Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Engineering photographs
General material designation
- graphic material
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title based on the contents of the series.
Level of description
Series
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)
-
[ca. 1913-1954] (Creation)
- Creator
- British Columbia. Dept. of Public Works
Physical description area
Physical description
1.5 m of graphic material (ca. 5586 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
Biographical history
The Dept. of Public Works was established in 1908 with the enactment of the Department of Public Works Act (SBC 1908, c. 41). The Dept. of Public Works was a successor to the Lands and Works Dept. The mandate of the Dept. of Public Works included construction and maintenance of government offices and buildings, public highways, bridges, wharves, river-bank protection, and maintenance of ferry and steamboat services.
In 1947 the work of the department was divided into district offices, an Architect’s Branch, Accounting Branch, Engineering Branch, and Equipment Branch. The department was also responsible for boiler inspection and electrical energy inspection.
In 1955, the responsibility for highways was transferred to the newly formed Dept. of Highways. At this time, the Dept. of Public Works, under the revised Department of Public Works Act (SBC 1955, c. 65), consisted of the Architectural Branch, Boiler Inspection Division, Electrical Energy Inspection Division, and Gas Inspection Division.
In 1975 the Dept. of Public Works was dissolved and its functions were merged with the functions of the Dept. of Highways to form the Dept. of Highways and Public Works (OIC 3842/75).
Custodial history
Scope and content
The series consists of photographs of engineering projects managed by the Dept. of Public Works. The photographs were held in the Office of the Senior Bridge Design Engineer and consist of both prints and negatives. The projects photographed include bridges, roads, ferries, machinery, damage, buildings, topography, culverts, miscellaneous structures, portraits, signs, events and accidents. While almost all of the photographs were taken in British Columbia ca. 1913-1954, there are also photographs of engineering projects in the United States. The photographs, including negatives, were kept in envelopes, either large or small, and were filed by a three part number system. The first part of the number refers to a map square, the second part of the number refers to the classification and the third part is the project number. Details about the project were typed on the envelopes along with the file number. Each envelope contains photographs and negatives of that particular project and each photograph has an individual number, usually a sub-set of the file number.
A card index was used to manage the photographs, see the series Index to engineering photographs. As photographs were taken or acquired, they would be entered in the card index and added to the appropriate envelope. Occasionally photographs were removed by Public Works staff and never returned.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Transferred from the Department of Public Works ca. 1976.
Arrangement
Negatives and colour prints have been removed from envelopes with black and white prints, and placed in acid free folders.
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
- No access restrictions apply.
- Conservation restriction: material in cool or cold storage is inaccessible.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Copyright belongs to the Government of British Columbia.
Finding aids
- A file list is available.
- http://search-bcarchives.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Document/Finding_Aids_Atom/GR-3001_to_GR-3500/gr-3293.pdf
Associated materials
Related series include: Index to engineering photographs GR-3292.
Accruals
No further accruals expected.
General note
Accession number(s): 198203-024
Conservation
Graphic material may be in cool or cold storage. Contact staff for specific details.
Physical description
Includes 4268 photographs : b&w, 3 photographs : col. and 1315 photographs : b&w negatives.
Alternative identifier(s)
Standard number area
Standard number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- British Columbia. Dept. of Public Works (Subject)