Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Miscellaneous records related to the British Columbia Coat of Arms
General material designation
- textual record
- microform
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)
-
Microfilmed 1965 (originally created 1872-1957) (Creation)
- Creator
- British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary
Physical description area
Physical description
1 microfilm reel
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 Dept. of the Provincial Secretary was established in 1872. Prior to that, the origins of this department was in the offices of the Colonial Secretaries for the Colony of Vancouver Island (1863-1866), the Colony of British Columbia (1864-1866) and the united colony of British Columbia (1866-1871). When British Columbia joined confederation in 1871, the name Colonial Secretary remained in place until April 1872 when a Provincial Secretary was named to assume the duties and functions (SBC 1872, c. 15).
The mandate of the Provincial Secretary included all the powers, duties and functions held by provincial secretaries and registrars in other provinces of the Dominion of Canada. They included being the keeper of the Great Seal of the Province, with the authority to issue letters patent and commissions, and being the keeper of all registers and archives of the province and previous governments of the province. As with other departments, it was also the duty of the Provincial Secretary to make an annual report to the Lieutenant-Governor. The first annual report was produced in 1872.
At various times, different agencies have been under the direction of the Provincial Secretary such as treasury and audit branches, Bureau of Mines, gold commissioners, Returned Soldiers’ Commission, Provincial Library and Archives, Provincial Board of Health, Vital Statistics, Provincial Home, and others. In most instances these agencies were later transferred to the control of new ministries established to administer the specific function or functions.
At various times and for varying periods, the Provincial Secretary was responsible for industrial schools, mothers’ pensions, administration of the Infants’ Act, protection of historic sites, and arbitration of labour disputes. In 1947, the Dept. of the Provincial Secretary administered the Civil Service Commission, Government Printing Bureau, Superannuation Commission, mental hospitals, institution farms, homes for the aged, inspector of hospitals, and the Elections Act.
In 1976, with the addition of travel and tourism functions from the Dept. of Recreation and Travel Industry, the Dept. of the Provincial Secretary was renamed the Ministry of the Provincial Secretary and Travel Industry (OIC 3199/76).
Custodial history
Scope and content
The records include correspondence inward and outward of the Provincial Secretary related to the subject of design and registration of the British Columbia Coat of Arms. The correspondence is arranged chronologically and interfiled with the correspondence are reports, drawings of the crest and coat of arms, rubbings, and clippings. Some letters are typescript copies. Correspondents include: Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works; High Commissioner for Canada, Agent-General for British Columbia, Herald's College, Provincial Secretary, Deputy Provincial Secretary, Premier of British Columbia, Under Secretary of State and the Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia. This appears to be a collection of records, taken from a number of different files, and gathered together because they relate to a single subject.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Arrangement
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Microfilmed in 1965 by the Provincial Library and Archives.
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
These records are subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and access may be restricted. Please contact BC Archives to determine the access status of these records. These records are subject to the Copyright Act.
There are no access restrictions.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
Associated materials
Related records include the general office files of the Provincial Secretary and Deputy Provincial Secretary: GR-0154, GR-0157, GR-0344, GR-0496, GR-0497, GR-0527, GR-0528, GR-0529, GR-0530, GR-0531, GR-0532, GR-0533, GR-0534, GR-0535, GR-0647, GR-1318, GR-1671. Another related record, created by the Provincial Archives, is GR-0269.
Accruals
General note
The microfilm was previously numbered as microfilm reel 476A.
General note
Archives code(s): Call numbers of records in this series are: microfilm reel B14195; Briefly known as AAAA0529.
General note
Accession number(s): GR-3149
Physical description
Negative ; 35 mm.