Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1958-1983
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 106 photographs (jpeg) : b&w
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of 106 photographs depicting locations in Burnaby and its environs.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1958-1983
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Physical Description
- 106 photographs (jpeg) : b&w
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Access Restriction
- Open access
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Accession Number
- 2008-08
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of 106 photographs depicting locations in Burnaby and its environs.
- History
- Harold Henry (Hal) Johnston (September 15, 1930 - January 15, 1985) was born in Ardreagh, Northern Ireland, trained as a plasterer, and immigrated to Canada in 1951. Settling in Edmonton in 1952, he married Frances Henriette Coulombe (born July 29, 1932) in June 1955. He worked as a plasterer in Edmonton until late 1957, when they moved to Burnaby, British Columbia. They purchased, renovated and occupied 4447 Venables Street.
They had two children, Sean Francois Johnston (born October 30, 1956) and Wendy Marie Johnston (born October 9, 1959). In Burnaby, they attended Holy Cross Primary School (1450 Delta Avenue), Alpha Secondary School (4600 Parker Street) and Simon Fraser University, later completing PhDs at the University of Leeds and Universite de Montreal, respectively.
Harold Johnston continued to work as a plasterer, serving in 1969 as business agent for the Plasterers' and Stonemasons' Union, and then self-employed as A&H Plastering and Stucco from 1970 until his death in 1985. Frances Johnston worked part-time as secretary for Holy Cross parish rectory.
Harold Johnston was a serious photographer and camera collector, recording some 1500 rolls of black and white slide film in 35mm and other formats on a variety of cameras from the early 1950s until 1984, mainly of locations in the Lower Mainland and Pacific Northwest. From 1960, he processed and printed the negatives himself in a home darkroom.
From 1970, Johnston recorded a number of artists, illustrators and sculptors working in Vancouver's downtown eastside, notably Wil Hudson (fine printer and typographer), Keith Shields (sculptor), Frits Jacobsen (illustrator), Charles Butler (wood sculptor) and Bill Shoebotham (primitive artist).
**This biographical sketch was based on information prepared by Dr. Sean Johnston and provided to the City of Burnaby Archives in April 2008.**
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Creator
- Johnston, Harold H.
Less detail
Second Narrows Bridge collapse
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [after June 1958]
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Second Narrows Bridge in Vancouver after its collapse in June, 1958. A child and dog are visible walking along a path in the foreground.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [after June 1958]
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 483-001
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2008-08
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Second Narrows Bridge in Vancouver after its collapse in June, 1958. A child and dog are visible walking along a path in the foreground.
- Subjects
- Structures - Bridges
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Johnston, Harold H.
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Less detail
Second Narrows Bridge collapse
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [after June 1958]
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Second Narrows Bridge after its collapse in June, 1958. An unidentified man can be seen in the foreground of the photograph while another is visible at the bottom right.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [after June 1958]
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 483-002
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2008-08
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Second Narrows Bridge after its collapse in June, 1958. An unidentified man can be seen in the foreground of the photograph while another is visible at the bottom right.
- Subjects
- Structures - Bridges
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Johnston, Harold H.
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Less detail
Shrine circus float
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1958
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of approximately twenty band members of the Shrine Circus sitting in a Pacific National Exhibition float, playing musical instruments. Painted on the side of the float are the words "Shrine PNE Circus."
Exhibition Park
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1958
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a crowd of people gathered near the entrance to the exhibition park at the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) in Vancouver, BC. A banner at the top of the entrance reads "B.C. Centennial Year 1858-1958" and the marquis below the "Exhibition Park" sign reads "Water Follies of 58 / Shri…
Ferris Wheel at the Pacific National Exhibition
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1958
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the ferris wheel at the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver, BC.
Harold and Sean Johnston
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1958
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Harold H. Johnston, seated, holding his two-year-old son, Sean, outside of an unidentified house. The location is likely at the Johnston family home at 4447 Venables Street.
Front room of Venables Street home
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1958
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the original front entrance of the home belonging to Harold Johnston and his family at 4447 Venables Street, Burnaby.
Kitchen of Venables Street home
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1958
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the original kitchen of the home belonging to Harold Johnston and his family at 4447 Venables Street, Burnaby.
Johnston family home
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1958
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the home belonging to Harold Johnston and his family, located at 4447 Venables Street.
Johnston family home
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1958
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the home belonging to Harold Johnston and his family, located at 4447 Venables Street.
Garage at 4447 Venables
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1958
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the original garage at the Johnston family home at 4447 Venables Street.
Harold and Frances Johnston
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1958
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Harold Johnston (seated) and his wife, Frances in the living room of their Venables Street home in Burnaby.
Frances, Sean and Wendy Johnston
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1960
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Frances Johnston (at far left) with her two children, Sean and Wendy, outside of the family home on Venables Street. Sean Johnston is riding a tricycle and pulling his sister Wendy in a wagon. The word "Greyhound" is painted on the side of the wagon.
Sean Johnston and his friend
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1960
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Sean Johnston and an unidentified friend playing outside of what appears to be the Johnston family home at 4447 Venables Street. The boys are both wearing cowboy hats and holsters and are holding toy guns.
Sean and Wendy Johnston
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1961
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Sean and Wendy Johnston, seated on top of the playground sign at Burnaby Mountain park. The sign reads: "Playground equiped by North Burnaby Kinsmen".
Frances, Wendy and Sean at Confederation Park
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1962
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Frances Johnston and her two children, Sean and Wendy, at Confederation Park.
Boys on tricycles
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1962
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Sean Johnston (left) and an unidentified friend riding tricycles, most likely near the Johnston family home on Venables Street.
Frances, Sean and Wendy Johnston
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1962
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Frances Johnston and her two children, Sean and Wendy, seated and eating at an unidentified fast food restaurant. Numerous signs and advertisements can be seen on the windows behind the family.
Playland
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1963
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of people at Playland in east Vancouver. Seated on the bench to the left and looking towards the camera is Frances Johnston. Her two children, Sean and Wendy, are next to her. The others in the crowd are unidentified. In the background, a sign for an amusement park ride is visible and …