Identity area
Reference code
CA ACU GBA F2387
Title
Date(s)
- 1892-1994 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
12.3 m of textual records. -- 498 photographs. -- 91 architectural plans. -- 1 video cassette
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Calgary Brewing and Malting Company Ltd. (CBMC), one of Calgary's longest surviving businesses, was founded by A.E. Cross in 1892. In 1893 the company produced its first beer, and registered its well-known buffalo head and horseshoe logo. In 1910 CBMC bought Golden West Brewery of Calgary. In 1925 it purchased Silver Spray Breweries of Calgary, and renamed it Big Horn Brewery. In 1952 it acquired Edmonton's North West Brewing Company, and renamed it Bohemian Maid in 1958. CBMC owned or financed many hotels across the province, in order to ensure a market for its beers. A subsidiary company, Ranchmen's Trust Company, was set up in 1912 to handle hotel purchases and mortgages. In 1957 the Alberta government required breweries to dispose of hotels, and many CBMC hotels were sold in the 1960s. A.E. Cross died in 1932 and his son, J.B. Cross, took over as president. The Brewery under the Cross family was very community-oriented. It actively supported local sports through the Calgary Buffalo Athletic Association, developed the Brewery grounds as gardens for the enjoyment of Calgarians, and in 1938 established a Fish Hatchery. Two personal projects of J.B. Cross were the Aquarium, opened in 1960, and the Horsemen's Hall of Fame (a western heritage museum), opened in 1964. The Aquarium closed in 1972, and the Horsemen's Hall of Fame in 1975, at which time its artifacts were donated to Glenbow. The Brewery was bought out by Canadian Breweries in 1961, although J.B. Cross remained president until his retirement in 1963. The company was subsequently bought by Rothman's in 1969, renamed Carling O'Keefe in 1973, purchased by Foster's Brewing of Australia in 1981, and finally taken over by Molson Breweries in 1989. It was closed in 1994. For further information see "History of the Calgary Brewing and Malting Company" in Historical Resource Impact Assessment of the former Calgary Brewing & Malting Company site in Inglewood for Molson Breweries. -- Calgary : The Breweries, 1997.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Gift of Molson Breweries, Western Division, 1997 and 2001.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The fonds consists of administrative records of the Calgary Brewing and Malting Company and its successors, Canadian Breweries, Carling O'Keefe, and Molson Breweries, related to licencing, finances, marketing, shareholders, hotel system, union relations, and regulatory bodies. Also consists of financial records, inventories and liquidation papers of Silver Spray Breweries / Big Horn Brewery; and shareholders and financial records of North West Brewing / Bohemian Maid Brewing. Includes records related to sports sponsorships, the Aquarium, Horsemen's Hall of Fame, and the Fish Hatchery.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Union grievances files are restricted for twenty years from the date of creation.
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
The material is in English.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Title based on contents of records.
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Calgary Brewing and Malting Company (Subject)
- Canadian Brewies (Subject)
- Carling O'Keefe (Subject)
- Silver Spray Breweries (Subject)
- Bighorn Brewery (Subject)
- North West Brewing (Subject)
- Bohemian Maid Brewing (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Thursday, May 31, 2018