Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1906-1981 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
ca. 32,000 drawings
ca. 210 items of display material
ca. 107 m of textual records
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
McCarter Nairne & Partners was a Vancouver-based architectural firm founded in 1921 by John Young McCarter (1886-1981) and George Colvil Nairne (1884-1953). McCarter was born in Victoria, BC and trained in the offices of Thomas Hooper (Victoria, Vancouver) before entering private practice in 1912. He served overseas during the First World War. In 1918, he married Ann Gordon and they had two children, Joan Chalmers and Jean Leslie. Nairne was born in Inverness, Scotland in 1884 and articled there before working in New York, Seattle, and finally, Vancouver. He also served overseas during World War I. The partnership began in 1921 and primarily designed houses and small apartment buildings. Within a few years they moved on to design two of Vancouver's first skyscrapers (the Marine Building and the Georgia Medical Dental Building). During the Second World War, the firm assumed the responsibility for federal wartime housing and urban development in British Columbia. After the war was over, the firm designed a wide variety of buildings, including factories, banks, and schools. The last project involving both partners above was the General Post Office (Vancouver), a one-square city block structure.
Repository
Archival history
Acquired by donation in 1980, 1983, and 1985.
McCarter Nairne & Partners
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Fonds consists of drawings, display material, correspondence, brochures, and office files from the architectural practice of McCarter Nairne & Partners, 1906-1953. Significant projects include: the Marine Building, Vancouver, BC; Georgia Medical Dental Building, Vancouver, BC; Canadian Services College Royal Roads, Vancouver Island, BC; University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC; Kelowna General Hospital, Kelowna, BC; General Post Office, Vancouver, BC.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
Further accruals expected.
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
No restrictions on access.
Conditions governing reproduction
The University of Calgary fulfills requests for materials in our collections in accordance with Canadian copyright laws. The University of Calgary does not hold the copyright for materials in the McCarter Nairne fonds, however has been authorized to grant permission for the use of McCarter Nairne materials for specific uses. The University of Calgary Libraries and Cultural Resources may provide materials for individual study and research purposes under fair dealing and library exceptions in the Canadian Copyright Act. And, upon request, may authorize the use of materials for exhibition and publication. Patrons are responsible for ensuring they use copyright-protected works in accordance with applicable laws.
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Digital content is available: https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/Package/2R3BF1SVBWN65
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Includes record nos: 71A/80.06, 84A/80.19, 160A/83.15, 161A/83.16, 213A/85.06
Note
Title based on contents of fonds.