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.
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.
Mrs. Jean Manson. After her marriage to Wilfred Manson in 1920, they lived for a time in the George Freeman home on Hernando Island. The sheep is an ewe named 'Sitkum Seeakwis' after she lost one eye and became something of a pet and a character. Their black dog 'Pip' is looking on. Note the rain barrel with trough at the side of the house.
Mrs. Jean Manson. After her marriage to Wilfred Manson in 1920, they lived for a time in the George Freeman home on Hernando Island. The sheep is an ewe named 'Sitkum Seeakwis' after she lost one eye and became something of a pet and a character. Their black dog 'Pip' is looking on. Note the rain barrel with trough at the side of the house.
"Logging, 1903-1949":
The album contains reminiscences of Frank Gallinger's logging camp; a photograph of old-growth trees; logging camps (various locations) and group photos; photographs of hand logging with the use of springboards and logging with steam donkeys, tractors, power saws and horses (on the John Manson property); photographs of log booms (various locations), logging on Quadra and "haywire" logging on Hernando Island; and a newspaper clipping about horse logging (1984).
"Logging, 1903-1949":
The album contains reminiscences of Frank Gallinger's logging camp; a photograph of old-growth trees; logging camps (various locations) and group photos; photographs of hand logging with the use of springboards and logging with steam donkeys, tractors, power saws and horses (on the John Manson property); photographs of log booms (various locations), logging on Quadra and "haywire" logging on Hernando Island; and a newspaper clipping about horse logging (1984).
Album Seven: Mike and John Manson families, 1895-1957
Contains: an excerpt from a Victoria Colonist article about Mike Manson's steamship "Thistle" [1907]; log of the "Thistle" [1891; history of Mike Manson's steam tug "Stella"; log of the 'Stella' [1895]; excerpts from the diary of John Manson [1902]; an account of John Manson's funeral by Rev. Alan Greene [1957]; photographs of the Manson family at their home on Cortes Island (McKay, Herrewig, and more...
Album Seven: Mike and John Manson families, 1895-1957
Contains: an excerpt from a Victoria Colonist article about Mike Manson's steamship "Thistle" [1907]; log of the "Thistle" [1891; history of Mike Manson's steam tug "Stella"; log of the 'Stella' [1895]; excerpts from the diary of John Manson [1902]; an account of John Manson's funeral by Rev. Alan Greene [1957]; photographs of the Manson family at their home on Cortes Island (McKay, Herrewig, and more...
Album 8, "Harbours and Marinas on Cortes Island", contains photographs of wharves and their surroundings in Whaletown, Manson's Landing, Cortes Bay, Marina Island, Camp/Subtle Island, and other nearby coastal areas.
Album 8, "Harbours and Marinas on Cortes Island", contains photographs of wharves and their surroundings in Whaletown, Manson's Landing, Cortes Bay, Marina Island, Camp/Subtle Island, and other nearby coastal areas.
Album 9: Hernando Island and Squirrel Cove
a) Hernando Island: contains a hand-drawn map of Hernando Island, and photographs of the pier, the locomotive used to haul logs, the logging crew at Stag Bay, the George Freeman home at Stag Bay, the logging camp on Hernando Island, residents of Hernando, and the Manson family when they lived at the George Freeman house.
b) Squirrel Cove: contains photographs of the church, the First Nations reservation and residents including the Dominic family, the Forrest family and their store, the Cowan family, the boat shed, planer shed and sawmill which belonged to Val Nichols, the wharf, and the Squirrel Cove Community Hall.
Album 9: Hernando Island and Squirrel Cove
a) Hernando Island: contains a hand-drawn map of Hernando Island, and photographs of the pier, the locomotive used to haul logs, the logging crew at Stag Bay, the George Freeman home at Stag Bay, the logging camp on Hernando Island, residents of Hernando, and the Manson family when they lived at the George Freeman house.
b) Squirrel Cove: contains photographs of the church, the First Nations reservation and residents including the Dominic family, the Forrest family and their store, the Cowan family, the boat shed, planer shed and sawmill which belonged to Val Nichols, the wharf, and the Squirrel Cove Community Hall.
Mrs. Margaret Nixon posing with her husband's rifle and a dead buck. "This is a pose only. Her husband shot the deer. They lived alone on Twin Islands and picture taking was a pleasant pastime. She was two years older than her husband's mother. They were very happy and a very fine couple. She was an English-trained nurse for missionary work. Married a missionary doctor. They went to India where the doctor died of fever so she left. Eventually came to Canada where she met and married Capt. James Nixon. Note the scar on her left cheek. While in India an insect went up her nose. It burrowed into the bone and the doctors were never able to effect a cure- it eventually reached the area of the brain. She had to undergo an operation and did not survive the operation. Her husband was desolated." (May Ellingsen).
Mrs. Margaret Nixon posing with her husband's rifle and a dead buck. "This is a pose only. Her husband shot the deer. They lived alone on Twin Islands and picture taking was a pleasant pastime. She was two years older than her husband's mother. They were very happy and a very fine couple. She was an English-trained nurse for missionary work. Married a missionary doctor. They went to India where the doctor died of fever so she left. Eventually came to Canada where she met and married Capt. James Nixon. Note the scar on her left cheek. While in India an insect went up her nose. It burrowed into the bone and the doctors were never able to effect a cure- it eventually reached the area of the brain. She had to undergo an operation and did not survive the operation. Her husband was desolated." (May Ellingsen).
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.
Collection consists of photographs of Cortes Island people, places and events. Photographs not belonging to another fonds or collection in the Archives have been described as part of this collection.
Photographs have been donated to or collected by Cortes Island Museum & Archives. Where it is known, provenance is described at the item level.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of photographs of Cortes Island people, places and events. Photographs not belonging to another fonds or collection in the Archives have been described as part of this collection.
