Cortes Island Museum maintains informational files on subjects of local interest as a research resource. Contents of files may contain clippings or photocopied newspaper and magazine articles, correspondence (including printed email correspondence) and other non-archival material. This is a dynamic file, with changes made on an on-going basis.
Cortes Island Museum maintains informational files on subjects of local interest as a research resource. Contents of files may contain clippings or photocopied newspaper and magazine articles, correspondence (including printed email correspondence) and other non-archival material. This is a dynamic file, with changes made on an on-going basis.
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).
Mrs. Mabel (Lowe) Christensen posed with one set of the great many totally handmade dolls that she made over the years. The angel at the top of the community Christmas tree each year was, for many years, Mabel's handmade angel.
Mrs. Mabel (Lowe) Christensen posed with one set of the great many totally handmade dolls that she made over the years. The angel at the top of the community Christmas tree each year was, for many years, Mabel's handmade angel.
This photograph and the next two photographs in the album show what, in 1985, was left of the house built by Horace Ward when he took up his 1911 pre-emption of 120 acres of the N.1/2 of S.E.1/4 of Section 31. It was cancelled in 1922.
This photograph and the next two photographs in the album show what, in 1985, was left of the house built by Horace Ward when he took up his 1911 pre-emption of 120 acres of the N.1/2 of S.E.1/4 of Section 31. It was cancelled in 1922.
Identity key to group photograph taken at Manson's Landing in 1911.
1. Eugene Paulson 2. Mrs. E. Paulson 3. Rose Manson 4. Lennard Hawkins 5. William (Bill) Hawkins 6.Hazel Manson 7. Mrs. Margaret (John) Manson 8. John Manson 9. George Freeman 10. Robina Manson 11. Florence Manson 12. Herbert Hawkins 13. Beatrice Hawkins 14. unknown 15. Mrs. George Quimby 16. George Quimby 17. George Quimby Jr. 18. Veronica Tiber 19. August Tiber 20. Mrs. August Tiber 21. Frederick Froud 22. Alice Marquette 23. Miss Kathleen Richards (teacher) 24. Frank Petznick 25. Anna Manson 26. Mabel Hawkins 27. Flossie Manson 28. Mrs. Fred Hawkins 29. Mrs. Gertie (Tom) Lambert 30. Tom Lambert 31. Bob Smith 32. Andy Hemorach 33. Nicol Manson
Identity key to group photograph taken at Manson's Landing in 1911.
1. Eugene Paulson 2. Mrs. E. Paulson 3. Rose Manson 4. Lennard Hawkins 5. William (Bill) Hawkins 6.Hazel Manson 7. Mrs. Margaret (John) Manson 8. John Manson 9. George Freeman 10. Robina Manson 11. Florence Manson 12. Herbert Hawkins 13. Beatrice Hawkins 14. unknown 15. Mrs. George Quimby 16. George Quimby 17. George Quimby Jr. 18. Veronica Tiber 19. August Tiber 20. Mrs. August Tiber 21. Frederick Froud 22. Alice Marquette 23. Miss Kathleen Richards (teacher) 24. Frank Petznick 25. Anna Manson 26. Mabel Hawkins 27. Flossie Manson 28. Mrs. Fred Hawkins 29. Mrs. Gertie (Tom) Lambert 30. Tom Lambert 31. Bob Smith 32. Andy Hemorach 33. Nicol Manson
"Girl Guide leaders Joan Heaver (Grey Owl) on left, and Olga Hynek, second in command. They had the group on an Outdoors/Campfire badge outing in the Gorge Harbour area. The girls got their badges and had a great time." (May Ellingsen)
"Girl Guide leaders Joan Heaver (Grey Owl) on left, and Olga Hynek, second in command. They had the group on an Outdoors/Campfire badge outing in the Gorge Harbour area. The girls got their badges and had a great time." (May Ellingsen)
Sheila Musclow and Gail Herrewig when they were Girl Guides under the direction of Doris Lancaster. The picture was taken at the Manson's Landing School grounds.
Sheila Musclow and Gail Herrewig when they were Girl Guides under the direction of Doris Lancaster. The picture was taken at the Manson's Landing School grounds.
Teacher and pupils dressed as Indians for a school play at Manson's Landing School.
In the back is Miss Barbara McBeth
Middle, L to R: Muriel Hurren, Jack Froud, Russel Lambert
Front, L to R: Doris Hurren, Patsy McLennan
Teacher and pupils dressed as Indians for a school play at Manson's Landing School.
In the back is Miss Barbara McBeth
Middle, L to R: Muriel Hurren, Jack Froud, Russel Lambert
Front, L to R: Doris Hurren, Patsy McLennan
Teacher and pupils dressed as Indians for a school play, Manson's Landing School.
Back, L to R: Lyle Pickles, Mike Herrewig, Marjorie Pickles, Miss Barbara McBeth, Stuart Lambert and Harold Pickles
Middle, L to R: Ralph Morris, Bernadette Petznick, Arthur Pickles.
Front, L to R: Russel Lambert, Muriel Hurren, Jack Froud, Patsy McLennan
Teacher and pupils dressed as Indians for a school play, Manson's Landing School.
Back, L to R: Lyle Pickles, Mike Herrewig, Marjorie Pickles, Miss Barbara McBeth, Stuart Lambert and Harold Pickles
Middle, L to R: Ralph Morris, Bernadette Petznick, Arthur Pickles.
Front, L to R: Russel Lambert, Muriel Hurren, Jack Froud, Patsy McLennan
The one-room school at Manson's Landing. The main part had been a log school built in 1909. In this picture, it has board siding and the road side windows have been changed. The dogwood tree planted by Miss Lettice is growing to the left of the flagpole.
The one-room school at Manson's Landing. The main part had been a log school built in 1909. In this picture, it has board siding and the road side windows have been changed. The dogwood tree planted by Miss Lettice is growing to the left of the flagpole.
A gathering at the Whaletown wharf to welcome personnel from the radio station CJOR. (See also Campbell River Museum photograph 16510.) Roland (Rollie) Woolsey is the driver seated in the 'Whaletown Tallyho' and wearing the feather headdress. Note Captain Findlay's house in the background.
A gathering at the Whaletown wharf to welcome personnel from the radio station CJOR. (See also Campbell River Museum photograph 16510.) Roland (Rollie) Woolsey is the driver seated in the 'Whaletown Tallyho' and wearing the feather headdress. Note Captain Findlay's house in the background.
