A collection of views relating to western Canadian surveys between 1871 and 1875, including photographs of the activities of the North American Boundary Commission, 1872-1875, views taken by four Royal Engineers, covering their travels from Fort Garry west to the Rocky Mountains; and an album of photographic prints of scenes in Saskatchewan, the Peace River country, the Rocky Mountains and northern B.C., 1872-1873, all taken by Charles Horetzky, working out of Alexander Henderson's studio in Montreal, Quebec. during the Canadian Pacific Exploration Party and Survey.
Horetzky, Charles, 1840-1900 : Charles Horetzky (1840-1900), photographer, explorer, civil servant. Born Edinburgh, Scotland on 20 June 1840. Flourished Fort William, 1858 ; Moose Factory, 1864-August 1869 ; Fort Garry, 1869 ; Ottawa, 1869-1871 ; Western Canada, CPR Survey, 1871-1879 ; Ontario, 1883-1900. Early work from Hudson's Bay Co. service at Moose Factory, 1860's. As CPR survey photographer, best known for photographs of Ontario and B.C. First Canadian survey photographer to use dry collodion. Ontario civil servant, 1883-1900. Died in Toronto, Ont. on 30 April 1900. Works located in: Glenbow-Alberta Institute, Calgary, Alta.; Provincial Archives of British Columbia, Victoria, B.C.; Vancouver Public Library, Vancouver, B.C.; Archives of Ontario, Toronto, Ont. Exhibition(s): 1975, Into the Silent Land, PAC Travelling Exhibit (group). 1983, Private Realms of Light, PAC, Ottawa (group).