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 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.
A photograph of "Marg" (Margaret Huck), Flo (last name?) and Marg F. (Margaret Forrest) standing at the corner of the Squirrel Cove school next to a big stump which is right beside the school. The building's siding and a row of windows can be seen clearly.
A photograph of "Marg" (Margaret Huck), Flo (last name?) and Marg F. (Margaret Forrest) standing at the corner of the Squirrel Cove school next to a big stump which is right beside the school. The building's siding and a row of windows can be seen clearly.
Mr. and Mrs. James A. Nixon (left), Mrs. John (Margaret) Manson and her daughter Anna (seated in front) on the steps of the new Nixon home on Twin Islands.
Mr. and Mrs. James A. Nixon (left), Mrs. John (Margaret) Manson and her daughter Anna (seated in front) on the steps of the new Nixon home on Twin Islands.
A group posing beside a picket fence on Twin Islands.
Back, left to right, Jack Manson, his mother Mrs. John (Margaret) Manson, Mr. and Mrs. James A. Nixon, and Bert Froud.
Front, left to right, Anna, Nicol, and Rose Manson.
A group posing beside a picket fence on Twin Islands.
Back, left to right, Jack Manson, his mother Mrs. John (Margaret) Manson, Mr. and Mrs. James A. Nixon, and Bert Froud.
Front, left to right, Anna, Nicol, and Rose Manson.
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).
Mr. David Forrest with his daughter Margaret on his back in front of the tent set up at the Nakatsui Ranch (now known as the Loon Ranch) near John Manson's property, Sunny Brae farm, where the family lived for a short time before settling at Squirrel Cove.
Mr. David Forrest with his daughter Margaret on his back in front of the tent set up at the Nakatsui Ranch (now known as the Loon Ranch) near John Manson's property, Sunny Brae farm, where the family lived for a short time before settling at Squirrel Cove.
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 #2004.002.016)
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 #2004.002.016)
Mrs. George Ewart standing behind the Middleton house at Squirrel Cove. Mrs. George Ewart and husband George Ewart owned the Squirrel Cove Store and the Boarding Rooms. This is the same building which is the present day (2009) Squirrel Cove Store. It was built by Jack Shaler.
Mrs. George Ewart standing behind the Middleton house at Squirrel Cove. Mrs. George Ewart and husband George Ewart owned the Squirrel Cove Store and the Boarding Rooms. This is the same building which is the present day (2009) Squirrel Cove Store. It was built by Jack Shaler.