This collection consists of ten photograph albums (binders) compiled and annotated by May Ellingsen. The albums contain both original and reproduced photographs of Cortes Island and nearby islands, including Twin Islands and Hernando Island. They are accompanied by captions and 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. Fonds consists of two series: Series 1 (The May Ellingsen Historic Photograph Collection, Vol. 1-9, Accession 2004.003) and Series 2 (The Manson Family Album, Accession 2004.002).
Ten photograph albums (binders) containing 152 original photographs and 482 reproductions.
History / Biographical
May Ellingsen was born on March 13, 1914 to George and Robina Freeman. Her maternal grandfather, Michael Manson, was the first person to pre-empt land on Cortes Island, claiming a quarter section on Gunflint Lake in 1886. May spent her childhood on Hernando Island, where her family homesteaded and logged, and on Cortes Island, where she attended the log school at Manson's Landing.
In 1936 May married Elmer Ellingsen. They spent the next ten years in the Loughborough Inlet/Phillips Arm area while Elmer worked for his father's logging operations. During those years their children, Shirley, Bruce and Andy, were born. In 1946 the family moved to Von Donop Creek, where Elmer was logging. In 1950 they moved their float house, built at the time of their marriage, to Manson's Landing Lagoon and two years later, to its present permanent location on Hague Lake.
May and Elmer devoted much time and energy to building their community. Amongst her many community activities, May ran the library at Manson's Hall. She had a strong interest in local history, researching the history of land pre-emptions on the island, collecting and annotating photographs from pioneer families and recording interviews with old timers. She was a founder of the Cortes Island Museum and Archives Society; the archives reading room is named in her honor. Historical materials and artifacts gathered by May formed the kernel of the museum's collections and archives.
Custodial History
May Ellingsen created the albums in the 1980s, and kept adding to them throughout the 1990s. She kept them at the Manson's Landing library and then at the museum from 1999. She officially donated them to CIMAS in 2004.
Scope and Content
This collection consists of ten photograph albums (binders) compiled and annotated by May Ellingsen. The albums contain both original and reproduced photographs of Cortes Island and nearby islands, including Twin Islands and Hernando Island. They are accompanied by captions and 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. Fonds consists of two series: Series 1 (The May Ellingsen Historic Photograph Collection, Vol. 1-9, Accession 2004.003) and Series 2 (The Manson Family Album, Accession 2004.002).
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.
The pier from which the locomotive dumped logs at Stag Bay, Hernando Island. Cortes Island is in the far distance with Twin Islands in the right background. The pile-driver beside the pier and gin poles are arranged to unload logs. There are also poles set at intervals on the beach for hanging booms.
The pier from which the locomotive dumped logs at Stag Bay, Hernando Island. Cortes Island is in the far distance with Twin Islands in the right background. The pile-driver beside the pier and gin poles are arranged to unload logs. There are also poles set at intervals on the beach for hanging booms.
A group of people on the beach at Stag Bay, Hernando Island. Twin Islands can be seen in the background.
Back row, L to R: Mr. Niven, Jim Niven, Dick Parker, Jean Manson, Mrs. Niven
Front row, L to R: Muriel Hurreen, Thelma Campbell, Audrey and Eileen Kenny, Minerva and Lorne Campbell, Dorothy Manson
A group of people on the beach at Stag Bay, Hernando Island. Twin Islands can be seen in the background.
Back row, L to R: Mr. Niven, Jim Niven, Dick Parker, Jean Manson, Mrs. Niven
Front row, L to R: Muriel Hurreen, Thelma Campbell, Audrey and Eileen Kenny, Minerva and Lorne Campbell, Dorothy Manson
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.
