This series contains material donated to the Library. It includes memoirs, and research and writings on aspects of Cortes Island social and natural history.
This series contains material donated to the Library. It includes memoirs, and research and writings on aspects of Cortes Island social and natural history.
This memoir, written by Captain Frederic (Fred) Vosper, contains family history, photographs, clippings and stories of Vosper's life on Cortes and in coastal British Columbia. It is reproduced here with the kind permission of Patricia Vosper.
Frederic (Fred) Vernon Vosper (1935-2016) was born in Vancouver BC and grew up on the coast, always around boats and water. Occupations included tug boat captain and owner, hard-hat salvage diver, and hand logger. Fred married Patricia in 1956, and they had six children. The Vospers lived in Cortes Bay from 1975 to 1982, and returned to Cortes in 1990, after Fred retired.
Custodial History
A copy of the book was donated to CIMAS in 2021 by Patricia Vosper, who gave permission for the book to be scanned and made available online.
Scope and Content
This memoir, written by Captain Frederic (Fred) Vosper, contains family history, photographs, clippings and stories of Vosper's life on Cortes and in coastal British Columbia. It is reproduced here with the kind permission of Patricia Vosper.
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 fonds contains textual records, photographs and other archival material relating to the history and functions of the Cortes Island Museum & Archives Society. It includes material created for exhibits and research on Cortes social and natural history.
This fonds contains textual records, photographs and other archival material relating to the history and functions of the Cortes Island Museum & Archives Society. It includes material created for exhibits and research on Cortes social and natural history.
"Granite and Fossils" is a compilation of informatioin about Cortes Island fossils created by Christian Gronau for the Cortes Island Museum in 2002 and updated in 2016 and 2023. It has been digitized as Volume 1 and Volume 2.
Christian Gronau studied palaeontology and geology in Germany. He came to Canada in 1972 and
worked in the mining sector in the N.W.T. (among other places), where he met Aileen.
Christian and Aileen (C&A) moved together to Cortes Island in 1978, where they lived for 34 years on a
water-access-only property, without hydro or telephone (Swamp’s Edge), supporting themselves as beach-
only shellfish farmers (Last Farm Oysters). Throughout, C&A have been avid naturalists, continuing this
tradition from their present home at the south-end of Cortes Island (Tanglebank).
Scope and Content
"Granite and Fossils" is a compilation of informatioin about Cortes Island fossils created by Christian Gronau for the Cortes Island Museum in 2002 and updated in 2016 and 2023. It has been digitized as Volume 1 and Volume 2.
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.
