This portion of the recording pertains to Elsie (Brown-John) Ansdell's early years of marriage while also a member of the work force. She talks about her own children; their early years spent in South Burnaby.
This portion of the recording pertains to Elsie (Brown-John) Ansdell's early years of marriage while also a member of the work force. She talks about her own children; their early years spent in South Burnaby.
Date Range
1939-2012
Photo Info
Elsie Brown-John (bottom, far right) with her class at Kitchener Street School, [1936]. Item no. 549-001.
Length
0:07:05
Interviewer
Damer, Eric
Interview Date
September 18, 2012
Scope and Content
Recording is an interview with early Burnaby resident Elsie (Brown-John) Ansdell conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, September 18, 2012. Major themes discussed are: settling in Burnaby and the early years of the Brown-John family.
Biographical Notes
Elsie (Brown-John) Ansdell’s father, a trained carpenter and cabinet maker, Victor Brown-John came to Canada from Wales in 1910. He cleared three lots at Napier and Gilmore Streets and built a two-roomed house. In 1912, he was joined by his wife and two eldest sons, Victor and Archie. Twin boys, Frank and Roy, were born in 1914 in the Burnaby home and their fifth son, Clive, was born in 1915.
From 1916 to 1919 Victor John-Brown left Burnaby to serve overseas. Elsie Brown-John (later Ansdell) was born in 1921. Her younger brother, Gwyn "Jerry" was born in 1923.
In 1925 Victor Brown-John suffered a fatal accident while working as a longshoreman in Northern British Columbia.
Elsie attended Kitchener Elementary and North Burnaby High School. She married during the Second World War and moved to South Burnaby to raise her family whilst continuing to work in various department stores both in Vancouver and Burnaby.
Eric Damer is a lifelong British Columbian born in Victoria, raised in Kamloops, and currently residing in Burnaby. After studying philosophy at the University of Victoria, he became interested in the educational forces that had shaped his own life. He completed master’s and doctoral degrees in educational studies at the University of British Columbia with a particular interest in the history of adult and higher education in the province. In 2012, Eric worked for the City of Burnaby as a field researcher and writer, conducting interviews for the City Archives and Museum Oral History Program.
Photograph of Mayor Copeland, Helen Strut, Don Brown, John Mitchell, Nancy Peter, Jim Wolf, Ethel Derreck, Hazel L'Estrange, Marjoire Matovich and Mary Forsyth standing in the back row at the opening of the Burnaby Historical Society Archives' Fraser Wilson Room. Fraser Wilson sitting in the front…
Photograph of Mayor Copeland, Helen Strut, Don Brown, John Mitchell, Nancy Peter, Jim Wolf, Ethel Derreck, Hazel L'Estrange, Marjoire Matovich and Mary Forsyth standing in the back row at the opening of the Burnaby Historical Society Archives' Fraser Wilson Room. Fraser Wilson sitting in the front row and holding up a sign that is partially obscured by the table that reads: RESEARCH ROOM / FRASER WILSON / NOVEMBER 15 1990. Seated beside him are Evelyn Salisbury and Violet Eagles. Fraser Wilson was the first Director of the Burnaby Historical Society
Photograph of Ann Macey, Nick Volkow, Hazel L'Estrange, Don Brown and Lane Macey at the plaque dedication for the architect Frank W. Macey taking place inside the Hart House. Lane Macey is the grandson of Frank W. Macey.
Photograph of Ann Macey, Nick Volkow, Hazel L'Estrange, Don Brown and Lane Macey at the plaque dedication for the architect Frank W. Macey taking place inside the Hart House. Lane Macey is the grandson of Frank W. Macey.
Photograph of Don Brown, Ann Macey, Hazel L'Estrange, and Lane Macey at the plaque dedication for the architect Frank W. Macey taking place inside the Hart House. Lane Macey is the grandson of Frank W. Macey.
Photograph of Don Brown, Ann Macey, Hazel L'Estrange, and Lane Macey at the plaque dedication for the architect Frank W. Macey taking place inside the Hart House. Lane Macey is the grandson of Frank W. Macey.
Photograph of restoration volunteer Cice Brown sanding C.W. Parker no. 119 carousel horse named Scampering Dawn (no. 6) after it has been primed with white paint.
Photograph of restoration volunteer Cice Brown sanding C.W. Parker no. 119 carousel horse named Scampering Dawn (no. 6) after it has been primed with white paint.
Photograph of restoration volunteers working on the platform for the C.W. Parker no. 119 carousel.
Holding the platform (left to right): Bob Watts, Ken Diamond, Dennis Brown, Gin Farn. Norm Sandercock in the background.
Photograph of restoration volunteers working on the platform for the C.W. Parker no. 119 carousel.
Holding the platform (left to right): Bob Watts, Ken Diamond, Dennis Brown, Gin Farn. Norm Sandercock in the background.
Film compilation of the official opening and dedication of Parker Carousel no. 119 carousel at the Burnaby Village Museum, Don Wrigley Pavilion on March 27, 1993. Edited film footage of the ceremony is compiled with footage of the descendants of the carousel’s first owner, Fred K. Leggett during th…
Film compilation of the official opening and dedication of Parker Carousel no. 119 carousel at the Burnaby Village Museum, Don Wrigley Pavilion on March 27, 1993. Edited film footage of the ceremony is compiled with footage of the descendants of the carousel’s first owner, Fred K. Leggett during their visit to Vancouver to attend the opening of the newly restored carousel. They are shown being interviewed, sightseeing, and being presented with a copy of the film “The Story of Parker no. 119”. BCTV news coverage of the opening ceremony is included along with clips of volunteers restoring and working on the carousel. Film locations include Burnaby, the Burnaby Village Museum and Vancouver. The film was dedicated to the hundreds of volunteers of the Friends of the Carousel.
Photograph of Tinkerbell Cooperative Kindergarten's founder and first teacher, Lucy Brown walking up with a friend to the plaque that dedicates the corner of Howard and Capitol Drive as "Tinkerbell Corner".
Photograph of Tinkerbell Cooperative Kindergarten's founder and first teacher, Lucy Brown walking up with a friend to the plaque that dedicates the corner of Howard and Capitol Drive as "Tinkerbell Corner".
Photograph of archivist Pixie McGeachie showing onlookers community records inside the storage area during the opening of the Burnaby Community Archives at the Burnaby Village Museum.
Photograph of archivist Pixie McGeachie showing onlookers community records inside the storage area during the opening of the Burnaby Community Archives at the Burnaby Village Museum.
File consists of papers (mostly faxed pages) pertaining to the publishing of "Burnaby a Proud Century" written by Pixie McGeachie and Jim Wolf in honour of Burnaby's Centennial. Included in the file is the agreement between book publishers Opus Productions Inc. and the Municipality of Burnaby.
File consists of papers (mostly faxed pages) pertaining to the publishing of "Burnaby a Proud Century" written by Pixie McGeachie and Jim Wolf in honour of Burnaby's Centennial. Included in the file is the agreement between book publishers Opus Productions Inc. and the Municipality of Burnaby.
File consists of reports, proposals and correspondence pertaining to Burnaby Arts Council and their involvement with the Centennial Celebrations. Included in the file are papers related to Artscape '92 (and Artscape '93) as well as the Burnaby Art Gallery Centennial / Quarter Century Publication an…
File consists of reports, proposals and correspondence pertaining to Burnaby Arts Council and their involvement with the Centennial Celebrations. Included in the file are papers related to Artscape '92 (and Artscape '93) as well as the Burnaby Art Gallery Centennial / Quarter Century Publication and Images '92.
File consists of papers pertaining to the Burnaby Birthday Celebration Committee (consisting of members of the Centennial Committee who reactivated to organize a two week program of celebrations for Burnaby's one-hundred-and-first birthday). Papers in the file include meeting minutes, correspondenc…
File consists of papers pertaining to the Burnaby Birthday Celebration Committee (consisting of members of the Centennial Committee who reactivated to organize a two week program of celebrations for Burnaby's one-hundred-and-first birthday). Papers in the file include meeting minutes, correspondence and proposed budgets.
File consists of papers pertaining to the Burnaby Birthday Celebration Committee (consisting of members of the Centennial Committee who reactivated to organize a two week program of celebrations for Burnaby's one-hundred-and-first birthday). Papers in the file include parade schedules and invoices,…
File consists of papers pertaining to the Burnaby Birthday Celebration Committee (consisting of members of the Centennial Committee who reactivated to organize a two week program of celebrations for Burnaby's one-hundred-and-first birthday). Papers in the file include parade schedules and invoices, luncheon menus and correspondence.
File consists of papers pertaining to the Burnaby Birthday Celebration Committee (consisting of members of the Centennial Committee who reactivated to organize a two week program of celebrations for Burnaby's one-hundred-and-first birthday). Papers in the file include correspondence and the lyrics …
File consists of papers pertaining to the Burnaby Birthday Celebration Committee (consisting of members of the Centennial Committee who reactivated to organize a two week program of celebrations for Burnaby's one-hundred-and-first birthday). Papers in the file include correspondence and the lyrics to "Burnaby, the Future is Ours" written by Bob Haynes.
File consists of papers pertaining to the Burnaby Birthday Celebration Committee (consisting of members of the Centennial Committee who reactivated to organize a two week program of celebrations for Burnaby's one-hundred-and-first birthday). Papers in the file include correspondence, news clippings…
File consists of papers pertaining to the Burnaby Birthday Celebration Committee (consisting of members of the Centennial Committee who reactivated to organize a two week program of celebrations for Burnaby's one-hundred-and-first birthday). Papers in the file include correspondence, news clippings and sketches.