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Administrative Records Series

https://collections.cortesmuseum.com/en/permalink/descriptions15440
Part Of
Whaletown Community Club fonds
Description Level
Series
Material Type
textual records
electronic records
Accession Number
2003.003
Date Range
1938; 1952-2016
Scope and Content
This series contains records pertaining to the administration of the Whaletown Community Club including the constitution and bylaws, an agreement with the Whaletown Women's Institute, tax and insurance records, lease agreements, membership records and reports of finances and activities filed with the provincial government.
Part Of
Whaletown Community Club fonds
Description Level
Series
Creator
Whaletown Community Club
Fonds Number
2003.003
Series Number
3
Accession Number
2003.003
Material Type
textual records
electronic records
Date Range
1938; 1952-2016
Physical Description
6 cm. of textual records
Scope and Content
This series contains records pertaining to the administration of the Whaletown Community Club including the constitution and bylaws, an agreement with the Whaletown Women's Institute, tax and insurance records, lease agreements, membership records and reports of finances and activities filed with the provincial government.
Storage Location
1-17 - 1-24
2-2
2-11
2-17 - 2-19
2-30
3-12
3-16
Name Access
Whaletown Community Club
Whaletown Women's Institute
Subject Access
Community Associations
Women's Institute
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B.C. Societies Act reports

https://collections.cortesmuseum.com/en/permalink/descriptions15484
Part Of
Whaletown Community Club fonds
Description Level
File
Material Type
textual records
Accession Number
2003.003
Date Range
1976-1982
Scope and Content
Reports filed annually with the provincial Registrar of Societies with information on the names and addresses of directors of the club and numbers of voting and non-voting members.
Part Of
Whaletown Community Club fonds
Description Level
File
Creator
Whaletown Community Club
Fonds Number
2003.003
Series Number
3
File Number
6
Accession Number
2003.003
Material Type
textual records
Date Range
1976-1982
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
Reports filed annually with the provincial Registrar of Societies with information on the names and addresses of directors of the club and numbers of voting and non-voting members.
Storage Location
1-22
Storage Range
1-22
Name Access
Whaletown Community Club
Subject Access
Community Associations
Geographic Access
Cortes Island
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Part Of
Whaletown Community Club fonds
Description Level
File
Material Type
textual records
Accession Number
2003.003
Date Range
1980
Scope and Content
File consists of ten pages of incoming and outgoing correspondence (1980), primarily concerning property lines.
Part Of
Whaletown Community Club fonds
Description Level
File
Creator
Whaletown Community Club
Fonds Number
2003.003
Series Number
4
File Number
18
Accession Number
2003.003
Material Type
textual records
Date Range
1980
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File consists of ten pages of incoming and outgoing correspondence (1980), primarily concerning property lines.
Storage Location
1-42
Storage Range
1-42
Name Access
Whaletown Community Club
Subject Access
Community Associations
Geographic Access
Cortes Island
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Part Of
Whaletown Community Club fonds
Description Level
File
Material Type
textual records
Accession Number
2003.003
Date Range
1981
Scope and Content
File consists of eleven pages of incoming and outgoing correspondence (1981), including an insurance brochure.
Part Of
Whaletown Community Club fonds
Description Level
File
Creator
Whaletown Community Club
Fonds Number
2003.003
Series Number
4
File Number
19
Accession Number
2003.003
Material Type
textual records
Date Range
1981
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File consists of eleven pages of incoming and outgoing correspondence (1981), including an insurance brochure.
Storage Location
1-43
Storage Range
1-43
Name Access
Whaletown Community Club
Subject Access
Community Associations
Geographic Access
Cortes Island
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Part Of
Whaletown Community Club fonds
Description Level
File
Material Type
textual records
Accession Number
2003.003
Date Range
1982
Scope and Content
File consists of thirty-eight pages of textual records (1982), primarily incoming and outgoing correspondence, as well as a British Columbia administrative grant remittance statement, a Lieutenant Governor/HMCS Restigouche visit schedule, and a letter re Whaletown School sub-Leasing agreement and lease indenture.
Part Of
Whaletown Community Club fonds
Description Level
File
Creator
Whaletown Community Club
Fonds Number
2003.003
Series Number
4
File Number
20
Accession Number
2003.003
Material Type
textual records
Date Range
1982
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File consists of thirty-eight pages of textual records (1982), primarily incoming and outgoing correspondence, as well as a British Columbia administrative grant remittance statement, a Lieutenant Governor/HMCS Restigouche visit schedule, and a letter re Whaletown School sub-Leasing agreement and lease indenture.
Storage Location
1-44
Storage Range
1-44
Name Access
Whaletown Community Club
Subject Access
Community Associations
Geographic Access
Cortes Island
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Part Of
Whaletown Community Club fonds
Description Level
File
Material Type
textual records
Accession Number
2003.003
Date Range
1983
Scope and Content
File consists of sixteen pages of correspondence, including a Lotteries grant application (for renovations).
Part Of
Whaletown Community Club fonds
Description Level
File
Creator
Whaletown Community Club
Fonds Number
2003.003
Series Number
4
File Number
21
Accession Number
2003.003
Material Type
textual records
Date Range
1983
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File consists of sixteen pages of correspondence, including a Lotteries grant application (for renovations).
Storage Location
1-45
Storage Range
1-45
Name Access
Whaletown Community Club
Subject Access
Community Associations
Geographic Access
Cortes Island
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Part Of
Whaletown Community Club fonds
Description Level
File
Material Type
textual records
Accession Number
2003.003
Date Range
1984
Scope and Content
File consists of thirteen pages of incoming and outgoing correspondence. It includes a Worker's Compensation Board statement of account and a report to the Lottery Grants Branch on the additions to the Gorge Hall (stage, dressing room and lounge area).
Part Of
Whaletown Community Club fonds
Description Level
File
Creator
Whaletown Community Club
Fonds Number
2003.003
Series Number
4
File Number
22
Accession Number
2003.003
Material Type
textual records
Date Range
1984
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File consists of thirteen pages of incoming and outgoing correspondence. It includes a Worker's Compensation Board statement of account and a report to the Lottery Grants Branch on the additions to the Gorge Hall (stage, dressing room and lounge area).
Storage Location
1-46
Storage Range
1-46
Name Access
Whaletown Community Club
Subject Access
Community Associations
Geographic Access
Cortes Island
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Correspondence re: Ferry

https://collections.cortesmuseum.com/en/permalink/descriptions7255
Part Of
Cortes Island Ratepayers Association fonds
Description Level
File
Material Type
textual records
Date Range
1981-1984
Part Of
Cortes Island Ratepayers Association fonds
Description Level
File
Fonds Number
2000.003
Series Number
5
File Number
18
Material Type
textual records
Date Range
1981-1984
Storage Location
1-43
Storage Range
1-43
Name Access
Cortes Island Ratepayers Association
Subject Access
Ferries
Transportation
Water transport
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Part Of
Whaletown Community Club fonds
Description Level
Series
Material Type
textual records
Accession Number
2003.003
Date Range
1961-2011
Scope and Content
Series consists of incoming and outgoing correspondence, as well as some reports on activities carried on by the club which were filed in with the correspondence.
Part Of
Whaletown Community Club fonds
Description Level
Series
Creator
Whaletown Community Club
Fonds Number
2003.003
Series Number
4
Accession Number
2003.003
Material Type
textual records
Date Range
1961-2011
Physical Description
8 cm. of correspondence
Custodial History
This series contains some material which came to CIMAS with the Gilean Douglas Fonds.
Scope and Content
Series consists of incoming and outgoing correspondence, as well as some reports on activities carried on by the club which were filed in with the correspondence.
Storage Location
1-25 - 1-46
1-63 - 1-66
2-14
2-16
Name Access
Whaletown Community Club
Subject Access
Community Associations
Arrangement
Arranged by date; original order
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Cortes Emergency First Aid Service fonds

https://collections.cortesmuseum.com/en/permalink/descriptions8044
Part Of
Cortes Emergency First Aid Service fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Material Type
textual records
Date Range
1988-1993
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of records of the Cortes Emergency First Aid Service (CEFAS) including the constitution, meeting agendas, correspondence, survey responses and attendant schedules. It is arranged in three series: Administrative Records, Correspondence and Survey Responses.
Part Of
Cortes Emergency First Aid Service fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Fonds Number
2012.001
Material Type
textual records
Date Range
1988-1993
Physical Description
5 cm of textual records
History / Biographical
In 1988, concerned members of the Cortes community formed the Cortes Island First Aid Society (CIFAS). They were trained in basic first aid and provided volunteer service to the island for the next four years. A retired industrial ambulance was procured by Sully and Marg Sullivan and outfitted with some medical equipment. Prior to this people were transported in private cars and trucks. In 1992, the British Columbia Ambulance Service opened a station on Cortes which continued and expanded that service, and CEFAS was dissolved.
Custodial History
Bonnie MacDonald held these records from the time of her involvement in the founding of CEFAS; she donated them to CIMAS.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of records of the Cortes Emergency First Aid Service (CEFAS) including the constitution, meeting agendas, correspondence, survey responses and attendant schedules. It is arranged in three series: Administrative Records, Correspondence and Survey Responses.
Storage Location
Small Box 2
Storage Range
1-1 - 1-7
Subject Access
Health care
Community Associations
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Part Of
Whaletown Community Club fonds
Description Level
File
Material Type
textual records
Accession Number
2003.003
Date Range
1958-1984
Scope and Content
File consists of corrrespondence, financial statements, planning notes, lists of volunteers, food and supplies generated in the course of Whaletown Community Club participation in the annual Cortes Day barbecue and dance.
Part Of
Whaletown Community Club fonds
Description Level
File
Creator
Whaletown Community Club
Fonds Number
2003.003
Series Number
5
File Number
1
Accession Number
2003.003
Material Type
textual records
Date Range
1958-1984
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records including 1 scribbler notebook
Scope and Content
File consists of corrrespondence, financial statements, planning notes, lists of volunteers, food and supplies generated in the course of Whaletown Community Club participation in the annual Cortes Day barbecue and dance.
Storage Location
1-47
Storage Range
1-47
Name Access
Whaletown Community Club
Subject Access
Community Associations
Geographic Access
Cortes Island
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Cortes Island Ratepayers Association

https://collections.cortesmuseum.com/en/permalink/descriptions6922
Part Of
Gilean Douglas fonds
Description Level
File
Material Type
textual records
Date Range
1982-1984
Scope and Content
Cortes Island Ratepayers Association constitution and newsletters
Part Of
Gilean Douglas fonds
Description Level
File
Fonds Number
1999.001
Series Number
4
File Number
16
Material Type
textual records
Date Range
1982-1984
Scope and Content
Cortes Island Ratepayers Association constitution and newsletters
Storage Location
3-31
Storage Range
3-31
Name Access
Douglas, Gilean
Subject Access
Cortes Island Ratepayers Association
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Cortes Island Ratepayers Association fonds

https://collections.cortesmuseum.com/en/permalink/descriptions7136
Part Of
Cortes Island Ratepayers Association fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Material Type
cartographic material
textual records
Accession Number
2000.003
Date Range
1963-1984
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of the records of the Cortes Island Ratepayers Association, an organization of the property owners and residents of Cortes Island from 1963 to 1984. They include administrative documents such as the constitution and membership lists, minutes of CIRA meetings, annual reports, newsletters to members, correspondence and materials related to the provision of services, land use planning and other issues of island concern. The fonds is composed of the following series: Administrative Documents; Minutes; Financial; Newsletters and Notices; Correspondence; Subject; Community Planning and Land Use (Advisory Planning Commission); Clippings; and Maps and Plans.
Part Of
Cortes Island Ratepayers Association fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Fonds Number
2000.003
Accession Number
2000.003
Material Type
cartographic material
textual records
Date Range
1963-1984
Physical Description
94 cm. of textual records and 5 cm. of maps
Extent
94 cm
History / Biographical
The Cortes Island Ratepayers Association (CIRA) was an association of property owners and residents formed in 1963 to "further the development of the island and to have a representative body in dealing with the Provincial government." The first activity initiated by CIRA was to lobby the provincial government for the provision of electricity and ferry service to Cortes Island. Their efforts met with success. Electricity was brought to the island in 1970 and ferry service from Quadra Island to Cortes Island began in 1969. CIRA also became an important forum for the discussion of other important services on Cortes Island, including roads, fire protection, garbage disposal, water quality, rural mail delivery and library facilities. As a result of CIRA's efforts to bring electricity to Cortes Island, in 1967 the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Dan Campbell, designated Cortes Island a Local Improvement District. This made Cortes Island into a legal entity for the purpose of negotiating with the province for electrical power. In that same year, Minister Campbell invited CIRA to participate in discussions and committee work on the formation of a regional district level of government. In 1968, Cortes Island was designated 'Electoral Area I' in the Regional District of Comox-Strathcona (RDCS) with an elected director. Under this system, a Regional Director is elected who in turn sits on the Board of the RDCS. Each Regional Director appoints an Advisory Planning Commission (APC), a committee of island residents who advise the Director on matters of island concern. In 1968, CIRA determined that the elected members of the executive of CIRA would form the APC for Cortes Island. This arrangement lasted until the dissolution of CIRA in 1984. The first zoning by-law was completed in 1970 and an Official Settlement Plan and zoning by-law in 1979. In 1982, CIRA initiated a court case against Raven Lumber for non-compliance with the Cortes Island Official Settlement Plan and zoning by-law. CIRA won the case upon appeal, but in 1984 an Order in Council allowed Raven Lumber to proceed with their development. The court case had absorbed a great deal of CIRA energy and fund raising effort over a four year period. At the General Meeting in November, 1984 there were no candidates willing to stand for the executive. CIRA was declared inactive at that meeting and was never reactivated.
Custodial History
During the term of the last president of CIRA, the records were kept in the Gorge Harbour Community Hall on Cortes Island. After the dissolution of the CIRA in 1984, the records continued to be stored in the hall. The records were transferred to the Cortes Island Museum and Archives by the Whaletown Community Club (owner of the hall) in 2000.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of the records of the Cortes Island Ratepayers Association, an organization of the property owners and residents of Cortes Island from 1963 to 1984. They include administrative documents such as the constitution and membership lists, minutes of CIRA meetings, annual reports, newsletters to members, correspondence and materials related to the provision of services, land use planning and other issues of island concern. The fonds is composed of the following series: Administrative Documents; Minutes; Financial; Newsletters and Notices; Correspondence; Subject; Community Planning and Land Use (Advisory Planning Commission); Clippings; and Maps and Plans.
Storage Range
1-1 - 3-55
Name Access
Cortes Island Ratepayers Association
Subject Access
Ferries
Transportation
Local governments
Water transport
Community Associations
Geographic Access
Cortes Island
Related Material
Regional Director of Electoral Area I (Cortes Island) fonds Gilean Douglas fonds
Finding Aid
File list available
Arrangement
Materials were received in their original file folders, however the files were not in any discernible order. In the absence of original order, materials were arranged by function and subject at the series level and chronologically within series.
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Part Of
Whaletown Community Club fonds
Description Level
File
Material Type
textual records
Accession Number
2003.003
Date Range
1981-1988
Scope and Content
File consists of calendars showing bookings for Gorge Hall.
Part Of
Whaletown Community Club fonds
Description Level
File
Creator
Whaletown Community Club
Fonds Number
2003.003
Series Number
5
File Number
6
Accession Number
2003.003
Material Type
textual records
Date Range
1981-1988
Physical Description
6 calendars
Scope and Content
File consists of calendars showing bookings for Gorge Hall.
Storage Location
1-52
Storage Range
1-52
Name Access
Whaletown Community Club
Subject Access
Community Associations
Geographic Access
Cortes Island
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Part Of
Whaletown Community Club fonds
Description Level
File
Material Type
textual records
Accession Number
2003.003
Date Range
1978-1983
Scope and Content
Folder contains monthly and annual financial reports of credit and expenses. Some are on pages from an account ledger.
Part Of
Whaletown Community Club fonds
Description Level
File
Creator
Whaletown Community Club
Fonds Number
2003.003
Series Number
2
File Number
1
Accession Number
2003.003
Material Type
textual records
Date Range
1978-1983
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Physical Condition
Some pieces held together with disintegrating scotch tape. May need preservation.
Scope and Content
Folder contains monthly and annual financial reports of credit and expenses. Some are on pages from an account ledger.
Storage Location
1-12
Storage Range
1-12
Name Access
Whaletown Community Club
Subject Access
Community Associations
Geographic Access
Cortes Island
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Part Of
Whaletown Community Club fonds
Description Level
Series
Material Type
textual records
Accession Number
2003.003
Date Range
1978-2006
Scope and Content
Series consists of monthly and annual financial statements, some hand-written treasurer's reports, ledger pages showing transaction records and receipts.
Part Of
Whaletown Community Club fonds
Description Level
Series
Creator
Whaletown Community Club
Fonds Number
2003.003
Series Number
2
Accession Number
2003.003
Material Type
textual records
Date Range
1978-2006
Physical Description
3 cm. of textual records, including four spiral-bound ledger books and a spiral-bound receipt book
Scope and Content
Series consists of monthly and annual financial statements, some hand-written treasurer's reports, ledger pages showing transaction records and receipts.
Storage Location
1-12 - 1-16
Name Access
Whaletown Community Club
Subject Access
Community Associations
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Part Of
Florence McKay fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Material Type
graphic material
textual records
Accession Number
2004.001
Date Range
1878-1990
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of 49 original photographs from the Michael Manson family, mostly from the early 20th century (1898-1928). The photographs depict the Manson family, logging and farming on Hernando and Cortes Islands, Michael and Jane Manson's Golden Wedding anniversary, and Florence McKay's 90th birthday celebration. The photographs were originally in an album with handwritten captions along with newspaper articles about Michael Manson, Jane Manson and Florence McKay.
Part Of
Florence McKay fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Creator
McKay, Florence
Fonds Number
2004.001
Item Number Range
2004.001.001 - 2004.001.049
Accession Number
2004.001
Material Type
graphic material
textual records
Date Range
1878-1990
Digitized Date
2005/2006
Physical Description
49 photographs; 3 newspaper articles
History / Biographical
Florence Manson McKay was born Jan. 21, 1900 to Michael and Jane Manson. Michael Manson was the first person to pre-empt land on Cortes Island, a quarter section on Gunflint Lake (present-day Linnaea Farm). Florence married Ervin McKay in 1918. They moved to Hernando Island in 1921 and Ervin worked with extended family members logging there and on Cortes Island. Florence and Ervin had two children: Etta (b. 1918) and Hazel (b. 1920). In 1929 the McKays took over Michael Manson's original pre-emption on Gunflint Lake, where they farmed until retiring in 1950. They moved to Courtenay, turning the farm over to daughter Hazel and her husband Ken Hansen. Florence was widowed in 1978 and returned to Cortes to live with Ken and Hazel, who had sold the farm but kept 16 acres to live on. Florence passed away in 1995.
Custodial History
Florence McKay gathered the photographs and her daughter, Hazel Hansen, compiled the album and wrote the captions. The album was donated to CIMAS by Hazel's son, Albert Hansen, in 2004.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of 49 original photographs from the Michael Manson family, mostly from the early 20th century (1898-1928). The photographs depict the Manson family, logging and farming on Hernando and Cortes Islands, Michael and Jane Manson's Golden Wedding anniversary, and Florence McKay's 90th birthday celebration. The photographs were originally in an album with handwritten captions along with newspaper articles about Michael Manson, Jane Manson and Florence McKay.
Storage Location
Photograph Box #3
Subject Access
Logging
Geographic Access
Hernando Island
Finding Aid
Item level finding aid is available.
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George Sirk, Regional Director sous-fonds

https://collections.cortesmuseum.com/en/permalink/descriptions12215
Part Of
Regional Director of Area I (Cortes Island) fonds
Description Level
Sous-fonds
Material Type
textual records
cartographic material
multiple media
Accession Number
2004.004
Date Range
1970-2003
Scope and Content
Sous-fonds consists of materials generated or gathered by George Sirk during his term as Regional Director. It includes correspondence; minutes and reports of the Cortes Island Advisory Planning Commission (APC); Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw revision materials; records of foreshore leases and licenses; correspondence on various island issues, and material relating to parks, aquaculture, forestry, treaty negotiations and other island concerns. Sous-fonds is arranged into six series: Advisory Planning Commission; Community Plans and Bylaws; Regional District of Comox-Strathcona: Regional Board; Regional District of Comox-Strathcona: Committees; Rezoning and Development Proposals; Subject Files: Cortes Affairs; Aquaculture; and Treaty Negotiations.
Part Of
Regional Director of Area I (Cortes Island) fonds
Description Level
Sous-fonds
Creator
Sirk, George
Fonds Number
2002.001.3
Sous Fonds Number
3
Accession Number
2004.004
Material Type
textual records
cartographic material
multiple media
Date Range
1970-2003
Physical Description
1.2 m of textual records
Extent
1.2 m
History / Biographical
George Sirk was elected Regional Director of Electoral Area I (Cortes Island) in the Regional District of Comox-Strathcona in 1996. He served three terms as Director, from 1996 to 2005.
Custodial History
Material was donated to CIMAS by George Sirk in 2004, prior to his move from Cortes Island to Victoria, BC.
Scope and Content
Sous-fonds consists of materials generated or gathered by George Sirk during his term as Regional Director. It includes correspondence; minutes and reports of the Cortes Island Advisory Planning Commission (APC); Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw revision materials; records of foreshore leases and licenses; correspondence on various island issues, and material relating to parks, aquaculture, forestry, treaty negotiations and other island concerns. Sous-fonds is arranged into six series: Advisory Planning Commission; Community Plans and Bylaws; Regional District of Comox-Strathcona: Regional Board; Regional District of Comox-Strathcona: Committees; Rezoning and Development Proposals; Subject Files: Cortes Affairs; Aquaculture; and Treaty Negotiations.
Storage Location
2-28 - 7-15
Storage Range
2-28 - 7-15
Name Access
Sirk, George
Nursall, Ralph
Subject Access
Advisory Planning Commission
Local governments
Regional District
Zoning
Aboriginal affairs
Aquaculture
Geographic Access
Cortes Island
Arrangement
Original content of folders has been retained; archivists have arranged files into series.
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Part Of
Gilean Douglas fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Material Type
textual records
graphic material
cartographic material
ephemera
Accession Number
1999.001
Date Range
1904-1993 (predominant 1948-1993)
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of the personal records of Gilean Douglas which were produced and received during her personal and literary activities. There is some material dating from Douglas's early life, but the bulk of it dates from 1948 to 1993 and directly concerns her life on Cortes Island. Because of Douglas's involvement in the public life of the island, and her interest in local history, her papers contain a great deal of information about the political, community and social life of Cortes Island, particularly the Whaletown area. Fonds is composed of eighteen series: Manuscripts; Correspondence; Literary Records; Regional Director for Area I (Cortes Island); Women's Institute; Women's Auxiliary of the Anglican Church; School District #72; Whaletown Community Club; Channel Rock; Research; "The Log" of the Columbia Coast Mission; Journals and Notebooks; Illustrations and Sketches; Ephemera; Clippings; Maps; Albums; Photographs.
Other Title Info
Title based on contents of the fonds.
Part Of
Gilean Douglas fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Creator
Douglas, Gilean
Fonds Number
1999.001
Accession Number
1999.001
Material Type
textual records
graphic material
cartographic material
ephemera
Date Range
1904-1993 (predominant 1948-1993)
Physical Description
1.9 m of textual records; ca. 2,352 photographic records (1147 prints : b&w and col. - ca. 560 negatives : b&w and col. negatives ; 35 mm and 14 x 11 cm or smaller - 645 slides : col. slides ; 35 mm); 1 cm of graphic material; 8 maps.
Extent
1.9
History / Biographical
Gilean Douglas was born in Toronto, Ont. In 1900. Orphaned at the age of 16, she began to work as a free-lance writer and photographer. Over her lifetime her work appeared in more than 200 publications, often published under pseudonyms (Grant Madison, Armoral Kent and Jill MacLean). Douglas published eight books of poetry and three books of non-fiction, and, from 1961 to 1992, wrote a regular column, “Nature Rambles”, for the Victoria Times-Colonist. In 1939, following the collapse of her third marriage, Douglas moved from Ontario to an isolated cabin in the mountains near Hope, B.C. Her first two books of nature writing (one published under the name Grant Madison) document her life there. Her cabin was destroyed by fire in 1947 and two years later she moved to a 138-acre waterfront homestead on Cortes Island with her fourth husband, Philip Douglas, (née Major). Her marriage ended in 1953, but she remained there until her death in 1993. Her home at Channel Rock was isolated, with no road access and no electricity. Douglas had a large garden, and supplemented her writing income by selling produce and plants. She was a volunteer Weather Observer for Environment Canada for 33 years, receiving several awards for her service. Starting in the 1960s, her writing centered increasingly on her life at Channel Rock. Her "Nature Rambles" columns and book "The Protected Place" reflect her life on the island. During her years on Cortes Island, Douglas took a leading role in community affairs and local politics. She held office in several community organizations and acted as a school trustee. As a member of the Women's Institute, she held local, district, provincial and national office, edited a book on its history, and was awarded a Life Membership in 1989. Douglas was a member of the first Cortes Island Advisory Planning Commission and represented Cortes on the Regional Board of Comox-Strathcona as Alternate Director from 1968 to 1973 and as Director from 1973 until 1977. List of Book Publications: 1952 Now the Green Word (Wings Press, Mill Valley, Ca.) 1953 Poetic Plush (The Story Book Press, Dallas, Texas) 1953 River For My Sidewalk (by “Grant Madison”; J. M. Dent & Sons, Toronto, Ont.) 1954 The Pattern Set (Quality Press, Montreal, Quebec) 1959 Modern Pioneers (a history of the Women's Institute, ed. by Douglas; Evergreen Press) 1967 Seascape With Figures (Prairie Press, Iowa City, Iowa) 1973 Now In This Night (Harlo Press, Detroit, Mi.) 1978 Silence Is My Homeland (Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, Pa.) 1979 The Protected Place (Gray’s Publishing, Sidney, B.C.) 1982 Prodigal (Harbour Publishing, Madeira Park, B.C.) 1984 River For My Sidewalk (by Gilean Douglas; Sono Nis Press) 1985 Kodachromes at Midday (Sono Nis Press) 1992 Seascape With Figures - Poems Selected and New (Sono Nis Press)
Custodial History
Upon Douglas’ death in 1993 her papers were gathered from her house by her literary executor, Gillian Milton. Douglas’ will directed that her papers and photographs be turned over to the University of British Columbia (Douglas’ primary beneficiary), after being examined and used for literary purposes including publication or biography. Accordingly, Milton inventoried the records, and with Andrea Lebowitz made use of them for a biography and anthology of the writings of Douglas, "Gilean Douglas: Writing Nature, Finding Home" (Lebowitz and Milton, Sono Nis Press, 1999). The textual records were turned over to University of British Columbia Library Rare Books and Special Collections in December 1999; the photographic records in 2002. By agreement with UBC, the records and photographs which have to do primarily with Cortes Island were turned over to the Cortes Island Museum and Archives Society (Manson's Landing, B.C.) in 1999.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of the personal records of Gilean Douglas which were produced and received during her personal and literary activities. There is some material dating from Douglas's early life, but the bulk of it dates from 1948 to 1993 and directly concerns her life on Cortes Island. Because of Douglas's involvement in the public life of the island, and her interest in local history, her papers contain a great deal of information about the political, community and social life of Cortes Island, particularly the Whaletown area. Fonds is composed of eighteen series: Manuscripts; Correspondence; Literary Records; Regional Director for Area I (Cortes Island); Women's Institute; Women's Auxiliary of the Anglican Church; School District #72; Whaletown Community Club; Channel Rock; Research; "The Log" of the Columbia Coast Mission; Journals and Notebooks; Illustrations and Sketches; Ephemera; Clippings; Maps; Albums; Photographs.
Name Access
Douglas, Gilean
Subject Access
Women's Institute
Columbia Coast Mission
Community Associations
Geographic Access
Cortes Island
Related Material
Gilean Douglas fonds at the University of British Columbia Library (Special Collections) Cortes Island Ratepayers Association fonds Gorge Harbour Community Hall fonds Whaletown Community Club fonds Whaletown Women's Institute fonds Regional Director of Electoral Area I (Cortes Island) fonds
Copyright
Copyright for Douglas's published writings is held by the University of British Columbia. Permission to use Douglas's manuscripts for publication purposes must be obtained from the University of British Columbia or from Gillian Milton, literary executor for the estate of Gilean Douglas.
Arrangement
Wherever possible, Douglas’ system of arrangement has been retained, and original groupings of material have been maintained. Other material has been arranged according to type.
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Part Of
Whaletown Community Club fonds
Description Level
File
Material Type
textual records
Accession Number
2003.003
Date Range
1980-1981
Scope and Content
Correspondence describing proposed renovations, receipts and lists of expenses.
Part Of
Whaletown Community Club fonds
Description Level
File
Creator
Whaletown Community Club
Fonds Number
2003.003
Series Number
5
File Number
4
Accession Number
2003.003
Material Type
textual records
Date Range
1980-1981
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
Correspondence describing proposed renovations, receipts and lists of expenses.
Storage Location
1-50
Storage Range
1-50
Name Access
Whaletown Community Club
Subject Access
Community Associations
Geographic Access
Cortes Island
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