Item consists of a letter written by Lt. Sergeant Colin Rhodes Fox of the Royal Canadian Artillery Service to his aunt Marianne "May" Bateman while serving overseas during World War II. Colin Fox served in the 13th Canadian Field Regiment, 44th Canadian Field Battery. In his letter, Colin thanks hi…
Item consists of a letter written by Lt. Sergeant Colin Rhodes Fox of the Royal Canadian Artillery Service to his aunt Marianne "May" Bateman while serving overseas during World War II. Colin Fox served in the 13th Canadian Field Regiment, 44th Canadian Field Battery. In his letter, Colin thanks his aunt for parcels that he's received and reflects on his Christmas and New Years celebration.
Item consists of a letter written by Lt. Sergeant Colin Rhodes Fox of the Royal Canadian Artillery Service to his aunt Marianne "May" Bateman while serving overseas during World War II. Colin Fox served in the 13th Canadian Field Regiment, 44th Canadian Field Battery. In his letter, Colin talks abo…
Item consists of a letter written by Lt. Sergeant Colin Rhodes Fox of the Royal Canadian Artillery Service to his aunt Marianne "May" Bateman while serving overseas during World War II. Colin Fox served in the 13th Canadian Field Regiment, 44th Canadian Field Battery. In his letter, Colin talks about German planes bombing London; how he got innoculated; parcels that he's received from relatives and how he plans to visit friends in Scotland and London when he gets leave.
Photograph of brothers Earl and Norman Wild in Idaho, in the United States of America (USA). Norman is holding an unidentified toddler on one arm, and has his other arm around his brother.
Photograph of brothers Earl and Norman Wild in Idaho, in the United States of America (USA). Norman is holding an unidentified toddler on one arm, and has his other arm around his brother.
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.
Group photograph of seventeen children pictured outside. Alice Sparman in front row, far right, wearing dark jacket. In background: trees, hillside with scrub, and log cabin with woodpile. Shadow of photographer on lower right.
Group photograph of seventeen children pictured outside. Alice Sparman in front row, far right, wearing dark jacket. In background: trees, hillside with scrub, and log cabin with woodpile. Shadow of photographer on lower right.
Photograph of the Sparman family pictured outside with trees in background. Front row left to right: Alice Sparman, Nester Sparman holding May Sparman on lap, Lester Sparman, Marie Sparman. Back row left to right: Elizabeth Marie Sparman and Lillian "Lil" Sparman.
Photograph of the Sparman family pictured outside with trees in background. Front row left to right: Alice Sparman, Nester Sparman holding May Sparman on lap, Lester Sparman, Marie Sparman. Back row left to right: Elizabeth Marie Sparman and Lillian "Lil" Sparman.
1 photograph : b&w ; 16.5 x 11.5 (sight), framed inside mat board 23.5 x 16.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of sisters (from left) Rhonda Yanko and Charmaine "Sherrie" Yanko (later Bayntun) in matching dresses. Both sisters are in a photographic studio, sitting sideways to the camera.
1 photograph : b&w ; 16.5 x 11.5 (sight), framed inside mat board 23.5 x 16.5 cm
Material Details
Secured to album page with photo corners
Description Level
Item
Record No.
545-187
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
2012-09
Scope and Content
Photograph of sisters (from left) Rhonda Yanko and Charmaine "Sherrie" Yanko (later Bayntun) in matching dresses. Both sisters are in a photographic studio, sitting sideways to the camera.
Photograph of the Church of Nazarene, Ladies Sewing Group banquet. Women are seated around a banquet table with cups and saucers. Some of the women are identified from left to right as; Irma Sinclair, Unknown, Mrs. Crossly, Mrs. Chapell, Mrs. Tabea Ferris, Mrs. Graff, Mrs. Melody Shaw, Mrs. Harriga…
Photograph of the Church of Nazarene, Ladies Sewing Group banquet. Women are seated around a banquet table with cups and saucers. Some of the women are identified from left to right as; Irma Sinclair, Unknown, Mrs. Crossly, Mrs. Chapell, Mrs. Tabea Ferris, Mrs. Graff, Mrs. Melody Shaw, Mrs. Harrigan, Mrs. Whiting. The photograph may have been taken from inside the parsonage.
Note in blue ink on verso of photograph reads: "Sewing meeting banquet at Burquitlam 1959/ Tabea Ferris/ Mrs. Graff/ Mrs. Chapel/ Melody Shaw/ Mrs. Whiting/ Irma Sinclair"
Photograph of the Brocklebank children Brian and Pam, sitting on a dirt pile in front their single-storey house. The Hardys sold the north half of their property at 3071 Douglas Road to the Brocklebanks who built the house in 1957. The photograph was taken from 5493 (previously 3107) Dominion Str…
Photograph of the Brocklebank children Brian and Pam, sitting on a dirt pile in front their single-storey house. The Hardys sold the north half of their property at 3071 Douglas Road to the Brocklebanks who built the house in 1957. The photograph was taken from 5493 (previously 3107) Dominion Street, looking east.
Photograph of Burnaby Historical Society members at the first Society dinner at the Burnaby Pavilion. Four men are looking at documents, including newspapers.
Photograph of Burnaby Historical Society members at the first Society dinner at the Burnaby Pavilion. Four men are looking at documents, including newspapers.
Photograph of the exterior of Brantford Coach and Body Ltd. at 6055 Gilmore Avenue. Signs on the building show the business name and also read, "Sales" and "Service."
Photograph of the exterior of Brantford Coach and Body Ltd. at 6055 Gilmore Avenue. Signs on the building show the business name and also read, "Sales" and "Service."
Photograph of people at the Burnaby Historical Society's first annual dinner. Left to right (as identified on the back of the photo): Barry Mather, president; Miss B.P. Choate, secretary-treasurer; and Fraser Wilson, director. They are holding photograph of Robert Burnaby. The banner behind them r…
Photograph of people at the Burnaby Historical Society's first annual dinner. Left to right (as identified on the back of the photo): Barry Mather, president; Miss B.P. Choate, secretary-treasurer; and Fraser Wilson, director. They are holding photograph of Robert Burnaby. The banner behind them reads, "First Annual Dinner: Burnaby Historical Society / Burnaby Centennial Pavilion [on Burnaby Mountain] / Friday, November 27, [1959].
Photograph of the Burnaby family's joint gravestone on the grounds of the Loughborough Emmanuel Parish Church (built 1835 to 1837). The top level of the stone reads, "Robert Burnaby / Born Nov 30 1828 : / Died Jan 10 1878." The next level reads, "Sarah Burnaby / Born October 22nd 1822 : Died March…
"Ansco Safety Film 10" printed on edge of negative
Description Level
Item
Record No.
084-001
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
BHS2007-04
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Burnaby family's joint gravestone on the grounds of the Loughborough Emmanuel Parish Church (built 1835 to 1837). The top level of the stone reads, "Robert Burnaby / Born Nov 30 1828 : / Died Jan 10 1878." The next level reads, "Sarah Burnaby / Born October 22nd 1822 : Died March 2[?]th 1873 / Rev. VII 14." The bottom level reads, "Sarah, Widow of the Rev. Thomas Burnaby, / And Mother of the Above, / Died Oct. 31, 1878, Aged 89 Years." The side of the stone reads, "The Lord is My Shepherd."
Photograph of the Burnaby Historical Society's first annual dinner held at the the Burnaby Centennial Pavilion on Burnaby Mountain on November 27, 1959. Men and women are seated at rows of tables.
Photograph of the Burnaby Historical Society's first annual dinner held at the the Burnaby Centennial Pavilion on Burnaby Mountain on November 27, 1959. Men and women are seated at rows of tables.
Photograph of the Burnaby Historical Society's first annual dinner held at the the Burnaby Centennial Pavilion on Burnaby Mountain on November 27, 1959. Men and women are seated at rows of tables.
Photograph of the Burnaby Historical Society's first annual dinner held at the the Burnaby Centennial Pavilion on Burnaby Mountain on November 27, 1959. Men and women are seated at rows of tables.
Photograph of the exterior of the Glenburn Telephone Exchange at Delta Avenue and Parker Street. A typed description on the back of the photograph reads, "Glenburn Automatic Exchange at Delta and Parker streets. To be cutover in March, 1959. / B.C. Telephone Company."
Photograph of the exterior of the Glenburn Telephone Exchange at Delta Avenue and Parker Street. A typed description on the back of the photograph reads, "Glenburn Automatic Exchange at Delta and Parker streets. To be cutover in March, 1959. / B.C. Telephone Company."