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Civil case files.

Series consists of indexes to New Westminster County Court conditional sales agreements between 1905-1924 and 1928-1949.

The series consists of approximately 5250 black and white photographic negatives taken by Mental Health Services between 1948 and 1967. The negatives are acetate and are mostly in a 4 x 5 format with some 35 mm. There are 62 black and white prints interfiled with the negatives.

The photographs are of various British Columbia mental health institutions including the Boys Industrial School, Colony Farm, Colquitz Mental Home (Saanich), the Home for the Aged in Vernon and in Terrace, Woodlands School, Essondale (Coquitlam) and the Crease Clinic.

The photographs depict the grounds and buildings (both internal and external views) of the mental health institutions as well as photographs of construction and equipment. There are photographs of staff and patients involved in a variety of activities including medical treatments, events, ceremonies, leisure activities and other programs.

The negative files are arranged numerically in seven boxes: 1-657, 658-1004, 1005-1135, 1136-1242, 1245-1325, 1326-1409 and 1410-1499.

The series, called the pathological master file, consists of ca. 1483 photographs and their card index file created by the Mental Health Services between 1946 and 1967. The photographs consist mostly of black and white prints and 4 x 5 acetate negatives. There are also a few colour negatives and transparencies and 2 glass negatives.

The photographs are of the patients at Crease Clinic, Essondale and Woodlands School and document adults and children with various conditions, both physical and mental. There are whole body shots as well as close up's of specific conditions and injuries. In addition there are numerous photographs of brain samples to illustrate the pathology. The photographs have been numbered and the prints are filed within the card index, which is arranged alphabetically by condition. There is a card for each file which identifies the patient, date the photograph(s) were taken and the condition. The negatives are arranged separately by file number. There are also some unnumbered and unidentified photographs. The negatives are in containers 890935-0008 and 0009 and the prints and card file are in containers 890935-0011 and 0012.

The series consists of approximately 1005 black and white photographs taken by Mental Health Services between 1950 and 1967. The photographs consist of black and white prints and 4 x 5 acetate negatives.

The photographs are of Mental Health Services staff based at Essondale, Crease Clinic and Woodlands School. Some patient photographs are included. Some of the photographs show staff at work and were used for annual reports and other publications and some are "passport" style portraits. Most of the people in the photographs are identified and many include photograph classification numbers.

The photographs are arranged alphabetically by last name. The prints are in container 890935-0012 and the negatives are in container 890935-0010.

The series consists of ten reports sent to Frederick Hussey in 1905 and 1911, in his capacity as Superintendent of Provincial Police and Inspector of Gaols. The wardens at each of the Provincial Gaols at Victoria, New Westminster, Nanaimo, Nelson and Kamloops returned an annual summary of the activity of the gaol with attached monthly reports and annual returns of the prisoners received. The reports include: lists of staff and salaries; financial expenditures, prisoner work statistics and number of prisoners in custody including the name, age, country of origin, profession, crime, sentence and conduct of each.

The series consists of a photograph album created by the Dept. of the Provincial Secretary sometime between 1920 and 1940. The album contains 215 black and white prints of varying sizes showing the buildings, grounds and patients at the Public Hospital for the Insane at New Westminster, Essondale and Colony Farm. The photographs are captioned but not dated.

Several of the exterior shots of the buildings and grounds were taken by professional photographers and have been connected together to show panoramas. There are also exterior photos of farm activities and labour performed by patients. The majority of the photographs are of the patients themselves. These photographs illustrate various pathological types that were treated at the hospitals. They include men, women and children; shown as individuals and in groups.

The series consists of a variety of record books created at Woodlands School (later known simply as Woodlands) between 1908 and 1974, with the majority of the records dating from the late 1930s to the 1950s. The records relate to both staff and residents, although the majority of the records pertain to residents. Staff records include “position vacant” cards, lists of staff and the dates they joined and left Woodlands, and ledgers detailing absences and sick time for both male and female staff members. The staff lists are not comprehensive and frequently appear to provide a snapshot in time.

Records relating to patients provide evidence of the day-to-day functioning of the institution, including one- or two-sentence long hourly reports by nursing staff. Researchers should note that while specific individuals are named in the records, the records do not include case files. Some “propensity” ledgers provide alphabetical listings of patients, their admission dates and patient number, a brief one- or two-word description of why they were admitted, information about clothing, religion, and whether they left Woodlands. However, these registers do not cover the entire period of time that Woodlands operated and should not be seen as admissions registers.

The series includes a set of record books with daily shift reports that list disturbances, illnesses, numbers of residents employed in certain tasks, outings to movies and concerts, and any other noteworthy occurrences. The series contains ledgers relating to residents’ health, and other books related to their day-to-day lives. Records related to health care include those detailing medicine dosages, notes on blood pressure, and ‘doctors’ orders’ books. Records relating to daily life include notes on clothing and shoes sent to be cleaned, repaired, or discarded, numbers of residents sent to the ‘airing court’ for recreation, and records relating to the sewing and knitting done by residents. In some cases, ledgers provide assessments of the knitting skill of residents, and it appears that patients did sewing for both themselves and for staff. Records relating to shoes and clothing appear to be carbon copies of receipts issued when items were sent for repair or cleaning, and many are difficult to read. The series also includes general ward counts and statistics as well as a ward inventory listing everything from brooms to medical equipment. Some ledgers provide information on residents who were transferred to or from institutions at Essondale, Tranquille, and Colquitz.

There appear to have been three staff shifts in Woodlands, and records are often annotated with the time of the shift. Shifts ran from 7 am to 3 pm, 3 pm to 11 pm, and 11 pm to 7 am. It is common to see annotations such as 3-11 next to a report.

Many of the ledgers were not labelled and do not have original titles on them. Titles in square brackets were supplied by the Archivist on the basis of the file list that accompanied the records when they were transferred to Archives custody. Where the assigned title does not appear adequate, a further explanatory note has been included. Explanatory notes have also been included in square brackets when the title on the ledger book was vague or potentially misleading.

Within the ledgers, the bulk of the records are organized chronologically. Some books contain indexes or are arranged alphabetically by surname, although due to the nature of the records it is more common to see chronological progressions.

Records in this series were selected for retention by staff working with the Records Management Branch in the early 1990s.

The series consists of six volumes of divorce trial record books created by the New Westminster Supreme Court between 1957 and 1977. The books are arranged in a similar manner to divorce cause books, but list the Central Divorce Registry file number rather than a volume and folio number. Divorce trial books also provide a list of exhibits used in the case, and the names of individuals who provided affidavits.

Similar to cause books, trial books provide evidence of divorce proceedings that may later have been abandoned or dismissed, thereby not resulting in a divorce order. In these cases, the trial record book and cause book may be the only evidence that still exists of such cases.

Records in the trial books are arranged chronologically from the back of the volume to the front, and are assigned a four-digit number in addition to the number provided by the Central Divorce Registry. Please see GR-3748 for alphabetical indexes to these volumes.

Researchers should note that the volumes were frequently referred to as "Divorce and Matrimonial Causes record books." This is in reference to legislation which governed divorces in BC until 1972, and does not refer to the type of court record known as a cause book.

The series consists of seven small volumes of indexes to divorce trial record books created in the New Westminster Supreme Court registry between 1967 and 1974. The indexes provide a number which can be used to locate the corresponding divorce trial record in the appropriate book. Trial books are arranged by this number in reverse order, with the earlier numbers found at the back of the book. Numbers were continuous across volumes and do not reset to 1.

It is unclear whether these indexes were originally tucked inside the trial record books, or if they were maintained separately as a manual indexing system.

Series consists of 8 volumes of divorce cause books created by the New Westminster Supreme Court between 1968 and 1977. The cause books are arranged chronologically, and cases are assigned a number in the cause book. Cause book entries generally consist of the names of the parties, their solicitors, a list of the proceedings, and a volume and folio number which can be used to obtain a copy of the divorce order. Cause books are a particularly valuable source of information, as they list proceedings for divorce trials that were ultimately dismissed or abandoned. In these instances, the only surviving evidence that the case took place is found in the divorce cause books, as no final order would have been issued.

This series includes criminal case files from the New Westminster Supreme Court and County Court, including trials held under the Speedy Trials Act. Crimes were committed throughout the New Westminster District, which covers a large portion of the lower mainland or Greater Vancouver area. Some files include transcripts of proceedings. Files in box 1 are not numbered and are not indexed.

This series consists of records related to the construction of a new dam at Coquitlam Lake Dam by Vancouver Power Co. Ltd., 1909-1916. Records cover the study and survey of Coquitlam Lake, and attaining approvals for plans, construction, and water use for producing electricity and as a municipal water supply. Records include correspondence, engineering reports and environmental reports.

At the time of construction, Coquitlam Lake was part of the Railway Belt and under the jurisdiction of the dominion government. All records are copies from Canadian Department of the Interior file 656216 nos. 3, 4, 5. The metal pin holding the file together was removed for conservation purposes and the records placed in archival folders. The copied file was likely provided to the Provincial Water Rights Branch for reference around the end of the file in 1913. There are also several loose pages of original records from the BC Comptroller of Water Rights, labelled with file number 8987 dating from 1913 to 1916.

The series consists of alphabetical indexes from 1881-1977 for New Westminster Supreme Court civil cause books and case record cards found within GR-1564. Indexes provide only a case file number. They do not provide volume and folio numbers necessary to locate civil orders and judgements.

The volume marked "8. Front index" has not been found to index New Westminster Supreme Court cause books (GR-1564), orders (GR-1606 and GR-1806), assize minute books (GR-1818), or judgments (GR-1892). It is assumed that this volume indexes a cause book that has not yet been transferred to BC Archives custody.

This series consists of records related to the postal service operated in the colony of British Columbia, from 1858-1871. The records were created at post offices around BC, including Fort Yale, Lillooet, Hope, Lytton, William Creek, as well as the Postmaster General office in New Westminster. There is also one book from the Victoria post office.

Most records document the movement of mail between the Cariboo district and New Westminster along the Fraser River. Most of the volumes record the arrival, departure and destination of letters or parcels. There are also various financial account books tracking sale the of stamps and expenses. The records are arranged chronologically.

The series consists of original wills probated between 1986 and 1999 in the New Westminster Supreme Court registry.

The wills are arranged by probate number, which can be found from 1993 to 1999 by using the nominal file list associated with GR-3006. Request assistance from BC Archives staff for probates for other years. Not all probate records have an accompanying will. The records were scheduled for full retention under Court Services ORCS (schedule 100152) 51460-30.

The series consists of criminal orders created between 1978 and 1991 by the New Westminster Supreme and County courts. Orders are the formal expression of the ruling of the court. Records relate to a variety of criminal matters, primarily motor vehicle violations and appeals. Series also includes a 17 Aug 1978 memorandum to all district registrars and regional administrators regarding amendments to the County Courts Act.

Records are arranged by volume and folio number as assigned by the court registry. A nominal file list is included at the beginning of each volume. Supreme and County records are interfiled. The records were scheduled for full retention under Court Services ORCS (schedule 100152) 52400-30.

Series consists of original divorce decrees nisi, decrees absolute, and orders created between 1972 and 1990 by the New Westminster Supreme Court registry. Also includes some divorce-related custody, access, maintenance, and property orders. Between 1968 and 1985, a judgement by way of decree nisi required a three-month waiting period before a judgement by way of decree absolute could be applied for. During this time, a divorce was not legally in effect without a decree absolute. After 1985, divorce orders automatically came into effect 31 days after the divorce was granted, barring an appeal.

The records are arranged by volume and folio numbers, as assigned by the Court Registry. Records from 1972-1983 are not indexed, but BC Archives staff have access to internal indexes. Nominal file lists are available from mid-Dec 1983 onwards. The records were scheduled for full retention under Court Services ORCS (schedule 100152) 51440-25.

The fonds consists of the records of Star Shipyard (Mercers) Ltd. and includes textual records, photographs, architectural plans and drawings, and audio recordings. The records date from just after the founding of the company in 1908 until it was sold in 1970, however most of the records date from after the late 1930s.

Textual records include general correspondence, financial and employment records, and records concerning contracts for the construction, repair and refit of ships. These include bound office record books (journals and ledger books), which record information such as employee time worked on projects, specific construction projects or “jobs,” salary and payroll records, cheques paid out, ledgers organized by account holders, bank books, monthly time books, and annual statistics reports.

Photographs, almost all black and white, include images of ship exteriors and interiors, ship construction and repair, views of the shipyard, workers, owners, launching/christening ceremonies, dignitaries, and the New Westminster and Vancouver waterfronts. A large number of photos were produced by the Stride Studios of New Westminster.

The fonds consists of many records relating to ship launchings, including photographs, audio tapes, a radio script, invitations and event programs.

The fonds consists of records related to the administration of the hospital as well as the admission and treatment of patients. Records include: minute book of board meetings and other hospital meetings (1862-1881); annual reports (1864-1868, 1904); financial records (1862-1904); records of tenders (1862-1916); correspondence, including applications for positions (1861-1903) and miscellaneous records, including by-laws and subscription lists (1863-1908, 1912, 1937 and 1943); case books of Dr. Thomas R. McInnes and Dr. Charles Newland Trew (1874-1882); patient histories, prognosis and orders (1878-1881); record of patient diets (1881-1888); record of patient valuables (1910); and patient registers and admission slips (1862-1901). Also included in this fonds are the minutes of the New Westminster Medical Society (1893-1903) and the treasurer's book of the Women's Auxiliary of the Royal Columbian Hospital (1920-1926).

Fonds consists of administrative and operating records of British Columbia Forest Products Limited in British Columbia between 1946 and 1986, pertaining particularly to plywood production, 1952-1986. Incorporated are records of predecessor companies including Industrial Timber Mills of Cowichan Lake and Douglas Plywood of Vancouver. The fonds illustrates the operating data and composition of working documentation for single plant operations that formed part of a multi-plant company. The fonds is comprised of the records of two of the corporate divisions involved in plywood production: Victoria Plywood and Sawmill and Delta Plywood. Topical files, financial statements, working files, equipment documentation, ledgers and registers, technical drawings and cartographic material predominate. Content pertains to all aspects of division and plant operations including, but not limited to, products, finances, suppliers, clients, markets, partners, facilities, equipment, supplies and human resources. Records from the Victoria Plywood and Sawmill division pertain to operations at Victoria, BC. They were created between 1942 and 1988 and are in three series: 1. Manager's Office files, ca.1950 to 1988, ca. 3.5 metres; 2. Accountant's Office files, 1942 to 1987, ca. 4 metres, and; 3. Cowichan District plans and drawings, ca.1950 to ca.1975, ca. 120 items. The Cowichan Division operated an affiliated veneer plant and sawmill at Youbou on Cowichan Lake, BC. Records from the Delta Plywood division consist of operating files for the plant at New Westminster, BC and pertain to administration and finance. Series are: 1. Administration,1970-1985, ca. 1.5 metres; 2. Accountant's Office, 1972-1985, ca. 3 metres and 3. Douglas plywood project financial files. Alphabetical-chronological filing arrangements have been retained and reconstructed. The fonds also contains a scrapbook of construction photographs.

This series consists of a variety of records created by various provincial mental health institutions from 1872 to 2008. Records relate to the administration and operation of Riverview Hospital and related mental health facilities at the Essondale site in Coquitlam, as well as other facilities across the province. These mental health institutions include: Victoria Asylum, New Westminster Provincial Asylum (later Public Hospital for the Insane or Provincial Hospital for the Insane), Home for the Aged Coquitlam (later Valleyview), Home for the Aged Terrace (later Skeenaview), Home for the Aged Vernon (later Dellview), Crease Clinic, Colony Farm, Colquitz, Woodlands School, Tranquille and other medical facilities.

The names and administrative structure of these institutions changed over time. Mental health functions were originally part of the Provincial Secretary’s mandate; they were transferred to Mental Health Services when it was created in 1950.

These government records were collected by the Riverview Historical Society and include a wide variety of subject matter and media. This includes subjects such as: early development of the Essondale lands and Colony Farm; the construction and expansion of the facility; admissions, transfers, and discharges of patients; administration of patient care; administration of therapy programs; patient and staff recreation; staff and nurse training; operation of the audiovisual department; library services; research into new medical and therapeutic practices; research by staff regarding mental health practices at Riverview and further afield; community involvement; volunteer activity; policy development; the redevelopment of the Riverview lands; general administration; and, administration of other services at the site such as postal, food, laundry, banking, transportation and safety services.

The collection has been arranged into the following series based on record types:

GR-3924 - record books
GR-3925 - operational records
GR-3926 - newsletters
GR-3927 - photographs and other graphic material
GR-3928 - films and videos

Classified as 20000-20 in Operational Records Classification System (ORCS) schedule 144007.