Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Premiers' papers
General material designation
- textual record
- graphic material
- textual record
Parallel title
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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)
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1917-1952 (Creation)
- Creator
- British Columbia. Premier
Physical description area
Physical description
37 m of textual records
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
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Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Premier is the first minister of the government. In this role, the Premier makes recommendations to the Lieutenant-Governor for the selection and dismissal of ministers of government, and for the dissolution of the legislature. The Premier also signs orders-in-council, and presides over meetings of the Executive Council. The Lieutenant-Governor usually selects the Premier from the leader of the party holding the largest number of seats, or the party most able to form a government. In British Columbia, the office was established in 1871; when the province joined Confederation. However, it was not until 1921, when the office was first named in the Constitution Act (SBC 1921, c. 12). Since 1933, the Premier has also served as the President of the Executive Council. This was formalized in the Constitution Act in 1973 (SBC 1973 c. 20).
Custodial history
Scope and content
This series contains official reports and correspondence accumulated during the administrations of Premiers Tolmie, Pattullo, Hart, and Johnson. It includes Departmental, General, and Federal files, plus separate series of documents on Pacific Great Eastern Railway (1917-1945). It also includes applications for employment, petitions, press releases, speeches, and vouchers.
The records which comprise this unit were stored for many years in a maintenance shop adjacent to the Parliament Buildings. Storage conditions were less than ideal and in 1982 arrangements were made with the Premier's Office' to transfer the records to the Provincial Archives. It was a signal event, for the records provide documentation on virtually all facets of provincial life over a thirty-five year period. Additionally, the documents which make up GR-1222 provide a valuable record of the administrations of Premiers Tolmie (1928-1933), Pattullo (1933-1941), Hart (1941-1947) and Johnson (1947-1952). The records fall into three main categories or series, namely Departmental files, Federal files, and General files.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Transferred from the Premier's office, 1982.
Arrangement
For the most part, the files which comprise this unit are fairly complete. Originally, however, the Premiers' papers also included a substantial number of CONFIDENTIAL FILES. Few of these files were among the records transferred to the Provincial Archives in 1982. It is apparent, moreover, that a number of the Premiers' files were separated at various times from the main body of papers. For instance, Premier Tolmie's official correspondence (which survives in GR-0441, vols. 292-334 and in the Tolmie Papers at UBC Special Collections) was originally a part of this unit; similarly, many of the Pattullo Papers (notably vols. 62-73 of MS-0003) at one time belonged with these files.
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
These records are subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act or other acts and access may be restricted. Please contact the BC Archives to determine the access status of these records.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
Finding aid: box/file list.
Associated materials
Accruals
General note
see GR-1414
General note
Included with the Premiers' papers were sundry pamphlets, brochures, magazine articles, and printed government reports. These publications, along with the maps that were included with some of the files, are available through the Access Unit (library holdings). Photographs are also available through the Access Unit (visual image holdings).
General note
Accession number(s): G82-056; GR-1222; M845041; 198501-008; 198602-001
Alternative identifier(s)
Standard number area
Standard number
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Canada. Prime Minister (Subject)
- Hart, John, 1879-1957 (Subject)
- Johnson, Byron Ingemar, 1890-1964 (Subject)
- Pacific Great Eastern Railway Company (Subject)
- Pattullo, Thomas Dufferin, 1873-1956 (Subject)
- Tolmie, Simon Fraser, 1867-1937 (Subject)
- British Columbia. Premier (Subject)