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Correspondence on the naming of British Columbia

  • GR-0003
  • Series
  • Typescript 1971 (originally created 1858)

The series consists of copies of correspondence between Queen Victoria and Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton on the naming of British Columbia, 24 June to 26 July 1858. The copy, made in 1971, was a gift of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, on the centenary of the province, 1871-1971.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Records pertaining to care of indigents and destitute persons

  • GR-0150
  • Series
  • 1911-1925

The series contains records pertaining to the care of indigents and destitute persons created by the Dept. of the Provincial Secretary between 1911 and 1925.

Files consist of applications for relief, supporting documents from police constables and government agents, case files, administrative reports, and general correspondence. Reports on unemployment in specific communities in British Columbia, ca. 1911-1918 are also included.

Records created prior to 1923 were filed numerically and constituted a separate records series within the Provincial Secretary's office. Records created after 1923 were kept alphabetically, by name of applicant. Regrettably, contemporary registers and indices for these records have not survived.

Although it was "the duty of every city and district municipality to make suitable provision for its poor" [Municipal Act, RSBC 1911, c.170 s.526], the Department of the Provincial Secretary was largely responsible for the care of indigents and other destitute people in British Columbia. In fact, prior to the creation of the Department of Health and Welfare in 1946, the Provincial Secretary's office was often the only source of support for deserted wives and children, indigent widows and elderly persons, disabled workers and others in need of public welfare.

The Provincial Secretary administered funds to such groups through charitable accounts, the Workmen's Compensation Board, the Provincial Board of Health, and other agencies. At the local level, relief payments were often distributed by Provincial Police constables or Government Agents.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Provincial Secretary general office files and indexes

  • GR-0154
  • Series
  • 1951-1962

The series consists of general office files created by the Dept. of the Provincial Secretary between 1951 and 1962 with their card indexes.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Records with regard to Royal visits

  • GR-0155
  • Series
  • 1938-1959

The series consists of records with regard to Royal visits created by the Dept. of the Provincial Secretary between 1939 and 1959. The records include correspondence, circulars, programmes, press releases, menus, etc. concerning the visit to British Columbia by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, 1939. Also includes programmes re: 1958 visit of the Princess Margaret and the visit of H.M. the Queen and Prince Philip in 1959.

The series also contains 2 photographs of paintings and some maps.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Ballots and other material

  • GR-0156
  • Series
  • 1945

The series consists of ballots (blank and marked) and general instructions on voting procedures, along with a list of returning officers for the 1945 general election.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Provincial Secretary correspondence

  • GR-0157
  • Series
  • 1913-1916

The series consists of correspondence, 1913-1916, that was originally a part of the Provincial Secretary's Central Registry. The records include grant applications from charitable organizations (e.g. Salvation Army Rescue and Maternity Home, Vancouver); petitions from various citizens groups and trades organizations (e.g. re: Pacific Great Eastern railway, prohibition, and Weekly Half Holiday Act); plus files on diverse topics such as the Belgian Relief Fund (which was administered by the Provincial Secretary), the Progress Club of Vancouver, the provincial coat-of-arms, prohibition, half-day closing, the Provincial Archives and W.W. Walkem's "Stories of Early British Columbia".

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Provincial Secretary records with regard to protocol

  • GR-0158
  • Series
  • 1964-1974

The series consists of Dept. of the Provincial Secretary general office files, 1964-1974. It contains records with subjects relating to protocol and routine operations of government.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Scrapbook of accounts

  • GR-0165
  • Series
  • 1911-1912

The series consists of a scrapbook created by the Dept. of Provincial Secretary from 1911 to 912. It contains accounts submitted by provincial newspapers for payment of advertisements of government notices.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Indigents Fund applications

  • GR-0166
  • Series
  • 1939-1941

The series consists of Application for Relief forms created by the Dept. of the Provincial Secretary between 1939 and 1941. Each form gives applicants' name, age, place of residence, marital status, financial status and number of dependents.

The forms, which are numbered from 600501 to 604500, were evidently a part of a larger registry. Unfortunately, other application forms from the registry have not survived. Contemporary registers and indexes to the application forms have not survived either.

Most of the forms in this series are from August-November 1939, although a few are dated as late as November 1941. The forms are arranged by community, with a very few discrepancies in the order. Application forms from the city of Vancouver are, for the most part, arranged alphabetically by the first initial of the applicants' surname.

An oath of allegiance was required from those applying for financial assistance from the provincial government. Oath of Allegiance forms from the years 1940-1942 are to be found in Box 7 of this collection. There is no discernible order to the Oath forms, although a number of them refer to the Application for Relief forms noted above.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Correspondence regarding interpretation of the Superannuation Act

  • GR-0168
  • Series
  • 1920-1922

The series consists of correspondence of the Dept. of the Provincial Secretary with the Civil Service Commissioner from 1920 to 1922 regarding interpretation of the Superannuation Act and representations made by the Provincial Civil Service Association on various matters.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Indigent Fund administration files

  • GR-0289
  • Series
  • 1914-1933 [predominant 192-]

The series consists of records created by the Deputy Provincial Secretary between 1914 and 1933 pertaining to the administration of funds for the "aid of the destitute, poor, and sick."

Between 1872 and 1942, an annual vote of funds was included in the estimates of the B.C. legislature. The fund, which was administered by the Office of the Provincial Secretary, originally contained $500. By 1935, this figure had risen to $110,000; but in the fund's final year of existence, 1943, the vote of funds had declined to $40,000.

The Indigent Fund, unlike the Mother's Pension, the Old Age Pension (1927), or the Veterans Assistance plans was not tied to an Act of Parliament, and thus relief was provided to people under a wide range of circumstances, and included many who failed to qualify for assistance under specific federal or provincial schemes. The fund was designed to meet the immediate and shortterm needs of rural B.C. residents (municipalities had their own funds) who through misfortune or bad planning had found themselves without "the necessities of life." The key to the fund, until the early 1930s, when the position of Superintendent of Welfare was created, was the Deputy Provincial Secretary, for it was often at his discretion that assistance was provided. He was aided in his duties by the various Government Agents, who were responsible for handling vouchers, disbursing cheques, and reporting to Victoria any new developments in individual cases. They, in turn, were assisted by Provincial Police constables who usually investigated each case and submitted a report.

The records consist of correspondence inward and outward from the Deputy Provincial Secretary's office; correspondence from Government Agents to the Deputy Provincial Secretary; Provincial Police reports on the condition of Indigents; correspondence from indigents or persons representing them to the Premier, Ministers, and the Deputy Provincial Secretary; and miscellaneous correspondence to and from various government departments and agencies such as Workman's Compensation Board, Department of Immigration, public hospitals, police departments etc.

The files are arranged alphabetically by the last name of the indigent. They are not, however, arranged alphabetically within each folder. There are two alphabetical series, as well as two sets of files titled "miscellaneous". All files have been preserved in their original order.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Provincial secretary correspondence

  • GR-0344
  • Series
  • 1917-1926

This series consists of correspondence inward and outward, and interdepartmental memos of the Provincial Secretary, pertaining to provincial mental health care institutions, mothers' pensions, child welfare, and adoption laws from 1918-1926.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Civil Service War Memorial Fund agreement records

  • GR-0346
  • Series
  • 1930-1970

Agreement between George Griffith Aitken and John L. Colbert and the Trustees of the Civil Service War Memorial Fund, 1930; bank savings and chequing accounts, 1932 - 1970.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Provincial Secretary correspondence

  • GR-0393
  • Series
  • 1913

Correspondence replying to the invitation of the Premier and Executive Council to dine with the Captain and officers of H.M.S. "New Zealand."

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Provincial Secretary executive records

  • GR-0496
  • Series
  • 1929-1947

This series consists of executive records of the Provincial Secretary, covering a wide variety of topics. The Provincial Secretary's department was responsible for a broad range of legislation and activities - including the civil service, provincial elections and (until 1946) health and welfare services. These records comprise part of the former Provincial Secretary's Central Registry. This registry consisted of general correspondence, policy directives, branch reports, inter-departmental memoranda, circulars, grant applications, and a host of miscellaneous documents.

The finding aid consists of two parts. Part I is a box/file list showing the original order and arrangement of the records. The records fall into six categories or subseries:

A. General correspondence: correspondence inward (with replies), reports, circulars, etc.
B. Appointments: correspondence, commissions, oaths of allegiance of coroners, magistrates, and other appointed officials.
C. Resident Physicians: correspondence re: grants paid to physicians in isolated communities
D. Grants: correspondence and reports pertaining to grants paid to various community groups and charitable organizations, service clubs, etc.
E. Workmen's Compensation Board: circulars, etc.
F. Contemporary card indexes: alphabetical subject index cards. Part II: Subject Index

Part II of this finding aid consists of a subject index compiled by the Provincial Archives of BC. The index indicates the main topics or subject areas - e.g. Provincial Infirmary, Elections, Industrial Schools, etc. which are documented in GR-0496. The index does not claim to be comprehensive or exhaustive, but it should help researchers to locate documents which concern particular institutions or activities.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Deputy Provincial Secretary records

  • GR-0497
  • Series
  • 1930-1946

This series consists of the personal files of the Deputy Provincial Secretary, Paschal de Noe Walker, 1930-1946. Records deal with health and welfare facilities (hospitals, industrial schools, etc.), social services, elections, libraries, museums and a variety of other programmes and services administered by the Provincial Secretary's department.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Indian lands correspondence and other material

  • GR-0504
  • Series
  • 1861-1877

This series consists of correspondence, petitions, accounts, statements of population, and reports relating to land of Indigenous peoples in British Columbia from the Department of the Provincial Secretary.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Provincial Secretary's correspondence inward

  • GR-0526
  • Series
  • 1871-1892

This series consists of correspondence inward received by the Provincial Secretary, 1871-1892.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Provincial Secretary correspondence

  • GR-0527
  • Series
  • 1914-1918

This series consists of correspondence inward with replies, of the Provincial Secretary, 1914-1918. Correspondence is arranged by year then alphabetically by subject. Some subjects included in the correspondence:

Canadian Explosives, Ltd., Prince Rupert; Curfew Law in Creston; Dominion Royal Commission Publications; Doukhobors; Congregation of Emanuel, Victoria; flags of foreign consulates; parliamentary franchise be extended to women; Industrial School for Boys; Provincial Jail jury lists; Japanese Consulate; Immigration Branch; marine and fisheries; Marriage Act; Walter Moberly; Observatory; railways; cemetery - Quesnel; Colonial Lumber and Paper Mills Co. Ltd.; Drainage, Dyking and Irrigation; Dyking Districts - Dewdney, Island West, West Langley; jury list; Mission City; Regimental Fund (British Columbia Regiment): British Columbia Electric Railway (Jitney Bus Competition); H.D. Ruggles (Commission-Police Magistrate); Water Works - Sidney; census and statistics office; cemetery-Hazelton; Dyking Districts Projects; Japanese memorial; Workmen's Compensation Act; application to Land Dept. for agricultural development; Census and Statistics Office; Cemeteries; Coroners' inquests; juror lists; jails; Indian Rights Association of British Columbia; Sir Richard McBride's funeral; Public Health Journal (mental health); British Columbia Prohibition Act - Woman Suffrage and Military Forces voting Acts; Returned Soldiers Commission; J.A. Russell regarding taxation; Tupper in respect to Western Power Co. of Canada Ltd. (Water Act); Mary Velleuoweth estate: Vancouver Joint Sewerage and Drainage Board; University of British Columbia Library; Alberni Pacific Lumber Co.; agriculture; Cattle Rangers Act; Cemeteries - Chinese; College Dental Surgeons; Johnson re Chinese camp at William Head; Public Inquiries Act; prohibition; Dept. of Soldier's Civil re-establishment; establishment of steel industry; Special Surveys Act; Vancouver Island Settler's Right.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Provincial Secretary correspondence

  • GR-0528
  • Series
  • 1947

This series consists of Provincial secretary correspondence, 1947. Records consist of subject files arranged alphabetically by file title. Includes subject index on cards.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Proclamations

  • GR-0536
  • Series
  • 1919-1975

This series consists of 28 volumes of proclamations. Contemporary indexes are located in volume 28.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Index to Provincial Secretary letters outward

  • GR-0538
  • Series
  • 1895-1897

This series consists of an index to Provincial Secretary letters outward, 1895-1897.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Provincial Secretary correspondence index

  • GR-0539
  • Series
  • 1919-1924

This series consists of 5 volumes of indexes to letterbook correspondence outward of the Provincial Secretary, 1919-1924.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Provincial Secretary letterbooks

  • GR-0540
  • Series
  • 1873-1918

This series consists of 104 volumes of letter book copies of correspondence outward from the Provincial Secretary, 1873-1918. The index to correspondence missing.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Provincial Secretary correspondence outward

  • GR-0541
  • Series
  • 1919-1924

This series consists of 11 volumes of letter book correspondence outward of the Provincial Secretary, 1919-1924.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Register of Proclamations and other material

  • GR-0548
  • Series
  • 1872-1881

Register of Proclamations, Commissions, Letters Patent, Leases, and other documents issued under the Great Seal of the Province of British Columbia, 1872-1881.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Proclamations

  • GR-0549
  • Series
  • 1858-1918

Proclamations and related records from the colony and province of British Columbia, 1858-1918.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

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