Recording is an oral history interview of Duncan Robertson by Oonagh O'Connor (Part 2 of 2). Topics covered include Dunc's children Ann (Dewar) and Lynn (Summers); oysters; the Whaletown store; early telephone system; mining; the Robertson family; the ferry; changes in wildlife population he has observe over the years; and logging practices. There is a short summary of the interview, written by May Ellingsen, in the cassette case.
Recording is an oral history interview of Duncan Robertson by Oonagh O'Connor (Part 2 of 2). Topics covered include Dunc's children Ann (Dewar) and Lynn (Summers); oysters; the Whaletown store; early telephone system; mining; the Robertson family; the ferry; changes in wildlife population he has observe over the years; and logging practices. There is a short summary of the interview, written by May Ellingsen, in the cassette case.
From the "Out of the Archives" program: "First film shot on Super 8. The antics of some Gorge Harbout residents are madly depicted as the fruitlessly try to repair a flat tire at the Gorge Government dock. They are rescurd by none other than Yendor."
Cast: Gloria Jorg, Alex Nichols, Isolder Ruthenberg, Garth Walton and Yendor
Cinematography: George Sirk
From the "Out of the Archives" program: "First film shot on Super 8. The antics of some Gorge Harbout residents are madly depicted as the fruitlessly try to repair a flat tire at the Gorge Government dock. They are rescurd by none other than Yendor."
Cast: Gloria Jorg, Alex Nichols, Isolder Ruthenberg, Garth Walton and Yendor
Cinematography: George Sirk
Fonds consists of the personal, business and research records of May and Elmer Ellingsen. Textual records include personal and business correspondence; financial and legal records; information about local history; records and newsletters of various community organizations; records created by John Manson and by the St. James Ladies' Guild; maps; ephemera; and clippings about Cortes Island people and events. Fonds also includes photographs of the Manson family and other island people and places, and cassette tapes of oral history and music.
Fonds is arranged in 14 series: Correspondence; Financial records; Elmer Ellingsen records (business and personal); May Ellingsen personal records; Local history subject files; John Manson records; St. James Ladies' Guild records; Community organizations and services records; Cortes Island Museum & Archives Society records; Maps; Ephemera; Clippings; Photographs and Audio tapes.
Records from Accessions 2017.003 and 2019.002, which were processed after the other material had been arranged, have been interfiled.
3 meters of textual records
726 photographs
21 audio cassette tapes
Extent
252 cm
History / Biographical
Elmer Ellingsen (1913-2002) was born in North Vancouver to Sigurd and Gladys Ellingsen. After graduating from high school, he took a short course in business at Sprott Shaw College. In the early 1930s Elmer worked in logging and became a strong supporter of the trade union movement. He also had classical piano training in school, later turning to popular music; he played for many dances and parties until well into his eighties.
May Ellingsen (1914-2012) was born in Vancouver to George and Robina Freeman. Her maternal grandfather, Michael Manson, was the first person to pre-empt land on Cortes Island, in 1886. May grew up on Cortes and Hernando Islands until grade six, then moved to Vancouver with her family to finish her schooling.
May and Elmer met on Cortes in 1935 and were married on August 1, 1936. They built a float house and spent the next ten years in the Loughborough Inlet/Phillips Arm area where Elmer worked in his father's logging operations. While there, their children Shirley (1939), Bruce (1940) and Andy (1941) were born. In 1946 they moved to Von Donop Creek, where Elmer formed a logging partnership with Mike Herrewig and Scotty McKenzie. In 1950, he formed a new partnership with Erne Anderson for logging in the Whaletown area, and moved the floathouse to Manson's Landing lagoon. Two years later their floathouse was moved to its present location on Hague Lake.
After travelling from home to various logging operations, Elmer retired from logging. He bought a D8 Caterpillar tractor, backhoe and gravel truck and worked for the next forty years excavating, delivering gravel and moving things. He often worked with BC Hydro and BC Tel on pole installation, repair and maintenance.
Both Elmer and May were very active in community life. They sponsored weekly movie nights through the 1950s and square dancing in the sixties. May's many involvements included the Ladies' Guild, Women's Institute, Ratepayers Association, Post Office, Vancouver Regional Library development and Cortes Island Days. Elmer was a leading promoter of bringing ferry and hydro service to the island; he helped renovate Manson's Hall in the late 1970s, lobbied for road paving and helped initiate the Cortes Island Firefighters Assoc. in the 1980s. Both were founding members of the Cortes Island Museum and Archives Society.
Custodial History
Records were collected from the home of May and Elmer Ellingsen by Andy and Susan Ellingsen and by Bruce Ellingsen and donated to CIMAS. There are eight accessions in this fonds: 2007.001, 2007.002, 2007.003, 2007.005, 2008.002 and 2010.001, 2018.002 and 2019.002.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of the personal, business and research records of May and Elmer Ellingsen. Textual records include personal and business correspondence; financial and legal records; information about local history; records and newsletters of various community organizations; records created by John Manson and by the St. James Ladies' Guild; maps; ephemera; and clippings about Cortes Island people and events. Fonds also includes photographs of the Manson family and other island people and places, and cassette tapes of oral history and music.
Fonds is arranged in 14 series: Correspondence; Financial records; Elmer Ellingsen records (business and personal); May Ellingsen personal records; Local history subject files; John Manson records; St. James Ladies' Guild records; Community organizations and services records; Cortes Island Museum & Archives Society records; Maps; Ephemera; Clippings; Photographs and Audio tapes.
Records from Accessions 2017.003 and 2019.002, which were processed after the other material had been arranged, have been interfiled.
Sous-fonds consists of records of the Cortes Island Women's Institute. It is arranged in nine series: Minutes, Reports, Financial, Administrative Records, Correspondence, Subject Files, Ephemera, Photographs and Artifacts.
The Cortes Island Women's institute was formed in 1984. Although Cortes Island had historically been difficult to traverse, and the communities consequently insular, by the 1980s the road systems were such that "a Women's Institute for the whole of Cortes Island" seemed to make sense.
CIWI was founded with the bank balance of a Manson's Landing service group called the Ladies Guild, which was founded in the 1940s. When membership and activity in the guild declined in the 1970s, the focus was shifted to a renovation and addition to Manson's Hall. Once the Hall had been sufficiently updated, it was thought that the remaining funds might be put to use "creating an instrument for better communication between all our women and a chance to work together in the community".
Charter members of the CIWI were Heather Berry, Peggy Newsham, Maryann McCoy, Linda Hendricks, and Mary Block.
Custodial History
Records were donated to CIMAS by the Island Women's Club in 2009.
Scope and Content
Sous-fonds consists of records of the Cortes Island Women's Institute. It is arranged in nine series: Minutes, Reports, Financial, Administrative Records, Correspondence, Subject Files, Ephemera, Photographs and Artifacts.
This is a copy of a recording made by Imbert Orchard as part of a "People in Landscape" series for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. In this program, some of the people who grew up on Cortes Island recall how the settlement began, and discuss the quality of life there -- as it is today, and as it used to be. Voices heard include: Otto and Mary Weiler, Elmer and May Ellingsen, Rose (Manson) MacKay, Allen Robertson, and Duncan Robertson.
Tape was found at the Cortes Island Recycling Center and donated to the museum by Gail Ringwood on Oct. 3, 2004. Original owner is unknown.
Scope and Content
This is a copy of a recording made by Imbert Orchard as part of a "People in Landscape" series for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. In this program, some of the people who grew up on Cortes Island recall how the settlement began, and discuss the quality of life there -- as it is today, and as it used to be. Voices heard include: Otto and Mary Weiler, Elmer and May Ellingsen, Rose (Manson) MacKay, Allen Robertson, and Duncan Robertson.
From the "Out of the Archives" program: "In this documentary a rag-tag team of Cortes wreckers demolish a giant warehouse in James Bay, Victoria. The remove 100-year old maple flooring, which is bound for Cortes, while the building falls down around them. They have to get the flooring out before the bulldozers arrive! Shot on 16 mm film."
Cast: Pierre deTrey, Stephen Foster, Al Murray, John Wasyliw
From the "Out of the Archives" program: "In this documentary a rag-tag team of Cortes wreckers demolish a giant warehouse in James Bay, Victoria. The remove 100-year old maple flooring, which is bound for Cortes, while the building falls down around them. They have to get the flooring out before the bulldozers arrive! Shot on 16 mm film."
Cast: Pierre deTrey, Stephen Foster, Al Murray, John Wasyliw
From the "Out of the Archives" program: "A play on the work "divot" - "a piece of turf cut out of the ground by a golf club in making a stroke." The golfer who does this, according to George, is a "divotee" and this silly game needed a large dose of extra silliness doused on it. The attempt to just shoot one hole takes George and his caddy more on a cross-country steeplechase that a casual day on the course. Puns abound and the Voice of Doom, played by John Gregg, gets it in the end Watch for it! Shot at Gorge Harbour on 16mm."
Cast: Jon Gregg, Leon, George and a horse
Stagehand/Props: Jim Palmer
Cinematography: John Gregg
From the "Out of the Archives" program: "A play on the work "divot" - "a piece of turf cut out of the ground by a golf club in making a stroke." The golfer who does this, according to George, is a "divotee" and this silly game needed a large dose of extra silliness doused on it. The attempt to just shoot one hole takes George and his caddy more on a cross-country steeplechase that a casual day on the course. Puns abound and the Voice of Doom, played by John Gregg, gets it in the end Watch for it! Shot at Gorge Harbour on 16mm."
Cast: Jon Gregg, Leon, George and a horse
Stagehand/Props: Jim Palmer
Cinematography: John Gregg
From the "Out of the Archives" program: "Chickens are a large source of entertainment, remakable pets with personalities, and they give us eggs. But when it came to dinner time, they were sadly the main guest of honour. George wanted to immortalize, and thus keep his chickens alive forever. This film does just that. On 16mm, shot at George and Lauren Hay's homestead on Seascape Rd."
From the "Out of the Archives" program: "Chickens are a large source of entertainment, remakable pets with personalities, and they give us eggs. But when it came to dinner time, they were sadly the main guest of honour. George wanted to immortalize, and thus keep his chickens alive forever. This film does just that. On 16mm, shot at George and Lauren Hay's homestead on Seascape Rd."
In the realm of "home movies", the film contains vignettes of Cortes island life including Aislinn Sirk and Mayan Wooley bathing a remarkably patient cat and Jim Palmer using an Alaska mill.
Digitized by Doug McCaffry, ScanLab, 2022
In the realm of "home movies", the film contains vignettes of Cortes island life including Aislinn Sirk and Mayan Wooley bathing a remarkably patient cat and Jim Palmer using an Alaska mill.
Digitized by Doug McCaffry, ScanLab, 2022
From the "Out of the Archives" program: "In the 70s many bathtubs were outside and heated by wood fires. This amusing (and smoky!), satisfying way of having a nice long bath, in the great outdoors, inspired making this short on 16mm film. There was a twist to the scenario of course. Why not make soup while having a bath? Shot at John and Anna Gregg's home on Beasley Road. Cast: George /Cinematography : Anna Sirk ??"
From the "Out of the Archives" program: "In the 70s many bathtubs were outside and heated by wood fires. This amusing (and smoky!), satisfying way of having a nice long bath, in the great outdoors, inspired making this short on 16mm film. There was a twist to the scenario of course. Why not make soup while having a bath? Shot at John and Anna Gregg's home on Beasley Road. Cast: George /Cinematography : Anna Sirk ??"
From the "Out of the Archives" program: "When Linnaea was established, Robert Cabot commissioned Cortes Cinema to produce a film abot the Turtle Island Land Steward Society. The day-to-day life of the farm is documented as is the Hansen's move across the road to their new property. Ken, Hazel and Flo (Hazel's mom) are all in the film helping to clear land on yet another farm! Using Bear Air (Barry Miles), aerial footage of the farm and the island is also in the film. A gliimpse into the past. With sound and narration. On 16mm.
Music: Glen Dias / Narration: Peter Gibson
Cast: Thousands of cows!"
From the "Out of the Archives" program: "When Linnaea was established, Robert Cabot commissioned Cortes Cinema to produce a film abot the Turtle Island Land Steward Society. The day-to-day life of the farm is documented as is the Hansen's move across the road to their new property. Ken, Hazel and Flo (Hazel's mom) are all in the film helping to clear land on yet another farm! Using Bear Air (Barry Miles), aerial footage of the farm and the island is also in the film. A gliimpse into the past. With sound and narration. On 16mm.
Music: Glen Dias / Narration: Peter Gibson
Cast: Thousands of cows!"
From the "Out of the Archives" program: "The Cortes Hippy Gen of the 70s were, amongst many odd things, frugulous. Homes were never done on credit, one just built with whatever one could find or demolish. "Scoring" was a good thing, the term "recycling" was not yet in the mainstream vernacular. Adaptability, innovation and just plain dumb luck helped to preserve this culture from going extinct. Named after a famed hallucinogen, the film was a victim of accidental deterioration; dyes melted and images appear distorted; a vitreous detachment from reality. The Hippy Gen in a nutshell. Shot on Super 8 / Cast of Hippies"
Scenes and people include: Jim Palmer (in boat), Alex Nichol (with windmill), Alex, George, Jim Palmer, Izzy ?? moving building materials across the Gorge and up to the building site, ??? constructing George & Izzy's cabin, George Sirk in boat, ?? throwing a fish which an eagle swoops down on, Jean Fontaine wrangling logs in the water.
1 moving image : 13 minutes ; with background music
Scope and Content
From the "Out of the Archives" program: "The Cortes Hippy Gen of the 70s were, amongst many odd things, frugulous. Homes were never done on credit, one just built with whatever one could find or demolish. "Scoring" was a good thing, the term "recycling" was not yet in the mainstream vernacular. Adaptability, innovation and just plain dumb luck helped to preserve this culture from going extinct. Named after a famed hallucinogen, the film was a victim of accidental deterioration; dyes melted and images appear distorted; a vitreous detachment from reality. The Hippy Gen in a nutshell. Shot on Super 8 / Cast of Hippies"
Scenes and people include: Jim Palmer (in boat), Alex Nichol (with windmill), Alex, George, Jim Palmer, Izzy ?? moving building materials across the Gorge and up to the building site, ??? constructing George & Izzy's cabin, George Sirk in boat, ?? throwing a fish which an eagle swoops down on, Jean Fontaine wrangling logs in the water.
From the "Out of the Archives" program: "The diverse history of life on yet another island, Papua New Guinea, is revealed in this 40 minute feature documentary. Often wrongly portrayed as "primitive," George attempts to show that the Papuans are indeed modern in their culture and innovation as successfully brought them to the present. This documentary was shot in Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea, in 1981. A hunting expedition is followed by rare candid footage of a celebratory "Sing-Sing". Permission to film these timeless momnts was acquired and gratefully acknowledged. Shot on Super 8 film with the assistance and perseverance of Isolde Rutheberg."
From the "Out of the Archives" program: "The diverse history of life on yet another island, Papua New Guinea, is revealed in this 40 minute feature documentary. Often wrongly portrayed as "primitive," George attempts to show that the Papuans are indeed modern in their culture and innovation as successfully brought them to the present. This documentary was shot in Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea, in 1981. A hunting expedition is followed by rare candid footage of a celebratory "Sing-Sing". Permission to film these timeless momnts was acquired and gratefully acknowledged. Shot on Super 8 film with the assistance and perseverance of Isolde Rutheberg."
