The fonds consists of correspondence, memoranda, reports, legal agreements, mechanical drawings, maps, a few field notebooks, and a few photographs. The fonds was formerly known as RG 20 (Record Group 20). Series I is an artificial collection of miscellaneous individual items and small series, dated before 1938. These materials originated from the City Engineer's office and from other departments which later became part of the Engineering and Environmental Services Department. Series II consists of the Annual Reports and other annual publications of the Department. The file list for Series II also indicates the locations of those Annual Reports which are not physically stored as part of the Engineering and Environmental Services fonds. Series III, the largest accumulation of the Department's records, consists of correspondence (including accompanying reports, drawings, maps, legal agreements, brochures, and photographs) which was filed in the City Engineer's office for reference purposes from 1949 onward (including a few 1938-1948 materials). Series IV consists of photographs (not included in other series) documenting the activities and facilities of the Department. Series V, the Safety Files, consists of the records of the Training and Safety Officer, 1967-1974. Series VI includes correspondence concerning the acquisition and early development of the Water Works (1899-1902), and correspondence of the Superintendent of Water Works (1915-1931). The City Archives collection includes other records from various divisions of the Engineering and Environmental Services Department, which have not yet been processed. The accession records and preliminary file lists (if available) are appended to the inventory.

The fonds consists of records from several different civic departments and offices dating as far back as the 1880s. These are among the earliest records held at the City of Calgary Archives. The collection was created through a unique custodial history: they were retrieved from a garbage truck after The City disposed of them, and were preserved at the Glenbow Archives. Before construction began on the Civic Administration Building in 1960 and 1961, some civic records were stored in one of the City-owned buildings east of City Hall. When the buildings were emptied to prepare for demolition, a City employee observed workers removing old records and throwing them into a garbage truck. The employee phoned the archivist at the Glenbow, Hugh Dempsey. Dr. Dempsey went immediately to the scene, went into the building and looked at the records on the shelf. Most were in Shannon boxes, and they dated back to the 1880s. He asked the foreman to delay the work so he could take a look through the files. The foreman responded that he had no authority to do so, but agreed to let Dr. Dempsey do whatever he wanted while the men went on coffee break. Dr. Dempsey worked as methodically as he could, selecting boxes simply by the label on the side of the box, tossing the ones he selected from the truck onto the ground. The men took a long break, but when they returned they finished loading and drove off to the dump. Dr. Dempsey took everything he saved back to the Glenbow, and this material became known as the City of Calgary Papers. Sue Baptie of the Glenbow Archives processed the records and produced an inventory in 1970. Series I: Consists of City Council Minutes, 1884-1897. Series II: Consists of petitions to the Mayor and Council, 1884-1897. Series III: Consists of financial records, including assessment and taxation records, 1886-1925. Series IV: Consists of the City Solicitor's files, 1905-1928. Series V: Consists of the City Engineer's correspondence, 1924-1930. Series VI: Consists of the City Comptroller's correspondence, 1925-1941. Series VII: Consists of licence Department records, 1906-1951. Series VIII: Consists of building permit ledger, 1907-1913. Series IX: Consists of those records whose provenance could not be clearly identified, as well as single files from various departments of offices that did not warrant being designated a series unto themselves.

The fonds consists of correspondence and building permit registers of the Planning and Building Department. Series I: General Correspondence, 1952-1981, predominant 1960-1981. To provide information and advice to City Council, the Board of Commissioners and other civic bodies regarding matters of planning, development and construction. To prepare policy proposals on planning, development and construction. To enforce provincial and municipal legislation related to planning, development and construction. Series II: Director's office correspondence, 1974-1982. To supervise the operation of the Planning and Building Department. Series III: General Managers Files, 1970-1981. To supervise the land development process and to implement Council's policies related to planning. Series IV: Building regulations correspondence, 1964-1981. To manage the activities of the Building Regulations Division. Series V: Buildings Permit Registers, 1945-1970. To register the building permit applications. Series VI: Zoning Correspondence, 1942-1964, predominant 1958-1961. To document the applications for amendments to the zoning by-laws of Calgary, Forest Lawn, Montgomery. Bowness and Midnapore. To document the activities of the Zoning By-law Enforcement Officer appointed by the Planning Department. Series VII: Urban Renewal Files, 1966-1975. To manage the urban renewal program. Series VIII: City and community planning files, 1964-1985. To provide research and advice on planning matters. Series X: Land use and miscellaneous maps, 1934-1978, predominant 1972-1978. To describe actual, proposed or allowed land use. Series XI: Artificial series, 1945-1981, predominant 1972-1981. No specific function is described in this series as it has been artificially assembled by the archivist.

The collection consists of correspondence, photoprints, reports, pamphlets, newsclippings, and local histories regarding the community of Victoria Park. Also includes material relating to other aspects of Calgary's history and development: George Murdoch, YWCA, Calgary Fire Department, The Calgary Exhibition & Stampede (long- range development).

The collection consists of 52 photo prints of the construction of the Glenmore Water Plant by Rosettis Studio, Calgary, Alberta.

The fonds consists of textual material including correspondence, memoranda, petitions, reports and briefs. Series I: Consists of correspondence, memoranda, petitions, reports and briefs from and to City Council, City officials, other government officials, and private citizens relating to a wide range of subjects. The files are divided into three groups for the periods 1969-1971, 1972 and 1973, and are arranged alphabetically within each period. Series II: Consists of correspondence, memoranda, petitions, reports and briefs from and to City Council, City officials, other government officials, and private citizens relating to a wide range of subjects. The files are divided into four groups for periods 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977, and arranged alphabetically in block subject headings within each period.

The collection consists of 3 photo prints: b&w; 1/2" x 3 1/4" and 1 photo print: b&w; 1/2" x 3".

The collection consists of an 8x10 black & white framed photograph of Glenmore Water Supply employees.

The fonds consists of 23 series, each of which is introduced by an "Administrative History" section and a "Scope and Content" note. Lengthier narratives have been added at the series level, rather than in the "Administrative History" of the Communications Group above. In some cases, added "Notes" complete the Series Descriptions. Series I and II are the records of the Vice Presidents, Communications Group: Frances Jackson Dover and Jared Joynt. Series III to XI contain the records of the Public Relations Division. The records of the Media Division can be found in Series XII to XIV, with Culture Division records in Series XV to XXII. An artificial series of publications, cultural historic items and other ephemera concludes the Series Descriptions. The records of the Communications Group are "multiple media," but the vast majority of the material is textual. Photo prints have been enclosed in acid-free enclosures and remain with their original files; oversize material (blueprints and plans) have been removed from their original files and placed in appropriate oversize storage. Notes have been added to indicate where this has been done. Listings of all oversize material from each series have been placed at the end of the "File Listing" section for each Series. Videos, sound recordings, film and computer diskettes may also be found in some of the Series. No special conservation measures have been taken for these media at this time. The main conservation problem in these records was that of facsimile documents. All "faxed" documents have been photocopied for the purposes of preservation. Where possible, newspaper clippings have also been photocopied for preservation purposes.

The City of Calgary Archives originally received about 21 linear meters of Finance Group records. These included textual and graphic records as well as magnetic computer tapes. As noted in the "Administrative History," the records received were generally not actual financial records. The Archives received no records documenting financial transactions, only records which were originally maintained by the Administration and Treasury Divisions. For more information regarding the XV Olympic Winter Games, Finance Group scope/content information, please link to the City of Calgary Archives homepage and click on the "fonds level descriptions" link.