Fonds consists of eight slides of totem poles being raised in the Haida Village at the University of British Columbia (UBC). The slides are dated May, 1962. The photographs were taken by George Szanto, the son-in-law of Geoffrey Andrew who was the Dean and Deputy President of UBC from 1947 to 1962.
The totem poles represented in the images were carved by Haida artist Bill Reid and 'Namgis artist Doug Cranmer. They were originally situated at UBC's Totem Park. They are now located on the grounds behind the Museum of Anthropology, and modelled on a 19th century Haida village.
Construction of the Haida House at Totem Park. The man standing on the roof on the viewer's left may be Doug Cranmer while the man near the house on the viewer's right appears to be Bill Reid.
Doug Cranmer and Bill Reid carving at UBC for the Haida House complex at Totem Park. Based on the length of this log, this may have been the beginnings of the Wasgo sculpture.
Aerial view of Haida House after construction and carvings were complete. The date of the annotation must be incorrect as the double mortuary pole and the house front totem pole were not completed until 1962.