Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Byron-May Company
General material designation
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title based on contents of series.
Level of description
Series
Repository
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)
-
1905 - 1916 (Creation)
- Creator
- Byron-May Company
Physical description area
Physical description
92 photographs
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
Administrative history
Percy Byron arrived in Edmonton in April 1906 with the intention of ranching or farming. However he quickly realized there were no ‘photographic engraving’ businesses, ie businesses capable of producing publications with photographs, in the area at the time. In fact there were none between Winnipeg and Vancouver. As the son of famous New York photographer Joseph Byron, he saw an opportunity. Within twenty-four hours of arriving in Edmonton, he telegraphed his father to ship one ‘complete photographic engraving plant’. He set up a shop on First Street (now 101 Street) and by August he was producing photographic images.
The following year, Percy’s brother-in-law, Gustave May, joined him and the Byron-May Company was formed. While Byron-May are often credited with predominance in scenic imagery photography, a staple in their business was the capacity to produce illustrated catalogues and brochures with their photoengraving equipment. This was a crucial advantage in the early days of advertising.
By 1913, the Byron-May Co. had over 10 employees. As their business grew they found an investor and built a two-storey brick building at 252 Howard Avenue (now 100A Street). The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce commissioned the Byron-May Company to create images and produce brochures promoting Edmonton. Some of these images have become iconic in telling the history of Edmonton.
The Byron-May Company fell on hard times with the coming of World War I and the business was sold to McDermid Engraving in 1917. Both Percy Byron and Gustave May returned to New York with their families.
Custodial history
Scope and content
The series consists of Byron-May Company photographs from the Byron-May album. Many were part of their business, including images commissioned by the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce. The photographs include buildings, sports events, agriculture, exhibitions, street and river valley scenes, and military personnel. At the time, these photographs were used to promote Edmonton as an up-and-coming city.
Other commissioned photographs, such as family or home portraits, show not only the growth of the Byron-May Co. and the booming prosperity of Edmontonians at the time, but also reflect the increasing popularity of photography in the early twentieth century.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Arrangement
The material was arranged according to the filing system of the creator.
The photographs were assigned item numbers with the prefix EB-23.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
There are no restrictions on access.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Public Domain.
Finding aids
See Scope and content above.
Associated materials
Accruals
General note
Accession number: A77-140
General note
Photographer: Byron-May Co.
Alternative identifier(s)
Standard number area
Standard number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Control area
Description record identifier
Institution identifier
Rules or conventions
Rules for Archival Description (RAD)
Archives Society of Alberta Subject Terms