Sketches of Western Canada 1873-1899: Geology & Landscapes

Landscapes, rivers, resources, geology, indigenous peoples... all these subjects were of interest to geologist-explorer George M. Dawson (1849-1901) as he travelled the prairies, Rockies, British Columbia, Yukon and beyond.

These sketches are collected from his personal notebooks at McGill University Archives and his field notebooks at the National Archives from his work with the Geological Survey of Canada, of which he was Assistant Director (1883-) and Director (1895-1901). Raised in upper-class Victorian Montreal (his father Sir William was principal of McGill) he was well educated and, beyond his work as a scientist, excelled at drawing, watercolours and photography.

Prepared by Peter D. Geldart