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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

Burnaby Public Library Board subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96372

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1960]-2007

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Description Level: Subseries

Physical Description: 3 rolls of microfilm + 1 photograph

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of board records for the Burnaby Public Library Board, including appointments, correspondence, and a comissioned portrait.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1960]-2007

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Series: Council Committee series

Subseries: Burnaby Public Library Board subseries

Physical Description: 3 rolls of microfilm + 1 photograph

Description Level: Subseries

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of board records for the Burnaby Public Library Board, including appointments, correspondence, and a comissioned portrait.

History: The Burnaby Public Library Board was established in 1955. The Trustees on the Burnaby Public Library Board govern the Burnaby Public Library and provide policies, a mission and vision, and general library management.

Media Type: Textual Record; Photograph; Graphic Material

Committee Administration subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96376

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1960]-2020

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Description Level: Subseries

Physical Description: 10 folders of textual records + 3 rolls of microfilm

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of committee records for the Committee Administration including directories, terms of reference, commissioner appointments, committee applications, successful candidates, and delegations.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1960]-2020

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Series: Council Committee series

Subseries: Committee administration subseries

Physical Description: 10 folders of textual records + 3 rolls of microfilm

Description Level: Subseries

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of committee records for the Committee Administration including directories, terms of reference, commissioner appointments, committee applications, successful candidates, and delegations.

History: Committee Administration is responsible for the administrative management of Burnaby's various committees, commissions, and boards.

Media Type: Textual Record

Family Court and Youth Justice Committee subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96449

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1964]-2003

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Description Level: Subseries

Physical Description: 38 folders of textual records

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of committee records for the Family Court and Youth Justice Committee including agendas, minutes, correspondence, committee reports, terms of reference, and youth diversion court.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1964]-2003

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Series: Council Committee series

Subseries: Family Court and Youth Justice Committee subseries

Physical Description: 38 folders of textual records

Description Level: Subseries

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of committee records for the Family Court and Youth Justice Committee including agendas, minutes, correspondence, committee reports, terms of reference, and youth diversion court.

History: The Family Court and Youth Justice Committee was established in 1985. The Committee’s name was changed from the previous Family Court Committee (also referred to as Justice Council / Family Court Committee). On January 13, 2003 the Family Court and Youth Justice Committee disbanded due to the recent closure of the Burnaby Family and Youth Court. Any matters relating to family court and/or youth justice were turned over to the Community Policing Committee.

Media Type: Textual Record

Family Court Committee subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96450

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1960]-1992

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Description Level: Subseries

Physical Description: 7 folders of textual records + 2 rolls of microfilm + 1 videocassette

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of committee records for the Family Court Committee including agendas, minutes, correspondence, committee reports, and terms of reference.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1960]-1992

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Series: Council Committee series

Subseries: Family Court Committee subseries

Physical Description: 7 folders of textual records + 2 rolls of microfilm + 1 videocassette

Description Level: Subseries

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of committee records for the Family Court Committee including agendas, minutes, correspondence, committee reports, and terms of reference.

History: The Family Court Committee was established in 1964. The Family Court Committee was mandated to examine the resources of the community for family and children’s work, in order to assist the officers and Judges of the Court when required. The Committee's name was changed from Family Court Committee to Family Court and Youth Justice Committee on April 9, 1985.

Media Type: Textual Record; Moving Images; Graphic Material

Parks and Recreation Commission subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96467

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1960]-2001

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Description Level: Subseries

Physical Description: 5 folders of textual records + 5 rolls of microfilm

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of committee records for the Parks and Recreation Commission including Hart Mansion, facility and equipment user fees, appointments, mileage and expenses, and miscellaneous.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1960]-2001

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Series: Council Committee series

Subseries: Parks and Recreation Commission subseries

Physical Description: 5 folders of textual records + 5 rolls of microfilm

Description Level: Subseries

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of committee records for the Parks and Recreation Commission including Hart Mansion, facility and equipment user fees, appointments, mileage and expenses, and miscellaneous.

History: Parks and Recreation Commission was established on December 30, 1957. This Commission was responsible for maintaining Burnaby's parks and recreational outlets, and was the successor to the Board of Parks Commissioners. In 1999, the Commission was renamed Parks, Recreation and Culture Commission.

Media Type: Textual Record

Pollution Committee subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96469

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1960]-1990

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Description Level: Subseries

Physical Description: 7 folders of textual records + 1 roll of microfilm

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of committee records for the Pollution Committee including agendas, minutes, correspondence, and terms of reference.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1960]-1990

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Series: Council Committee series

Subseries: Pollution Committee subseries

Physical Description: 7 folders of textual records + 1 roll of microfilm

Description Level: Subseries

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of committee records for the Pollution Committee including agendas, minutes, correspondence, and terms of reference.

History: The Pollution Committee was established on April 8, 1969. The Committee reported on matters such as landfill operations, municipal sewage, and individual property concerns. The Committee was renamed the Pollution, Refineries Safety and Security Committee in 1981, then renamed the Pollution Committee again in 1982 The Pollution Committee became the Environment & Waste Management Committee on December 7, 1987.

Media Type: Textual Record

Transportation Committee subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96477

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1960]-2012

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Description Level: Subseries

Physical Description: 42 folders of textual records + 28 photographs + 3 rolls of microfilm

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of committee records for the Transportation Committee including agendas, minutes, correspondence, committee reports, a comissioned photograph, and terms of reference.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1960]-2012

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Series: Council Committee series

Subseries: Transportation Committee subseries

Physical Description: 42 folders of textual records + 28 photographs + 3 rolls of microfilm

Description Level: Subseries

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of committee records for the Transportation Committee including agendas, minutes, correspondence, committee reports, a comissioned photograph, and terms of reference.

History: The Transportation Committee was established on February 13, 1978. From 1973 to 1977, this committee was known as the Transit Committee. It was expanded in 1978 to encompass the role of a Transportation Committee. From 1990 to 2002, the Transportation Committee was named the Traffic and Transportation Committee, also referred to as the Traffic and Transportation Committee (Transportation and Transit Division.) On January 13, 2003, the committee was once again known as the Transportation Committee. On February 20, 2017 the Transportation Committee was integrated with the Public Safety Committee.

Media Type: Textual Record; Photograph; Graphic Material

Community Archives Collection series

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97126

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [188-]-2010

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Series

Physical Description: Textual records and other materials

Scope and Content: Series consists of the Burnaby Historical Society's Community Archives collection. The Society's collection includes photographs, documents, ephemera, oral histories, and other records from a myriad of sources and donors, compiled to document the history of Burnaby.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [188-]-2010

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Physical Description: Textual records and other materials

Description Level: Series

Scope and Content: Series consists of the Burnaby Historical Society's Community Archives collection. The Society's collection includes photographs, documents, ephemera, oral histories, and other records from a myriad of sources and donors, compiled to document the history of Burnaby.

History: The Burnaby Historical was founded in 1957. The Historical Society developed its Community Archives by collecting, compiling, and preserving records with historic value to the City of Burnaby. It gathered documents, photographs, and other items while also soliciting and acquiring entire collections or groups of archival records. In 1991, the Society was provided a permanent space to house their growing collection at the Burnaby Village Museum and they continued to grow their holdings. Following the creation of the City of Burnaby Archives in 2001, the Society and the City of Burnaby began discussing the possibility of uniting the two collections. In February 2007, an agreement was signed between the two institutions which resulted in the merger of the Society's Community Archives with the City Archives. All records collected by the Society were transferred into the custody of the City and moved from the Burnaby Village Museum to the City Archives in the McGill branch of the Burnaby Public Library.

Media Type: Textual Record; Photograph; Sound Recording; Cartographic Material

Notes: Title based on contents of series

Columbian Newspaper subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97177

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1865]-1983

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Subseries

Physical Description: Photographs

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of photographs from the Columbian Newspaper collected by the Burnaby Historical Society.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1865]-1983

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Columbian Newspaper subseries

Physical Description: Photographs

Description Level: Subseries

Accession Number: BHS1989-19

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of photographs from the Columbian Newspaper collected by the Burnaby Historical Society.

Media Type: Photograph

Creator: The Columbian

Notes: Title based on contents of subseries; PC 222; History/Bio adapted from New Westminster Archives

Disney Family collection

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97178

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1914-1963]

Collection/Fonds: Disney Family collection

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: 6 architectural drawings : pencil and ink on paper ; 52 cm x 77 cm and smaller + 1 p. of textual records (40 cm. x 31 cm.) + 1 plan : col. ; 55 cm x 75 cm folded to 28 cm x 10 cm + 1 map : diazo print ; 39 cm x 28 cm.

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of maps and plans created and collected by Jack Disney.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1914-1963]

Collection/Fonds: Disney Family collection

Physical Description: 6 architectural drawings : pencil and ink on paper ; 52 cm x 77 cm and smaller + 1 p. of textual records (40 cm. x 31 cm.) + 1 plan : col. ; 55 cm x 75 cm folded to 28 cm x 10 cm + 1 map : diazo print ; 39 cm x 28 cm.

Description Level: Fonds

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Accession Number: 2016-03

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of maps and plans created and collected by Jack Disney.

History: John Howard "Jack" Disney served as Burnaby Surveyor from 1911 to 1919.

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of collection; MSS199

Pioneer Tales subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97276

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [191-] (date of original)-1988

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Subseries

Physical Description: Photographs and textual records

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of photographs compiled by the Mayor's Office for inclusion in the publication "Pioneer Tales of Burnaby" and drafts of the manuscript.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [191-] (date of original)-1988

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Pioneer Tales subseries

Physical Description: Photographs and textual records

Description Level: Subseries

Accession Number: BHS2007-04; BHS1988-03

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of photographs compiled by the Mayor's Office for inclusion in the publication "Pioneer Tales of Burnaby" and drafts of the manuscript.

History: On May 28, 1980 the Mayor and Council of Burnaby held a tea to honour Burnaby “pioneers.” The event was held as part of “Burnaby Funfest Days ‘80” and was meant to recognize members of the community who had resided in Burnaby prior to 1930 and acknowledge their contributions as pioneers of the City. Although approximately 100 people were expected, more than 500 actually attended. Each participant was asked to fill out a brief personal information form outlining their experiences in Burnaby’s earliest days. The response was so favorable that the idea of compiling a book to capture these memories was born. The City hired a writer edit and organize the book they held writing contests to encourage senior residents to share their experiences. Other community members became involved in the project when the City enlisted the help of secondary school students to type manuscripts for those unable to do so and journalism students from the British Columbia Institute of Technology to conduct interviews with additional “pioneers.” The book was published in 1987.

Media Type: Textual Record; Photograph

Creator: Mayor's Office

Notes: Title based on contents of subseries; PC204, MSS064

Church files subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97357

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Subseries

Physical Description: Textual records

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of papers pertaining to churches in Burnaby collected by the Burnaby Historical Society for research and information purposes.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Church files subseries

Physical Description: Textual records

Description Level: Subseries

Accession Number: BHS2007-04; BHS1999-15

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of papers pertaining to churches in Burnaby collected by the Burnaby Historical Society for research and information purposes.