Subseries consists of photographs and drawings of members of the Johnson family and their home.
History
Andrew Martin Johnson was born in Norway in 1861 and immigrated to Vancouver, British Columbia in 1886. His wife Margaret Sloane was born in Ireland. Margaret and Andrew Johnson's eldest child, Edward Sloane, was born June 10, 1901 but did not survive infancy. Their second child, Andrew Sloane, was born in 1906.
Andrew Martin was a major landowner in Burnaby, at one time owning each of the four corners of Royal Oak and Kingsway and many of the adjacent properties. He made his fortune as a partner in the firm of Atkins & Johnson, a leading transportation company in Vancouver which later became the Mainland Transfer Company.
In 1910, Andrew Martin purchased Burnaby's Royal Oak Hotel. He soon acquired the property on the opposite corner to build their family home, called "Glenedward" after their eldest son. He owned and operated the Royal Oak Hotel until his death on September 18, 1934. In 1943 Margaret sold Glenedward. The building has since been converted twice: first into the Royal Oak Funeral Chapel and then into the Johnson House Korean Restaurant.
Andrew Sloane Johnson attended Kingsway West School and Britannia High School before earning a Bachelor's of Business Administration at the University of Washington in 1930. He lived at Glenedward until moving to Washington for school.
Collection consists of photographs created by or for the Columbian Newspaper and the Burnaby Today newspaper (child company to the Columbian). Photographs depict various people, organizations, and events in Burnaby that had historical interest. Many of the photographs within this collection have ne…
Collection consists of photographs created by or for the Columbian Newspaper and the Burnaby Today newspaper (child company to the Columbian). Photographs depict various people, organizations, and events in Burnaby that had historical interest. Many of the photographs within this collection have newspaper photographers identified as: Peter Battistoni, Tom Braid, Campbell, Randy Glover, Craig Hodge, B.C. Jennings, Basil King, Ken Oakes, Sheamus Smith, John Symonds, Don Trimbell and Don Whistler.
Subseries consists of one photographic album of locations in Vancouver photographed in the 1880s, sixteen original illustrations by Fraser Wilson and three files of textual records, including the comic book "Bill Northwood".
Subseries consists of one photographic album of locations in Vancouver photographed in the 1880s, sixteen original illustrations by Fraser Wilson and three files of textual records, including the comic book "Bill Northwood".
History
Fraser Wilson was born in Vancouver on July 1, 1905 and brought up in the Grandview area, with fond memories of berry picking in the wilds of North Burnaby as a child.
He left school in 1923 and, although interested in art, he didn’t try to make it a career until a double hernia forced him to stop working in factories and start apprenticing for commercial artists, later opening a sign shop of his own. In 1926 he worked in Australia as a set decoration painter, but had to return to Vancouver when his father fell ill in 1927.
Wilson was a political cartoonist for the Vancouver Sun newspaper from 1937 to 1947. When he moved to Burnaby in April of 1943 he was also the artist and author of the cartoon-type serial “Bill Northwood - the personification of the modern Resource Manager” which served to teach the community why forests are important and should be preserved. He lost his job at the Vancouver Sun in 1947; he was the chairman of the Co-ordinating Committee of Newspaper Unions which was involved in the Vancouver Province strike and his publisher didn’t approve.
Soon after, Bill White, then-president of the Marine Workers’ and Boilermakers Union, asked Wilson to decorate the Marine Workers’ Auditorium at 3337 West Pender, the Union's hall. The mural that Wilson painted depicts the BC labour movement to honour British Columbia’s workers. This mural launched a new career for Wilson; to this day, hospitals and libraries across British Columbia display his work in lobbies. In 1988, when the building housing the Marine Workers’ Auditorium was sold to a new owner, Fraser Wilson’s mural was removed from the wall, restored by Ferdinand Petrov of the Vancouver Centennial Committee, and installed permanently at the new Maritime Labour Centre on Victoria Drive in Vancouver.
Throughout the 1960s, Wilson served as president of the Burnaby Historical Society. He ran for City Council as a Burnaby Citizens Association candidate in 1969 and 1970.
Fraser Wilson died on 31 July 1992.
Photographic album of locations in Vancouver, the Lower Mainland, and other locations in British Columbia and Alberta. Photographs are reproductions of photographs taken between approximately 1880-1900, which were collected and pasted into the album.
Photographic album of locations in Vancouver, the Lower Mainland, and other locations in British Columbia and Alberta. Photographs are reproductions of photographs taken between approximately 1880-1900, which were collected and pasted into the album.
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).
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
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.
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.
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.
43 photographs (39 tiffs ; 2 jpegs ; 3 col. prints, 9 x 9 cm) and 3 p. of textual records
Scope and Content
Collection consists of photographs that were selected for preservation because of their relevance to documenting the heritage and development of the City of Burnaby. The items in this collection depict Burnaby citizens, locations, businesses, residences, geography, and events throughout the history…
43 photographs (39 tiffs ; 2 jpegs ; 3 col. prints, 9 x 9 cm) and 3 p. of textual records
Description Level
Fonds
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Accession Number
2010-01
2013-31
2016-24
2021-10
Scope and Content
Collection consists of photographs that were selected for preservation because of their relevance to documenting the heritage and development of the City of Burnaby. The items in this collection depict Burnaby citizens, locations, businesses, residences, geography, and events throughout the history of the City of Burnaby. The items in this collection are acquisitions of discrete items or small sets of items that do not form a discrete fonds or collection.
History
Burnaby’s first municipal archive officially opened on November 10, 2001, and is located in the McGill Branch Public Library at 4595 Albert Street. The City Archives functions as a branch of the Office of the City Clerk and operates as the official repository of Burnaby’s municipal records, containing records dating back to Burnaby’s incorporation in 1892. In 2007, the City of Burnaby Archives expanded its collection mandate to include private as well as public records. Types of records held at the Archives include City Records (Council minutes and reports, bylaws, departmental records and photographs) and records from private individuals and community organizations (correspondence, reports, minutes, photographs, moving images and sound recordings). The Archives storage area is equipped with the sophisticated environmental controls necessary to preserve Burnaby’s unique archival material into the future.
The mandate of the City of Burnaby Archives is to identify, acquire, preserve and make accessible archival material in the form of civic and private records documenting the history of the City of Burnaby.
Subseries consists of commission records for the Advisory Planning Commission including agendas, minutes, reports, and correspondence and a Commission portrait.
Subseries consists of commission records for the Advisory Planning Commission including agendas, minutes, reports, and correspondence and a Commission portrait.
History
The Advisory Planning Commission was established in July of 1963.
The Advisory Planning Commission was the successor to the Town Planning Commission. The Commission was responsible for advising Council on land use matters and reviewing all zoning bylaw amendments before being forwarded to public hearing.
The Commission was disbanded on February 20, 2017.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Subseries consists of photographs compiled by the Mayor's Office for inclusion in the publication "Pioneer Tales of Burnaby" and drafts of the manuscript.
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.