John Manson (1868-1959) was born in the Shetland Islands and migrated to British Columbia in 1887, where he joined his brother Michael Manson on Cortes Island. He married Margaret Ellen Smith in 1894 and they had four children: Jack (born 1896), Anna (1898), Rose (1900) and Nicol (1906). The family lived at Sunny Brae Farm, on the south-east side of Cortes, across from Twin Islands.
Custodial History
Most of the files in this series were in an old wooden box when transferred to the archives, suggesting that they were collected from John Manson's house as a unit.
Scope and Content
Series consists of records created by John Manson of Sunny Brae farm, including legal documents, financial records, correspondence and ephemera.
Series consists of nine albums (binders) holding 554 photographs of Cortes Island and nearby islands, including Twin Islands and Hernando Island, with accompanying descriptions and with 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. The majority of the photographs are copies, as indicated by the numbers assigned to them by the Campbell River Museum & Archives. There are 72 original photographs in the albums.
Nine photograph albums (binders) holding 554 photographs with accompanying descriptions.
Custodial History
May Ellingsen put this collection together in the mid 1980s. She collected hundreds of old photographs from 30 donor families which were then copied and catalogued by the Campbell River Museum in 1985, with funding from the Canada Council and Canada Works. (see "Musings", a publication of the CR Museum & Archives Society, Vol. IV #1, March 1985) The Campbell River Museum made negatives and two copies of the photographs; the originals were then returned to the donor families. One copy of each photo was given to May, who arranged them in albums and added her commentary. She continued to add to the albums through the 1990s, adding 72 original photographs and more descriptions. She kept the albums in the library in the Manson's Hall and then in the Cortes Museum when it opened in 1999. The albums were officially donated to CIMAS in 2004.
Scope and Content
Series consists of nine albums (binders) holding 554 photographs of Cortes Island and nearby islands, including Twin Islands and Hernando Island, with accompanying descriptions and with 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. The majority of the photographs are copies, as indicated by the numbers assigned to them by the Campbell River Museum & Archives. There are 72 original photographs in the albums.
Item level finding aid is available for the 72 original photographs.
Copyright
The Campbell River Archives has negatives for the copied photographs in the Collection and makes prints on request for a charge according to their policy and according to the wishes of the donors. Donor/source cards were filled out by each family donating photographs and include restrictions on use in some cases. They are on file at the Campbell River Archives.
CIMAS holds the copyright on the 72 original photographs in these albums.
Series consists of 80 photographs with typed explanatory captions, depicting scenes and activities relating to the Manson's Landing school, general scenes of Cortes Island, and James Nixon family of Twin Islands. Many of the the photographs have information written on their backs.
May Ellingsen compiled this album from photographs in the possession of the Manson family and wrote the explanatory captions. The photographs of Manson's school were taken by Katherine Lettice, the teacher at the time; photographs of Twin Islands were taken by the Nixon family, who lived there and were friends of the Manson family. Photographs were turned over to May by Rose or John Manson. Some photographs were in May's possession as her mother, Robina (Manson) Freeman, was a daughter of Michael Manson.
Scope and Content
Series consists of 80 photographs with typed explanatory captions, depicting scenes and activities relating to the Manson's Landing school, general scenes of Cortes Island, and James Nixon family of Twin Islands. Many of the the photographs have information written on their backs.
Left to right: Mrs. Frank Petznick, daughter Bernadette, Mrs. John (Margaret) Manson and Miss Katherine Lettice (seated) by a picket fence at Sunny Brae farm with Twin Islands in the background. (This picture is a duplicate of photograph 2004.002.073)
Left to right: Mrs. Frank Petznick, daughter Bernadette, Mrs. John (Margaret) Manson and Miss Katherine Lettice (seated) by a picket fence at Sunny Brae farm with Twin Islands in the background. (This picture is a duplicate of photograph 2004.002.073)
A group photo of Mr. and Mrs. Nixon and friends on Twin Islands.
Standing left to right: Mrs. Michael (Jane) Manson, daughter Ethel (Mrs. J. Hurren), Mrs. James Nixon and Mr. James Nixon.
Seated left to right: Hazel (Manson) Herrewig, Henry Herrewig, Mrs. and Mr. Dudley (friends of Hazel and Henry).
A group photo of Mr. and Mrs. Nixon and friends on Twin Islands.
Standing left to right: Mrs. Michael (Jane) Manson, daughter Ethel (Mrs. J. Hurren), Mrs. James Nixon and Mr. James Nixon.
Seated left to right: Hazel (Manson) Herrewig, Henry Herrewig, Mrs. and Mr. Dudley (friends of Hazel and Henry).
Buildings by the bay, Twin Islands. On the left is the house being built by Mr. Harpur C. Nixon for his son James. On the right is the home built by Dan McDonald. Foreground shows, beach, bay and two rowboats.
Buildings by the bay, Twin Islands. On the left is the house being built by Mr. Harpur C. Nixon for his son James. On the right is the home built by Dan McDonald. Foreground shows, beach, bay and two rowboats.
