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Public Offices document, letter from Colvile to Pakington
This is a letter addressed to Sir John Pakington, secretary for war and the colonies of Lord Derby’s administration in 1852, from A. Colvile, the deputy governor of the Hudson’s Bay Company – at the time of the letter in 1852, one of the most…
Transformation Mask of the Kwakwaka’wakw people
The object is a Transformation Mask from the Kwakwaka’wakw people. These masks were worn by dancers during ceremonies, they pull strings to open and move the mask, animating it. The mask can be opened and closed to reveal a mythical being or an…
Saw Mill and Pulp Mill, Port Alberni, B. C.
The source is a black and white photograph of a Saw and Pulp Mill in Port Alberni, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
The photograph shows the coastal site of a saw and pulp mill. In the photo you can see piles of wood ready for use in…
The photograph shows the coastal site of a saw and pulp mill. In the photo you can see piles of wood ready for use in…
Vancouver’s Island
This British Foreign Office document, dated from March 1849, on Vancouver’s Island is an eight paged confidential document on the settlement and colonization of Vancouver’s Island. It includes the discussion of trade license laws, the North-West…
James Douglas death certificate
The source is the death certificate of James Douglas, who came to Canada as a fur trader in 1819 for the North West Company and became the Governor of the British Columbia colony in 1858. The certificate shows that James Douglas lived until the age…
The Kwaktiutl village of Xumtaspi-Nawittl
The source is a photograph of the village in Vancouver Island called Xwamdasbe, translated as ‘Place where there is otter’. The photograph includes fishery housing with the house on the right featuring three painted family crests. There are also…
Private handwritten correspondence between the secretary of the Admiralty and the Commander in Chief, Fairfax Moresby
This source is a handwritten letter between the Secretary of the Admiralty and the Commander in Chief, Fairfax Moresby, discussing a wide range of issues regarding settlement on Vancouver Island. Moresby discusses trade, missionaries, indigenous…
Letter from the Church Missionary House to an MP
This handwritten letter is written by the Church Missionary House to an MP regarding recent missionary work in Vancouver Island. It discusses the good work of missionaries in the area and suggests that missionaries could use this place as a base for…
Report of Native coal miners to Fort Vancouver
This is a letter to Fort Vancouver about the state of the area and issues happening there. It mentions a coal seam found on Vancouver Island and the native task force that they were using to mine it initially. Douglas mentions the little amount that…
Extract of a Letter from James Douglas Esquire to Archibald Barclay Esquire Secretary of the Hudson’s Bay Company
This is a letter addressed to Archibald Barclay Esquire - Secretary to the Governor and Committee, the London board of directors of Hudson’s Bay Company – from James Douglas Esquire – deputy to the chief factor of the Columbia Fur District of HBC.…