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Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to W.H. "Harry" O'Brien's involvement with the formation of the Army of the Common Good Credit Union (now the South Burnaby Credit Union).

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to W.H. "Harry" O'Brien's involvement with the formation of the Army of the Common Good Credit Union (now the South Burnaby Credit Union).

Date Range: [1932]-1936

Photo Info: Harry and Gertrude (Sutherland) O'Brien on their wedding day, October 12, 1940. Item no. 315-005

Length: 0:11:12

Names: Darling, Gordon; Phillips, Turnie

Subjects: Organizations

Interviewer: Bradbury, Dr. Bettina

Interview Date: July / August 1975

Scope and Content: Recording is a taped interview with W.H. "Harry" O'Brien by SFU (Simon Fraser University) graduate student Bettina Bradbury. Major themes discussed are: the Army of the Common Good, the Union of the Unemployed and the Common Good Credit Union (now the South Burnaby Credit Union). To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".

Biographical Notes: W.H. “Harry” O’Brien was born in the coal mining town of Nanaimo, British Columbia on October 20, 1914. He came to Burnaby with his parents and five siblings in 1927. Harry’s mother, a school teacher, wanted her children to live closer to school in order to obtain a better education, so the O’Brien family settled at Inman Avenue, Burnaby. Harry's mother, Mary Anne Crossan, was Gilmore Avenue School's first teacher. Harry left school in June of 1929. Harry’s father worked as the caretaker at Central Park around this time and Harry helped him to clear brush, plant trees and enforce the land clearing and wood cutting permit regulations held by men who were on script. Although too young to vote by just over a week, Harry O'Brien worked as a scrutineer for the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) during the 1935 Federal Election. On October 12, 1940 Harry O'Brien married Gertrude Sutherland at St. John the Divine in Burnaby. The Sutherland family came to Burnaby from Winnipeg in 1933 and settled at Nelson Avenue. Harry began his involvement with the Unemployment Organization in Burnaby by participating in an organised protest against the municipality for homeowner evictions brought on by unpaid taxes. The South Burnaby Union of the Unemployed organised in order to protest rules around receiving Relief. Harry became involved, eventually becoming one of the spearheads of the organization, taking over as secretary by 1936. Harry was an original member of the Army of the Common Good, helping to produce over one hundred and twenty-five tons of vegetables from its own gardens to feed Burnaby citizens suffering from the lack of resources during the Depression years. The members of the Army of the Common Good who cut wood for consumption or worked in the gardens were given credit for their work through LU (Labour Units) which they could then use to buy groceries and that at the Army's Cooperative stores, one of which was at McKay Avenue, where Harry began working as Manager of Groceries in 1937. The Credit Union movement of British Columbia was also organized by Harry O'Brien and his fellow Army of the Common Good members. W.H. "Harry" O'Brien died July 1, 1992.

Total Tracks: 9

Total Length: 1:17:56

Interviewee Name: O'Brien, Harry

Interviewer Bio: Bettina Bradbury teaches history and women's studies at York University. She is the author of Wife to Widow. Lives, Laws and Politics in Nineteenth-century Montreal. (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, June 2011), 520p; Working Families. Age, Gender and Daily Survival in Industrializing Montreal. (Toronto: Canadian Social History Series, McClelland and Stewart, 1993); (Republished Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1996) (3rd edition, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007). These interviews were undertaken after she completed her MA at Simon Fraser University in 1975 with the support of an LIP grant.

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Transcript Available: None

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.

Images

Harry and Gertrude (Sutherland) O'Brien on their wedding day, October 12, 1940. Item no. 315-005 thumbnail

Audio Tracks

Track eight of interview with W.H.

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-25/100-13-25_Track_8.mp3

Volunteer's Gala - Les Creelman; Mrs. Anna Belle MacKay; Mrs. Florence Godwin; Mrs. Helen Street and Peter Acland

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58896

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1965

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 17.5 x 25.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Les Creelman, Anna Belle MacKay, Florence Godwin, Helen Street, and Peter Acland at the Volunteers Gala. A sign in the background reads, "Volunteers Are Special." The photograph is from Burnaby Today.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1965

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 17.5 x 25.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-1354

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2009-01

Scope and Content: Photograph of Les Creelman, Anna Belle MacKay, Florence Godwin, Helen Street, and Peter Acland at the Volunteers Gala. A sign in the background reads, "Volunteers Are Special." The photograph is from Burnaby Today.

Subjects: Persons - Volunteers

Names: Godwin, Florence Hart

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Note on recto reads: "Les Creelman / Mrs. Anna Belle MacKay / Mrs. Florence Godwin / Mrs. Helen Street (window of Frank) / Peter Acland"; Note on verso reads: "page 5 Burnaby Today"

Images

Volunteer's Gala - Les Creelman; Mrs. Anna Belle MacKay; Mrs. Florence Godwin; Mrs. Helen Street and Peter Acland, ca.1965 thumbnail

Young people in a gymnasium

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58899

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1965

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 25.5 x 16.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of two young individuals in a gymnasium, skipping rope. One, whose shirt reads "Skip It," is turning the ropes while the other flips.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1965

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 25.5 x 16.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-1356

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2009-01

Scope and Content: Photograph of two young individuals in a gymnasium, skipping rope. One, whose shirt reads "Skip It," is turning the ropes while the other flips.

Subjects: Persons - Adolescents; Sports

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Note on verso reads: "page 5 Burnaby Today"

Images

Young people in a gymnasium, ca.1965 thumbnail

Boy Scouts - Darryl Chan; Robin Hickman and Adrian Chow

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58900

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1965

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 18 x 16 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of two Boy Scouts and a Scout leader. The leader is explaining something and gesturing; eggs and an egg carton are in front of the two Boy Scouts. The photograph is from Burnaby Today.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1965

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 18 x 16 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-1357

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2009-01

Scope and Content: Photograph of two Boy Scouts and a Scout leader. The leader is explaining something and gesturing; eggs and an egg carton are in front of the two Boy Scouts. The photograph is from Burnaby Today.

Subjects: Organizations - Boys' Societies and Clubs

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Note on recto reads: "Darryl Chow / Robin Hickman / Adrian Chow"

Images

Boy Scouts - Darryl Chan; Robin Hickman and Adrian Chow, ca.1965 thumbnail

An elderly couple

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58901

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1965

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.2 x 18 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of an unidentified eldery couple, seated on a couch with an open book.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1965

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.2 x 18 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-1358

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2009-01

Scope and Content: Photograph of an unidentified eldery couple, seated on a couch with an open book.

Subjects: Persons - Seniors

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Note on verso reads: "PMT 112% page 1 Burnaby Today"

Images

Birthday Celebrations

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58913

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1980

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 17 x 25 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of several people seated around a table in what appears to be a community or seniors' centre. One woman is lighting the candles on a birthday cake.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1980

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 17 x 25 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-1367

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2009-01

Scope and Content: Photograph of several people seated around a table in what appears to be a community or seniors' centre. One woman is lighting the candles on a birthday cake.

Subjects: Celebrations - Birthdays; Persons - Seniors; Buildings - Civic - Seniors Centres

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Note on verso reads: "Page 9 / Burnaby Today / PMT 100%"

Images

Birthday Celebrations, ca.1980 thumbnail

Olga Kotelko reading to girl with a broken leg

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58914

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1980

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 18 x 25 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a woman identified as Olga Kotelo reading or working on homework with a girl with a broken leg. The photograph is taken inside of a hospital.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1980

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 18 x 25 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-1368

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2009-01

Scope and Content: Photograph of a woman identified as Olga Kotelo reading or working on homework with a girl with a broken leg. The photograph is taken inside of a hospital.

Subjects: Persons - Adolescents; Persons - Seniors; Buildings - Civic - Hospitals

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: King, Basil

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Note on recto reads: "Olga Kotelko / Sherri Echlin"; Photographer's stamp on verso; Note on verso reads: "Olga / PMT 100% / page 1 / Burnaby"

Images

Olga Kotelko reading to girl with a broken leg, ca.1980 thumbnail

Mr. and Mrs. Joe and Louise Sellar

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58925

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 16 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of an elderly couple identified as Joe and Louise Sellar.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 16 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-1376

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2009-01

Scope and Content: Photograph of an elderly couple identified as Joe and Louise Sellar.

Subjects: Persons - Seniors

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Note on recto reads: "Mr & Mrs Sellar / Joe & Louise"; Note on verso reads: "Burnaby / B-4 / really delighted with their [illegible] / 85%"

Images

Mr. and Mrs. Joe and Louise Sellar, ca.1983 thumbnail

Barrington, Yvonne

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58927

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w

Scope and Content: Photograph of a woman identified as Yvonne Barington.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-1377

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2009-01

Scope and Content: Photograph of a woman identified as Yvonne Barington.

Subjects: Persons - Seniors

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on caption; Caption on recto reads: "Barrington, Yvonne"; Note on verso reads: "Burnaby / B-4 / 100% / It's so very clear"

Images

Volunteers

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58934

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 16 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of two people, likely volunteers, receiving rolled-up certificates and shaking hands with an unidentified man.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 16 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-1383

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2009-01

Scope and Content: Photograph of two people, likely volunteers, receiving rolled-up certificates and shaking hands with an unidentified man.

Subjects: Persons - Volunteers; Ceremonies - Awards

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: King, Basil

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Photographer's stamp on verso; Note on verso reads: "PMT 100% / page A-11 / Burnaby Today / Volunteers"

Images

Pacific Tunes

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58949

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 13.5 x 20.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a band of three seniors, possibly called Pacific Tunes, performing. They are wearing Hawaiian-print clothing and playing the drums, piano, and accordion.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 13.5 x 20.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-1394

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2009-01

Scope and Content: Photograph of a band of three seniors, possibly called Pacific Tunes, performing. They are wearing Hawaiian-print clothing and playing the drums, piano, and accordion.

Subjects: Persons - Seniors; Musical Instruments; Musical Instruments - Pianos

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Note on verso reads: "Burnaby Today P6 / 45% / Pacific Tunes"

Images

Shauna Cullenton and children with Arts and Crafts

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58998

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 20.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of adults and children doing an arts and crafts project.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 20.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-1408

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2009-01

Scope and Content: Photograph of adults and children doing an arts and crafts project.

Subjects: Persons - Children; Crafts

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Hodge, Craig

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Note on recto reads: "Shauna Cullenton (7) of Bby."; Photographer's stamp on verso; Note on verso reads: "PMT 100% / page 11 / Burnaby Today"

Images

Shauna Cullenton and children with Arts and Crafts, ca.1983 thumbnail

Melissa Tang doing Arts and Crafts

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58999

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 19.5 x 20.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of two children doing an arts and crafts project.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 19.5 x 20.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-1409

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2009-01

Scope and Content: Photograph of two children doing an arts and crafts project.

Subjects: Persons - Children; Crafts

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Hodge, Craig

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Note on recto reads: "Melisa Tang (5) of Bby"; Photographer's stamp on verso; Note on verso reads: "P% B.T. 100% / Burnaby Today"

Images

Melissa Tang doing Arts and Crafts, ca.1983 thumbnail

Boy fishing on a lake

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription59003

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 17 x 25.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a boy laying on a dock next to a lake; his fishing rod is propped up by a stick. A beach and playground are visible in the background.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 17 x 25.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-1412

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2009-01

Scope and Content: Photograph of a boy laying on a dock next to a lake; his fishing rod is propped up by a stick. A beach and playground are visible in the background.

Subjects: Persons - Children; Geographic Features - Lakes and Ponds; Geographic Features - Beaches; Recreational Activities - Fishing

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Hodge, Craig

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Photographer's stamp on verso; Note on verso reads: "PMT 76% / page A-4 / Burnaby Today"

Images

Boy fishing on a lake, ca.1983 thumbnail

People playing bingo

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription59004

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 19 x 25.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of seniors playing bingo.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 19 x 25.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-1413

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2009-01

Scope and Content: Photograph of seniors playing bingo.

Subjects: Persons - Seniors; Recreational Activities

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Hodge, Craig

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Photorapher's stamp on verso; Note on verso reads: "page A-7 / Burnaby Today / PMT 100% / centre hosts"