BCA

British Columbia Archives

Government;Museum

The BC Archives is one of the oldest archival institutions in Canada. Its origins date back to 1894 when R.E. Gosnell, the first permanent Legislative Librarian, started to collect “manuscript statements and narratives, old letters, journals, files of newspapers, books, pamphlets, reports, charts, maps, photographs, sketches” which would “illustrate the history of the North West and the Pacific Coast, and more particularly of British Columbia”. In 1908, Gosnell’s services “as archivist” were engaged marking the beginning of the Archives as a distinct identity. Gosnell is considered the first Provincial Archivist. With the exception of 1940-1946, until 1974 the Archives was administratively part of the Provincial (now Legislative) Library. The position of Provincial Archivist from 1910-1940 and 1946-1974 was held by the Provincial Librarian. In 1974 the Library and Archives were separated as well as the two positions. In 1989, the Records Management Branch (established in 1982) was merged with the Archives. In 2002 the two were separated when the BC Archives became part of the new Royal BC Museum Corporation and the records management functions were retained by government.

Royal BC Museum Corporation

Holdings consist of or all archived records of the Government of British Columbia, and historical records of provincial significance relating to British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest, including publications and fine art.

Total Volume: 6900 m of textual records;5 million photographs; 10,000 art works; 68,000 cartographic and architectural items; 29,000 sound and moving holdings; 80,000 library items.
Inclusive Dates: ca. 1530 to present
Predominant Dates: 1850-1990

Website provides information on services available and conditions of use of facilities and holdings / direct e-mail provision for collection inquiries / searchable descriptions of library resources, government and non-government textual records, sound and moving images, and visual and cartographic records with a capability to view selected photographic images and maps, research guides, a list of newspapers on microfilm at the BC Archives. An important feature of the site is the Vital Events section , which provides searchable on-line indexes of birth, marriage and death registrations in BC. A featured exhibit is entitled the British Columbia Archives Time Machine, an educational web resource designed for teachers and school-age children.

Full Service Hours: Monday to Friday 10:00 - 16:00
Partial Service Hours: Monday to Friday 16:00 - 20:00; Saturday, 13:00-17:00.

Revised

Full

Revised November 2009.