Edwin Tappan Adney
Encyclopedia
Edwin Tappan Adney was an artist, a writer, a photographer and the man credited with saving the art of birchbark canoe
construction. He built more than 100 models of different types, which are now housed at the Mariners' Museum
in Newport News, VA. He authored a book, The Klondike Stampede about the Klondike Gold Rush
. His photos of the Klondike Gold rush c. 1899 are available online via the McCord Museum.
He was one of the first photojournalists to pass safely through British Columbia
. As a writer for Harper's Weekly
, he was sent with his camera to the Yukon
from 1897 to 1898. His classic illustrated book concerns his experiences in the Yukon
, of which numerous editions have been printed. He returned there to briefly report on the Nome Gold Rush
in 1900. He retired first to Montreal, then to New Brunswick, the place where his wife was born.
He married Minnie Bell Sharp
of Woodstock, New Brunswick
in 1899. She was the subject of a trial when she refused to pay her School Taxes.
In 1916, he joined the Royal Canadian Engineers. He became a Canadian citizen in 1917. He spent his World War I career as an engineering officer at the Royal Military College of Canada
in Kingston, Ontario
(1916 - 1919) constructing scale models of fortifications for training purposes. After the war, he created a set of three-dimensional shields of the Canadian provinces that adorn Currie Hall
at Royal Military College of Canada
.
In Montreal, Quebec he created heraldic art, worked for the Museum of McGill University
as a consultant on aboriginal lore, and consulted to McCord Museum
on canoes 1920-33.
The lobby of the Hudson's Bay Company
store on the corner of Portage Avenue and Memorial Boulevard in Winnipeg, Manitoba c. 1925 was decorated with immense murals depicting scenes of the Company's early history by Edward Tappan Adney. Although one mural was removed and "The Pioneer" at Fort Garry, 1861 - remains to this day.
His photos of rural Ontario c. 1930 are available online via the McCord Museum.
He then moved to Montreal, Quebec 1920-33 where he created heraldic art, worked for the Museum of McGill University
as a consultant on aboriginal lore, and consulted to McCord Museum
on canoes.
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
construction. He built more than 100 models of different types, which are now housed at the Mariners' Museum
Mariners' Museum
The Mariners' Museum is located in Newport News, Virginia. It is one of the largest maritime museums in the world as well as being the largest in North America.- History :The museum was founded in 1932 by Archer Milton Huntington, son of Collis P...
in Newport News, VA. He authored a book, The Klondike Stampede about the Klondike Gold Rush
Klondike Gold Rush
The Klondike Gold Rush, also called the Yukon Gold Rush, the Alaska Gold Rush and the Last Great Gold Rush, was an attempt by an estimated 100,000 people to travel to the Klondike region the Yukon in north-western Canada between 1897 and 1899 in the hope of successfully prospecting for gold...
. His photos of the Klondike Gold rush c. 1899 are available online via the McCord Museum.
He was one of the first photojournalists to pass safely through British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. As a writer for Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly was an American political magazine based in New York City. Published by Harper & Brothers from 1857 until 1916, it featured foreign and domestic news, fiction, essays on many subjects, and humor...
, he was sent with his camera to the Yukon
Klondike Gold Rush
The Klondike Gold Rush, also called the Yukon Gold Rush, the Alaska Gold Rush and the Last Great Gold Rush, was an attempt by an estimated 100,000 people to travel to the Klondike region the Yukon in north-western Canada between 1897 and 1899 in the hope of successfully prospecting for gold...
from 1897 to 1898. His classic illustrated book concerns his experiences in the Yukon
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
, of which numerous editions have been printed. He returned there to briefly report on the Nome Gold Rush
Nome Gold Rush
-Beach:Claim jumping was mostly a problem before the beach gold was found, since it could not be claimed and there was plenty of it. As a matter of fact, the beach gold seems to have been more important than the claimed gold in the creeks. The mining of Nome beach is a good example of gold rushes...
in 1900. He retired first to Montreal, then to New Brunswick, the place where his wife was born.
He married Minnie Bell Sharp
Minnie Bell Sharp
Minnie Bell Sharp Adney was a Canadian music teacher and political candidate.She was the daughter of Francis Peabody Sharp, a famous Canadian pomologist, and on September 12, 1899 married Edwin Tappan Adney, the Klondike publicist and Malicite ethnographer. They had one child, Francis Glenn...
of Woodstock, New Brunswick
Woodstock, New Brunswick
Woodstock is a Canadian town in Carleton County, New Brunswick located on the west bank of the Saint John River at the mouth of the Meduxnekeag River, 92 km west of Fredericton and close to the Canada – United States border and Houlton, Maine.- History :Woodstock was settled by Loyalists...
in 1899. She was the subject of a trial when she refused to pay her School Taxes.
In 1916, he joined the Royal Canadian Engineers. He became a Canadian citizen in 1917. He spent his World War I career as an engineering officer at the Royal Military College of Canada
Royal Military College of Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers...
in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
(1916 - 1919) constructing scale models of fortifications for training purposes. After the war, he created a set of three-dimensional shields of the Canadian provinces that adorn Currie Hall
Currie Hall
Currie Hall, is a hall within the Currie Building, which is an annex to the Mackenzie Building at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario...
at Royal Military College of Canada
Royal Military College of Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers...
.
In Montreal, Quebec he created heraldic art, worked for the Museum of McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
as a consultant on aboriginal lore, and consulted to McCord Museum
McCord Museum
The McCord Museum is a public research and teaching museum dedicated to the preservation, study, diffusion, and appreciation of Canadian history...
on canoes 1920-33.
The lobby of the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
store on the corner of Portage Avenue and Memorial Boulevard in Winnipeg, Manitoba c. 1925 was decorated with immense murals depicting scenes of the Company's early history by Edward Tappan Adney. Although one mural was removed and "The Pioneer" at Fort Garry, 1861 - remains to this day.
His photos of rural Ontario c. 1930 are available online via the McCord Museum.
He then moved to Montreal, Quebec 1920-33 where he created heraldic art, worked for the Museum of McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
as a consultant on aboriginal lore, and consulted to McCord Museum
McCord Museum
The McCord Museum is a public research and teaching museum dedicated to the preservation, study, diffusion, and appreciation of Canadian history...
on canoes.