SUMMARY: Talk by William T. Straith, Minister of Education and Provincial Secretary of British Columbia, about: social security, housing for the elderly, and mental health care.;

This series consists of Colquitz Mental Hospital records, 1919-1953, including correspondence of the supervisor and other staff, and a register of inmates. Correspondence of the supervisor with the Medical Superintendent are useful for showing the policies and procedures of the hospital. Records cover a variety of topics relating to the administration of the hospital.

The records are arranged in fairly close congruence with the changes in administrators of the institution. Each sub-series relates to particular supervisor(s) of the Provincial Mental Home at Colquitz:
Series 1 1919-1931 Granby Farrant
Series 2 1931-1941 Granby Farrant & F.M. Spooner
Series 3 1941-1953 T.A. Morris & L.G.C. d'Easum
The material in Series 3 is organized with a new set of files for each year.

The series consists of admission registers for the provincial mental hospitals (1947-1971) and Crease Clinic (1951-1971), registers of persons denied admission to the mental hospitals (1952-1964), probation, discharge and death registers, supervisor daily report volumes (daily ward census, lists of persons admitted, discharged, transferred) (1953-1954; 1960-1967) and a record of operations and patients seen in consultation (for non-psychiatric conditions) (1951-1957).
The series also includes alphabetical indexes of various kinds which cover the period 1934-1966. These appear to have been created as indexes to current residents at various times. As the patients were discharged they were crossed off the lists in some cases

This series consists of a variety of registers and record books created by various provincial mental health institutions from 1872 to 1998. These records were created by institutions including: Victoria Asylum, New Westminster Provincial Asylum (later Public Hospital for the Insane or Provincial Hospital for the Insane), Essondale (later Riverview), Home for the Aged (later Valleyview), Dellview, Skeenaview, Crease Clinic, Woodlands School and others. Not all volumes clearly identify which building or institution they are associated with.

The subjects of the volumes and their contents vary greatly. Many of them relate to other series in the BC Archives. The registers have been arranged in the following subject based subseries:

1. Casebooks. This subseries only includes one volume providing a description of each of the first patients at the hospital, including how and why they were admitted, their history and treatment. Later casebooks can be found in GR-1754.

2. Death and Cemetery records. This includes death registries, morgue records, cemetery record books showing the plots individuals were laid in and some medical certificates of death. Volumes may include information such as: name, date of death, date of burial, name of Minister, name of Undertaker, lot and block of cemetery plot, patient number, time in asylum, age, religion, cause of death, form of insanity, gender, and marital status.

3. Admissions records. These volumes provide basic information about patients entered on their admission. Many of these volumes likely relate to the Home for the Aged (later known as Valleyview) based on patient demographics listed in the records. Recorded information may include patient number, name, residence, date of admission, relatives, religion, nationality, occupation, age, gender, marital status, level of education, physical state, date of transfer, date of death or discharge, form of admission, ward, and remarks.

4. Number registers. These records relate to and may overlap with Admission registers. Upon admission each patient was assigned a mental health service number. This number system was used across all provincially operated mental health institutions. It appears that only a single register was used at any given time until about 1960, when individual hospitals began each using their own registers. Each hospital received a block of 100 numbers from the central registry. When they had assigned all numbers to their new patients they requested a new block of numbers. This means there is no single register in this group of records after 1960. Instead, blocks of numbers are spread among multiple registers. Number registers may record: patient number, name, address, date of admission, type of admission, and ward/building.

5. Discharge registers. These record how a patient left the hospital’s custody and may specifically note death, various types of leave, escapes and transfers. These may record: name, patient number, gender, date of release or death, date of admission, term of residence, condition, ward, gender, diagnosis, who or where released to, and remarks.

6. Treatments – operations. Record information about operations patients underwent. Includes: patient number, date, ward, name, age, diagnosis, operation, surgeon, assistant, nurses, anesthesiologist, anesthetic, specimen, and remarks.

7. Treatments – x-rays. Records x-rays conducted on patients and staff. May include name, region, doctor, date, ward, and x-ray number.

8. and 9. Treatments- miscellaneous. Each book records different treatments used in the hospital. This includes Electroencephalograms (EEGs), physiotherapy, behavior therapy, lobotomies. Subseries 8 relates to dentures.

9. Treatments – doctor’s orders and consultations. List the date, patients name and orders or notes.

10. Census and statistics. Note the date, number of patients in each building, staff on duty (including if away or late), patients died, admitted, discharged, on leave, from leave and transferred, as well as some notes on unusual occurrences.

11. Miscellaneous. Includes a variety of other registers related to the operations of the hospitals, and appeal examinations for patient release.

Dr. Richard Gordon Foulkes was appointed as a Special Consultant to the Minister of Health in 1973. His terms of reference were "to present recommendations which could lead to a rationalization of health care services of the Province".

The files include working papers (produced by other researchers), subject files of Dr. Foulkes, and published material gathered by Dr. Foulkes. The published material includes the 1946 Plan of Medical Services in B.C. by the Rockefeller Foundation.

Access to these records will be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The working papers and the published material do not contain any restricted material.

Series 1 - Working papers

Series 2 - Subject files

Series 3 - Published material

The series consists of the records of the Assistant Deputy Minister, Community Care Services, Ministry of Health from 1981-1985. The records reflect the mandate of the division: to manage, develop, and administer efficient and effective programs in Mental Health Services, Forensic Psychiatric Services, Alcohol and Drug programs, and Vital Statistics. Many of the records are minister’s referrals or Minister/Deputy Minister/Assistant Deputy Minister “flimsies” or correspondence files documenting program specific activity between these executive offices. Records consist of incoming correspondence to the minister and minister’s replies; often drafted by members of the Community Care division that are sent to the minister for approval and signing. The records reflect topics such as phasing out Brannen Lake treatment Centre in Nanaimo, the opening of the Maples in the Lower Mainland for children and youth with mental health issues or other troubling behavior, and the efficacy of drug and alcohol treatment programs. These records were created under legislation administered by the Ministry of Health such as the Ministry of Health Act (RSBC 1996, c. 301), the Hospital Act (RSBC 1996, c. 200), and the Mental Health Act (RSBC 1996, c. 288).

The records are arranged alphabetically by topic or document type. They consist of correspondence, reports, meeting notes, meeting materials, and memoranda. The records were classified under the Assistant Deputy Minister’s files one-time schedule (881159); records documenting routine administrative activities were destroyed.

Records of the Chief Inspector of Welfare Institutions. Subject files relating to boarding home care for discharged patients of the mental hospitals, various committees studying day care and welfare of the aged, courses in preschool education, essays regarding the history of the program, annual reports of the Inspector and treasury slips detailing licenses to various institutions. The Department of the Provincial Secretary was responsible for health and welfare programs between 1907 and 1946, including the administration of the Act Respecting Private Welfare Institutions, passed in 1937. The Inspection of Welfare Institutions remained under the supervision of the Department of the Provincial Secretary until 1950, when it was transferred to the Department of Health and Welfare (Social Welfare Branch). In 1969, when the Community Care Facilities Licensing Act replaced the Act Respecting Private Welfare Institutions, this responsibility was transferred to the Ministry of Health. These files give a tremendous amount of information relating to the development of community care facilities licensing and the activities of persons who were interested in the welfare of dependent groups. GR-2864 documents early work in placing discharged mental hospital patients into boarding homes, the development of standards for care, correspondence with the Community Chest and Council of Vancouver, several essays on the history of pre-school education in Vancouver and the administration of welfare institutions in British Columbia. The annual reports are useful because they contain more information than the published reports.

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Dr. Richard Foulkes RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976 SUMMARY: Dr. Richard Foulkes is interviewed about his medical career, and mental health care in British Columbia. Dr. Foulkes was the director of the Health Security Program Project, which published a report entitled "Health Security for British Columbians" (1973).

This series consists of a variety of records created by various provincial mental health institutions from 1872 to 2008. Records relate to the administration and operation of Riverview Hospital and related mental health facilities at the Essondale site in Coquitlam, as well as other facilities across the province. These mental health institutions include: Victoria Asylum, New Westminster Provincial Asylum (later Public Hospital for the Insane or Provincial Hospital for the Insane), Home for the Aged Coquitlam (later Valleyview), Home for the Aged Terrace (later Skeenaview), Home for the Aged Vernon (later Dellview), Crease Clinic, Colony Farm, Colquitz, Woodlands School, Tranquille and other medical facilities.

The names and administrative structure of these institutions changed over time. Mental health functions were originally part of the Provincial Secretary’s mandate; they were transferred to Mental Health Services when it was created in 1950.

These government records were collected by the Riverview Historical Society and include a wide variety of subject matter and media. This includes subjects such as: early development of the Essondale lands and Colony Farm; the construction and expansion of the facility; admissions, transfers, and discharges of patients; administration of patient care; administration of therapy programs; patient and staff recreation; staff and nurse training; operation of the audiovisual department; library services; research into new medical and therapeutic practices; research by staff regarding mental health practices at Riverview and further afield; community involvement; volunteer activity; policy development; the redevelopment of the Riverview lands; general administration; and, administration of other services at the site such as postal, food, laundry, banking, transportation and safety services.

The collection has been arranged into the following series based on record types:

GR-3924 - record books
GR-3925 - operational records
GR-3926 - newsletters
GR-3927 - photographs and other graphic material
GR-3928 - films and videos

Classified as 20000-20 in Operational Records Classification System (ORCS) schedule 144007.

Two scrapbooks relating to mental health issues in British Columbia.

Nine scrapbooks complied at the clinic, containing newspaper and magazine articles relating to the Crease Clinic and mental health issues in general.

The series consists of approximately 1005 black and white photographs taken by Mental Health Services between 1950 and 1967. The photographs consist of black and white prints and 4 x 5 acetate negatives.

The photographs are of Mental Health Services staff based at Essondale, Crease Clinic and Woodlands School. Some patient photographs are included. Some of the photographs show staff at work and were used for annual reports and other publications and some are "passport" style portraits. Most of the people in the photographs are identified and many include photograph classification numbers.

The photographs are arranged alphabetically by last name. The prints are in container 890935-0012 and the negatives are in container 890935-0010.

This series consists of the records of the Supervisor of Psychiatric Social Work. Includes subject files, personnel files, correspondence and other records.

Public affairs. Jack Webster’s popular weekday morning talk show. Guests and topics for this episode are: On the phone from Victoria, Webster interviews Hugh Curtis, Minister of Finance, regarding home owner mortgages; rental accommodation; Credit Unions program. Brian Coxford reports on shooting victim Allan Harkness and his rehabilitation. John Loewen of Apex trucking, on return to work and truck redesign. Dale Hicks, BCTV Newshour reporter, about the Fort Nelson Band and their land claim settlement; interview and press conference with Chief George Behn about the settlement. Psychiatrist Dr. John Duffy, Executive Director of Forensic Psychiatric Services Commission in British Columbia; court; M'Naghten Rules; rehabilitation; punishment. Associate Producer Linda Dutka talks about the next day's guests.

Public affairs. Jack Webster's popular weekday morning talk show. Guests and topics for this episode are: Jack starts the show with psychiatrist Dr. Maelor Vallance and Dr. Joseph Noone, a Vancouver General Hospital psychiatrist, about the difficulties in de-institutionalizing the mentally ill. They also discuss the need for more beds in general, in particular, emergency beds; boarding homes; Riverview Hospital; the lack of funding for psychiatric treatment. Then, Elsie McMurphy, President of the BC Teachers' Federation, and Jack discuss the teachers' wish for full rights of bargaining, not just salaries and bonuses; also, class size, salaries, shortages of teachers, hundreds of teachers working out of the country, funding for education; sexual abuse in schools.

CALL NUMBER: T1410:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Personal history and teaching experience PERIOD COVERED: 1925-1953 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1975 SUMMARY: Wesley Drewett Black describes: his early career in the teaching profession; his service in B.C. at Newlands, Giscome, Britannia Beach and Creston. Joined Social Credit party in 1951 and attended early Socred organization meetings in this year. He was a winning candidate for the Socreds in the 1952 provincial election in the Nelson-Creston constituency. Appointed Provincial Secretary in July 1952. Mr. Black reflects upon the first Social Credit cabinet in B.C. CALL NUMBER: T1410:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): W.D. Black's contribution to the first and second W.A.C. Bennett governments PERIOD COVERED: 1952-1953 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1975 SUMMARY: W.D. Black continues to discuss the first Social Credit administration in B.C. in 1952. He reflects upon the defeat of this minority government and their subsequent re-election in 1953. Black recalls in detail the underlying political climate during this era in B.C. history. He discusses in detail the problems he encountered in improving mental health policy in B.C. during the early period of the second W.A.C. Bennett government. CALL NUMBER: T1410:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Administrative problems and policy, 1953-54 PERIOD COVERED: 1952-1954 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1975 SUMMARY: W.D. Black continues his explanation of the reforms that he implemented in the civil service after 1953 when he was Provincial Secretary. Discussion of life as a cabinet minister. Reference to changes in legislative procedures and the electoral process. Discussion of the implementation of Social Credit policies during 1953-54. CALL NUMBER: T1410:0004 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Role of the civil service, 1952-1972 PERIOD COVERED: 1952-1972 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1975 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: W.D. Black discusses the civil service 1952-72. The problem of coming to grips with the civil service upon taking office. The work of the Stevenson Kellogg Co. in studying the civil service. The development of programs and pension plans for the civil service. TRACK 2: Also discusses the growth of the B.C. Government Employees Association. The one day strike of the association is discussed. The implications of the Carruthers Report, and relations between the government and the association. CALL NUMBER: T1410:0005 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Development of medicare PERIOD COVERED: 1952-1972 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1975 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: W.D. Black discusses: relations with the press; workload as a cabinet minister and travel demands; the Columbia River Basin development on his constituency; road building programs. TRACK 2: Black describes the development of a provincial medicare plan, the problems of devising a comprehensive medicare scheme, and relation with the medical profession. CALL NUMBER: T1410:0006 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Implementation of medicare plan PERIOD COVERED: 1952-1972 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1975 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: W.D. Black discusses the final stages in the development of the Medical Services Plan of B.C., and the legislation that brought the plan into being. W.D. Black appointed as Minister of Health to implement plan. Negotiations with Ottawa to bring the plan under the national scheme's framework. TRACK 2: The Sommers scandal and the charges made by Gordon Gibson Sr. regarding payoffs in the granting of forest management licenses. CALL NUMBER: T1410:0007 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): 1958 Centennial PERIOD COVERED: 1952-1972 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1975 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Plans for the 1958 Centennial under the direction of L.J. Wallace and W.D. Black. Discussion of W.A.C. Bennett's concept of Northern Development. TRACK 2: Mr. Black's attention to constituency matters during his period in office. The development of regional districts in B.C. CALL NUMBER: T1410:0008 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): The Woodlands School, Hansard, civil defense, and the B.C. flag PERIOD COVERED: 1952-1972 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1975 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: W.D. Black discusses Woodlands School and problems with the press regarding it. Development of a legislative Hansard for B.C. The 1958 ferry strike and the development of the idea for a B.C. ferry system. The origination of the official B.C. flag. TRACK 2: Discussion of civil defense, the building of fall-out shelters and the problems of getting people involved in civil defense. Discussion of the 1960 provincial election and elections in general.

CALL NUMBER: T2002:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Public health nursing ; a practical experience in involvement PERIOD COVERED: 1902-1950 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-02-02 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Miss Neen describes her personal and early educational background up to beginning nurses training in 1923; a description of life in the nurses residence, curfew and roommates; the emphasis of the course, lectures, duties, and Ward X; a statement of qualifications for nursing in 1923 and the size of the VGH class; a brief statement of jobs held after graduation; special nurse in Trail, Nanaimo and San Francisco; introduction to the Rotary Clinic, staff, location and an aside on relief. TRACK 2: More on the Rotary Clinic and treatment available for TB patients; isolation techniques, enforcement and placarding; a brief recollection of Dr. Norman Bethune and his visit to Vancouver; changes in the Rotary Clinic; association with VGH; amalgamation with Metropolitan Public Health staff in 1936 and changes in treatment with the introduction of PAS and streptomycin; a discussion of the effects of the Depression on health units; the growth of baby clinics; services, restrictions and time spent at; involvement in social work; referrals to out-patients VGH, Social Services; Children's Health Centres. CALL NUMBER: T2002:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Public health nursing ; a practical experience in involvement PERIOD COVERED: 1940-1965 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-02-02 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Involvement in school health programs and an anecdote about Miss Elizabeth Breeze; activities in schools, examinations, iodine tablets, athletics; growth of mental health program and an anecdote about TB derangements and problem of civil rights and forced hospital admissions; public health nurse and changes in VD clinics; anecdotes of follow-up situations; Shanghai Alley at Alexander and Cordova Streets; Stella the prostitute. TRACK 2: A continuation of the story of Stella; the Stafford Hotel and the issue of money; Miss Neen took a supervisory course and McGill in 1947 and returned to coordinate the TB program; a description of the mobile TB units and their locations; the involvement at Oakalla, including the installation of the TB units; staffing and training, the hospital, problems, security, and an anecdote about arriving at the prison gates; anecdote about a Lancashire man as an example of the scope and involvement of a public health nurse; retirement in 1963 after forty years in service.