series 0446.04: Printed Documents
Date: 1936-1982 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of 9 copies of The Northern Tribune (1936-1937) and 2 copies of Grande Prairie Herald (1937), a copy of “A Monkman Pass and Trail History” (1982), three maps, and news clippings. Physical description: 2 cm textual records 3 maps Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) • Cartographic material (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
|||
| File / item list | |||
| Reference code | Title | Dates | Physical description |
| 0446.04.01 | Item – Map of the Peace River District in BC Showing Proposed Monkman Pass Highway Monkman Pass Highway Association |
1936-1937 | 1 map : 14 x 14 in. |
| Scope and content:
The map shows the proposed Monkman Pass Highway and Cut-Off from Fellers Heights to connect the Peace River Block. |
|||
| 0446.04.02 | Item – Proposed Routes Monkman &Turgeon Routes Mary Huston |
1936-1937 | 1 map : 13 x 20 in. |
| Scope and content:
The map is drawn by Mary Huston, a grade 8 student in Wembley, and shows the proposed Monkman and Turgeon routes for Monkman Pass Highway. |
|||
| 0446.04.03 | Item – Sketch Plan of the Proposed Monkman Pass Highway H.S. Day A.L.S. |
1938 | 1 map : 20 X 56 in. |
| Scope and content:
The map of the proposed route pf the Monkman Pass Highway. The route is between Townships 69 & 70 and includes Ranges 12, 13, 14 west of the 6th Meridian. |
|||
| 2010.45 | Item – A Monkman Pass and Trail History | 1982 | 1 book : 53 pp. |
| Scope and content:
A revised draft copy of a book documenting the oral history of the Monkman area of northeastern British Columbia prior to the development of the coal fields there, particularly focusing on the settlers of the Kelly Lake community and based on local interviews. |
|||
| Series 0446.05: Crosbie McNaught
Date: 1937-1939 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of letters received by Crosbie McNaught when he was president of the Monkman Pass Highway Association. Physical description: 5 cm textual records Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
|||
| Series 0446.06: D.W. Albright
Date: 1937-1939 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of speeches and radio addresses given by D.W. Albright on behalf of the Monkman Pass Highway Association. Physical description: 1.5 cm textual records Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
|||
| Series 0446.07: Minute Book
Date: 1939 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of a minute book of the meetings of the Monkman Pass Highway Association from April to October 1939. Physical description: 2 cm textual records Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
|||