Fonds HHMA2010.03.01-.10 - Charles Bedaux Sub-Arctic Canadian Expedition fonds

• Cartographic material
• Graphic material
• Moving images
• Multiple media
• Textual record

139 photographs : b&w

3 optical discs : DVD

14.5 cm of textual records

Charles Bedaux was born in France and became a successful businessman in America in the 1920’s and 1930’s. He was captivated with the country surrounding Hudson’s Hope after embarking on a hunting trip in 1932. His attempt, two years later, to take five motorized vehicles across the northern wilderness of British Columbia is known throughout the world. This "Champagne Safari" gave much needed employment to local cowboys during the Depression.


During 1934 Charles Bedaux, decided to take his wife, companion, and five Citroën cars across Alberta and BC from Edmonton to Telegraph Creek. While the cars only made it to Telegraph Creek the events and the experience was well documented, by the crew that was hired on. Cowboys, surveyors, guide, outfitters, cameramen, trail blazers, and photographers were all paid twice the going rate for their services.


The Hudson’s Hope Museum retained records of the journey and these are deposited in this repository. Though, it should be noted that many of these records are from other institutions, including the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Archives, Glenbow Museum, Library and Archives Canada, Fort St. John Museum, and the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies.


This fonds is arranged into ten series: Charles Bedaux series, Fern Bedaux series, Cecil Pickell series, Ernest Lamarque series, Jack Bocock series, Willard Freer series, Frank Swannell series, Bill Blackman series, Joseph Weiss series, and F.D. Crosby series.