Series MS-2786 - Flora Alfreda Hamilton Burns papers

Flora Alfreda Hamilton Burns (1891-1983) was a freelance writer based in Victoria. This collection contains her research notes and correspondence and also material relating to her family. Her maternal grandfather, W.J. Macdonald, arrived in Victoria to work for the Hudson's Bay Company in 1851. He later became the mayor of Victoria, a member of the legislative assembly and finally a senator. Her father, Gavin Hamilton Burns, was the manager of the Bank of British North America in Victoria between 1889-1901. Her mother, Mrs. Gavin (nee Flora Alexandrina Macdonald) Burns, was a close friend of Sophie Pemberton (Beanlands/Dean Drummond). Emily Carr was a friend of both Flora Hamilton Burns and her mother. There are letters in this collection from the artist Sophie Pemberton to Flora Alexandrina Burns during her travels to California (1902), Europe (1902-1904) and later, her residence in England. The close friendship between the two results in a very informative correspondence. The letters from Emily Carr are equally interesting, revealing details of the artist's life and travels (1924-1943). The collection also includes a letter from Edith Carr to Mrs. Flora Burns (1891) and a letter from Lizzie Carr to Miss Flora Hamilton Burns (1924). Flora Hamilton Burns published a number of articles on Emily Carr and participated in exhibitions and other projects to commemorate the artist. Notes and drafts for the articles and other projects are in this collection. Boxes 3 and 4 of the collection contain material relating to Flora's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gavin Burns. Their correspondence provides a glimpse of life in Victoria in the 1890s. Mr. Gavin Burns' notes on the history of the Bank of British North America are also included. Earlier accessions of Miss Burns papers include Add. MSS. 317 and MS-2663.