Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Provincial Museum correspondence inward
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 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)
-
1897-1970 (Creation)
- Creator
- British Columbia Provincial Museum
Physical description area
Physical description
6.5 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 museum was established in Victoria on October 25, 1886, as “Provincial Museum of Natural History and Anthropology.”
In 1967 a new Museum Act (15 16 Eliz. 2, c.41) was introduced. Under the new act, the museum's objectives were "to secure and preserve specimens and other objects which illustrate the natural history and human history of the Province" and "to increase and diffuse knowledge in these fields by research, exhibits, publications, and other means." The new act was introduced at a time when the museum was moving to new quarters from the east wing of the Parliament Buildings and it broadened the museum's mandate. Specifically, it allowed the museum to devote itself not only to ethnology and natural history, but also to the modern social and industrial history of the province.
The name was changed again on October 13, 1987, to “Royal British Columbia Museum.”
Custodial history
Scope and content
The series consists of correspondence inward (with responses) to the director, assistant director, curators, and other personnel of the Provincial Museum. The correspondence is with collectors, amateur and professional naturalists, museum officials, and federal and provincial government departments and agencies and was created between 1897 and 1970.
The files include correspondence with the museum's first three directors (called "Curators" prior to 1913): John Fannin (1886-1904), Francis Kermode (1904-1940), and G. Clifford Carl (1940-1969). However, very little of the correspondence generated during Fannin's tenure has survived, while most of the Kermode files date from the post-1918 period.
The series also includes index cards created between 1925 and 1937 which records index details about letters in A-Z, and letters out, A-R.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Transferred to the Provincial Archives by the Provincial Museum in 1975.
Arrangement
The files are arranged roughly in alphabetical order with some noticeable gaps. Many of the museum's subject files, which may have originally formed part of this series, have been retained by the various Museum departments.
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
Associated materials
For related records, see:
GR-0544: BC Provincial Museum, correspondence of the director
MS-1077: Newcombe Family papers (C.F. Newcombe served as acting curator of the museum in the late 1890s and his son, W.A. Newcombe was assistant biologist in the late 1920s)
Accruals
General note
Archives code(s): GR-0111
General note
Accession number(s): 76-G-041
Alternative identifier(s)
Standard number area
Standard number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- British Columbia Provincial Museum (Subject)