Collection

BVM visual record collection

Description Level

Item

GMD

graphic material

Other Title Info

Title from photo contents and information on back

Fonds No.

C2

Item No.

P0103

Accession No.

1979.7.61

Physical Description

1 photograph: b&w 17 x 11 cm

Scan Resolution

96 dpi

Negative Number

F1; F12

Date Range

June 1930

History / Biographical

John Gray conducted many bands between 1911 and the 1930s. He eventually built and owned Gray's Jewellery on Main Street in Smithers. His wife's name was Janet and he had five children: Alex, Mary, Ethel, Mary and Florence. Gray died in 1942.

Notes

Written on the back: "What do you think of our band. Sunday was their first performance and they were really wonderful. Fred Cook is under the tree with a x on his hat. Wanna's beau [Mr. Abel] is at the back with a hat on. Ernie's partner Jim with the x above his cap. Alex Gray is in front with a x on his shirt. This was taken at Lake Kathlyn while waiting for the Seattle Alaska caravan to come from Hazelton. I think every son of a gun in Smithers was down there." Identifications from other sources: The four men at the centre front are (l-r) Alex Gray (drummer, x on shirt), Fred Fowler (with tuba), Clarence 'Clary' Goodacre (in white shirt), John 'Pop' Gray (in dark suit). Ernie Hann is to the left of Alex Gray holding a tuba or euphonium and wearing a cap. John Maxwell 'Max' Collison is standing behind him, also wearing a cap and holding a tuba/euphonium. Graham Collison is the boy to his left, seated immediately to the left of the man dressed in black with the black hat on. Others on the left-hand side of the group include Alfred Banford (Barfred?), Fred Cook, and Bert Kenney. Those in the back row include Percy Berg, Mr. Woodward, and Bill Grant. In the right-hand side of the front row are: Don (Donald Wallace) Collison (fifth from the right, slouched over and holding a trumpet), Reg (Reginald John) Collison (third from the right; just to the left of the moving small boy), George Bowie (second from right) and Mr. Doodson (far right). The concert was held at Lake Kathlyn in June 1930 to welcome the travelers on the Vancouver to Hazelton "Land of Golden Twilight" caravan. The driving caravan was organized by B.C. Premier Simon F. Tolmie to promote the province to American motorists, and to build support for an intercontinental highway system through B.C. to Alaska. Fifteen vehicles carried fifty people to Hazelton, including Premier Tolmie, Randolph Bruce (B.C. Lieutenant Governor), and George A. Parks (Governor of Alaska). The dignitaries were joined by representatives from several Canadian and American chambers of commerce and automobile clubs. Negative copy also available.

Type of Record

Archival Description

Less detail