approx. 23 cm of textual records + approx. 600 photographs (b&w + col.)
Scope and Content
Collection consists of records relating to Harold Edward Winch's family life and political career. It includes photographs of Winch's parents, family, and wife Jessie, as well as photographs, correspondence and other textual records from Harold's political work and experiences, a travel diary, gues…
approx. 23 cm of textual records + approx. 600 photographs (b&w + col.)
Scope and Content
Collection consists of records relating to Harold Edward Winch's family life and political career. It includes photographs of Winch's parents, family, and wife Jessie, as well as photographs, correspondence and other textual records from Harold's political work and experiences, a travel diary, guest books, and certificates. The collection includes a number of Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and New Democratic Party newspapers. The collection also includes records relating to Winch's death, such as obituaries, memorials, articles, and a guest book. Finally, the collection includes a small number of records relating to Winch's father, Ernie Winch, and his own political career.
The collection has been arranged into five series:
1) Harold E. Winch biographical records (1933-2003)
2) Harold E. Winch photographs series (1914-[ca. 1990])
3) Harold E. Winch political photograph album and records series ([1937]-1993)
4) Harold E. Winch personal records series (1949-1993)
5) Harold E. Winch newspaper collection series (1936-1986)
History
Harold Edward Winch (June 18, 1907-February 1, 1993) was born in Loughton, Essex, England to Ernest “Ernie” Edward Winch (March 22, 1879-January 11, 1957) and his wife Linda Marian (nee Hendy). Harold was the eldest of six children; the others were Eileen, Charlie, Grace, Alan, and Eric. Ernest moved to BC in 1909, followed by Linda, Harold, and Eileen in 1910. The remaining children were born in BC. Ernie, a brick mason, built the family a series of homes in the Lower Mainland as the family moved around for a number of years, living in Burnaby, White Rock, Mission, and Vancouver before finally settling back in Burnaby.
Ernie Winch joined the Social Democratic Party of Canada in 1911 and became secretary of the party in 1913, and was heavily involved in trade unions and the labour and socialist movements. He helped re-establish the Socialist Party of Canada (BC) in 1932, which soon merged with the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). Ernie was a CCF MLA in Burnaby from 1933 until his death in 1957, following which his son-in-law Cedric Cox (husband of Eileen) won the seat in a byelection. Ernie was particularly interested in institutions, including jails, mental hospitals, and industrial schools, and founded the New Vista Society in 1943 to provide a live-in rehabilitation program to women with psychiatric problems. The organization later expanded to focus on low-cost housing for seniors, and an apartment complex was built for this purpose in Burnaby. Both Ernie and Harold were lifelong members of the New Vista Society board of trustees.
Harold Winch trained as an electrician, but also followed his father into politics, serving as a CCF MLA in Vancouver East from 1933 to 1953 – Ernie and Harold were two of the first seven CCF MLAs. The Winches set a Guinness world record for the longest father-and-son parliamentary tenure. Like his father, Harold was also highly involved in the labour movement, and acted as a liaison between workers and government during the Depression, particularly during the relief camp strike in Vancouver in 1935 which precipitated the On to Ottawa trek. He was the leader of the BC CCF from 1938 to 1953, and Leader of the Opposition from 1941 to 1953.
In 1953, Harold stepped down from provincial politics to enter the federal arena, and served as a CCF MP for Vancouver East from 1953 to 1961, when the CCF became the New Democratic Party (NDP); Harold continued to serve as an NDP MP from 1961 to 1972, when he retired for health reasons. In federal office, Harold remained dedicated to the working class and humanitarian causes, issuing reports on subject such as unemployment, veterans’ rights, low-cost housing for seniors, animal welfare, drug addiction, and mental health concerns.
Harold earned honorary law degrees from both UBC (1973) and SFU (1974). He was involved in numerous humanitarian and other organizations and his roles included president and treasurer of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association; co-founder of the Immigrant Services Society of Vancouver; director of the Boag Foundation; and lifelong member of the Association for Protection of Fur Bearing Animals.
Harold married Dorothy Ada Hutchinson (December 1, 1907-October 24, 1974) on May 11, 1929. They had three children: Donald, Gerald ("Jerry"), and Shirley.
Following Dorothy’s death, Harold married Jessie Margaret Mendels (nee Sweezey) (June 29, 1913-May 9, 2006) on May 19, 1981. Jessie grew up in Grand Forks, BC, and her family moved to Vancouver when she was in high school. Her first husband was George Edward Mendels (November 2, 1905-September 2, 1978). She had no children. Jessie served as a St. John’s ambulance driver during World War II. She was also active in the CCF and NDP parties in BC, having been Provincial Secretary for the CCF in the 1940s, a vice-president of the party in the 1950s, and Provincial Secretary for the NDP in the 1960s. Like Harold, she later served as a director of the Boag Foundation. Jessie traveled widely throughout her life. The collection contains a small number of Jessie’s photographs.
Harold Winch died in White Rock, where he and Jessie had retired, on February 1, 1993.
File consists of records relating to the development of a biography of Harold Winch, including notes on sources of information, correspondence, and financial reference material. Bernie Simpson was an NDP MLA in Vancouver-Fraserview (1990-1995) and a friend of Jessie Winch's.
File consists of records relating to the development of a biography of Harold Winch, including notes on sources of information, correspondence, and financial reference material. Bernie Simpson was an NDP MLA in Vancouver-Fraserview (1990-1995) and a friend of Jessie Winch's.
Item is a photograph of Canadian delegates at the Sixteenth Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, a meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), held in Canberra, Australia. Identified in the photograph are Harold Winch, John Turner, and Alan Macnaughton.
Item is a photograph of Canadian delegates at the Sixteenth Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, a meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), held in Canberra, Australia. Identified in the photograph are Harold Winch, John Turner, and Alan Macnaughton.
Item is a photograph of Harold Winch with provincial representatives at the Sixteenth Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Conference in Canberra, Australia.
Item is a photograph of Harold Winch with provincial representatives at the Sixteenth Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Conference in Canberra, Australia.
Item is a photograph of delegates to the Twenty-third Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Conference, pictured in front of the House of Commons in Ottawa.
Item is a photograph of delegates to the Twenty-third Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Conference, pictured in front of the House of Commons in Ottawa.
File consists of 75 issues of Democrat, a New Democratic Party (NDP) newspaper, collected by Harold Winch. Newspapers for each of 1973, 1974, and 1975 have been collected and bound in three separate portfolios.
File consists of 75 issues of Democrat, a New Democratic Party (NDP) newspaper, collected by Harold Winch. Newspapers for each of 1973, 1974, and 1975 have been collected and bound in three separate portfolios.
Item is a photograph album containing ca. 85 photographs, including both personal and work-related subjects such as the Winch family and homes, and Winch's political work and travels. Also included are some textual records relating to Winch's political work.
Item is a photograph album containing ca. 85 photographs, including both personal and work-related subjects such as the Winch family and homes, and Winch's political work and travels. Also included are some textual records relating to Winch's political work.
Item is a photograph album containing ca. 60 photographs, including primarily personal subjects such as family vacations and events, as well as a few photographs relating to Winch's political travels.
Item is a photograph album containing ca. 60 photographs, including primarily personal subjects such as family vacations and events, as well as a few photographs relating to Winch's political travels.
Item is a guest book containing signatures of guests at two events: a dinner celebrating Winch's 25th anniversary of holding political office (October 24, 1958), and Winch's 80th birthday (June 18, 1987). Taped inside the front cover is a program "25 Years Serving B.C." The first section is inscrib…
Item is a guest book containing signatures of guests at two events: a dinner celebrating Winch's 25th anniversary of holding political office (October 24, 1958), and Winch's 80th birthday (June 18, 1987). Taped inside the front cover is a program "25 Years Serving B.C." The first section is inscribed "October 24 1958 - Congratulations Harold - and here's to a long association in Vancouver East. Sincerely -." Signatories include numerous Co-Operative Commonwealth Federation members and MLAs. The second section is inscribed "Celebrating June 18, 1987 - 80th Birthday, Harold Winch / at the Home of Don & Helen Winch." Signatories include family members and friends.
Series consists of records relating to Harold Edward Winch and the process of writing his biography. Records include newspaper clippings, correspondence, cards, publications, and one photograph. Some correspondence, newspaper clippings, and other textual records deal with the potential biography sp…
Series consists of records relating to Harold Edward Winch and the process of writing his biography. Records include newspaper clippings, correspondence, cards, publications, and one photograph. Some correspondence, newspaper clippings, and other textual records deal with the potential biography specifically, including agreements between Jessie Winch and the Boag Foundation and financial records. It is unclear whether the biography was ever written.
Series consists of issues of the following Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) and New Democratic Party (NDP) newspapers: The Commonwealth (1936); The Federationist (1936, 1943); CCF News (1946-1947, 1954); CCF News - for British Columbia and Yukon (1954); The British Columbian (1960); The D…
Series consists of issues of the following Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) and New Democratic Party (NDP) newspapers: The Commonwealth (1936); The Federationist (1936, 1943); CCF News (1946-1947, 1954); CCF News - for British Columbia and Yukon (1954); The British Columbian (1960); The Democrat (1966-1969); and Democrat (1972-1986).
Series consists of records relating to Harold Winch's personal life, including a travel diary, correspondence, certificates marking his achievements, and a guest book from his memorial.
Series consists of records relating to Harold Winch's personal life, including a travel diary, correspondence, certificates marking his achievements, and a guest book from his memorial.
Series consists of photographs and photograph albums relating to Harold Winch's family and political career. Subjects include Winch's work in BC and Ottawa, CCF conventions, political travels and visits, family events, family vacations, and Winch's wedding to Jessie Winch. Also included in the albu…
Series consists of photographs and photograph albums relating to Harold Winch's family and political career. Subjects include Winch's work in BC and Ottawa, CCF conventions, political travels and visits, family events, family vacations, and Winch's wedding to Jessie Winch. Also included in the albums are numerous postcards and some newspaper clippings and ephemera.
3 files of textual records + ca. 100 photographs. - 2 prints
Scope and Content
Series consists of records relating to Winch's political career, including newspaper clippings, publications, a photograph album presented to Winch by the Israeli legislature, and an illustrated print of a J.S. Woodsworth grace.
3 files of textual records + ca. 100 photographs. - 2 prints
Scope and Content
Series consists of records relating to Winch's political career, including newspaper clippings, publications, a photograph album presented to Winch by the Israeli legislature, and an illustrated print of a J.S. Woodsworth grace.
File consists of records relating to the development of a biography of Harold Winch, including sympathy cards and correspondence from Winch's death, as well as newspaper clippings about Winch and his political career.
File consists of records relating to the development of a biography of Harold Winch, including sympathy cards and correspondence from Winch's death, as well as newspaper clippings about Winch and his political career.
Item is a photograph of Harold Winch receiving an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Chancellor Nathan Nemetz at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver.
Item is a photograph of Harold Winch receiving an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Chancellor Nathan Nemetz at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver.
Item is a photograph of Harold Winch receiving an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver. Pictured on the left is Chancellor Nathan Nemetz.
Item is a photograph of Harold Winch receiving an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver. Pictured on the left is Chancellor Nathan Nemetz.