AndreaWriter

Launch of absolutelyliterate.com

2012-01-18T13:33:00.000-08:00

I have finally selected my own domain name and moved my website over to www.absolutelyliterate.com

The Fish That Made Campbell River Famous

2011-11-25T19:07:00.001-08:00

British Columbia History 44.4

The winter issue of British Columbia History coming to mailboxes soon includes a fish tale as well as stories about unique individuals who populate British Columbia’s history. Look for it in your mailbox or at Book Warehouse (10th or Broadway) or order a copy at bchistory.ca.

The Fish That Made Campbell River Famous
by Diana Pedersen
In 1896, news that Sir Richard Musgrave had captured a record 70-lb. salmon with a rod and line launched Campbell River to world fame as a sportfishing destination.

Pat is Pat and That is That: Rev. Thomas Patrick Freney
by R.J. (Ron) Welwood
Rev. Thomas Patrick Freney was not your ordinary, everyday man-of-the-cloth. In fact, he was cut from an entirely different and unorthodox fabric.

W.A. Ingram and the Club Cigar Store of Fernie, BC
By Ronald Greene
From cigar club to barber shop, bowling alley to athletic club, lunch counter to candy shop, Billy Ingram did it all in spite of fires and personal tragedy.

The Fort at Yorke Island: Getting to Know the Neighbours
By Catherine Marie Gilbert
The soldiers and sailors posted to Yorke Island fort during WWII were only temporary neighbours to the surrounding coastal communities but left a lasting impression.

A Useful and Practical Career
By Theresa Vogel
Sister Mary Matthew McBride, commercial instructor at St. Ann’s Academy, was responsible for creating a program that combined practical skills with poise and refinement.

Archives & Archivists
by Land Title and Survey Authority; edited by Sylvia Stopforth
The LTSA’s new state of-the-art, climate-controlled records vault enhances the preservation of BC’s historic hardcopy land title and survey records.

From the Book Review Editor’s Desk & Book Reviews
by K. Jane Watt

Index of Vol. 40 No. 1 to 40 No.4, 2007
Compiled by Melva J. Dwyer

Miscellany

Cabinets of Curiosities
Andrea Lister, editor and author, tells the tale of a 1911 Chilliwack Hospital Auxiliary member’s card that found its way home after 100 years.

Save Library and Archives Canada

2011-11-19T17:38:00.001-08:00

For immediate release
Canadian Association of University Teachers launches campaign to Save Library and Archives Canada

(OTTAWA: November 2, 2011) - The Canadian Association of University Teachers today unveiled a national campaign to protect Library and Archives Canada (LAC).

The “Save Library and Archives Canada” is being launched by CAUT in response to funding cuts and internal managerial decisions that are threatening the quality and integrity of Canada’s only national public library and archives.

“Badly conceived restructuring, a narrowing of its mandate, and financial cutbacks are undermining LAC’s ability to acquire, preserve and make publicly available Canada’s full documentary heritage,” James L. Turk, executive director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers said at a news conference in Ottawa today.

These changes, Turk added, have already led to a reduction in the number of specialist archivists and librarians, reduced public access and services, and the loss of rare and important materials.

Liam McGahern, president of the Antiquarian Booksellers of Canada, said a growing number of Canadian materials are not being collected by LAC because of reduced funding and a change in its acquisitions policy.

“Canadians recently lost a unique and irreplaceable set of journals chronicling late 19th Century stories of settlers and First Nations people of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Labrador Coast. This is just one of many examples,” McGahern explained. “Rare military documents, sheet music, and literature that would otherwise have gone to Library and Archives Canada are quietly all slipping away.”

CAUT is calling on the federal government to amend the LAC Act to ensure its mandate includes developing a comprehensive, not selective, collection of Canadian material.
“Our nation’s artistic, historical, and cultural heritage is at stake,” said Turk. “Genealogists, historians, researchers, graduate students, Aboriginal communities, and the general public are all affected by what is happening at LAC.”

The Canadian Association of University Teachers is the national voice of 66,000 academic and general staff at 120 universities and colleges across the country.

More information on the campaign can be found at www.savelibraryarchives.ca.

Contact:
Angela Regnier, Communications Officer,
613-726-5186 (O);
613-601-6304 (cell);
regnier@caut.ca (email)

Surrey Show and Tell

2011-11-10T07:24:00.001-08:00

I recently had the opportunity to participate in the Third Annual Family History Show & Tell! at the Surrey Library. It was a lot of fun and I got to hear about some great family history work being done.

Picture courtesy of Brenda L. Smith

I presented my Grossman family and their connection to the Chilliwack Hospital and the creation of the Chilliwack Hospital Auxiliary.

Then we went off to Richmond Library for their LEST WE FORGET program to hear our friend Annette Fulford present 100 Years of Canadian War Brides.

It was a good day for history.

Feds launch War of 1812 anniversary plans - Politics - CBC News

2011-10-11T07:56:00.000-07:00

Feds launch War of 1812 anniversary plans - Politics - CBC News

" Anew memorial in the nation's capital and a series of commemorative events are among the plans announced Tuesday by the federal government to mark the bicentennial of the War of 1812."

Fall issue of British Columbia History in the mail . . .

2011-09-23T15:09:00.000-07:00

Here's the cover you should be looking for if you buy your British Columbia History at a bookshop.

The Flying Vet: Dr. John Roberts of Williams Lake, BC by John Roberts, introduction by Marie Elliott
Personal letters written in 1958 bring to life the unique challenges of practicing veterinary medicine to the cattle ranches in the Chilcotin Plateau.

The S.S.Beaver & the medals struck by Charles W. McCain by Ronald Greene
The S.S. Beaver was the first steamboat on the Pacific northwest. She ran aground in 1888 but her salvaged metal was converted into keepsake medals by Charles W. McCain.

British Columbia’s Debt to William C. Van Horne by Valerie Knowles
The American born dynamo overcame British Columbia’s formidable mountains to build a railroad that was part of his vision of an integrated transportation network.

The Fort St. James Cemetery by Marie Elliott
In honour of 100 years of Parks Canada, Marie explores who is interred at this National Historic Site on the southern shores of Stuart Lake in the interior of British Columbia.

People and Places of the Bedaux Expedition of 1934 by Ross Peck
Until recently, there was little on the record about the role and contribution of the sub arctic expedition’s cowboys and crew to the “Champagne Safari”.

Archives & Archivists by Sylvia Stopforth
To commemorate Trinity Western University’s fiftieth anniversary their archivist has launched a website with a treaure trove of photographs, slides and sound clips.

From the Book Review Editor’s Desk by K. Jane Watt

Book Reviews

Cabinets of Curiosities byFrances Clay Welwood, daughter of Ed and Mary Clay, tells the tale of the Southwell painting that sails above the fireplace in her Nelson home.

Gave me chills

2011-08-28T17:12:00.000-07:00

I had one of those little, exciting author moments today. I went to the Surrey Library website and searched in the catalogue for myself. . . and there it was. Commitment to Caring: Chilliwack Hospital Auxiliary's 100 Years, 1911-2011.

It gave me a little chill to see it there on the screen; I do hope people are taking it out of the library and enjoying it.

Reminder: Best of British Columbia History Contest deadline is soon

2011-08-16T10:47:00.000-07:00

Best of British Columbia History Contest: contest ends August 31, 2011

From now to August 31, 2011, check out back issues of Federation publications

Pick your favourite articles in your own collection of:
• British Columbia Historical Association Report and Proceedings 1923 to 1929
• British Columbia Historical Quarterly 1937 to 1958
• British Columbia Historical News 1968 to 2004
• British Columbia History 2005 to Present

or at your local library or used book store or online at http://bchistory.library.ubc.ca/?db=bchf#

Send entries to:
BCHF Publications Committee
10991 No. 1 Road Box 36105
Richmond BC V7E 1S0

or email bcheditor(at)bchistory.ca

Contest Rules
The BCHF Publications Committee are the contest judges. Judges will select from the nominations and will have discretion with final selection of winners. If your suggestion is selected then you win a prize. Multiple contest entries from the same person are allowed but each entry must be for a different article.

Do you have an object of curiosity in your cabinet?

2011-07-15T09:02:00.000-07:00

Every object has a story.

The Fall 2010 issue of British Columbia History told the story of piece of trench art in the collection of the Maple Ridge Museum & Archives.

The Winter 2010 issue of British Columbia History told the story of a piece of mail lost in the Fraser River in 1899.

Do you have an object of curiosity in your cabinet? Send me 300 to 400 words with a high-resolution image of the object, telling me the story of the object. Email your story to: bcheditor(at)bchistory.ca, or mail it to: Editor, British Columbia History, PO Box 21187, Maple Ridge BC, V2X 1P7

A digital copy of 16th-century globe could recast B.C.'s role in Canadian history

2011-07-08T08:43:00.000-07:00

Unique and irreplaceable 1597 replica confirms Sir Francis Drake was off West Coast in 1579, and a former heritage minister says it fundamentally alters our understanding of the past

100+ Years of Library Service Book Launch

2011-06-28T16:47:00.000-07:00

100+ Years of Library Services to British Columbians

Vancouver Public Library
Library Square

350 West Georgia Street

Lower Level – Meeting Rooms

June 29th - 9:30am

Check it out.
http://thelibrarybook.bclibraries.ca/booklaunch/

Summer Issue

2011-06-26T09:06:00.000-07:00

The summer issue of British Columbia History should be arriving in mail boxes soon..........

WWII Japanese Internment Camps along the Upper Fraser by Megan Heitrich
Interviews conducted by the Northern BC Archives reveal a unique relationship between the Japanese men and the people of the surrounding communities.

SS PRINCE GEORGE Goes to War by Jon Johnson and Barbara Bavinton
The story of the SS Prince George, the only Canadian hospital ship to sail with the Canadian Navy and the six nurses who served on it is a story that has been missing from history.

An Unforgettable Afternoon by Irene Shirley
A sunny Vancouver afternoon in 1958 turns unexpectedly into an indelible memory linked to one of most significant events in the city’s 125 year history.

Athabasca Pass — BC — Alberta Heritage Trail by John A. Whittaker
As a member of the BCHF Historical Trails Committee, John has a propensity for the mountain pass trails and finds the trails through the Rocky Mountains difficult to beat.

1917 Car Trip by Henry Stevenson
The story of the Stevenson family’s six day car trip from Granum, AB to Nelson, BC when Henry was a baby of a year old was recounted many times by Henry’s father.

Archives & Archivists by Kobi Christian; edited by Sylvia Stopforth
Kobi Christian writes about The King’s Speech and Langley Centennial Museum

From the Book Review Editor’s Desk by K. Jane Watt

Book Reviews

Cabinets of Curiosities by Andy Motherwell, writes about Paul Krestenuk, a enterprising trader in a very remote and under-populated area of Quesnel in the 1930s and 1940s.

Arg, a good day for a pirate story

2011-06-15T13:38:00.000-07:00

"Important News" ran the headline from the Dawson Daily News, July 2, 1909. The story goes on to say that the man named Kirkconnel was believed to be Francis Bailey and had been arrested in Whonnock. He had obtained a hundred and fifty thousand dollars of merchandise and sailed to Honduras. He was arrested there but had jumped overboard at night and swam ashore. "It was supposed at the time he had made a meal for the sharks."

The papers of the time are full of stories about the arrest and trial.

"FRANCIS G. BAILEY PUT IN JAIL HERE; Sailed with Pirate Ship Laden with Goods to Make Fortune in South America." read the headline from the New York Times July 30, 1909.

Read more about the "pirate of Whonnock" on the Maple Ridge Museum & Archives website and in digitized newspapers:

The British Colonist
New York Tribune
New York Times: July 8, 1908, July 2, 1909

Thanks to Annette Fulford for the newspaper links.

Best of "British Columbia History" Contest

2011-06-01T11:13:00.000-07:00

Nelson Star - Local historian honored

2011-05-26T16:23:00.000-07:00

A story about a B.C. journalist who went missing after speaking to Hitler has earned North Shore resident Frances Welwood the Anne and Philip Yandle award for best article in British Columbia History magazine.

Nelson Star - Local historian honored

Sad News for Historians

2011-05-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

The Boston Phoenix is reporting that Google has decided to quit further work on Google News Archive, its plan to scan and index 250 years’ worth of microfilm copies of newspapers and turn them into a searchable database.

This is sad news for historians and genealogists. They purchased PaperofRecord.com and then continued the work and it seemed like an exciting prospect. The searching power of Google and digitized newspapers - what a gold mine.

However, the searching and filtering features were not as robust as with other Google projects. The project did seem well advertised and it was hard to determine what newspapers were in the collection.

Despite these problems, I found many interesting historical articles in their collection and was hoping to find more as the collection grew. I am disappointed that this project has been abandoned.

Thank you, thank you very much

2011-05-16T20:59:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday I had the pleasure of joining the women of the Chilliwack Hospital Auxiliary to celebrate their 100 year anniversary. Founded in May 1911, the women of the Auxiliary have baked pies, made jam, knitted, sold raffle tickets, fund-raised, forged friendships, and had fun.

The amazing legacy of the women that came before and the dedication of the current Auxilians was evident in the Coast Chilliwack Hotel on May 14.

I had the wonderful opportunity to meet many of the women that I had read and written about in the book Commitment to Caring: Chilliwack Hospital Auxiliary’s 100 Years, 1911-2011.

The fun was clear when 'Elvis' (Steve Elliot) hit the floor, hence the title of the post. Thank you for an enjoyable afternoon.

If you have time to volunteer and live in Chilliwack - considering joining these women in their work or if you have gently used clothing, household items, books or toys please consider donating them to the Chilliwack Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Shoppe.

BCHF announces the Lieutenant-Governor's Medal for Historical Writing

2011-05-04T13:37:00.000-07:00

April 11, 2011

The BC Historical Federation annually awards the Lieutenant-Governor’s Medal for Historical Writing to authors of British Columbia history.

1st Place: Sylvia Olsen, Working with Wool: A Coast Salish Legacy and the Cowichan Sweater
2nd Place: Dan Savard, Images from the Likeness House
3rd Place: Dorothy Faulkner, Elaine Park and Cathy Jenks, Women of Pender Harbour: Their Voices, Their History

Honourable Mentions:

Alan Twigg, The Essentials: 150 Great BC Books & Authors
Robert Budd, Voices of British Columbia: Stories from Our Frontier
Jane Stevenson, The Railroader’s Wife: Letters from the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway

Congratulations to all the authors!

Elva's Birthday

2011-04-25T08:51:00.000-07:00

Today would have been Elva Grossman's birthday. She was born 25 Apr 1880 in Hamilton, Ontario and moved to Chilliwack in 1908.

Elva was the first secretary of the Chilliwack Hospital Auxiliary, 1911-1913, and again in 1926-1931. She was president from 1923-1925 and again from 1932-1933. In 1940 she was made an honorary member of the Executive. She passed away in 1963.

There are other stories of Elva, hard working volunteer, tragic figure of lost fiancés. However, I like this picture of her from 1909 dressed up for her role in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado. Despite the tragedy it looks like she was having fun and raising money for a worthy cause.

Ian McLeod has lived in Port Haney for 11 years and is involved with the Maple Ridge Historical Society

2011-04-23T18:08:00.000-07:00

Grab your walking shoes and learn about the history of Port Haney.

At 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 7, area resident and Maple Ridge Historical Society member Ian McLeod will lead a free 90-minute walking tour looking at historic remains and future plans.

The 10:30 a.m. walk is part of Think City Tours, an annual celebration of the history of various neighbourhoods across the Lower Mainland.

Ian McLeod’s walk is titled “Port Haney: Past, Present and Future.”

McLeod has lived in Maple Ridge for 11 years and served for three years as a vice president of the historical society.

There are 11 spots remaining on the tour. Visit www.thinkcitytours.ca/tours to register.

Chilliwack history has local link

2011-04-12T17:00:00.000-07:00

Chilliwack history has local link

Hospital Auxiliary Launches Website

2011-03-25T10:04:00.001-07:00

The Chilliwack Hospital Auxiliary has launched its website.

http://chilliwackhospitalauxiliary.wordpress.com/

It will advertise events, meetings, and their ongoing fundraising work.

The website's content will continue to grow over the coming weeks so keep your eye on it.

Announcement: New Book, Commitment to Caring: Chilliwack Hospital Auxiliary’s 100 Years, 1911-2011

2011-03-15T21:31:00.001-07:00

(Chilliwack, BC, March 15, 2011) Commitment to Caring is the story of determined women, in a time before they were considered persons under the law, who fundraised, sewed, canned, and knitted to establish Chilliwack’s first hospital. The Chilliwack Hospital Auxiliary announced today the publication of a new book Commitment to Caring: Chilliwack Hospital Auxiliary’s 100 Years, 1911-2011, ($20.00) by Andrea Lister.

In a time before medicare these women formed the Chilliwack Hospital Auxiliary in 1911 and recruited their sisters-in-laws, daughters, and friends to join them in their efforts and take over for them as they aged. They enlisted the support of the community in supporting the hospital for 100 years through wars, depressions, and social changes. They have left, and continue to leave a lasting legacy, with their hard work and dedicated volunteerism. Richly illustrated with seldom-seen photographs Commitment to Caring is a celebration of these women. All proceeds from the sale of this book go towards the purchase of equipment for the Chilliwack General Hospital.

To purchase Commitment to Caring look for Auxiliary members at the following Chilliwack locations: Walmart, April 7, 8, and 9; PriceSmart April 14, 15, and 16; and Minter Country Gardens (Young Rd) and Cottonwood Mall (in front of Sears) April 28, 29, and 30.

British Columbia History in the mailbox soon

2011-02-27T14:33:00.000-08:00

Issue 44.1 of British Columbia History with guest editor Penney Clark in people's mailboxes soon.

140 Years of May Day in New Westminster, 1870-2010 by Gerald Thomson
The May Day fete in New Westminster with its deep historical roots in the community it remains both a source of pride and controversy among local teachers and parents.

Remembering the School Christmas Concert by Helen Raptis
Critics argue that Christmas festivities have no place in secular schools; but even in the early 20th century, Christmas concerts served more secular purposes than religious.

History Comes Alive for a Student with Dreams of Flight by Michael Gurney
When students gather at BC Heritage Fairs to celebrate history, they do more than show and tell: original research and cultural exchanges are vital parts of these exhibitions.

Meet Mr. Coyote by Mary Leah de Zwart
Did Alice Ravenhill, social reformer, and Noel Stewart, Indian Residential school art teacher, distort aboriginal legends or encourage young artists in “Meet Mr. Coyote”?

Art Learning at Van Tech and Kits, 1925–1950 by Wendy Stephenson
After 1925, art learning at both Kits and Van Tech schools flourished in response to progressivist aims. Why, then, was their student art so different?

St. Ann’s Commercial Course by Ronald Greene
Ronald Greene looks at how your mother may have learned to handle money.

Three British Columbia Mysteries: History Online by Ruth Sandwell
Old and young alike are invited to explore British Columbia’s thrilling history by ‘solving’ a series of historical mysteries using hundreds of online historical documents.

Teaching Teachers Revisited by Eric Damer
UBCs new teacher training programs in the 1920s promised new leadership for BC schools. But what sort of leadership did the provincial university actually provide?

A College Without Walls Opened Worlds of Opportunity by Anne Russell
An instant college that launched without buildings to call its own in 1974 transformed the educational and cultural landscape of the very staid and traditional Fraser Valley.

Archives & Archivists by Val Patenaude and Sylvia Stopforth; edited by Sylvia Stopforth
Val Patenaude talks about the lack of a mechanism for preserving school records. Sylvia Stopforth highlights some of the records that have been preserved in BC.

From the Book Review Editor’s Desk by K. Jane Watt

Cabinets of Curiosities, King Edward High School in Vancouver celebrated 100 years in July 2010.

Check us out on the Magazine Association of BC website.

Heritage Getting Coverage

2011-02-18T15:59:00.000-08:00

It is nice to see heritage getting media coverage. The 2011 Heritage Awards received coverage in both local papers.

Maple Ridge News

and

Maple Ridge Times

Check out the stories.

Arts Career Expo 2011

2011-01-28T20:04:00.000-08:00

I was recently asked to be an alumni panelist at the UBC Arts Career Expo. I am a huge advocate for education and so I was happy to impart any wisdom I might have.

I was part of “The Social Network: Careers in Media and Communications” panel speaking on career diversity and social media in the industry. My co-panelists were Rick Chung, Broadcast Journalist, BCIT Broadcast Journalism/CBC Radio-Canada/RickChung.com and senior communications coordinator Phoenix Lam. The panel was moderated by third-year Human Geography/International Relations, Aaron Lao.

Rick, Phoenix and I all agreed that recent grads had to recognize that they should volunteer, join groups, and do co-ops to gain skills and build a network. We agreed that students needed to be open to opportunities; you may not get the dream job right after you graduate.

I learnt a lot from Rick about social media but in reflection later I realized that we only touched on one side of the story. I used to work for national software and services provider to the financial services industry. As their client base is not the general public and having a completive edge is essential, social media is not part of their toolkit. Tweeting about the latest software development would get you fired. Suffice to say "know your audience", confidentiality and information security are the keys for some industries.

I was reminded by Phoenix that we Arts grads have a unique skill set: writing, researching skills, questioning, the ability to put information into context, and the ability to accept that there is more than one point of view. We can distill information and package it for different audiences.

It felt a little strange to be back at UBC speaking as an alumnus, as I have supplemented my B.A. with continuing studies courses at UBC, SFU, classes at BCIT, software courses, and industry specific courses but it gave me pause to reflect on what a great foundation my Arts degree has given me for my career.

I hope that I helped the students of my alma mater feel a little less terrified about their future. If there are any history students out there who would like to get published I am always looking for submissions and the British Columbia Historical Federation offers two W. Kaye Lamb Scholarships for student essays relating to the history of British Columbia.
• Lower prize for a student in the 1st or 2nd year is $750
• Upper prize for a student in the 3rd or 4th year is $1,000

Course on Writing Local History

2011-01-26T17:35:00.000-08:00

This sounds like an interesting course at SFU:

We can’t alter the past, but we can create history. In this course we will examine practical approaches to writing the history of the people, places, and events that interest us.

The focus is on finding approaches that work for you and your project, from collecting documentary and oral evidence, shaping it into something meaningful, putting words on paper (or screen), and sharing the finished product.

We will consider how to add significance to a research project while enriching our own “historical consciousness.”

This course is most suited to people who have a history project in mind, have begun to identify and consider evidence, and have read something about their topic but are uncertain how to put their thoughts into writing.

It will be taught by Eric Damer, PhD, wrote MA and PhD theses at UBC on educational history and subsequently published three books in that field. He has an article in the upcoming spring issue of British Columbia History about UBC’s new teacher training programs in the 1920s.

Canada's Digitization Efforts

2011-01-18T10:10:00.000-08:00

Interesting article from The Tyee about Canada's grassroots approach to digitization.

British Columbia History 43.4

2010-12-03T15:04:00.000-08:00

The Scottish Nightingale Still Haunts Vancouver by Janet Nicol
An unsolved crime haunts the prestigious Shaughnessy neighbourhood in Vancouver’s west side. Was there a cover-up? Pay-offs? So many unanswered questions linger today.

West Beyond the West: Digitization Symposium by Chuck Davis
December 1–2, 2008 at UBC over 120 delegates from across the province met to learn about and discuss digitization projects underway and how communities can work together.
Museum at Campbell River Digitization Project by Catherine Gilbert
The past has been brought into the future with the launching of a new and exciting interactive website dedicated to the logging history of Northern Vancouver Island.

Historical Perspective by Jacqueline Gresko
Jacqueline spoke at the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada Plaque Unveiling Ceremony Commemorating Susan Louisa Moir Allison, September 4, 2010, Princeton, BC.

Jacoby Bros. Ltd., Manufacturing Jewellers by Ronald Greene
Jacoby Bros. was a prolific producer of BC Gold souvenirs with an oddly American flavour using their old drop hammer to strike these collector pieces.

Happy Birthday, BC
In 2010 British Columbians are marking significant anniversaries of enduring institutions, communities, and events. Just a few of the many notable birthdays can be mentioned here.

Home in the Midst of Industry: 500 Block by Chantal Morin
Each year, the British Columbia Historical Federation offers two W. Kaye Lamb Scholarships for student essays relating to the history of British Columbia. Chantal Morin is the winner of the $750 prize for a student in the 1st or 2nd year university or college.

Archives & Archivists by Angela Williams; edited by Sylvia Stopforth
Angela Williams, Director, Business and Operational Services at The Royal BC Museum talks about their role as the stewards of the past and leaders of the future.

From the Book Review Editor’s Desk by K. Jane Watt

Book Reviews

Index of Vol. 39 No. 1 to 39 No.4, 2006 Compiled by Melva J. Dwyer

Miscellany

Postcards from Powell River

Cabinets of Curiosities by Cecil C. Coutts, author, Cancelled with Pride: A History of Chilliwack Area Post Offices 1865-1993, talks about the resolution of a mail mystery.

Check it out on the Magazine Association of BC site.

Vancouver historian Chuck Davis dies

2010-11-21T09:29:00.000-08:00

Vancouver historian Chuck Davis dies

Just in time for Remembrance Day

2010-11-10T20:52:00.000-08:00

Read Local soldiers, war brides keep Maple Ridge historian busy writing and Blogging in the Bugel. An interview with Annette Fulford about her research on the Maple Ridge Cenotaph and WWI war brides. Annette’s work was recently featured in British Columbia History.

Vol 43.3 heading to press

2010-09-21T16:29:00.000-07:00

I am excited about this issue, some changes to layout, some new features, articles by friends, images from all around BC, what more could I ask for?

Maple Ridge Soldiers in the War to End all Wars by by Annette Fulford
A Short History of the Canadian Navy by Gerald W. Pash; Edited by Ron Hyde
“But I’ve Got Two Homes Now” by Brenda L. Smith
The Liquor Control Board and the Moderation Act — 1921 by Ron Hyde
Vignettes of Powell River by Ronald Greene
Archives & Archivists by Lara Wilson; edited by Sylvia Stopforth
Book Reviews
Miscellany
Cabinets of Curiosities

Check out our page on the British Columbia Association of Magazine Publishers website.

Design a brand

2010-09-19T09:34:00.000-07:00

Are you a designer? Then I have a contest for you.

The British Columbia Historical Federation (BCHF) is an umbrella organization with over 190 members comprising historical societies and sites, museums, archives, etc. representing approximately 24, 700 individual members with the common goal of the preservation and promotion of British Columbia' history.

The Federation is looking for a logo to be used on letterhead, the website, its publications, conferences, and so forth.

The logo contest is open to all residents of BC.

Entrants to supply:

artwork and explanation of what the logo reflects or represents
short bio of entrant
PDF of entry (winner should be able to provide scalable vector art)

to newsletter(at)bchistory.ca

Copyright of the winning logo becomes the property of the BCHF. A picture of winner and writeup will be used in its newsletter, journal, website and other announcements.

Prize: $500 honorarium, 1 year subscription to British Columbia History, an an award certificate

Deadline: November 1, 2010

Countess Ruby Ellen Van Rechteren

2010-08-26T14:00:00.001-07:00

While researching the history of the Chilliwack Hospital Auxiliary I have run across an interesting woman, Countess Van Rechteren.

She was born Ruby Ellen Mitchell on 28 November 1901 in Clinton, British Columbia to George Mitchell & Charlotte Mundorf.

George is listed as a plumber in the 1911 census and living with the family in Vancouver.
Ruby marries Count Adolph Frederik Lodewijk de Heeckeren von Rechteren of Rechteren-Limpurg-Almelo, commonly known as Count Van Rechteren, on 17 May 1926 in Vancouver.

According to passenger lists they are living in the Pemberton Valley in the 1920s and are in Chilliwack by the 1930s. Why is the Count living in British Columbia and not in Holland?
The Count was a farmer and involved in the Chilliwack Plowing Society. A 1938 border crossing lists him as going to the Lynden Fair, undoubtedly to see the Lynden plowing match. (Source Information: Ancestry.com. Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895-1956 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.) It also states that his right leg was artificial, which explains his unique bicycle that is part of the collection of the Chilliwack Museum & Archives. He passed away in Holland in 1952.

The Countess was president of the Chilliwack Hospital Auxiliary from 1934-1937 and again from 1943-1944. The marriage record for the marriage to Count Van Rechteren lists her as divorced but I have not found out who was husband #1. In 1953 she marries Count Van Rechteren's brother, Count Adolph Sweder Hubertus von Rechteren of Rechteren-Limpurg. She passes away in Holland in 1973.

More research to follow on this interesting couple who were very involved in Chilliwack even though they only lived there for a short while.

E. Broadway & Glen (north side)

2010-08-25T09:30:00.001-07:00

Bus shelter at E. Broadway and Glen.

Photo by Darren Durupt.

BCAMP transit shelter ad campaign

2010-08-10T14:13:00.000-07:00

Look for the ads in the following locations around Vancouver August 16 to October 3:

Arbutus & Nanton (west side)
Cambie & W. 61st (east side)
E. Broadway & Glen (north side)
E. Broadway & Rupert (south side)
E. 22nd & Renfrew (south side)
Granville & W. 65th (west side)
Knight & E. 14th (west side)
Nanaimo & Turner (west side)
Victoria & E. 61st (east side)
Victoria & Upland (east side)

Take a look back with Heritage Days

2010-07-30T12:53:00.000-07:00

Take a look back with Heritage Days

The Maple Ridge Museum will have displays to salute the Hammond Mill, the chamber of commerce and the 125-year-old Whonnock Post Office.

The Pitt Meadows Museum will share a tent with the Maple Ridge Museum to showcase Pitt Meadows history.

In the same tent, the Family History Group which is part of the Maple Ridge Historical Society will have information about how to research your ancestry and family tree. (The group meets on the first Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Maple Ridge Library.)

BC History Call for Articles

2010-06-29T08:23:00.000-07:00

British Columbia History publishes feature-length articles as well as documentary selections, essays, pictorial essays, memoirs, and reviews relating to the social, economic, political, intellectual, and cultural history of British Columbia. British Columbia History is published quarterly and is dedicated solely to the history of the province of British Columbia.

We also accept submissions for the following regular departments:

Miscellany – small items, research notes, advocacy.
Archives and Archivists
Book Reviews

An Editorial Advisory Committee supports the editorial process. The Advisory Committee advises on policy the tone and direction of the journal, and the publication’s role as the Federation’s flagship publication.

The British Columbia Historical Federation invites submissions from authors at any stage of their career, from BC and beyond, to explore any aspect or period of British Columbia history.

Articles published in British Columbia History will automatically be considered for the journal’s annual Anne and Philip Yandle Best Article Award.

To submit an article
• Word count 1000 to 5000
• Electronic version, with file extension (either .doc or .rtf)
• Endnotes must follow Chicago Manual of Style, do not insert notes in text
• Photocopies/scans of research material (pages from books, documents, or journals you have used)
• Illustrations provided with article submissions are welcomed, please send as separate files
• Submit copies of permissions (or assurance of permission) for the images
• A two-three sentence biographical note about the author.

Submission deadlines
• July 15 for Fall issue
• October 15 for Winter issue
• December 1 for Spring issue
• April 15 for Summer issue

To view complete submission guidelines, please visit http://bchistory.ca/publications/journal/index.html.

Check out back issues on the UBC Library BC History Digital Collections.

BC History - Issue 43:2

2010-06-21T11:17:00.000-07:00

My first issue as editor of British Columbia History has been published.
This issue includes Alistair Fraser’s article that chronicles the unusual path taken to create the provincial flag of BC as it marks its 50th anniversary; Frances Welwood raises questions about the death of newspaperman Lukin Johnston. We enjoyed the transportation theme in our last issue so much that this issue includes Louise Avery’s account of the Kitimat Power Project of the 1950s and Marie Elliott’s history of the Nyan Wheti-Duzcho trail system. Read the story of the Quathiaski Cove cannery by Ronald Greene on page 29. R.G. Moyles provides an interesting insight into the Salvation Army’s mountaineers. Finally, a little of the BCHF’s own history with Jacqueline Gresko’s summary of the digitization project, From Mimeograph to Multiple Pathways.

Test your Comma IQ

2010-06-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

I admit I am a bit of a grammar geek but I still like to have fun. I laughed my way through Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss. The other day I was looking for online grammar practice tools and came across the Test your Comma IQ game.

Try it out - it is fun!

84 Years of BC History Digitized

2010-05-12T09:24:00.000-07:00

The University of British Columbia and BC Historical Federation have partnered to digitize the BC Historical Association Annual Reports 1923, 1924, 1929, the BC Historical Quarterly 1937--1958, and BC Historical News/BC History 1968—2007. The University Library and BCHF are sharing a unique historical record with communities across the province.

Check it out from the link on the BCHF page or on the UBC Archives site.

UBC Archives is interested in digitizing other collections so contact them if you have a collection of interest.

Transportation Issue of BC History is Available

2010-04-23T22:04:00.000-07:00

This issue is all about the history of transportation in British Columbia. Stories about ships, aeroplanes, 1940 beginning of Greyhound Bus Lines in Nelson, freight wagons, stage coaches.

Edited by transportation expert Barrie Sanford - check it out:

http://bchistory.ca/publications/journal/index.html

War Brides from WW1

2010-04-20T13:28:00.000-07:00

One of my fellow genealogy pals and well known World War One war bride researcher is speaking for the Maple Ridge Historical Society, April 22, 2010 7:30 p.m. in St. Andrew’s Heritage Hall – 22279 116th Avenue.

Check out news item by Sheila Nickols.

Come and hear her speak and learn about this lesser known part of history. Most people know about the war brides from WW2 but not as much is known about those from the First World War.

Also, check out Annette's blog on the topic.

The Beauty of Neat

2010-03-29T15:25:00.000-07:00

I am a big fan of Hellen Buttigieg, award-winning Certified Professional Organizer®, Life Coach and Gemini-Nominated HGTV host. She promotes that neatness and order give one a sense of control over their life.

I apply these same principles to design.

Neatness = the beauty of clean, uncluttered design with enough white space to give the reader or user room to breath.
Order = with web design, book layout or a user interface, readers/users should be able to logically navigate their way to the information they want.

Hellen brings order and calmness to chaos and I love that. I am also excited that I am a winner of a Post-it® Brand gift basket from reading her blog. Thank you.

Check out her website and blog: www.weorganizeu.com.

Preserving the art of tilling the soil

2010-03-23T18:54:00.000-07:00

I just completed the design and layout of my great-uncle, David Reid's book Fields of Seams and Dreams: Plowing in the Valley.

He is getting interviews in the paper as he is selling them at the upcoming plowing match in Chilliwack, BC.

Dave Reid author of new book “Fields of Seams and Dreams,” which chronicles the first 85 years of the Chilliwack Plowing Match.

JOHN MORROW/ PROGRESS

He looks so happy.

Women's History Fair - April 10

2010-03-11T09:18:00.000-08:00

Women's History Fair
April 10, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Vancouver Public Library Promenade,
Central Library, 350 West Georgia St.

Admission is free.

The Women's History Network of British Columbia presents over 20 displays from museums, archives, historical societies, cultural groups, schools and others on BC women’s history. Co-sponsored by the VPL Special Collections, Herstory Cafe and the Vancouver Courier.

For more information about this event, contact: www.whnbc.ca or www.herstorycafe.ca
Co-sponsored by WHN and VPL.

The Russians are Coming

2010-02-26T08:42:00.001-08:00

Excerpted from the February edition of the Maple Ridge Historical Society Newsletters.

Announcement: New Editor for British Columbia History

2010-02-19T16:37:00.000-08:00

The BC Historical Federation Council and the Publications Committee are pleased to announce Andrea Lister as the new editor of British Columbia History. she brings to the job a B.A. in History from the University of B.C. (1994) complemented by a Certificate in Technical Communications (2003) from Simon Fraser University. Andrea worked for many years as the Communications Manager for a national software and services firm before returning to the world of history. She has just completed the layout and design for the book Seams and Dreams: A History of Plowing in the Fraser Valley by David B. Reid to be published in March 2010.

Andrea has worked on publications, on web sites, in museums, and in retail. She is already involved assisting Barrie Sanford, the guest editor, in preparation of the special transportation issue, vol. 43:1 March 2010 issue.

If you would like to contact Andrea Lister about British Columbia History you can reach her at bcheditor(at)bchistory.ca

website: www.bchistory.ca

Jacqueline Gresko
B.C. Historical Federation
Publications Chair

Let Maple Ridge council know you want a new Museum

2010-02-09T09:46:00.000-08:00

The municipality is engaged in a process to create a new Master Plan for the Parks & Leisure Services department which will set the course for the next 10 years. This is an opportunity for us to let Council and senior staff know that we hold the creation of a modern museum & archives facility as a priority for this district.

There are public meetings at 7 pm tonight and Thursday night.

Tuesday, February 9 - Whonnock Elementary, 27471 - 112 Avenue Thursday,
February 11 - Maple Ridge City Hall Council Chambers, 11995 Haney Place

The more museum supporters who attend those meetings, the stronger our message will be on getting the new museum facility into the top rank of priorities for Parks & Leisure services.

If you are unable to attend, please have a look at the draft master plan.

particularly pages 94 to 102 and send your comments and recommendations to the council.

Thank you.

Pirates or Pilots?

2010-02-02T19:02:00.000-08:00

as published in the January 2010 MRHS Family History Newsletter

My grandma always claimed that her ancestors, the DeWolfs, were French pirates. My research thus far has traced them back to the Netherlands but not to France. However, As I have tracked the DeWolf family and their in-laws I started to come across the following occupations: ship owner, ship broker and ship chandler.

My second great-grand father, John ROUNSEFELL was a ship chandler. A ship chandler is a retail dealer in special supplies or equipment for ships, who may also be responsible for the berthing and docking of the vessel before it arrives into port and is usually considered the liaison officer for the vessel's needs and demands in a foreign port. Apparently, they were also called ship pilots – hmm, maybe my grandma heard pirate instead of pilot?

To continue my research into the ship owning side of my family, much to my excitement, I received the Ships and Seafarers of Atlantic Canada CD for Christmas. This CD is a fully searchable CD containing data on the vessels, captains and crews of Great Britain and Atlantic Canada, 1787-1936 produced by the Maritime History Archive at the Memorial University of Newfoundland.

You can check the list of surnames included on the CD before ordering it from their website. I checked it and found ROUNSEFELL, DEWOLF, DE WOLFE and MAHON.

The part of the CD that I have explored thus far is the owner database. The first database is compiled from the Certificates of Registry for 10 major ports of Atlantic Canada. It contains information on the vessels registered at each port and on their owners. John ROUNSEFELL co-owned two schooners, two barques, and three brigantines from a period of 1865 to 1874. Most of the vessels were lost at sea. Some time before 1871 he leaves Nova Scotia and moves to Liverpool, Lancashire, England. The interesting thing is that he co-owns many of these ships with his brother-in laws and cousins of his wife, Margaret, nee DeWolf. The database is full of DeWolfs who were ship owners so I have only just cracked the surface of this part of my family’s history.

I also did a search on the Google news Advanced News Archive Search and found some Marine Intelligence notices from the New York Times that mention the arrival of the Schooner Grand Pre., one of John Rounsefell’s vessels.

New York Times – October 26, 1867

Next stop – the book store. As part of the Atlantic Canada Shipping Project that produced the CD, they have also produced a book Maritime Capital: The Shipping Industry in Atlantic Canada, 1820-1914 by Eric W. Sager and Gerald E. Panting. Perhaps this book will answer some of my questions as to why they moved to England, with some of the same business partner-relations and why they moved back to Canada.

Public Education Horizons

2009-11-11T20:31:00.000-08:00

One of my current projects has been customizing a WordPress blog in conjunction with designing a book cover. Check out the project here:

Public Education Horizons - Citizens working together to nurture relevant and effective 21st Century public education systems...

It has been interesting thinking beyond the traditional images of education and trying to find something the melds the images of older industrial age model of education (to quote Katherine Wagner) with images that reflect newer, more innovative ideas.

Red Rocket Creative Strategies

2009-09-25T08:47:00.000-07:00

Red Rocket Creative strategies has just created a few cool video that illustrates the creative process and markets their services at the same time:

Question, Research, Brainstorm

http://www.redrocketcreative.com/corporate_video.php

environmental font

2009-07-31T16:45:00.000-07:00

Interesting idea - a font to create environmental awareness. The EcoFont was developed by SPRANQ and reportedly cuts ink usage by 15%. I can see using the font for posters where font sizes are large. I look forward to playing around with this new font.

A website costs as much as a car

2009-07-18T13:14:00.000-07:00

I came across this great article today on the Newfangled Web Factory site about how much it costs to make a website.

Eric Holter makes a great analogy to that of buying a car. "It's possible to buy a decent used car for under $5,000 that should be perfectly adequate to get you where you need to go. Similarly, buying a new car can run the gamut from a bare bones Kia Rio for under $10,000 to a high end Porsche 911 for $80,000 plus. Beyond the desired car's look and style, there are many other considerations that will affect its cost like how many people fit in, how fast it goes, what options are included, etc."

To paraphrase Eric, the following aspects all have an influence on the end cost:

Visual design (what are the look and feel requirements and how much graphic design will be involved?)
Site size (how many pages will the site contain?)
Functionality (search engine, databases, galleries, forms, shopping cart, etc.)
Project scope (what type of information will the site pages contain?)
Custom pieces (will there be the need for programming special new features specifically for this project?)
Development timetable (what is the site's expected launch date?)

Great analogy Eric.

The Power of Imagery

2009-07-14T09:20:00.000-07:00

I recently found 50 Free High-Quality and “New” (X)HTML/CSS Templates.

There are some beautiful templates that really illustrate the power of imagery when creating a website. The sites show how the graphic design can tie to the content and make an impact. Check them out.

Visuwords™ online graphical dictionary

2009-07-02T07:22:00.000-07:00

It is a very cool graphical tool that is part dictionary, part thesaurus. No membership required.

You enter a word and it creates a diagram of synonyms. Hover over the words for definitions. Click and drag, etc.

www.visuwords.com

Bill of treason from 1837 Rebellion discovered

2009-07-02T06:21:00.000-07:00

THE CANADIAN PRESS

HAMILTON – A historical glimpse of Canadiana – a bill of treason connected to the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837 – has been found among the archives at McMaster University.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/658912

Making it look Good

2009-06-04T14:34:00.000-07:00

I love this article about how aesthetics play a large part in usability design. Too often the look and feel of an application is pushed aside in favour of just making it work.

In Defence of Eye Candy

AndreaWriter

Launch of absolutelyliterate.com

The Fish That Made Campbell River Famous

Save Library and Archives Canada

Surrey Show and Tell

Feds launch War of 1812 anniversary plans - Politics - CBC News

Fall issue of British Columbia History in the mail . . .

Gave me chills

Reminder: Best of British Columbia History Contest deadline is soon

Do you have an object of curiosity in your cabinet?

A digital copy of 16th-century globe could recast B.C.'s role in Canadian history

Unique and irreplaceable 1597 replica confirms Sir Francis Drake was off West Coast in 1579, and a former heritage minister says it fundamentally alters our understanding of the past

100+ Years of Library Service Book Launch

100+ Years of Library Services to British Columbians

Vancouver Public Library Library Square

350 West Georgia Street

Lower Level – Meeting Rooms

June 29th - 9:30am

Summer Issue

Arg, a good day for a pirate story

Best of "British Columbia History" Contest

Nelson Star - Local historian honored

Sad News for Historians

Thank you, thank you very much

BCHF announces the Lieutenant-Governor's Medal for Historical Writing

Elva's Birthday

Ian McLeod has lived in Port Haney for 11 years and is involved with the Maple Ridge Historical Society

Chilliwack history has local link

Hospital Auxiliary Launches Website

Announcement: New Book, Commitment to Caring: Chilliwack Hospital Auxiliary’s 100 Years, 1911-2011

British Columbia History in the mailbox soon

Heritage Getting Coverage

Arts Career Expo 2011

Course on Writing Local History

Canada's Digitization Efforts

British Columbia History 43.4

Vancouver historian Chuck Davis dies

Just in time for Remembrance Day

Vol 43.3 heading to press

Design a brand

Countess Ruby Ellen Van Rechteren

E. Broadway & Glen (north side)

BCAMP transit shelter ad campaign

Take a look back with Heritage Days

BC History Call for Articles

BC History - Issue 43:2

Test your Comma IQ

84 Years of BC History Digitized

Transportation Issue of BC History is Available

War Brides from WW1

The Beauty of Neat

Preserving the art of tilling the soil

Women's History Fair - April 10

The Russians are Coming

Announcement: New Editor for British Columbia History

Let Maple Ridge council know you want a new Museum

Pirates or Pilots?

Public Education Horizons

Red Rocket Creative Strategies

environmental font

A website costs as much as a car

The Power of Imagery

Visuwords™ online graphical dictionary

Bill of treason from 1837 Rebellion discovered

Making it look Good

Vancouver Public Library
Library Square