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Interview. A video oral history interview with Robert M. Strachan, former MLA, provincial leader of the CCF/NDP, and NDP cabinet minister. Includes other associated footage also used in the one-hour program, ROBERT STRACHAN: JOURNEYMAN POLITICIAN (V1981:13/007).

Series consists of parliamentary scrapbooks; 1942-1946, 1948-1949, and 1952.

The fonds consists of the records of Rosemary Brown, and were created in her capacity as a member of the British Columbia legislative assembly (MLA), and as a member of the New Democratic Party. A large number of the records reflect Rosemary Brown’s activities on legislative committees and her caucus critic responsibilities.

The records, in smaller numbers, were also created in her capacity as a public speaker, columnist, and university instructor, activities which were not directly related to her job as MLA, but which were carried on at the same time she was an MLA. The fonds also consists of a relatively small number of personal records which were intermingled with records relating to her MLA work.

The records were created by Rosemary Brown at the B.C. legislature, although whether they were created by her, immediate staff, or caucus research staff, is not always clear. Records were also presumably created in Brown’s constituency office.

Records reflect events in the two constituencies she served, although most reflect the time period after she left Vancouver-Burrard to serve as MLA for Burnaby-Edmonds, from 1979 to 1986. Although the majority of her correspondence was with people in the greater Vancouver area, the geographic scope of the records includes all of the province of British Columbia as she was concerned with province-wide issues, and also received letters from citizens throughout the province. In addition to concerning B.C. affairs there are reports and letters from outside B.C. and concerning issues of national and international relevance.

The records date predominantly from 1977 to 1986.There are virtually no records from the periods of Brown’s life prior to becoming an MLA in 1972 or after her retirement from B.C. politics in 1986. There are almost no records from her first years as MLA, from 1972 to 1975, when she was on the government side of the house.

The subject matter of the files includes all aspects of British Columbia politics and public policy. However there is a particular emphasis on records related to the subjects of her caucus critic responsibilities and legislative committees, and areas of her personal interest and activism. Her critic or spokesperson areas, reflected in the files, include the Human Resources ministry (and related areas of Health), feminism and the status of women, human rights and minority groups, Attorney General, and Consumer and Corporate Affairs. The files also reflect her interest in municipal affairs, education, environmental issues, labour rights, civil rights, minorities and each of these in an international context.

A large amount of the correspondence is from members of the public who expressed their opinions on political and social issues. Correspondence also includes “case work” (requests from the public for assistance with personal issues and problems). As Brown was a well-known public figure, the correspondence comes from various parts of the province and is not restricted to her constituents. There are also a significant number of records related to the policies and political activities of the New Democratic Party both in B.C. and across Canada.

The fonds consists of the following documentary forms: correspondence; memos; briefs on legislation and issues from government, organizations and non-governmental bodies; research information; copies of Hansard and government bills and budget documents; reports; newsletters; pamphlets; petitions; position papers; press releases; reports; petitions; studies; election campaign literature and voter lists.

The fonds also consists of a large amount of collected resource or reference material; these subject files include clippings, newsletters, magazines, pamphlets and photocopied articles. There are a small number of Brown’s speeches and articles written by Brown. Some records appear to have been given to Brown by research staff, with their suggestions that she use the information for her questions in the legislature or for speeches. There are also what appear to be Brown’s handwritten notes on issues.

A small number of files consist of personal correspondence (friends and acquaintances) and personal business records, (financial, real estate purchases, mortgage, MLA remuneration), and collected ephemera. These were intermingled with the records relating to her MLA work.

There are no photographs in the fonds.

The correspondence files are arranged as they were by the creator of the records, in chronological and alphabetical order.

The files were found to have no numbered classification system. They were usually well-labeled by the creator of the files, and organized by the creator according to subjects falling under the responsibility of a government ministry (i.e. the Human Resources ministry, Health, the Attorney General, and Consumer and Corporate Affairs, etc.). However, many appeared to be out of the order of their original filing system, so it was sometimes necessary for the archivist to reorganize the files to return them to this original subject arrangement, grouping files according to the subject matter as it appears in the title of the folder.

The archivist determined that distinct series could not be distinguished; the fonds therefore consists of only one series.

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Recollections of the life of Labour MLA Tom Uphill SUMMARY: In a CBC interview, Sarah Uphill talks about her husband, Labour Party MLA Thomas Uphill. She begins by recalling incidents concerning her husband's work in the coal mines of the East Kootenays.;

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1979-10-24 SUMMARY: An oral history interview with G. Scott Wallace, former leader of the B.C. Progressive Conservative Party.;

The fonds consists of private and official correspondence and papers, notebooks of facts and figures on B.C., financial statistics, insurance policies and miscellaneous papers and photographs relating to honours and appointments. Fonds also includes clipping books, photograph albums, wallets and diaries, railway passes, a souvenir autograph booklet, a welcome home certificate signed by the officials of the Municipality of Coquitlam [MS-0347 also available on microfilm], and two oversized certificates commemorating his advancement to third degree masonry with the Free and Accepted Masons of B.C and upon the opening of Lord Selkirk School from the Municipality of South Vancouver.

Special event coverage. CBC-TV coverage of balloting day at the Social Credit Leadership Convention at Whistler, BC, July 30, 1986.

CALL NUMBER: T0025:0001 PERIOD COVERED: 1940-1966 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1966-11-05 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Recording of a banquet dinner at the 1966 Social Credit Convention, commemorating the service of Hon. Eric Martin, Minister of Health, 1952-1966. Entertainment: several songs performed by the Maori dancers of New Zealand. Premier W.A.C. Bennett presents award to the Cariboo constituency association. Comments on Eric Martin and his roll in the Social Credit party. TRACK 2: Presentations ;to Eric Martin at the dinner banquet by: Dr. Charles Ennals, Isobel Dawson, Grace McCarthy and Einar Gunderson. Address by Ray Williston chronicling the career of Eric Martin. Remarks and reminiscences by Eric Martin, including an explanation of why he was retiring due to ill health.;

CALL NUMBER: T0025:0002 PERIOD COVERED: 1940-1966 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1966-11-05 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Continuation of remarks by Eric Martin at the 1966 Social Credit Convention dinner banquet. Presentation to Mrs. Martin. Comments by Premier W.A.C. Bennett.;

Television stock shots

SUMMARY: SIDE 1 & 2: Speech asking voters to support Liberal candidates in federal general election. Outline of B.C. government policies and achievements. Broadcast from Vancovuer Hotel over a network of B.C;. radio stations through the facilities of CKWX.;

SUMMARY: SIDE 1 & 2: Comments on federal Liberal victory, upcoming by-elections in B.C., newspaper criticism, up-coming federal-provincial conference.;

SUMMARY: A monthly open-line radio talk show hosted by B.C. Premier Bill Vander Zalm, broadcast over CKNW and the WIN network. Primarily B.C. political subjects discussed.;

The item consists of two videotapes containing interviews. Tape 1. Laurier LaPierre interviews W.A.C. Bennett -- interview segments no. 1, 2, 3 & 4. Tape 2. Laurier LaPierre interviews W.A.C. Bennett -- interview segment no. 5. Interview with Premier Bill Bennett on "Vancouver" (i.e., presumably, CKVU's "The Vancouver Show").

News item. Human Resources Minister Bill Vander Zalm claims that "welfare numbers have constantly and steadily reduced" in 1976. He goes on to say that "more and more people are being placed in employment . . . and fewer can fewer are coming on to welfare." He predicts an even better year for 1977 with "a pick-up in employment with more jobs available." Footage of men at work on a green chain, and hard-rock miners underground with diamond drills. Vander Zalm is interviewed in his office. Shot of toy shovel with bow hanging on office door.

News item. Shots of a nearly empty legislature. Human Resources Minister Bill Vander Zalm comments on Rosemary Brown's filibuster against Bill 65.

News item. Mr. Stephens will run for the leadership of the BC Conservative Party. His main goal will be to unify the party. "In order to have unity in this party," he says, "the provincial wing must be free and totally independent" from the federal Conservative party. Too many people view the Conservatives as a party for boardroom executives, says Stephens, when in fact it is "a workers' party." The image of the party must be changed.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1973 SUMMARY: Open-line radio interview with former Premier W.A.C. Bennett and his ministers.;

News item. MLA Scott Wallace says that his main reasons for resigning are: (1) "Lack of success in getting the Conservative party moving"; and (2) "Failure of my leadership to capitalize on the fact the we've got polarized parties in British Columbia -- two main political groups. Yet many of the voters are looking for something in the middle, and I was trying to fill that void." Farewell speech follows, with regrets voiced by NDP House Leader Dave Barrett, who says: "He is the kind of person that we would all like to see come into public life, regardless of party." Wallace will continue as MLA.

The fonds consists of material accumulated by W.C. Budd between 1962 and 1968 while he served as executive assistant to Premier W.A.C. Bennett. The records consist of correspondence, both political and personal; framed photographs of W.A.C. Bennett and others, correspondence and photographs relating to Bennett's trade mission to Japan in 1966, pamphlets, newsclippings and magazines relating to Bennett and the Social Credit party and other material including two signed copies of a Len Norris cartoon.