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A First Nations Family with Sluice boxes and rockers; Looking for gold on the Fraser River
This image shows a group of 7 First Nation people searching for gold in the Fraser River. Both men and women are active in the search for gold on the river beds. The Author is described as the British Columbia Provincial secretary, suggesting that…
Hiro Writes of His Arrival in Vermont
This man has written to his family following his move from Hawai’i to Vermont for his chaplaincy work. In it, we can see the love he has for his child, and the longing to be with him, despite his job during the Second World War. This provides us with…
Haida Headdress frontlet
This object is part of a traditional headdress worn by indigenous peoples, Haida, in the mid-nineteenth century. It was recovered by the Royal BC Museum to show traditional headwear from this period. It appear to depict a Shaman. This object fits…
Molokai Map
A map produced for a Hawaiian government survey of the island of Molokai. The place names are described in Hawaiian, but the text at the bottom is in English. During 1897, there was an effort to annex Hawaii, which succeeded the following year, and…
The Hawaiian Star, ‘Divided Skirts’
This small section of the newspaper talks about tourist’s reactions to seeing Hawaiian women ride astride on horses rather than how European women typically rode side-saddle. Seeing this was particularly shocking for Western women as it had been more…
Despatch to London: Douglas to Stanley
This report describes a number of different aspects all related to the Fraser River. Douglas first acknowledges that a large amount of people are coming to the area from San Francisco, in order to mine for gold. Towards the end of the document,…
James Douglas’ first message to Earl Grey, secretary of state after obtaining position of Governor of Vancouver Island
This source is a letter from the newly appointed James Douglas, governor of Vancouver Island to the secretary of state in England. This letter discusses the immediate occurrences and issues in the colony at the time, including the decision of Douglas…
Potlatch, Alert Bay
A black and white image. The centre of the picture consists of two groups of rows of different pots on the floor. Around the rows are lines of people, who are mostly in western style dress. The majority of the people appear to be men. A large…
Illustrated map of Vancouver area with indigenous place names
A map of the Vancouver and North Shore area, illustrated with animals and trees and a totem pole. The map, created by Englishwoman Jessiman who moved to Canada in 1928, appears to be hand-drawn with ink and pencil on paper and measures 56cm x 77cm.…
Mercy Whitney’s letters to family back home in the United States.
Samuel Whitney documented his long stay in Hawaii in many different letters. Whether it be to his family, Levi Chamberlain or ABCFM His wife, Mercy Whitney too wrote many letters, many of which like the one at hand were addressed to her family. In…