Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
H.D. "Howdy" McPhail Photograph Collection
General material designation
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
Level of description
Collection
Reference code
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
-
1949-1973 (inclusive) ; 1955-1960 (predominant) (Creation)
Physical description area
Physical description
8,478 b&w negatives
760 colour negatives
9 colour slides
0.52 m textual and photographic records
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
Other title information of publisher's series
Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Hugh Duncan (“Howdy”) McPhail was born 14 March 1915 near Bankend, Saskatchewan. His early schooling was in Prince Albert, and in 1934 he won a hockey scholarship to Notre Dame College in Wilcox, Saskatchewan. He attended the University of Saskatchewan from 1938-1942, graduating with a BSc in agricultural economics. Just over a week after writing his final exams, Howdy enlisted in the air force, learning how to fly in a de Havilland Tiger Moth at the Prince Albert Elementary Flying Training School. He served throughout the war, surviving a bail-out over Sweden and flying 28 missions. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for “his unselfishness, splendid record, and high degree of courage…”. Initially a Sask Wheat Pool field man, Howdy established McPhail Airways in North Battleford (later, McPhail Air Services Ltd.) in 1952. During the spring and summer he sprayed crops; offered flying lessons; and began taking aerial photographs of farms and towns throughout the West and extending into BC, Ontario, and the United States. Farm photographs were ordered by the farm owners, often as small prints and in some cases, hand-tinted (a young Allan Sapp was one of the people hired to do this). Products were later expanded to include greeting cards and for images of towns, postcards and calendars. By 1962 he effectively stopped his aerial photography. He continued to operate McPhail Air Services until 1981. He was inducted into the Saskatchewan Aviation Hall of Fame in 1995; into the Agricultural Hall of Fame in 1999; and a park in North Battleford was named in his honour. Howdy died in March 2001. [Source: Bill Waiser, Portraits of an Era).
Custodial history
Scope and content
This collection includes Howdy McPhail’s aerial photographs, predominantly of individual farms and views of towns and cities. Some images are of specific landmarks, scenic views, or fauna. All images are identified and a majority are dated. A second accrual contains examples of printed calendars and postcards that were sold by McPhail, as well as some correspondence and other business documentation. Images used in an exhibition curated by Helen Marzolf were added in 2018. Further accruals of correspondence, order forms, negatives and prints were interfiled in Series B.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Donated to the University Archives and Special Collections by Hugh McPhail.
Arrangement
The collection has largely been left in the organization provided at the time of donation. Series A contains the majority of original images; these have been divided into “Town” and “Farm” images; with each type further roughly divided by date or other distinguishing feature. Researchers should be aware of the number of A-Z lists, often roughly organized together by date. Other features may also be identified throughout the images: for example, siding images, large format negatives, and Images of individuals, airplanes, threshing or crop spraying, specific industries or events (for example, forest or prairie fires) may also be found within the “Town” lists. The “show” materials listed in “Farm 7” likely refer to images selected for possible use in a University of Saskatchewan Kenderdine Art Gallery show, and a Dunlop Gallery show, both of which incorporated McPhail’s photographs (see Series C). Note the four hand-drawn grid maps included in the “show” subseries. Materials relating to the business – promotional items, receipts, etc. – may be found in series B; and series C contains images used in exhibitions. Further accruals of correspondence, order forms, negatives and prints were interfiled in Series B.
Series A: Images [2010-032]
- Towns
- Farms
Series B: Business Records [2011-089, 2020-047, 2022-014]: - Calendars
- Postcards
a. Large Postcards
b. Small Postcards
c. Postcards with Notes - Photographs (prints)
- Negatives
a. Aerials
b. personal Negatives - Receipts/Orders (with photos)
- Correspondence
- Business Records
a. Photo lists
b. Notebooks
c. Receipt Books (examples)
d. Clip Board with notes and sketches.
e. Photography Paraphernalia
f. Dexter - Misc.
a. “Documentation”
b. North Battleford
Series C: Materials relating to exhibitions [2018-215]
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
There are no restrictions.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Copyright has been transferred to the University of Saskatchewan. Images will enter the public domain in 2052.
Finding aids
A finding aid is available.
Uploaded finding aid
Associated materials
Accruals
Further accruals are expected.