Officials' annual report
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription648
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1911-1912
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Scope and Content
- File contains reports from each of the department heads outlining their requirements (funding and otherwise) for the year 1912.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1911-1912
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 2373
- Accession Number
- 2001-02
- Scope and Content
- File contains reports from each of the department heads outlining their requirements (funding and otherwise) for the year 1912.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription29
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1892-2021
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 130m of textual records and other material
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records generated in the course of municipal business by City Council and the Office of the City Clerk.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1892-2021
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Physical Description
- 130m of textual records and other material
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Access Restriction
- Subject to FOIPPA
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records generated in the course of municipal business by City Council and the Office of the City Clerk.
- History
- The City of Burnaby covers an area of approximately 98 square kilometers between the cities of Vancouver to the west, and Coquitlam and New Westminster to the east, Burrard Inlet to the north, and the Fraser River to the south. The municipality derived its name from Robert Burnaby, a prominent businessman and advisor to Sir James Douglas, the first Governor of the Crown Colony of British Columbia. Burnaby’s early development was closely tied to the development of the City of New Westminster. New Westminster became British Columbia’s capital in 1859, the year after the British Government proclaimed the establishment of British Columbia. Shortly thereafter, the Royal Engineers began exploring Burnaby to establish military defenses and secure natural resources. This involved the construction of a road linking New Westminster to Burrard Inlet for military purposes, which is present-day North Road. At this time, individuals and families began settling in Burnaby and were largely involved in agricultural and logging activities. Burnaby developed slowly until 1887, when the Canadian Pacific Railway was extended into Vancouver from the Port Moody terminal, causing a dramatic increase in traffic between New Westminster and Vancouver. To meet the new transportation demands, a tramline was built in 1891 connecting the two urban centers along what is now Kingsway. The creation and location of the tramline induced property owners to begin subdividing and selling their lands as early as October 1891. The property taxes the roughly 200 residents paid at this time went directly to the provincial government in Victoria. No local services were provided in turn, which prompted the formation of a committee to petition the provincial government for a municipal charter. As a result, the Corporation of the District of Burnaby was incorporated by letters patent on September 22, 1892. Burnaby’s first Council was elected by acclamation on October 15, 1892 and consisted of Reeve Charles R. Shaw and councillors William Brenchley, Arthur De Windt Hazard, L. Claude Hill, William McDermott, and John Woolard.* The first formal Council election was conducted three months later. Nicolai Shou became the first elected reeve of Burnaby by ballot. Council met at various locations, including the tramline’s power house, private homes, and offices until the first municipal hall was built at Kingsway and Edmonds in 1899. Council is ultimately responsible for the government of the City of Burnaby. The Mayor (formally called “Reeve” prior to 1968) and Council are elected by the residents of Burnaby to represent them in decisions with respect to the provision of public services and facilities. Additionally, the Mayor represents the citizens of Burnaby at various public functions and events. Burnaby was without Council representation during most of the Great Depression and part of the Second World War. Council was disbanded on December 31, 1932 as a result of financial difficulties. The Provincial Government appointed a Commissioner to take over the duties of Reeve and Council beginning in 1933. This system of government was retained until January 1943, when Burnaby residents could once again elect their local government officials. The following individuals have served as Mayor (or Reeve) of Burnaby: Charles R. Shaw 1892 Nicolai C. Schou 1893-1903 Charles F. Sprott 1904-1905 Peter Byrne 1906-1910 John W. Weart 1911-1912 Duncan C. McGregor 1913 Hugh M. Fraser 1914-1918 Thomas Sanderson 1919-1920 Alexander K. McLean 1921-1926; 1928-1929 Charles C. Bell 1927 William L. Burdick 1929 William A. Pritchard 1930-1932 William Tate Wilson 1943-1944 George A. Morrison 1945-1949 William R. Beamish 1950-1953 Charles W. MacSorley 1954-1957 Alan H. Emmott 1958-1968 Robert W. Prittie 1969-1973 Thomas W. Constable 1973-1979 David M. Mercier 1979-1981 William A. Lewarne 1981-1987 William J. Copeland 1987-1996 Douglas P. Drummond 1996-2002 Derek R. Corrigan 2002-2018 Mike Hurley 2018-present The following individuals have served as provincially appointed Commissioners for the Corporation of the District of Burnaby: John Bennett 1933 John Mahony 1933-1934 Hugh M. Fraser 1934-1940* R.S. Gilchrist 1941-1942* B.C. Bracewell 1942* *Richard Bolton was Acting Commissioner for most of 1940-1942. He refused to be a full-fledged Commissioner. Closely associated with the functions of Council is the City Clerk. The Office of the City Clerk is responsible for the statutory duties of the municipal clerk including the preparation and preservation of all minutes books and records of Council business, custody of City bylaws, administrative support to Council and its Committees, preparation of Council and Committee agendas and the conduct of local government elections. The Clerk’s Office is the communications link between Council and other City Departments and the general public, and provides assistance and advice to citizens with respect to Council and Council Committee processes, reporting procedures and decisions. At the time of Burnaby’s incorporation in 1892, the municipal Clerk had the responsibility to attend all meetings of Council, keep all records of Council, prepare and alter voters’ lists, conduct Council elections, collect revenue, as well as having the responsibility to prepare balance sheets and audits. An advertisement in a local newspaper for the appointment of the Clerk dated February 1, 1905 states the “united offices of clerk, collector and assessor” receive a salary of $65.00 per month. Originally the treasurer, assessor and records manager for the corporation, the Clerk eventually became the municipal Council liaison. The primary functions of the City Clerk over time have been the keeping of minutes for the meetings of City Council and related bodies; keeping the records of the City of Burnaby as required by the Local Government Act (formally Municipal Act); keeping all records related to City Council decision making; carrying out correspondence on behalf of Council; assembling voters’ lists and carrying out elections; providing communication, information, and public relations services, including responsibility for civic ceremonies/events, and the municipal archives. The following individuals have served as City Clerk: Alexander Philip 1892–1894 Alfred Smither 1894–1899 F.J.H. Shirley 1899–1901 Arthur De Windt Haszard 1901–1902 Walter J. Walker 1902–1905 Benjamin George Walker 1905–1908 Charles Thomas Saunders 1908–1911 W.M. Griffiths 1911–1912 Arthur G. Moore 1912–1933 Charles Boyer Brown 1933–1959 John H. Shaw 1959–1973* James Hudson 1974–1984 Charles A. Turpin 1984–1995 Debbie R. Comis 1995–2011 Anne Skipsey (Acting) 2011-2012 Maryann Manuel (Acting) 2012-2014 Dennis Back 2014-2018 Kate O'Connell 2018-2020 Blanka Zeinabova 2020-2022 *Deputy City Clerk T. Ward took over many of the Clerk’s duties from 1972 to 1973 due to Shaw’s ill health during these years.
- Formats
- Microforms exist for some records. See series descriptions.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Creator
- City of Burnaby
- Notes
- Title based on creators of fonds
Declarations of officers
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription633
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1912-1945
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Scope and Content
- File contains approximately 100 declarations of office made by elected officials before they took office.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1912-1945
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 2357
- Accession Number
- 2001-02
- Scope and Content
- File contains approximately 100 declarations of office made by elected officials before they took office.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
Mayor's Office General and Administration series
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription158
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1828 (date of original) -2002
- Collection/Fonds
- Mayor's Office fonds
- Description Level
- Series
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of records created in the administration of the Mayor’s Office. This includes: reports, file lists, address books, subject files, correspondence, memoranda, photographs and ephemera. The Office of the Mayor is managed by an administrative staff who maintain the Mayor’s schedule, l…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1828 (date of original) -2002
- Collection/Fonds
- Mayor's Office fonds
- Description Level
- Series
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of records created in the administration of the Mayor’s Office. This includes: reports, file lists, address books, subject files, correspondence, memoranda, photographs and ephemera. The Office of the Mayor is managed by an administrative staff who maintain the Mayor’s schedule, liaise with other City officials, and assist the Mayor fulfill his duties and responsibilities to the citizens of Burnaby. As a by-product of these activities, the Mayor’s Office maintains files related to general administrative tasks like record-keeping as well as collecting subject files and records of general interest to the Mayor and Council. These records were used as reference material and have been maintained for their informational value.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
Police commission
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription1000
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1917-1926
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Scope and Content
- File contains correspondence arising from the election of men to the Police Commissioners board, along with the declarations of the elected officials.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1917-1926
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 2778
- Accession Number
- 2001-02
- Scope and Content
- File contains correspondence arising from the election of men to the Police Commissioners board, along with the declarations of the elected officials.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
Land Registry Office official
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription394
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1910-1911
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Scope and Content
- File contains correspondence between the Municipality of Burnaby and various other lower mainland municipalities relating to the proposed appointment of an official at the Land Registry Office who would facilitate searches at that office.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1910-1911
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 2090
- Accession Number
- 2001-02
- Scope and Content
- File contains correspondence between the Municipality of Burnaby and various other lower mainland municipalities relating to the proposed appointment of an official at the Land Registry Office who would facilitate searches at that office.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
Official annual reports
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription838
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1913
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Scope and Content
- File contains the official annual reports submitted to Council by the Engineering Department, the Wiring Inspector, and the Water Superintendent.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1913
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 2601
- Accession Number
- 2001-02
- Scope and Content
- File contains the official annual reports submitted to Council by the Engineering Department, the Wiring Inspector, and the Water Superintendent.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
Civic ceremonies, awards and special events series
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription157
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1919-2004
- Collection/Fonds
- Mayor's Office fonds
- Description Level
- Series
- Scope and Content
- Series contains records created by the Mayor’s Office during the Mayor’s participation in civic ceremonies, awards presentations, or other special events undertaken in or for the City of Burnaby. Records include: photographs, correspondence, memoranda, speeches, reports, newspaper clippings, progr…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1919-2004
- Collection/Fonds
- Mayor's Office fonds
- Description Level
- Series
- Scope and Content
- Series contains records created by the Mayor’s Office during the Mayor’s participation in civic ceremonies, awards presentations, or other special events undertaken in or for the City of Burnaby. Records include: photographs, correspondence, memoranda, speeches, reports, newspaper clippings, programmes, agendas, proclamations, plaques, itineraries, invitations, and ceremonial certificates and memorabilia. As the official representative for the citizens of Burnaby, the Mayor hosts and attends numerous ceremonies and special events throughout his/her term in office. Included in this series are records from events such as the 1984 and 1997 B. C. Summer Games, the 1992 Burnaby Centennial celebrations, and the 1971 Royal Visit from Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. During the course of these events, the City of Burnaby often is presented with ceremonial plaques, letters, or certificates that commemorate the special occasions and this material is included in the series. The Mayor is also responsible for seeing that awards are bestowed upon other deserving parties and ensures that achievements and special occasions are formally recognized by the City of Burnaby. Each year the Mayor presents the Kushiro Cup Award – which is named after Burnaby’s Sister City Kushiro, Japan – to an outstanding Burnaby resident and hosts such functions as municipal appreciation dinners. The records that are produced while carrying out these activities include criteria lists, resumes, correspondence, proclamations, and certificates.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
Glen Lyon Estates and Owners
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription88217
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1901-2002 (date of originals), predominant 1937-1939
- Collection/Fonds
- Mary Forsyth fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of Mary Forsyth's research documents for Glen Lyon Estate and its various tenants including; Duncan C. McGregor, The Home of the Friendless and New Haven Correctional Centre. Documents include; a copy of a marriage certificate for Ducan C. McGregor and Margaret Jane Johnston, May 7, 1…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1901-2002 (date of originals), predominant 1937-1939
- Collection/Fonds
- Mary Forsyth fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS185-024
- Access Restriction
- Subject to FOIPPA
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproductions subject to FOIPPA
- Accession Number
- 2014-27
- Scope and Content
- File consists of Mary Forsyth's research documents for Glen Lyon Estate and its various tenants including; Duncan C. McGregor, The Home of the Friendless and New Haven Correctional Centre. Documents include; a copy of a marriage certificate for Ducan C. McGregor and Margaret Jane Johnston, May 7, 1901; an official opening invitation and program for New Haven in 1977; newspaper clippings regarding the Borstal Home and New Haven and the Prison History; copies of newspaper clippings regarding 'The Home of the Friendless', a copy of a fire insurance plan for New Haven; correspondence with the Provincial Court of B.C. about the origins of New Haven; a copy of a 24 page report from Honour Eric Werge Hamber Lte Governor of B.C. dated July 23, 1937 re: "Conduct Home of the Friendless"; a copy of the "Summerland Home Investigation with an examination by Dr. MacKay" dated February 6, 1937; a South Slope School and Program Consultation Study, Minutes, May 5, 1980 and two clippings from the Burnaby Now in 2002 and 1997 focusing on the history and development the New Haven site. Biographical and historical information was compiled by Mary Forysth with the intention of publishing a book.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Transcribed title
Oakalla Prison Farm papers
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription64506
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1912 (date of original) -1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of paper records created or collected by Edmund Eckley on the history of the Oakalla Prison Farm in Burnaby. Included in the file are; newspaper clippings, the "Official Closing Tour / Lower Mainland Regional Correctional Centre / Oakalla Prison Farm" programme as well as photocopies …
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1912 (date of original) -1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Ed Eckley subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS120-001
- Access Restriction
- In Archives only
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproductions subject to FOIPPA
- Accession Number
- BHS2006-01
- Scope and Content
- File consists of paper records created or collected by Edmund Eckley on the history of the Oakalla Prison Farm in Burnaby. Included in the file are; newspaper clippings, the "Official Closing Tour / Lower Mainland Regional Correctional Centre / Oakalla Prison Farm" programme as well as photocopies of "British Columbia / Gaol Rules & Regulations / 1912" and photocopied aerial photographs of the site.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
- Included in the file is a resume for former Oakalla prison guard Robert Evans Shelly
Oakalla Prison fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription100561
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1911-1953
- Collection/Fonds
- Oakalla Prison fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 6 cm. of textual records.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records created by the Oakalla Prison Farm, including administrative correspondence related to staff appointments and wages, and a staff shortage when employees left to fight in World War I. The records pertain only to staffmembers of the prison and are not directly related to any…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1911-1953
- Collection/Fonds
- Oakalla Prison fonds
- Physical Description
- 6 cm. of textual records.
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Record No.
- 66669
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2022-13
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records created by the Oakalla Prison Farm, including administrative correspondence related to staff appointments and wages, and a staff shortage when employees left to fight in World War I. The records pertain only to staffmembers of the prison and are not directly related to any prison inmates.
- History
- The Oakalla Prison Farm was a model prison farm on 185 acres (75 ha) of land next to Deer Lake, Burnaby. The Oakalla Prison Farm was a full-service facility that originally opened on September 2, 1912, and was initially designed to hold 150 men and women. The first inmate was William Daley, sentenced on July 31, 1912 to serve a year of hard labor for stealing some fountain pens valued at over $10. By April 30, 1913, some 328 prisoners had passed through the jail's doors. In 1916, the women's section officially opened, and in 1942, the women's unit opened on the grounds as a separate facility. It was renamed as the "Lakeside Correctional Centre for Women" in 1979. The original women's unit was expanded in 1953, and consisted of two cottage-style buildings. By the 1950s, the population was well over 1000. As a working farm, the prison had its own dairy, vegetable gardens, and livestock. Executions in British Columbia were primarily carried out in Oakalla; after 1919, it was the sole penitentiary where executions took place. The first execution was that of 25 year-old Alex Ignace on August 29, 1919. 44 prisoners were executed by hanging at Oakalla from 1919 until the death penalty was abolished in 1959. In 1959, the last execution in British Columbia took place at Oakalla, with the hanging of former sailor Leo Mantha, aged 33. Oakalla was also one of the locations that undertook the experiment of performing cosmetic surgery on inmates to remove deformities that made prisoners "more likely to offend". The experiment was led by Dr. Edward Lewison, and continued into the mid-1960s. Procedures were conducted on 450 inmates, voluntarily. In 1970, the prison was renamed as the Lower Mainland Regional Correctional Centre (LMRCC) The farm portion of the prison, providing work for the inmates and food in the prison, closed in 1979 and 64 acres of land were transferred to the City of Burnaby. This land was included in the existing Deer Lake Park that was adjacent to the prison. Originally designed to house a maximum of 484 prisoners, Oakalla's population peaked in 1962-1963 at 1,269 inmates. With population averages of over 600, overcrowding was always a problem. In the institution's final years, two nationally-spotlighted events occurred. 13 maximum security prisoners escaped on New Year's Day, 1988, following an uprising on December 27, 1987, and on November 22, 1983, a violent and costly riot took place. Rioters caused more than $150,000 damage in a two-day spree. Oakalla was closed down on June 30, 1991, and was developed into a new residential housing development and an expansion of the park. Prisoners from Oakalla were then moved to various other Correctional Facilities in British Columbia, including but not limited to the Vancouver Pretrial Services Centre (VPSC), the Fraser Regional Correctional Centre (FRCC), and the Alouette Regional Correctional Centre (ARCC), later Alouette Correctional Centre for Women. Source: https://wikimapia.org/8004045/Former-site-Lower-Mainland-Correctional-Centre-Oakalla-Prison-Farm Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakalla_Prison
- Media Type
- Textual Record
Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1880-1980]
- Collection/Fonds
- Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- ca. 1200 photographs and other material
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records, primarily photographs, compiled by various members of both the Hill and Peers families that document their lives during the early days of settlement in Burnaby. The fonds includes records of citizenship, wills and other official papers pertaining to the life and activitie…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1880-1980]
- Collection/Fonds
- Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
- Physical Description
- ca. 1200 photographs and other material
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2007-12
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records, primarily photographs, compiled by various members of both the Hill and Peers families that document their lives during the early days of settlement in Burnaby. The fonds includes records of citizenship, wills and other official papers pertaining to the life and activities of L. Claude Hill; photographs of the Peers family’s Burnaby Lake home, Greyfriars, and pictures taken by Arthur Peers during his work and travels throughout British Columbia in the first part of the 20th century; and photographs of the family of Claude Hill, early Burnaby Lake residents and scenes, and pictures Kitty took as an adult documenting the growth of her own family. Also included in this fonds are a number of photographs showing Yellow Point, Vancouver Island, where the Peers and Hill families often vacationed.
- History
- Bob Peers was born William John Peers, the son of real estate broker and early Burnaby resident, Francis John Peers and his wife Elizabeth Frisby. Originally from England, the family moved to Vancouver in 1905 and soon after settled at Burnaby Lake. The family included one daughter (Mary Elizabeth Dora) and four boys (Arthur Francis, William John “Bob”, Geoffrey Hugh, and Richard Dominic). When they arrived in Burnaby, Francis Peers purchased a piece of land from another early settler, Claude Hill, and built the family home “Greyfriars” near Deer Lake. The children attended school in the home of Miss Harriet Woodward, the first school to be held in the Burnaby Lake area. In 1925, Bob married Claude Hill’s daughter and another former pupil of “Miss Harry’s,” Kitty Hill. Kitty (born Katherine Maude Hill) was the only child of Burnaby pioneers L. Claude Hill and Annie Sara Kenrick. Having moved to the Burnaby Lake area in the early 1890s, Claude went on to operate a successful strawberry farm and soon became active in the political development of Burnaby – being elected to the first Burnaby Council and serving from 1892-1894 and again from 1909-1910. The first Hill family home, “Brookfield,” was sold around 1907 and the family moved to their new home, “Broadview,” which was also built in the vicinity of Deer Lake. In 1925, Bob and Kitty were married and they went on to have three children, Robert C.K., Barbara (later Barbara Jeffrey), and Anne (later Anne Latham).
- Formats
- All photographic records have been scanned and are saved in jpeg format on the City of Burnaby network. Archival master copies have also been produced in tiff format and have been burned to CD for preservation purposes.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Photograph
- Creator
- Peers family
- Hill family
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds
William Randolph Beamish fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription100653
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1861-2009
- Collection/Fonds
- William Randolph Beamish fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 3.5 cm. of textual records; 17 small b&w prints; 10 med. prints; and 6 large b&w prints.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of materials related to both Ran's personal life and his professional life as Reeve of Burnaby. Included in the materials are records related to his biological family as well as his adopted family, including records related to his reunion with his birth mother. Notable among his prof…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1861-2009
- Collection/Fonds
- William Randolph Beamish fonds
- Physical Description
- 3.5 cm. of textual records; 17 small b&w prints; 10 med. prints; and 6 large b&w prints.
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Record No.
- 66671
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2018-08
- 2023-03
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of materials related to both Ran's personal life and his professional life as Reeve of Burnaby. Included in the materials are records related to his biological family as well as his adopted family, including records related to his reunion with his birth mother. Notable among his professional records are photographs and newspaper clippings documenting his meeting with Queen Elizabeth II during an official visit prior to her coronation.
- History
- William Randolph "Ran" Beamish was born in Warren, Ontario, on November 11, 1908. He was the child of Gertrude Applegate (nee Pearce) and Randolph Applegate, but when he was put in an orphanage at birth, he was adopted by William Beamish and Agnes Crabbe and raised as their only son. Agnes Crabbe was the daughter of James Crabbe and Emily Widger; Emily Widger was the daughter of Henry Widger and Agnes Oldridge. When Agnes Oldridge passed away, Henry Widger remarried Jessie (maiden name unknown) and had Gertrude, who later went on to give birth to Ran, meaning he was eventually adopted and raised by his first cousins. Ran married Marjorie Davies and had two children, Joanne Beamish and Donna Beamish. Ran served as the Reeve of Burnaby from 1950 to 1953. He died on January 2, 1965, in New Westminster at the age of 56.
- Media Type
- Textual Record