Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
General material designation
- Graphic material - photograph
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title based on contents of fonds.
Level of description
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)
-
1903 - ? (Creation)
- Creator
- Byron, May Family
Physical description area
Physical description
117 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
Biographical history
Byron, Elizabeth (Betty) 1909-1986
Byron, Grace 1913-1995
Byron, Jane 1916-1920
Byron, Joseph 1915-2007
Byron, Louise Marrin 1884-1956
Byron, Percy 1878-1959
May, Florence Byron 1880-1956
May, Gilbert 1906-2001
May, George 1915-1990
May, Gustave 1881-1943
May, Gustave Jr. 1910-1964
May, Joseph 1908-1983
Percy Byron arrived in Edmonton from New York in April 1906 with the intention of ranching or farming. However he quickly realized there were no ‘photographic engraving’ businesses in the area at the time and he saw an opportunity. Within twenty-four hours of arriving in Edmonton, he arranged to have a ‘complete photographic engraving plant’ sent to Edmonton, and by August he was producing photographic images.
The following year, Percy’s brother-in-law, Gustave May, joined him in Edmonton and the Byron-May Company was formed. The photography and photographic engraving business was quite successful for the next decade, enjoying many commissions and professional accolades (see Edmonton Bulletin 1911 Anniversary Edition, p. 75).
Florence Byron, Percy’s sister who had married Gustave May in 1905, joined him in Edmonton with their infant son, Joseph. Percy Byron married Louise Marrin in 1908 while on a visit to New York and his wife also came to Edmonton. Both families enjoyed prosperity and success in Edmonton. Florence and Gustave May had three more children. Percy and Louise Byron had four children in Edmonton.
However, 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 the Byron and May families returned to New York the following year.
Custodial history
Joseph May is the son of Gustave May. Mrs. J. Casey is Dolores May Casey, the daughter of Joseph May and granddaughter of Gustave May.
The creator of the album is not certain. However, given the closeness of the two families, the album being a combination of business and family photos, and the donor being a descendant of the May family, it is quite possible, even likely, that the creator of the album was Florence Byron May.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of an album of Byron-May photographs. Many of the photographs were part of their business, including commissioned images.
The album also includes photographs of the Percy Byron and Gustave May families.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
This fonds was donated to the City of Edmonton Archives by Mr. & Mrs. Joseph May, via Mrs. J. Casey, in 1977.
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
No further accruals are expected.
General note
Accession number: A77-140
Alternative identifier(s)
Standard number
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