Fonds MS-1192 - Byron, May Family fonds

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Byron, May Family fonds

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

Fonds

Reference code

CA EDM MS-1192

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

(1878-2001)

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

    Related materials

    Accruals

    No further accruals are expected.

    General note

    Accession number: A77-140

    Alternative identifier(s)

    Standard number

    Standard number

    Access points

    Place access points

    Name access points

    Genre access points

    Control area

    Description record identifier

    Institution identifier

    City of Edmonton Archives

    Rules or conventions

    Rules for Archival Description (RAD)
    Archives Society of Alberta Subject Terms

    Status

    Level of detail

    Dates of creation, revision and deletion

    Language of description

      Script of description

        Sources

        Accession area