Unidentified photographer. Judging by the number of aerial photographs, those of bush planes, and the large number of Hudson’s Bay Company buildings and posts, this collection may document a tour of northern Hudson’s Bay Company posts in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario by someone linked with the HBC. Photographs of people usually show them holding fox furs. At least half of the photographs were taken during winter. Nearly all photographs are captioned on the back in pencil, and some are also numbered.
Places photographed include Fort McMurray (AB), Fort Chipewyan (AB), Embarras Portage (AB), Fort Vermilion (AB), Stony Rapids (SK), Moosonee (ON), Moose Factory (ON), Albany (ON), and Attawapiskat (ON).
A guide to the identified places is interleaved within the album.
In the group photograph, 42 adults stand on the steps of a building and smile for the camera. This photograph seems unrelated to the rest of the album.

Envelope labelled "Mis. negatives - Fort McMurray", contains:
b&w ; 9 cm x 15 cm film negative depicting group of men standing at dock next to aircraft on floats, registration G-CASM
b&w ; 9 cm x 15 cm film negative depicting aircraft on floats flying above the water
Envelope labelled "Negatives, Ft. McMurray, about 1931-32", containing:
b&w ; 8 cm x 11 cm film negative depicting men tending to an aircraft next to buildings in the foreground, another aircraft in background bears registration CF-AAL
b&w ; 8 cm x 11 cm film negative depicting men tending to aircraft on skis, another aircraft to the right bears registration CF-AAL
b&w ; 8 cm x 11 cm film negative depicting 3 aircraft on ground, aircraft in centre bears registration CF-AAL
b&w ; 8 cm x 11 cm film negative depicting 3 aircraft on ground, registration [L to R] CF-AKI, CF-A[FL?], CF-AAL
b&w ; 7 cm x 12 cm film negative depicting 3 aircraft on ground with men attending, registration CF-AAN, CF-AFL
b&w ; 7 cm x 12 cm film negative depicting aircraft on floats landing in river, registration G-CASK
b&w ; 7 cm x 12 cm film negative depicting aircraft on floats at dock, registration G-CASM

Envelope labelled "First mail flight from Edmonton Fort Simpson via Fort McMurray - Chipewyan - Fort Smith - Fort Resolution - Hay River Fort Providence - Fort Simpson - on the McKenzie [sic] River - Jan 1929", contains:
b&w ; 9 cm x 14 cm print of group of men, sleds, and dog teams next to aircraft in snow, registration G-CASN, caption reads "Fort Resolution, Resolution 1929"
b&w ; 9 cm x 15 cm print of group of men next to aircraft, one standing out of cockpit, caption reads "Getting started - after over night temperature of -56˚F - below zero. CHD in cockpit with top section of engine cover. Crew man mechanic on ground with lower section" [has negative]
b&w ; 9 cm x 11 cm print of dog team pulling man and sled from aircraft, caption reads "On the river Fort Simpson Jan 1929" [other prints appear in 6-140] [has negative]
b&w ; 9 cm x 14 cm print of group of people around aircraft in the snow, mail bags beside, one man stands out of cockpit, caption reads "Fort Resolution NWT, Jan 25th 1929 first flight with mail. [Insp. Reilly]"

Depicts main street in Fort McMurray, AB. Caption describes an enjoyable visit there, and the many wildflowers seen. Signed J. Cook.

The album appears to document a tour through Alberta. Industrial and transportation themes are particularly prominent. Many of the photographs capture scenes from coal-mining communities such as Mercoal, Coleman, and Frank, There are several photographs of aircraft and boats in Fort McMurray and elsewhere in northern Alberta. The remaining images capture mountain scenes as well as various towns and cities across Alberta, including several photographs of Edmonton and Calgary.

Accession consists of records pertaining to the Tarsands history collection research materials including interviews, maps, and photographs.