Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Steffens-Colmer Studios Ltd. and Don Coltman Company Photographs
General material designation
- Photograph
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
Level of description
Series
Reference code
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
Physical description area
Physical description
- 16,893 negatives and prints
- 15 cm textual records
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
Other title information of publisher's series
Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
Name of creator
Name of creator
Name of creator
Custodial history
Don Coltman was manager of Steffens-Colmer Studio from 1941-1943. In 1944 he took over the business and operated under the company name Steffens-Colmer Ltd. until 1951. From 1951 to 1954 he operated the business under Don Coltman Photographic Company (Don Coltman photos). In 1955 he closed the business and sold his photograph collection to Donn Williams. Williams Bros. Photographers Ltd. utilized these photographic records as stock photographs to compliment their own photographic records. Don Coltman died in 1963.
Scope and content
Series consists of negatives and prints created by Don Coltman under the company names of Don Coltman Company Photographics and Steffens-Colmer Studios Ltd. Photographers. Also included are negative records books. Images reflect the entire range of Don Coltman's work, including personal interests and travels, commercial, advertising and portraiture. Geographic areas represented pertain primarily to British Columbia, in particular Vancouver and the Greater Vancouver areas and also includes Alberta, Ontario, Yukon Territories and Alaska. The wide range of subjects provides a record of Vancouver during World War II and the immediate post-war period. Subjects include: war efforts pertaining to air raid precautions throughout B.C., propaganda and fundraising activities of the National War Finance Campaign, end of war celebrations, military encampments from B.C. to Alberta; women in non-traditional occupations; industries and small businesses (including canneries, ports, sawmills, fishing, pulp and paper making and manufacturing); aspects of Vancouver community life such as Community Chest activities, events and sports activities; representation of First Nations people (featuring women, children, encampments, potlatch ceremonies and schools); physical aspects of Vancouver (such as aerials, parks, bridges, beaches, streets, buildings, schools, shipyard and docks); and portraiture (weddings and individuals).
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Donated by Donn Williams in 1987.