Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Mental Health Services executive records
General material designation
- textual record
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title based on 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)
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1948-1971 (Creation)
Physical description area
Physical description
2.12 m of textual records
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 Ministry of Health was established in 1946 under its first name, the Department of Health and Welfare, with the enactment of the Department of Health and Welfare Act (SBC 1946, c. 31). Prior to that, public health services in British Columbia began in 1869 following the passage of An Ordinance for Promoting the Public Health in the Colony of British Columbia. When British Columbia joined confederation in 1871, the ordinance became part of the statutes.
With the passage of the Public Health Act in 1893, the Provincial Board of Health was formed, reporting to the Attorney-General. From 1907 to 1946, the functions of public health, social welfare, and social assistance were administered by a Provincial Health Officer reporting to the Provincial Board of Health in the Dept. of the Provincial Secretary.
With the establishment of the Dept. of Health and Welfare in 1946, responsibility for public health and social welfare in the province was transferred to the new department from the Provincial Secretary. The deputy minister of health was the Provincial Health Officer and the department was divided into two branches: public health and social welfare. A third branch, Hospital Insurance Services, was added in 1948 with the passage of the Hospital Insurance Act (SBC 1948, c. 28). It administered payment of hospital bills, hospital management, and hospital construction.
In 1959, the functions of health and social welfare were separated to form two new departments, the Dept. of Social Welfare and the Dept. of Health Services and Hospital Insurance (SBC 1959, c. 38).
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Dept. of Health Services and Hospital Insurance was established in 1959 in accordance with the Department of Health Services and Hospital Insurance Act (SBC 1946, c. 31). The Dept. of Health Services and Hospital Insurance was the successor to the Department of Health and Welfare which was originally responsible for both the functions of public health and social welfare. (SBC 1959, c. 38). In 1959, the functions of health and social welfare were separated to form two new departments, the Dept. of Social Welfare and the Dept. of Health Services and Hospital Insurance.
The newly named Dept. of Health Services and Hospital Insurance was originally organized into three branches: health, mental health services (transferred from the jurisdiction of Provincial Secretary), and hospital insurance service. Another government reorganization in 1972, and a major review of provincial health services, eliminated the Mental Health Branch by assigning its resources to various components within the department. The department was renamed the Dept. of Health in 1973 (SBC 1973, c. 109).
Custodial history
Scope and content
These are the files of the Deputy Minister of Mental Health Services, primarily for the period 1968-1970. The files include some material from the previous Deputy Minister and Directors of the Mental Health Services under the Provincial Secretary.
The records are arranged in a subject classification system. Files that begin with I-4 and I-5 are Professional files. Files that are in the range I-6 to I-20 are Technical files.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Transferred from the Ministry of Health, 1978.
Arrangement
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
These records are restricted. Please contact the BC Archives for information about access. To protect the privacy of certain individuals (in accordance with section 22 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act) some names have been severed from this finding aid. Please contact the Information and Privacy Section if you have any questions.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
Associated materials
Accruals
General note
Accession number(s): GR-0379