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The series consists of indexes to Victoria probate files and to probated wills in the Central registry.

The index serves two purposes because the Victoria court registry was responsible for maintaining the Victoria probate files and - until the late 1980s - kept the Central Will Registry for the Department of the Attorney General. The Victoria probate numbers (for files which are in GR-1304, GR-2083 and GR-3016) appear in the left-hand column under "papers". The will numbers (for wills found in GR-1052, GR-1574 and GR-2009) appear in the right-hand column of the indexes under remarks.

Users should note that index cards for the period 1982 to 1988 cover estates probated across the province, and provide the probate number, the registry where the estate was probated, and the central will registry number.

Notes regarding the Central Will Registry :

Until July 1986, all wills in BC were kept in a separate, central location, maintained by the Victoria Court Registry. When a person died, leaving a will, the will was submitted to a court registry for probate. Staff in that registry forwarded the original will to Victoria, where it was assigned a number in a sequence that included wills from all registries in the province. Copies of the wills were often kept in the probate files for working purposes. In some cases, however, wills were sometimes returned to the custody of the respective court registries. Researchers should keep this in mind if searching for an original will.

In July 1986, Vancouver, New Westminster, Nanaimo, Chilliwack, Penticton, Vernon, Kamloops, Prince George and Kelowna began to track their own original probated wills. All other registries continued to send their original probated wills to the Central Wills Registry in Victoria.

As of August 1998 each registry is responsible for their own wills.

Indexes to judgements, 1932-1967. Vol. 1: index by names of creditors; vol. 2: index by names of debtors. 2 vols.

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.

The series consists of invoices and receipts kept by Edgar & Aime in Victoria between 1860 and 1863.

The James Bay Athletic Association [JBAA], the oldest Canadian amateur athletic organization west of Montreal, dates from 1886 (inc. 1890). Early records include: minutes, 1927-1930 and articles of incorporation 1927. Most of the unit spans the years 1966-1977 and includes: minutes, 1966-1978; reports; financial records; correspondence files; newsletters; team files and subject files. Also includes papers concerning the British Columbia Rugby Union [BCRU] and the Victoria Rugby Union [VRU] which became the Vancouver Island Rugby Union [VIRU] in 1976. BCRU files include reports, minutes (1968, 1973, 1976, 1977). VRU/VIRU files include reports, minutes (1965-1977), constitutions. The JBAA's athletic interests grew to include rugby, track and field, basketball, tennis, badminton, wrestling, Canadian football, soccer, lacrosse and ice hockey; eventually, however, interest in sports other than rugby suffered. Active in rugby to this day, the teams of the JBAA have compiled an impressive playing record. JBAA records include some early material: minutes, 1927-1930, articles of incorporation 1927, etc.; however, the bulk of the records span the years 1966-1977 and includes minutes, 1966-1978, reports, financial records, correspondence files, newsletters, team files and various subject files. Also included are papers concerning the British Columbia Rugby Union [BCRU] and the Victoria Rugby Union [VRU] which became the Vancouver Island Rugby Union [VIRU] in 1976. BCRU files include reports, minutes, etc., VRU/VIRU files include reports, minutes, constitutions, etc.

This unit which complements earlier James Bay Athletic Association papers (MS-1227) is composed of files spanning the years 1974-1981 and includes minutes of meetings, committee files, correspondence files, subject files.

Records include diaries, paintings of B.C. fauna and natural history notes from James G. French, who operated an animal menagerie at Victoria. French had his menagerie at Willows Beach, ca. 1897-1900, when he moved it to Swan Lake. He later moved to the property which is now French Beach Provincial Park. Mrs. Jane French operated the Woodbine Rabbitry.

Series consists of two oversized certificates presented to Jane (Branks) Powell: (1) by the Freemasons on the occasion of their semi-centennial anniversary and in commemoration of her late-husband, Israel W. Powell, who presided over the First Communication and was the lodge's first Grand Master; and (2) by the Alexandra Club upon her life membership. Both certificates have been decoratively hand written and embellished with colour and gilt.

The series consists of the personal and business correspondence, diaries, estate papers and personal financial records of lawyer John Young Copeman, mainly pertaining to life in England and abroad. Includes correspondence from brothers and friends in England, Africa, Borneo, India and Brazil which describe issues of the day, including taxation problems in India and Ireland as well as impressions of Africa prior to the First World War; balance sheets and correspondence of Victoria-based Colville Properties Ltd., the stock and property holding company of Lord Colville of Culross; and papers pertaining to the settling of parents' and relatives' estates in England.
Letters prior to 1914 were divided by correspondent, whereas, after 1919, most of the correspondence was divided by year.

In regard to Colville Properties Limited, the company was incorporated in 1915 as a holding company for the investments of Lord Colville of Culross, whose holdings included stocks as well as property in the Victoria and Cowichan Lake areas.

The correspondence is addressed mostly to lawyer W.E. Oliver, Colville's agent. It seems likely that Copeman, a friend of the Colville family, took over the administration of the Colville investments in 1920, the year Oliver died and the company was dissolved.

Barrister's precedents book relating to court cases and decisions in the 1870s and 1880s. They are from newspapers, handwritten or typed accounts, press copies of letters etc.

Series consists of articles, typescript drafts, essays, biographies, notes, clippings, etc. relating to Alaska, the history of British Columbia, historic sites in British Columbia, Indigenous people of British Columbia, the pelagic sealing industry, etc. The series also includes invitations to events and 124 black and white photographs, mostly of Smith's time in Japan and China.

The series contains diaries, 1879-1927; notes and correspondence on the Anderson family; the manuscript of his memoirs with notes and correspondence and the typescript entitled "Notes and comments on early days and events in British Columbia, Washington and Oregon..."; the manuscript of his Trees and shrubs: food/medicinal, and poisonous plants of British Columbia; botanical notes; MS. articles on history, natural history, place names, First Nations legends; and accounts of trips to the Queen Charlotte Islands and to Prince Rupert and up the Skeena in 1909.

Correspondence outward (1864, 1868) and inward (1861-1871) of Robert Ker, Colonial Auditor for Vancouver Island, with some of his commissions (1864, 1865, 1868), an indenture (1844), miscellaneous notes; correspondence of R.H.B. Ker and David Russell Kerr with General Crerar, 1944 (two letters), and of D.R. Ker with General Currie, 1917, and H. Joly de Lotbiniere, 1903 (two letters); clippings and photographs which have been transferred to Visual Records accession 198210-007. The Ker family lived in Victoria, B.C. Robert Henry Brackman Ker was an executive with a number of British Columbia business firms, including Ker and Stephenson Ltd. and Brackman-Ker Milling Company. He served on Victoria City Council, as President of the Victoria Chamber of Commerce, and as Aide-de-Camp to the Lieutenant-Governor of B.C. The records include correspondence inward and outward, miscellaneous notes, clippings and photographs. Photographs transferred to Visual Records accession 198210-007. Related records in MS-0793 and Visual Records accession 198208-038, 22 albums. Additional records are also available at the City of Victoria Archives, PR 48. Biographical sketch taken from BCAUL. Source: MS Finding Aids Presented by R.H.B Ker, Victoria, 1971. Finding aid: file list.

Military certificates, letters of recommendation and transcript of newspaper account of death of Edward Hammond King (1832-1864); theatre programmes, Victoria, 1880 and 1882; menus and programmes re British Columbia pioneer reunion, 1924, and ribbon re 75th anniversary of Victoria's incorporation; clippings re King and Wooten families; appointment of Edward Hammond King (1887-1960) as vice consul for Norway. Photographs transferred to Visual Records accession 197901-102.

Presented by E. Clare King, (great granddaughter of Edward Hammond King), Victoria, 1976.

Scrapbooks containing musical programmes, photographs, letters, and newspaper clippings of the Schubert Club of Victoria and the Victoria Male Choir (Meistersingers), compiled by Frederick King, conductor.

Presented by Laurence King.

Law stamp cash books (3 vols.)

Ledger showing items purchased from the Japanese Bazaar merchants by Victoria area residents.

Ledger, roll call of regular and special meetings, register of stocks traded.

This series contains legal opinions offered by Attorney General on a wide range of subjects. For more information on the subjects covered, please consult the attached finding aid.

The series consists of an Indexed letterpress book kept by Edgar & Aime in Victoria between 1860 and 1862. The book contains copies of correspondence outward and invoice information.

Letter inward to Premier John Foster McCreight from Robert Beaven, 22 December 1871, regarding proposed water legislation and City of Victoria's water supply. Contains 1 page.

Letterbook containing personal correspondence outward regarding finances.

Letterpress book of correspondence outward from Victoria Court Registry.

This series contains Letters of Administration granted to the Official Administrator for estates probated in the Victoria Court Registry in cases where the deceased died intestate or did not name an executor who was able to act, and the Official Administrator handled the probate process. Indexes to Victoria probate records are found in GR-1417.

This series contains letters of administration with will annexed (Form B) from the Supreme Court of Victoria, from 1915-1989.

The series consists of photocopies of letters written from British Columbia to Hugh Booth Lee of Whitchurch, Shropshire, England, 1913-1914. Most of the letters were written by Hugh's mother, Mrs. Agnes Nash, during a visit she made to her children, Nessie (Mrs. Norman Lee), of Hanceville, Tom, of Alexis Creek, and Alfred, of Nicola and Alberni. The collection also contains letters from Tom and Nessie Hugh. Mrs. Nash was in the Chilcotin from March to May 1913, at Nicola from July to September, and in Victoria, where she lived with Nessie and Norman Lee, from October 1913 to June 1914. Mrs. Nash was very sociable and the letters are full of news of people met in B.C. and of the family in England.

This series consists of 10 volumes of Jurors' Rolls and Lists entitled "Lists of all persons selected as competent, qualified, and liable to serve as Grand Jurors for Victoria (B.C.) District". Vol. 1: 1884; vol. 2: 1885; vol. 3: 1886; vol. 4: 1887; vols. 5 & 6: 1888; vol. 7: 1890; vol. 8: 1899-1902; vol. 9: "Grand & Petit Jurors Rolls Lists," Victoria District, 1903-1906; vol. 10: 1913-1914.

Scrapbooks; newspaper clippings; correspondence; daily journals, 1911, 1931, 1934; photographs; summer cottage guest register; Premier's Office, and Sir Richard McBride's appointment books. Extra visiting cards deposited in BC Provincial Museum, History Division. The series also consists of one file relating to the administration of the estates of both John and Elizabeth Bowron, Lottie Bowron's parents. Photographs transferred to Visual Records.

Correspondence inward while attending boarding school in Victoria from family members, March - June, 1909; correspondence inward from a soldier in France, March, 1916. Exercise book for French lessons, no date. Photographs transferred to Visual Records accession 198401-8.

Purchased at auction, 1984.