2 records – page 1 of 1.

Mary Forsyth fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription87823
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1893] (date of original) -2004
Collection/Fonds
Mary Forsyth fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
Textual records, graphic material and cartographic material
Scope and Content
Records consist of material created and collected by Mary Forsyth. Records include correspondence, photographs, a map, presentation notes, and reviews along with research for historical and biographical essays pertaining to pioneering families, organizations, and the geographical area of South Burn…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1893] (date of original) -2004
Collection/Fonds
Mary Forsyth fonds
Physical Description
Textual records, graphic material and cartographic material
Description Level
Fonds
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Accession Number
2014-27
Scope and Content
Records consist of material created and collected by Mary Forsyth. Records include correspondence, photographs, a map, presentation notes, and reviews along with research for historical and biographical essays pertaining to pioneering families, organizations, and the geographical area of South Burnaby. One of her major research projects consists of "A Walking Environment for South Burnaby," which also became a proposal to The Corporation of the District of Burnaby. Historical information and photographs pertaining to South Burnaby pioneer families and organizations were compiled from interviews with the intention of publishing a book.
History
Mary Gertrude (Bolton) Forsyth was born at her parents' home in Burnaby on March 5, 1923, and was the daughter of Richard Bolton and Gertrude (nee Hern). Mary's father, Richard, immigrated to Canada from Sunderland, England, in 1911. He lived with his brother George in New Westminster prior to purchasing property in South Burnaby in 1916 and built a bungalow located at 859 Marine Drive. Richard Bolton was employed as the municipal treasurer for the Corporation of the District of Burnaby and, in 1919, he returned to Sunderland with three months leave of absence to marry Mary Gertrude Hern, daughter of Captain and Mrs. John Hern. Mary grew up with her parents and sister Nancy in the house that her father built on Marine Drive. She married Lloyd Forsyth in 1946 and they had two children, Diane and Robert. Mary and her husband raised their family in Burnaby and built a house at 855 Marine Drive, on the lot originally purchased by her father, and moved later to a house located at 6457 Marine Drive. In 1964, after her children were grown, Mary completed her teaching degree at Simon Fraser University and went on to teach kindergarten at Nelson Elementary School. While a teacher within the Burnaby School District, Mary was instrumental in adopting ballet as part of the school curriculum. Mary was an active member of the Burnaby Historical Society, participating and leading local events and seminars. She was inspired by the idea of the 'Housewives Holiday', originally initiated by the Vancouver "Y’ S". In February 1960, she was integral in forming a committee in South Burnaby, working alongside Ruth Turner, Faye Treagh, and Dorothy Turnbull. The "Housewives Holiday" committee (a branch of the Clinton-Glenwood Recreation Association) planned several events at Bonsor Hall for Burnaby housewives from October 6 to December 8, 1960. After her retirement from teaching, Mary returned to Simon Fraser University to do further studies and, in 1983, she wrote an essay for an Environmental Education course, titled "A Walking Environment for South Burnaby". The essay was conducted as a feasibility study to provide a walking environment in her community and included a formal essay, a media book, a map, and a slide presentation which was presented to a variety of local community groups. In 1984, Mary was the recipient of the North Fraser Harbour Commission Award to further her work on this project. In October 1986, her essay was adapted as a proposal to The Corporation of the District of Burnaby for a walking and cycling trail system for South Burnaby. Her proposal was taken into consideration by council and was later adopted by the Parks and Recreation Commission. Mary was very much interested in the history of South Burnaby and spent time between 1990 to 2004 conducting research through the Burnaby Historical Society, The City of Burnaby Archives, and several pioneering families who agreed to share their family records and be interviewed. Mary compiled her research into short historical and biographical essays by geographical area, family name, and organization. Mary (Bolton) Forsyth lived her whole life in South Burnaby and was an active and committed member of her community. She died on November 10, 2010.
Media Type
Textual Record
Photograph
Cartographic Material
Creator
Forsyth, Mary
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds
Photo catalogue 572, MSS185
Less detail

Baldwin family subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription65666
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1964-2002
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Subseries
Physical Description
Textual records and photographs
Scope and Content
Subseries consist of records pertaining to the Baldwin family home. Included in the fonds are newspaper clippings, magazine articles, and photographs of the house taken by Basil King.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1964-2002
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Baldwin family subseries
Physical Description
Textual records and photographs
Description Level
Subseries
Accession Number
BHS1998-03
Scope and Content
Subseries consist of records pertaining to the Baldwin family home. Included in the fonds are newspaper clippings, magazine articles, and photographs of the house taken by Basil King.
History
In 1959 Dr. William "Bill" Baldwin (d. 1987) and his wife Ruth (d. 2009) bought a cottage and approximately two and a half acres of land on the shores of Deer Lake for $16,000. The cottage and land had been owned by one of Dr. Baldwin’s colleagues at Burnaby Hospital. The couple lived in the cottage with their two young children John (b.1958) and Susan (b.1959) for a few years before deciding to renovate and expand their home. William was close friends with Arthur Erickson, the two having gone to Prince of Wales High School and McGill University together. Ruth decided that they needed a lakeshore home rather than a renovation on their cottage and Arthur Erickson would be the man to design it. Local builder Torstein Kravik completed the house in 1965. The home is considered an early example of Erickson’s design aesthetic, demonstrating his vision of "site, light and cadence." It is thought to be the best example of West Coast contemporary architecture in Burnaby. In 2001, at the age of seventy-eight, Ruth approached the City of Burnaby about buying the property,on the condition that the house be protected and that Ruth could continue to rent the home. The City purchased it and gave it Heritage designation. As of 2010, the Baldwin home and garden is on lease to The Land Conservancy of BC (TLC) to serve as a “guest house.” It is available for lease to local residents and visitors for overnight stays.
Media Type
Photograph
Textual Record
Creator
Baldwin, Ruth
Notes
Title based on contents of subseries
Photo catalogue 357, MSS145
Less detail