William “Bill” Tansley (1859‐1957) was born in Staffordshire, England. Apprenticed in a lawyer’s office and as a coach‐builder, he later took up drawing and sign‐painting. He emigrated to Canada in 1903, living first in Dundurn, Saskatchewan. The following year Tansley moved to British Columbia and worked at a series of jobs before coming to the University of British Columbia as a night watchman in 1916. He later assumed responsibility for general maintenance, repairs and janitorial services at the Fairview campus. Well‐read and a natural story‐teller, he was well‐liked by students and respected by faculty. He later became curator of the Burnett Ethnological Museum located in the Library Building.