Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
British Columbia Historical Federation fonds
General material designation
- textual record
- graphic material
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title based on the contents of the fonds
Level of description
Fonds
Reference code
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1900, 1922-2012 (Creation)
- Creator
- British Columbia Historical Federation
Physical description area
Physical description
6.82 m of textual records and 1100 photographs
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
Other title information of publisher's series
Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
Administrative history
The British Columbia Historical Federation was organized October 12, 1922, as “The British Columbia Historical Association” (BCHA) and registered under the Societies Act, March 2, 1927. Its change of name was registered under the Society Act, July 29, 1983.
The objects of the organization are to encourage research and to stimulate public interest in BC history; to promote the preservation and marking of historic sites, relics, and natural features of historical interest; and to publish historical sketches, studies and documents. Activities in its early years included holding reunions of British Columbia pioneers; an annual event commemorating the arrival of Richard Blanshard; the establishment of commemorative tablets and cairns at historic sites; and the publication of the British Columbia Historical Quarterly. The BCHA created committees to study particular issues, including Education, Bibliography, Necrology, Local Features and Genealogy.
Initially set up as one organization for the entire province, the BCHA reorganized in 1936. A system of “sections” was created. Victoria was Branch 1, and others were set up in Vancouver, New Westminster, Lillooet and around the province. For earlier time periods, it is often difficult to determine the exact name of the local group. As a general rule, the locals were referred to as "sections" before 1959 and "branches" after 1959. Although the terms section and branch were used, the researcher should keep in mind that in time the association consisted of local groups that were autonomous societies. In time, the local groups changed their names; for example, the British Columbia Historical Association, Vancouver Section, changed its name to the Vancouver Historical Society.
Custodial history
Donors and custodial history of records is stated at the series level
Scope and content
The fonds consists of records of the British Columbia Historical Federation (BCHF), including records dating from the founding of the organization in 1922 under its original name, the British Columbia Historical Association (BCHA).
Prior to 2016, records were received by BC Archives in numerous accruals; these were arranged and described by archivists at different times. As a result, these records were not integrated into one cohesive fonds. Instead, these groups are now series whose contents overlap. In particular, MS-2736 and MS-2779 should be used in conjunction with each other.
Records arranged prior to 2016 include the following series:
MS-2736 - British Columbia Historical Association records
MS-2779 - British Columbia Historical Association records
MS-2844 - British Columbia Historical Association files relating to the newsletter
MS-0937 - Letter from William C. Ward describing his association with the Bank of British Columbia
MS-0994 - British Columbia Historical Association
MS-2946 - British Columbia Historical Federation minutes
In addition to correspondence, minutes and photographs, the record types include, but are not limited to: addresses, annual meeting reports, attendance registers, branch reports, by-laws and constitutions, committee reports, convention materials, essay contest records, financial reports, membership lists , reports of BCHA branches, membership receipt books, monographs, lists of officers (executive), scrapbooks, subject files, and records pertaining to projects including pioneer reunions and Blanshard Day. The fonds also consists of records pertaining to publications of the association, including its journal and newsletter.
These series consist of some mixing of records of the parent body with those of local branches (sometimes called “sections”). Most notably these series include some records of the Victoria section. Records of the Victoria section are also held at BC Archives in a separate fonds, PR-2251.
While there existed a separate series for minutes (MS-2946) there are also minutes in series MS-2736 and MS-2779. Furthermore, In 2016, minutes in accessions at BC Archives that had been previously unprocessed, including a 2015 accrual, were added to series MS-2946.
In 2016, when a backlog of unprocessed records was arranged and described, the following new series were added to the fonds:
MS-3283 - Correspondence
MS-3284 - Conferences
MS-3285 - Subject files
MS-3286 - Financial records
MS-3288 - Membership records
As stated, other BCHF records at BC Archives were arranged and described separately at an earlier date; therefore, it is also true that records relating to annual conventions and meetings, membership, finances, and subject files, may be found in various series in the fonds.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Arrangement
BC Archives has imposed an arrangement on the records. Original file titles have been retained.
Photograph transferred to Visual Records accession 197902-004 were returned to series MS-0994.
Photographs transferred to Visual Records accession 199004-007 were returned to series MS-2736.
Photograph transferred to Visual Records accession 198202-002 were returned to series MS-2779.
Photographs transferred to Visual Records accession 199306-028 were returned to series MS-2844.
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
There are no access restrictions
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Consult BC Archives staff regarding use, reproduction and publication
Finding aids
Series and file descriptions are available
Associated materials
Related materials: Fonds PR-2251 - British Columbia Historical Association, Victoria Section fonds contains related records
Accruals
Further accruals are possible.
General note
Accession number(s): 89-070 ; MS-0937 ; 77-075 ; 87-045 ; 2015.40 ; 95-1193 ; 91-137 ; 91-072 ; 91-049 ; 86-132 (89-1398) ; 72-035, M889062