Orville James (Jimmy) Manson was born in 1915 in Turtleford, Saskatchewan. He was the third child of Sanford and Bertha Manson. The family moved to St. Catharines, Ontario in 1925. Jimmy served in the Canadian Navy during World War II. In 1946 he married Audrey Weeks. He took many pictures of local scenery and points of interest, some of which he made into paintings. He died in 2005.

Click here to view the Orville (Jimmy) Manson family fonds finding aid

Recent Submissions

  • Photograph - H.M.C.S. "Frontenac"

    1945
    A photograph of the H.M.C.S. "Frontenac" revised class corvette. The captions reads "my last and best ship - Summer 1945"
  • Photograph - H.M.C.S. "Kapuskasing"; 'Algernine' Class Minesweeper

    1945-02
    A photograph of the H.M.C.S. "Kapuskasing" Minesweeper. The caption reads "Taken on my last trip on 'Triangle' run during our roughest trip before re-fitting leave at home. The 'Kapuskasing' relieved the 'Matapedia' to continue the Convoy to New York City.
  • Photograph - H.M.C.S. Matapedia upon "Slips" at Pictou, N.S. - Nov. 1944

    1944-11
    A photograph of the H.M.C.S Matapedia upon "Slips" at Pictou, N.S. in November 1944.
  • Photographs - US Navy Coastal Patrol Blimp and U.S.S. "Texas"

    1940s
    Two photographs, the first is a "US Navy Coastal Patrol Blimp" and the second is the "U.S.S. 'Texas' entering New York after D-Day landings". In the second photo there is a side profile of Ldg. Sto. Murray Arnott of Toronto.
  • Photograph - Three Corvettes in St. Johns, Newfoundland

    1940s
    A photograph of three Corvettes in St. Johns, Newfoundland.
  • Photographs - Fall 1943

    1943
    Photographs from the Fall of 1943 on the "Hamilton" in Annapolis Basin, Nova Scotia. These include: "SPOs: D. Watts, Bob Peach, 'Scotty' MacDonald, 'Rocky' Crawford, Ch. SPO Racine", "Revolver Practice on the Foc'sle on the high seas", "Eddie Dean, Meade, Johnson, Johnson, Miller", "Allen, Hayler, McGaffen, Young, Litle".
  • Photographs - August 1943, U.S.N. Carrier and Destroyers

    1943-08
    Photographs in August 1943: "U.S.N. Carrier", "U.S.N. Carrier from Bow of H.M.C.S. Hamilton", "Royal Navy Destroyer and Flotilla of U.S.N. Destroyers and Carrier on the high seas", "Ships anchored in Halifax Harbour during President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill's Conference in Quebec City".
  • Photographs - HMCS Hamilton, Digby Nova Scotia, Annapolis Basin

    1940s
    Photographs of Digby, Nova Scotia and the Annapolis Basin from the HMCS Hamilton.
  • Photographs - Aboard the "Assiniboine" & Burial at Sea of a Canadian Sailor Lost in Action

    1940s
    Two photographs, the first is captioned "Fighting a fire aboard the 'Assiniboine' caused by enemy shelling", the second caption reads "Burial at sea of a Canadian Sailor lost in the Action".
  • Photograph - HMCS Hamilton

    1940s
    A photograph of the HMCS Hamilton Town Class Destroyer during World War II.
  • Photograph album, 1943-1948

    Manson, Orville (Jimmy) (1940s)
    Contains 413 black and white photographs. The album contains family photos of Jim and Audrey Manson, as well as photos of Jim Manson’s service with the Navy during World War II. Naval photographs include Jim Manson in uniform before leaving for duty in 1943, as well as photographs of ships, including H.M.C.S. Hamilton, H.M.C.S. Frontenac, H.M.C.S. Kapuskaping, H.M.C.S. Assinaboine, and H.M.C.S. Matapedia (including a photograph of the ship’s crew). Some photographs capture naval action, such as a sinking U-boat after ramming, fighting fire aboard Destroyer caused by enemy shelling, and the burial at sea of a Canadian Sailor. Interior photographs of ships, as well as crew members, are also included. Also contains some photographs of U.S. Destroyers and Aircraft Carriers and a Royal Navy Destroyer in Halifax Harbour during the Quebec City conference attended by President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill. Other military photographs include a United States Navy Coastal Patrol Blimp off New York, the U.S.S. Texas entering New York after D-Day landings, and depth charges exploding astern.
  • Photograph Album 1936-1944

    1936-44
    Photograph album, 1936-1944, n.d. Contains 92 black and white photographs of Jim Manson, Audrey Weeks, as well as their friends and family. Some photographs feature men in uniform who served during World War II, including Sergeant Rae Joseph Dunn, Lance Corporal Reginald Weeks and Earl Upper, with related news clippings
  • Photograph - Collapsed Falls View Bridge, 1938

    1938-01-28
    A photograph of the Falls view Bridge after it collapsed in January 1938.
  • Photograph - Orville Manson, 1919

    1919
    A photograph of Orville Manson approximately 4 years old.
  • Photograph - Manson Family, 1893

    1893
    A photograph of the Manson family. The reverse of the photograph lists the individuals: "Sanford Manson in the light suit, age 18 years. Mr. And Mrs. A. Manson and Family. Back row left to right: Sanford 18, Minnie 13 (Affleck), Jimmie 21, William 29, Front Row: Agnes Penman (Half sister of Archie), Archie Manson 62, Beatrice Manson (Penman) 55, Jane C. Manson 25."
  • Postcard - Sanford Manson

    Tower Studio in Montgomery Ward & Co. (n.d.)
    A postcard with a photograph of Sanford Manson beside an illustration of Montgomery Ward and Co. Tower. The front of the postcard reads "Souvenir of Chicago", "I have been up here", "Excepting the Washington Monument and the Cologne Cathedral; the highest structure in the World.", "Taken at Montgomery Ward and Co. Tower, The Highest Studio in the World."
  • Photograph - Jimmie and Sanford Manson

    n.d.
    A photograph of two young boys. The reverse of the photograph reads "Jimmie Manson and Sanford Manson". The photograph was taken by Townend in Almonte, Ontario.
  • Photograph - Jimmie Manson

    n.d.
    A photograph of "Jimmie Manson" (written on reverse of photo).
  • Slides - Port Robinson Lift Bridge, August 27, 1974

    1974-08-26
    A collection of slides showing the destruction of the Port Robinson bridge after a Freighter crashed into the bridge. The slides are dated the day after the disaster, August 26th, 1974.