Series GR-1738 - Provincial Archives correspondence

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Provincial Archives correspondence

General material designation

  • textual record

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  • Source of title proper: Title based on the contents of the series.

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Series

Reference code

GR-1738

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Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • ca. 1909-1979 (Creation)
    Creator
    Provincial Archives of British Columbia

Physical description area

Physical description

23.6 m of textual records

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Archival description area

Name of creator

(1908-1989)

Biographical history

The British Columbia Archives was established in 1908 with the appointment of the R.E. Gosnell as the first Provincial Archivist. The original name of the organization was the Provincial Archives, later expanded to the Provincial Archives of British Columbia (PABC). The purpose of the archives was to preserve historical records reflecting the history of the province. Although separate organizations, throughout most of the early years of its existence, the archives grew alongside the Legislative Library. The two organizations shared the same vote in the BC estimates until 1943-1944, shared the same building and facilities until 1970, and the same individual held the dual positions of Provincial Archivist and Legislative Librarian until 1974. The archives grew rapidly in the 1970’s and 1980’s. During this time, a number of media divisions were established. These included the Manuscripts and Governments Records Division, Library and Maps Section, Visual Records Division, and Sound and Moving Image Division. Each division described records relating to their media sections and provided separate reference service. However, these divisions were gradually phased out in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s and replaced by a central reference service. In 1989, the Provincial Archives of British Columbia was merged with the Records Management Branch of the government of British Columbia to form the British Columbia Archives and Records Service (BCARS). This merger increased the powers of the archives to form an integrated archives and corporate records management program and provide support to all ministries, Crown corporations and agencies within the government of British Columbia. In 1996, BCARS was united with the Information and Privacy Branch of government. The Information and Privacy Branch had been responsible for providing central agency services and support to organizations within the BC provincial government for privacy and information access programs. The resulting organization was called the BC Information Management Services (BCIMS). This was divided into two sections with Information and Analysis Services providing for records management and information and privacy and Archives and Information Access branch representing the traditional archives as it existed before its merger with the records management branch in 1988. This administrative structure lasted for two years until 1998, when the Information and Privacy Branch was removed and the remaining portions were renamed the British Columbia Archives. This structure existed unchanged until 2003 when the British Columbia Archives was merged with the Royal British Columbia Museum as a branch of the Royal British Columbia Museum Crown Trust. As a government division, the archives has reported to many departments in government since 1908. Some of these departments and ministries include: Dept. of Attorney-General, Dept. of the Provincial Secretary, Dept. of Education, Ministry of Provincial Secretary and Travel Industry, Ministry of Provincial Secretary and Government Services, Ministry of Tourism and Provincial Secretary, Ministry of Government Services, and Ministry of Management Services.

Custodial history

Scope and content

This series contains central correspondence files, ca. 1909-1979 (a few files date from as early as 1899 and a few continue until 1986). The files contain correspondence inward to Provincial Archivists and archives staff from researchers, historical societies, dealers, etc., and their replies, and cover the range of subjects dealt with by the archives, including acquisitions, replying to reference questions and requests for copies, and publishing the British Columbia Historical Quarterly.

The files in Boxes 1-172 are arranged alphabetically by correspondent or by subject. Box 173 contains correspondence registers, Boxes 174-177 J.S. Matthews correspondence, Boxes 178-18, Centennial '71 Committee records, Box 181, Barkerville Restoration Advisory Committee records and Box 182, correspondence files transferred from the Legislative Library in 2007, arranged by correspondent or subject.

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

Transferred from the Provincial Archives, 1988, and the Legislative Library, 2007.

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Availability of other formats

Restrictions on access

There are no access restrictions.

Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

Associated materials

GR-0263, GR-0975

Related materials

Accruals

General note

Accession number(s): G88-012

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