The Byron-May Co.

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The Byron-May Company was operated by Percy Byron and Gustav May. These professional photographers were active in Edmonton between 1906 and 1917. During this time they produced thousands of images that documented life in Edmonton and the surrounding area that illustrated the growth and development of the city as well as the successes of those who lived there. At their height the company employed 10 people, and their work was featured in major publications by clients like the Edmonton Bulletin and the Edmonton Board of Trade.

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Black and white historical photo of an Edmonton street.

Byron, May Family Photo Album

Black and white photo of the back of a dog as it walks away. Handwritten text on the photo reads "Byron-May Co. 61115"

Edmonton Board of Trade Album

1911 Edmonton Bulletin Special Edition

Pictorial Edmonton

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Byron, May Family Photo Album
Edmonton Board of Trade Album
1911 Edmonton Bulletin Special Edition
Pictorial Edmonton

Byron, May Family Photo Album

Byron, May Family Photo Album (12 MB)

Album [EB-23]

A higher resolution version of this document is available in the online catalogue.

This album contains 121 images taken by Byron and May. Many of the photographs were part of their business, including commissioned images. The album also includes photographs of the Percy Byron and Gustave May families. Many can be found individually described on the Archives' online catalogue by searching the EB-23- number written below the photo.

Percy Byron arrived in Edmonton from New York in April 1906 with the intention of ranching or farming. However he quickly realized there were no ‘photographic engraving’ businesses in the area at the time and he saw an opportunity. Within twenty-four hours of arriving in Edmonton, he arranged to have a ‘complete photographic engraving plant’ sent to Edmonton, and by August he was producing photographic images.

The following year, Percy’s brother-in-law, Gustave May, joined him in Edmonton and the Byron-May Company was formed. The photography and photographic engraving business was quite successful for the next decade, enjoying many commissions and professional accolades.

Florence Byron, Percy’s sister who had married Gustave May in 1905, joined him in Edmonton with their infant son, Joseph. Percy Byron married Louise Marrin in 1908 while on a visit to New York and his wife also came to Edmonton. Both families enjoyed prosperity and success in Edmonton. Florence and Gustave May had three more children. Percy and Louise Byron had four children in Edmonton.

However, the Byron-May Company fell on hard times with the coming of World War I and the business was sold to McDermid Engraving in 1917. Both the Byron and May families returned to New York the following year.

Byron May Family Tree

This family tree represents the various branches of the Byron and May families, as well as how they relate to the various series in the Archives’ Byron, May Family fonds.

Edmonton Board of Trade Album

Edmonton Board of Trade Album - Part 1 (20 MB)

Album [EA-500]

A higher resolution version of this document is available in the online catalogue.

This photo album consists of 60 pages of photographs taken by Byron-May for the Edmonton Board of Trade to promote Edmonton in the early twentieth century as an up-and-coming city.

Edmonton Board of Trade Album Part 2 thumbnail image

Edmonton Board of Trade Album - Part 2 (21 MB)

Album [EA-500]

The Edmonton Board of Trade, a community-based volunteer organization, was established in February 1889 to promote practical growth opportunities to support and enhance the prosperity of Edmonton’s business community with the goal of attracting settlers to the district. At the time of the Chamber's formation, Edmonton's economy was more rooted in agriculture than energy. It was renamed the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce in 1928, retaining its mandate of contributing to the growth and development of Edmonton and its business community.

Many of these images can be found individually described on the archives’ online catalogue by searching the EA-500- number written below the photo.

1911 Edmonton Bulletin Special Edition

1911 Edmonton Bulletin Special Edition - Part 1 (23 MB)

Edmonton Bulletin [EB-26]

A higher resolution version of this document is available in the online catalogue.

The Edmonton Bulletin hired advertising specialist C.A. Violette of San Francisco to conduct an advertising campaign to create this Special Edition which was used to promote Edmonton as an up-and-coming city. It includes descriptions of businesses, businessmen, and industries, as well as descriptions of the social, economic, military and artistic scenes in Edmonton and the greater Edmonton area. All of the photographs used in the publication were created by the Byron-May Company (EB-26).

1911 Edmonton Bulletin Special Edition Part 2 thumbnail image

1911 Edmonton Bulletin Special Edition - Part 2 (23 MB)

Edmonton Bulletin [EB-26]

By the time this special edition was released the Bulletin’s relationship with Byron-May was well established. The first photo ever published in the Bulletin, in 1906, was produced by Percy Byron!

Pictorial Edmonton

“This booklet is made for the purpose of placing Edmonton’s progress and possibilities befor the public in pictorial form – the best way to present a story – because it is concrete, pleasing to the eye and possible to perceive at a glance.

We have tried to use our large stock of pictures – the fruits of much work and close application of our business – and all of the forces of our establishment, to the best advantage in producing this photographic presentation of the progress and push of this, our city of Edmonton. The work has been cordially received by the business men of Edmonton to whom it has been presented, and we venture to hope that its wider circulation will bring nothing but pleasure, profit and instruction to those who receive it.”

The Byron-May Company, Ltd
Edmonton, Alta.
January 1, 1914

Bibliography

This bibliography is designed to situate the records used in the Byron-May Co. virtual exhibit in their larger context. It shows where these disparate records come from by grouping them by creator rather than by subject.

Wherever possible, links to catalogue entries in our online catalogue have been included. We also have some further catalogue information in our reference room.

For an explanation of terms and acronyms, see our Virtual Exhibit Glossary.

MS Fonds (Private Records)

Fonds Number	Record Number	Title
MS-1037		Edmonton Chamber of Commerce fonds
	EA-500	Album
	EA-500-3	Jasper Avenue, Edmonton
MS-1071		Edmonton Bulletin fonds
	File 1	1911 Edmonton Bulletin Special Edition
MS-1192		Byron, May Family fonds
	EB-23	Album
	EB-23-5

Books

Pictorial Edmonton, by Byron-May Company, Ltd. The Edmonton printing and Publishing Company Limited, 1914

Records Used in Byron-May Video (in order of appearance)

Fonds Number	Record Number	Title
MS-1192	EB-23-96	Percy Byron
MS-1037	EA-500-155	C.N.R. Station Edmonton
MS-1037	EA-500-39	Robert Smith's Long Lake Farm, Edmonton District, Crop 1910
MS-1037	EA-500-21	Jasper Ave. East from First Street, Edmonton
	971.233 EDM 1910	Edmonton – Capital City
	971.233 BYR	Pictorial Edmonton
MS-1192	EB-23-24	Percy Byron
MS-1192	EB-26-204	Photo Engraving Plant
MS-1192	EB-23-99	Florrie Byron
MS-1192	EB-23-98	Gustav May
	971.233 BYR	Pictorial Edmonton
MS-1037	EA-500-9	Jasper Ave. & 1st St.,Edmonton
MS-1037	EA-500-454	Winter Wheat, Clover Bar
MS-1037	EA-500-145	Edmonton Concrete Works
MS-1037	EA-500-1	Jasper Avenue, Edmonton
MS-1037	EA-500-229	Baseball Grounds, Edmonton
MS-1192	EB-23-1	Livestock Display
MS-1192	EB-23-103	51st Battalion at Edmonton Armoury
MS-1192	EB-23-104	66th Battalion, C.E.F.
MS-1071	EB-26-204	Byron & May Collage
MS-1071	EB-26-204	Byron & May Block
MS-1037	EA-500-153	Mortlake Block, Post Office, Imperial Bank
MS-1037	EA-500-10	Incline Railway, First Street, Edmonton
MS-1037	EA-500-217	Strathcona Shamrocks Ladies Hockey Team
MS-1037	EA-500-90	Alberta Coal Mine
MS-1037	EA-500-198	Ross St. Hill, Edmonton
MS-1192	EB-23-59	Panning for Gold
MS-1192	EB-23-70	102 Avenue & 104 Street
MS-1037	EA-500-136	Edmonton Brewing & Malting Co.
MS-1037	EA-500-3	Jasper Avenue, Edmonton
MS-1037	EA-500-339	Low Level Bridge