Charles Eymundson

Charles Eymundson.

The Eymundson family in 1925. Tex is held by his mother Asdis. Darrow Thor is being held by his father Charles. Iona Holmgren is to her mother's right. Romeo is to his mother's left.

Eymundson's photo of Fort McMurray, in 1911.

Charles Eymundson (1872-1966) is best known as a photographer and author who recorded historic images of the early history of Canada's north and wrote three books about his travels. See the External Links tab of this article for a link to collections of his photographs and a list of his books. His full name was Charles Matusalem Eymundson.

Born in Sauðanes, Iceland, he worked a variety of careers. His father, formerly a sea captain, emigrated to the United States with his family in 1882. Eymundson's father died in 1886 while Eymundson was still a teenager. His mother brought the family near Red Deer, Alberta. Eymundson found work as a lumberjack, a private detective, and as a cook in China. He also became a skilled hunter, trapper, and wilderness guide.

Eymundson's wife, Asdis Sophia Olafsson, was born in North Dakota to Icelandic parents. They married in 1910 and settled near Fort McMurray. In 1918, a catastrophic flood hit their property, and they were stranded on their roof for two days.

In the 1920s he served as a guide for Karl A. Clark, a geologist who played an early role in confirming the size and significance of the Alberta Tar Sands.

In 1924 he took over the small telephone company that provided service in Fort McMurray and nearby waterways.

Provenance

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