This collection consists of ten photograph albums (binders) compiled and annotated by May Ellingsen. The albums contain both original and reproduced photographs of Cortes Island and nearby islands, including Twin Islands and Hernando Island. They are accompanied by captions and additional textual information such as pre-emption records, reminiscences and newspaper clippings. Most of the photographs date from the early decades of the 20th century, depicting homes and buildings, pioneer families, community activities, schools, wharves, boats, logging and marine activity. Fonds consists of two series: Series 1 (The May Ellingsen Historic Photograph Collection, Vol. 1-9, Accession 2004.003) and Series 2 (The Manson Family Album, Accession 2004.002).
Ten photograph albums (binders) containing 152 original photographs and 482 reproductions.
History / Biographical
May Ellingsen was born on March 13, 1914 to George and Robina Freeman. Her maternal grandfather, Michael Manson, was the first person to pre-empt land on Cortes Island, claiming a quarter section on Gunflint Lake in 1886. May spent her childhood on Hernando Island, where her family homesteaded and logged, and on Cortes Island, where she attended the log school at Manson's Landing.
In 1936 May married Elmer Ellingsen. They spent the next ten years in the Loughborough Inlet/Phillips Arm area while Elmer worked for his father's logging operations. During those years their children, Shirley, Bruce and Andy, were born. In 1946 the family moved to Von Donop Creek, where Elmer was logging. In 1950 they moved their float house, built at the time of their marriage, to Manson's Landing Lagoon and two years later, to its present permanent location on Hague Lake.
May and Elmer devoted much time and energy to building their community. Amongst her many community activities, May ran the library at Manson's Hall. She had a strong interest in local history, researching the history of land pre-emptions on the island, collecting and annotating photographs from pioneer families and recording interviews with old timers. She was a founder of the Cortes Island Museum and Archives Society; the archives reading room is named in her honor. Historical materials and artifacts gathered by May formed the kernel of the museum's collections and archives.
Custodial History
May Ellingsen created the albums in the 1980s, and kept adding to them throughout the 1990s. She kept them at the Manson's Landing library and then at the museum from 1999. She officially donated them to CIMAS in 2004.
Scope and Content
This collection consists of ten photograph albums (binders) compiled and annotated by May Ellingsen. The albums contain both original and reproduced photographs of Cortes Island and nearby islands, including Twin Islands and Hernando Island. They are accompanied by captions and additional textual information such as pre-emption records, reminiscences and newspaper clippings. Most of the photographs date from the early decades of the 20th century, depicting homes and buildings, pioneer families, community activities, schools, wharves, boats, logging and marine activity. Fonds consists of two series: Series 1 (The May Ellingsen Historic Photograph Collection, Vol. 1-9, Accession 2004.003) and Series 2 (The Manson Family Album, Accession 2004.002).
Group photo showing Manson's Landing school students sitting on and standing next to a huge log near the school.
Front row, left to right: Betty Hayes, Nicol Manson, Jack Hayes, Alice Marquette, Marjorie Hayes.
Centre left to right: Florence Hayes, Ethel Tiber, Dorothy Hayes, Nora Hayes, Helen Marquette, Veronica Tiber.
Back Row left to right: George Quimby and George Marquette.
Group photo showing Manson's Landing school students sitting on and standing next to a huge log near the school.
Front row, left to right: Betty Hayes, Nicol Manson, Jack Hayes, Alice Marquette, Marjorie Hayes.
Centre left to right: Florence Hayes, Ethel Tiber, Dorothy Hayes, Nora Hayes, Helen Marquette, Veronica Tiber.
Back Row left to right: George Quimby and George Marquette.
Pupils on road outside the Manson's Landing school fence.
Left to right: Nicol Manson, Rose Manson, George Marquette, Charlie Housley, Mabel Hawkins, Gwen Manson, Alice Marquette.
Pupils on road outside the Manson's Landing school fence.
Left to right: Nicol Manson, Rose Manson, George Marquette, Charlie Housley, Mabel Hawkins, Gwen Manson, Alice Marquette.
Teacher and pupils dressed as Indians for a school play at Manson's Landing School.
In the back is Miss Barbara McBeth
Middle, L to R: Muriel Hurren, Jack Froud, Russel Lambert
Front, L to R: Doris Hurren, Patsy McLennan
Teacher and pupils dressed as Indians for a school play at Manson's Landing School.
In the back is Miss Barbara McBeth
Middle, L to R: Muriel Hurren, Jack Froud, Russel Lambert
Front, L to R: Doris Hurren, Patsy McLennan
Teacher and pupils dressed as Indians for a school play, Manson's Landing School.
Back, L to R: Lyle Pickles, Mike Herrewig, Marjorie Pickles, Miss Barbara McBeth, Stuart Lambert and Harold Pickles
Middle, L to R: Ralph Morris, Bernadette Petznick, Arthur Pickles.
Front, L to R: Russel Lambert, Muriel Hurren, Jack Froud, Patsy McLennan
Teacher and pupils dressed as Indians for a school play, Manson's Landing School.
Back, L to R: Lyle Pickles, Mike Herrewig, Marjorie Pickles, Miss Barbara McBeth, Stuart Lambert and Harold Pickles
Middle, L to R: Ralph Morris, Bernadette Petznick, Arthur Pickles.
Front, L to R: Russel Lambert, Muriel Hurren, Jack Froud, Patsy McLennan
Schoolboys seated on a stump at Manson's Landing school - Nicol Manson, Jack Hayes behind George Marquette, Arthur Hayes behind Colin Thompson.
Sitting below - Arthur Pickles.
Schoolboys seated on a stump at Manson's Landing school - Nicol Manson, Jack Hayes behind George Marquette, Arthur Hayes behind Colin Thompson.
Sitting below - Arthur Pickles.
Students in the Manson's Landing school yard.
Front - seated: Veronica (Babe) Tiber, Nora Hayes, Florence Hayes.
Standing, L. to R.: - Betty Hayes, Alice Marquette, Marjorie Hayes, Ethel Tiber behind Florence.
Seated on stump: Dorothy Hayes, Helen Marquette, George Quimby, Jack Hayes, in front of George Marquette & Nicol Manson.
Students in the Manson's Landing school yard.
Front - seated: Veronica (Babe) Tiber, Nora Hayes, Florence Hayes.
Standing, L. to R.: - Betty Hayes, Alice Marquette, Marjorie Hayes, Ethel Tiber behind Florence.
Seated on stump: Dorothy Hayes, Helen Marquette, George Quimby, Jack Hayes, in front of George Marquette & Nicol Manson.
Students standing among the bean poles in the Manson's Landing school garden. Miss Lettice's sister (visiting) is in the background by the corner of the school.
Students standing among the bean poles in the Manson's Landing school garden. Miss Lettice's sister (visiting) is in the background by the corner of the school.
The one-room school at Manson's Landing. The main part had been a log school built in 1909. In this picture, it has board siding and the road side windows have been changed. The dogwood tree planted by Miss Lettice is growing to the left of the flagpole.
The one-room school at Manson's Landing. The main part had been a log school built in 1909. In this picture, it has board siding and the road side windows have been changed. The dogwood tree planted by Miss Lettice is growing to the left of the flagpole.
Pupils standing at back of Manson's Landing log school (see three windows on road side of school).
Back row, L to R: Arthur & Marjorie Hayes, Anna & Rose Manson, Miss Katherine Lettice ("a very fine teacher"), Nicol Manson.
Middle row: Darrel Thompson, Jack Hayes, Florence Hayes, Wilena Smith, unknown, George Marquette, Ethel Tiber, Betty Hayes.
Front row: Arthur & Marjorie Pickles, Helen Marquette, Bernadette Petznick, Dorothy & Nora Hayes.
Pupils standing at back of Manson's Landing log school (see three windows on road side of school).
Back row, L to R: Arthur & Marjorie Hayes, Anna & Rose Manson, Miss Katherine Lettice ("a very fine teacher"), Nicol Manson.
Middle row: Darrel Thompson, Jack Hayes, Florence Hayes, Wilena Smith, unknown, George Marquette, Ethel Tiber, Betty Hayes.
Front row: Arthur & Marjorie Pickles, Helen Marquette, Bernadette Petznick, Dorothy & Nora Hayes.
"Young Hopefuls" in front of the Manson's Landing school (then known as the Cortez Island School).
Front row: Ethel Tiber, George Marquette, Wilena Smith (later Mrs. Dick Thompson, Quadra), Nicol Manson.
Mid-row: Katherine Marquette, Mrs. Mary Marquette, Rose and Anna Manson (Middleton).
Back row: Alice Marquette & her grandmother, Mrs. Anna (August) Tiber.
"Young Hopefuls" in front of the Manson's Landing school (then known as the Cortez Island School).
Front row: Ethel Tiber, George Marquette, Wilena Smith (later Mrs. Dick Thompson, Quadra), Nicol Manson.
Mid-row: Katherine Marquette, Mrs. Mary Marquette, Rose and Anna Manson (Middleton).
Back row: Alice Marquette & her grandmother, Mrs. Anna (August) Tiber.