Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Beautiful British Columbia Magazine photographs
General material designation
- graphic material
Parallel title
Other title information
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)
-
[ca. 1960-1986] (Creation)
- Creator
- British Columbia. Special Services Branch
Physical description area
Physical description
[ca. 16914 photographs : col. and b&w]
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 Special Services Branch was formed in 1977 when all film and photographic services of the Ministry of Provincial Secretary and Travel Industry were amalgamated under this name. In December 1978 the branch was transferred to the Ministry of Tourism and Small Business Development. In January of 1980 Special Services Branch became part of the Marketing Division of the Ministry of Tourism. The branch disappeared in the 1983/84 restructuring of the Ministry of Tourism. The purpose of the branch was to provide photographic services to all ministries, to maintain the ministry film library and to produce Beautiful British Columbia magazine.
Custodial history
Scope and content
Series consists of colour photographs taken by staff photographers in the Special Services Branch and its predecessor bodies, the Film and Photographic Branch and the Photographic Branch ca. 1960 to 1986. The photographs were taken mainly to illustrate Beautiful British Columbia magazine, a publication produced by the Ministry of Tourism, but could also be used for a variety of other publications and presentations. The photographs were taken using colour or slide film. The negatives were then given a classification number and filed in negative drawers in the branch image bank along with some copies of prints and transparencies or slides. The classification system consisted of region or subject group number followed by the image number. These images cover all areas of the province and depict natural scenes as well as towns and cities, individuals, groups, animals and plants. Many of the earliest negatives were removed from the ministry's existing Travel Industry photograph library (which included some Forest Service photographs) and renumbered with the Beautiful British Columbia magazine classification system. Later negatives were taken specifically for Beautiful British Columbia magazine and were numbered only under the new system.
For indexes to these photographs, see the related series: GR-3305 Indexes to Beautiful British Columbia magazine photographs.
Item level descriptions for over 12,500 images from this series are available. Some of the images have been scanned and may be viewed online. Prints have been made of most of the negatives and pasted into reference albums, described as GR-3306. Use these albums to access images.
Notes area
Physical condition
Colour shift has occurred in many of the negatives used for online access so images are not representative of original colour or intent. Depending on the negative stock used, some images may appear bluish or washed out.
Immediate source of acquisition
Transferred by the Ministry of Tourism in 1995.
Arrangement
There are some gaps in the records. Many of the negative sleeves have the older Travel Industry image bank number on them as well as the Beautiful British Columbia magazine classification number.
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
There are no access restrictions.
Use print albums in GR-3306 for reference.
Conservation restriction: material in cool or cold storage is inaccessible.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Copyright belongs to the Government of British Columbia.
Finding aids
Item level descriptions and scans of images are available. Scans added on an ongoing basis.
A box and file list of the colour prints, slides and negatives in frozen storage:
Associated materials
- GR-3305 Beautiful British Columbia Magazine photograph indexes.
- GR-3306 Beautiful British Columbia Magazine photograph albums.
- GR-3307 Beautiful British Columbia Magazine slide albums.
- GR-3304 Beautiful British Columbia Magazine transparencies.
- GR-3425 Film and Photographic Branch travel industry and tourism photographs.
Accruals
No further accruals expected.
General note
Accession number(s): 91-9578-2; 90-2722.
Conservation
Graphic material may be in cool or cold storage. Contact staff for specific details. In 2010, the records were taken out of the metal drawers and placed in acid free boxes.
Physical description
Includes ca. 2789 photographs : col.; 11 photographs : b&w; ca. 11728 photographs : col. negatives; 28 photographs : b&w negatives; and ca. 2358 photographs : col. transparencies.
Alternative identifier(s)
Standard number area
Standard number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- British Columbia. Special Services Branch (Subject)
- Beautiful British Columbia Magazine (Subject)