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Series consists of records related to the Sisters of St. Ann’s work at the Tzouhalem Road property in Duncan, BC.

The Sisters purchased, by Crown grant, 400 acres in Cowichan between 1864 and 1870. The first convent and school was built on that land in 1864 under the direction of Father Pierre Rondeau, who had established a mission in Quamichan in 1861. Two Sisters arrived in October of 1864 with the mission of establishing a school for Indigenous girls.

When the school opened, 21 girls aged 4-18 were registered, from six local Fist Nations: Quamichan (Kwa’mutsun), Qw’umiyiqun (Comiaken), Xwulqw’selu (Koksilah), S’amuna’ (Somena), Lhumlhumuluts’ (Clemclemluts), Xinupsum (Khenipsen) and Tl'lulpalus (Cowichan Bay). In 1876 a decision was made that Indigenous girls in Cowichan would be taught as day students only, which allowed for the Duncan school lodgings to be renovated and enlarged to accommodate orphans sent from the overcrowded St Ann’s school in Victoria, as well as from other regions where the Sisters taught, including Alaska. After the E&N Railway was completed, more children from middle-class settler families began to attend the Duncan St. Ann’s school.

The Sisters began teaching boys at the Duncan school in 1904, after the closure of St. Aloysius Protectorate in Victoria. Increase in student boarders led to a need for a bigger school building, and one was constructed in 1921. This building was designed by Sister Mary Osithe as architect.

The school closed in 1964, with Sisters transferring to the nearby Queen of Angels School to teach. The building was briefly used as a novitiate in 1968, and the land was leased out in 1969. In 1979, Providence Farm was established on the site, an organization which is under the direction of The Vancouver Island Providence Community Association. This is an active organization as of 2023.

During the years the Sisters oversaw the school, it was known by a number of different names internally and externally, including: St. Ann’s Boy’s School, Duncan; St. Ann’s, Quamichan; St. Ann’s, Cowichan; The Farm; St. Ann’s Indian School for Girls; and St. Ann’s Orphanage for Girls.

This series consists of three subseries: A) Convent subseries; B) St. Ann’s School, Duncan subseries; C) Farm subseries.

Records in subseries A include chronicles of the school and convent, financial records, Local House minutes, Official Visitation reports, a monograph and history of the school, as well as a scrapbook of Sisters’ art and photographs.

Subseries B consists of records related to the administration of the school, and includes school registers, student accounts, application forms, grades, tests, monthly attendance reports, and photographs. Only a small amount of ephemera relating to the school has survived, and includes two year books (1940 and 1957), a school newsletter (1964), a visitor’s book, and programs and invitations.

Subseries C consists of records relating to the farm on the Duncan property that sustained the school, and includes accounts, receipts and expenses.

Series consists of minutes of the executive committee, sub-committees, general meetings and annual general meetings.

The Educational Research Institute of British Columbia (ERIBC) was founded in 1967. The institute was a successor agency, to the British Columbia Educational Research Council, an independent association established in 1956 to promote educational research and provide a repository for educational research studies. Based at the University of British Columbia, the council originally consisted of representatives from UBC's Faculty of Education, the British Columbia Parent Teachers Federation, the British Columbia School Trustees' Association (BCSTA) and the British Columbia Teachers' Federation (BCTF). The activities of the council gradually increased as representatives of various schools and school districts were brought in as "supporting members." However, the council was not able to provide services, facilities or funding for educational research to any great extent. Accordingly in 1964 the BCSTA members moved that a new centralized organization to be known as the Educational Research Institute of British Columbia be formed to succeed the council. The resolution was supported by the BCTF and the ERIBC was duly created and incorporated as a nonprofit society in 1967. The main objectives of the institute were to: survey the educational research needs of the province; promote research in education; carry out research on educational issues of broad social implications liase and make available the findings of the educational research studies to all interested educational organizations; act as a 'clearinghouse' of educational research studies being undertaken in British Columbia by issuing suitable publications. During its early years, the ERIBC was principally concerned with raising and providing funds to individuals 1) most of whom were teachers or school administrators. But the mandate of the institute soon widened. In the 1970s it began receiving nonstatutory grants from the provincial government to conduct workshops in small school districts; it was asked to provide reports and assessments of school curricula; it provided contractual reports on special education programmes and advised on a variety of other educational matters. In the 1980s the ERIBC also acted as a technical agency for the Ministry of Education in devising and implementing provincewide Grade 12 examinations. In 1982 the institute amended its constitution to reflect its increased activities. Membership on the ERIBC's Board of Directors was correspondingly broadened to include representatives from the three provincial universities, the B.C. Home and School Federation, the B.C. Association of Colleges, the Association of British Columbia School Superintendents, and the Federation of Independent School Associations, as well as the BCTF and the BCSTA. The economic recession of the 1980s, however, and the provincial government's "fiscal restraint" policies seriously curtailed the ERIBC's activities. The main blow came in Dec 1985 when the government decided to withdraw the grants and the contracts which it had provided to the institute. When other sources of funding and support did not develop, the Board of Directors reluctantly decided to wind up their operations. The ERIBC was dissolved effective 31 Mar 1986. Just before the institute closed, Mrs. Audrey Sojonky, Executive Director of the ERIBC, offered to donate the institute's administrative records to the Provincial Archives. Mrs. Sojonky and the Board of Directors also agreed to turn over the institute's operational records, including its impressive collection of research reports. In so doing, the ERIBC directors wished to continue to facilitate educational research in the province. MS-2209 consists of the complete records of the ERIBC. Included are the institute's minutes (along with minutes of the B.C. Educational Research Council), policy manuals, grant application guidelines, institute research reports (written by ERIBC staff), and contractual research reports. The educational research reports which form the bulk of MS-2209 deal with schools in all parts of the province and cover a remarkably wide and diverse range of topics. Together they constitute one of the most important sources for the study of educational policies and programmes in British Columbia.

Cultural Services Branch grants applications. Records of grant applications (1982/83 1983/84) by a wide variety of bodies including art galleries, museums, orchestras, choirs, opera and concert societies, music and dance groups, Community Arts Councils, theatre groups, book publishers, film makers, school districts etc.; and individuals.

This series contains policy files accumulated by J.L. Canty, Executive Director, Deputy Minister's Office. Files pertain to school law, ministry contracts with school districts, school finance and facilities, and interest groups (i.e. B.C. Association for Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities, B.C. School Trustees Association, and B.C. Teachers' Federation).

Includes correspondence from other sections and offices of the Ministry; school districts; colleges; universities; associations and miscellaneous material. This unit may be used in conjunction with GR-1788.

Series consists of minute books of meetings of school governors and directors (1934-1981), athletic programmes (1933-1951), and scrapbooks containing photographs, circulars, and news cuttings (1933-1977).

This series contains Qualifying Pupil Lists and Summary Sheets for schools funded under Independent Schools Support Act (1977). Box 1: Pupil lists, arranged alphabetically by school. Includes names and ages of pupils, plus names and addresses of parents or guardians. Box 2: Summary sheets, also arranged alphabetically by school. The series includes reports on schools' curricula, time devoted to specific subjects, staff names and qualifications, school inspectors' notes and remarks.

The series consists of photographic negatives produced by PEMC, and predecessor agencies including the Division of School of Radio Broadcasts, Division of Visual Education, Division of Audio-Visual Services and Audio-Visual Services Branch. These agencies were responsible for providing media services to public education institutions. The records document school sites and educational programs for elementary, secondary, college and university students in British Columbia.

Subjects often relate to specific classes and schools, and include: projects and performances; facilities; ceremonies; teachers, staff and government officials; students; and displays and exhibits for promotional purposes. Included are some copy photos depicting schools and classes from the 1880s to 1920s. Records' arrangement based on original PEMC numbers. These numbers appear to reflect a general arrangement by date and subject matter. Records include PEMC numbers: PEMC45001-PEMC52881, PEMC74/1/1-PEMC75/86/4, and PEMC7591-PEMC7780. The series also includes two item lists, arranged by photo number; the first created by the PEMC and the second by either the PEMC or the GIS and amended by the BC Archives. These lists are incomplete and are stored in container 000352-0014.

The series consists of circulars and brochures pertaining to patriotic activities and special events, created by the Dept. of Education, dating mainly from the 1930s. It includes "Instructions to Teachers Regarding the Use of the Flag on School Premises" (1930), "Suggestions for celebrating Good Will Day [18 May 1932] in B.C. schools," commemorative booklet and "Suggestions for Coronation Programmes for the Schools of B.C." (1937). This unit also includes brochures re: the Overseas Education, 1976.

The series consists of Associate Deputy Minister A.E. Sole's subject files arranged alphabetically by file title. The records include correspondence and reports dealing with schools, colleges, teachers, curricula, libraries, and various other education-related topics.

The series reflects the development and activities of the Vernon Preparatory School for boys and the lives of its proprietors, Augustine (1879-1965) and Hugh (1882-1971) Mackie.

The records include a list of pupils, a copy of the school register, sample pupil reports, an account book, clipping books, and miscellaneous notebooks. It also includes numerous notebooks filled with sermons and talks to the boys by Augustine Mackie. Some of the sermons were from his period as a priest in England prior to emigrating to Canada. School materials include complete runs of the Old Boys' News Letter (1951-1961) and the Chronicle of the Vernon Preparatory School (1918-1950). There is also considerable private material relating to Mackie family members, both those in Canada and in England. This includes correspondence, genealogical material, a marriage contract (1871), diaries, journals, scrapbooks and clipping books. Augustine was a devoted conservationist and fish and game enthusiast and there are copies of several articles written by him on the topic.

Case files, registers of pupils, records of school grades achieved and a few personal items. The Industrial Home for Girls was established by legislation in 1912 to house girls under the age of 16 who had been convicted of a crime, or who have been shown to be vicious or incorrigible and beyond her parents' control. The school was opened in 1914, on a site which later became 800 Cassiar Street, Vancouver. In 1959 the school was moved to 3655 Willingdon Avenue in Burnaby, and became known as the Willingdon School for Girls, later abbreviated to the Willingdon School. During the early years the Home was administered by the Department of the Attorney General. It was transferred to the administration of the Department of the Provincial Secretary ca.1934. In 1937 the 1912 Act was repealed and replaced with An Act respecting the Industrial School for Girls. The Home was renamed the Industrial School for Girls. In 1946 the Industrial School for Girls was transferred from the Department of the Provincial Secretary to the administration of the Social Welfare Branch of the new Department of Health and Welfare. In 1963 the Industrial School Acts were repealed and replaced with the Training Schools Act. In 1969 the Training Schools Act was repealed. The Willingdon School was closed in 1973.

The series consists of two presentation albums given to the Minister of Education on official occasions. The first album was presented to minister L.R. Peterson on May 17, 1957 on the occasion of the official opening of Prince George District senior and elementary schools. The album consists of black and white photographs of the new district schools and includes both interior and exterior views. The second album was presented to minister D.L. Brothers on June 4, 1971 on the occasion of the opening of the Clearview Elementary and Junior Secondary School. The album consists of black and white and colour photographs from 1969 to 1971, depicting various stages of construction of the school as well as interior views and student activities. Photographs of the official opening are also included.

The collection consists of the records of Qualicum College, an independent boys' school on Vancouver Island. Included are letters between R.I. Knight and his family in England re: the founding and funding of the school; applications for admission, correspondence from students' parents, and academic records of pupils; notes and sketches for college buildings, school crest, and school song; correspondence re: Old Boys and college staff; ledgers, account books, and payroll journals, along with dormitory lists, athletic programmes, prospectuses, headmasters' speeches and newsletters. Collection also includes scripts and casting notes for school drama festival productions, as well as correspondence pertinent to Private (afterwards Independent) Schools Association of British Columbia. Qualicum College was the most westerly private school in Canada. Founded in 1935, it was established "in the conviction that with the background of a good home, the comradeship of a boarding school enables boys to enjoy the happiest kind of childhood and youth, and provides them with the finest preparation for life." The school overlooking Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island was modelled on the prestigious public schools of England. Its philosophy was "mens sano in corpore sano", and its aim was to inculcate in boys the virtues of Godliness and good-learning. Though never as large as some of the other independent schools in British Columbia, Qualicum College was widely-known and respected nonetheless, as evidenced by the number of students it attracted from Western Canada, the North Western United Sates, and the Orient. The papers were donated in 1982 by Robert Ivan Knight, the founder and headmaster of the college. Mr. Knight was born in 1901 in Calcutta where his father was Director of Public Instruction for Bengal. As was the custom among the Anglo-Indian community, he was sent to England at an early age and raised in his family home at Camberly. He then attended Oundle, a small but distinguished public school in Northamptonshire. The headmaster of Oundle was the celebrated educationalist and reformer, F.W. Sanderson. Mr. Knight was greatly impressed and influenced by Sanderson's teachings, and the latter's theories on education (especially with regard to the study of science in the public schools) were later incorporated in the Qualicum College curriculum. Mr. Knight continued his education at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, where he took a degree in Sciences. Because of weak eyesight, however, he was unable to pursue a career in scientific research; in fact, on coming down from Cambridge, he was advised to refrain from intensive reading for at least a year. Accordingly, in 1925 he decided to join a cousin who had a chicken ranch at Errington, near Parksville, on Vancouver Island. He stayed there until 1927, when he joined C.W. Lonsdale's staff at Shawnigan Lake boys' school. Two years later he enrolled at the University of British Columbia, where he completed an Honours B.A. and a Diploma course in Education. Despite the onset of the depression, Mr. Knight resolved to open an independent, fee-paying boarding school in the village resort of Qualicum Beach. With the assistance of Mr. A.D. Muskett (former headmaster of the Collegiate School in Victoria), the school was duly opened in September 1935. The Qualicum Beach School, as the academy was first know, had nine students and was located in a rented house during its inaugural year. However, with the help of generous financial support from his family in England, Mr. Knight was able to expand his programme, and in 1937 the school was relocated in a handsome, specially-designed building amid 17 acres of seaside property. The headmaster also received assistance from his younger brother, George Henry Knight, who came to the college to teach history, languages, and music. The two brothers formed a partnership and the school (renamed Qualicum College in 1949) was incorporated as a limited liability company. The college grew steadily and by 1966 it had an enrollment of almost seventy students. Thereafter, for a variety of social and economic reasons, numbers declined, and in 1970 the headmaster decided to close the college and sell the college property. The playing fields were subsequently subdivided for a housing estate, while the Tudor-style main building was purchased by a group of financiers, who transformed the generation-old boarding school into the Qualicum College Inn.

This series consists of correspondence, minutes, briefs, memoranda, etc., of the Council of Public Instruction. Most of the records in this unit date from the 1967-1970 period. Included are records relating to Indian schools, private schools, universities and colleges, curriculum development, vocational programmes, and the Dept. of Education's Instructional Media Committee. Also included are records of the department's Community Programmes Branch which, in April 1970, was transferred to the Department of Recreation and Conservation. The minister's and the superintendents correspondence, and the Accreditation and Legislation Committee files in this collection are restricted.

GR-0899 consists of correspondence, minutes, briefs, and memoranda of the Council. The outside dates for material in the collection are 1954-1970, but most of the files date from the period 1967-1969. The collection includes material relating to Indian schools, private schools, universities and colleges, the Provincial Board of Examiners, curriculum development, and the Department of Education Instructional Media Committee. Also included are records of the department's Community Programmes Branch (19641970), a branch which was transferred to the Department of Recreation and Conservation on 01 Apr 1970.

The series consists of "historical" files maintained by John S. White, Director, Technical and Vocational Education Branch. Includes an historical overview of Technical and Vocational Education in B.C. (1906-1962); memorandum on the "Functions and Activities of Adult Education Branch" (1956); and essay by White entitled "History of British Columbia Institute of Technology" (1969). Also included are notes on the development of B.C. Vocational Schools in Prince George, Nanaimo, and Victoria, and transcripts of speeches given by the Premier and the Minister of Education at the opening of the regional vocational school at Dawson Creek (1967).

The series consists of six photograph albums created by the Division of Visual Education between 1947 and 1969, containing ca. 5100 photographs. This agency was responsible for providing media services to public education institutions. The records document school sites and educational programs for elementary, secondary, college and university students in British Columbia.

Subjects often relate to specific classes and schools, and include: projects and performances; facilities; ceremonies; teachers, staff and government officials; students; and displays and exhibits for promotional purposes.

The series consists of correspondence files created by the Assistant Superintendent of Education between 1965 and 1968.
The files deal with a broad range of topics, including teachers' conferences, data processing, school inspectorates and staff meetings.

May Alison Kern (nee Gillman) was born in England in 1896 and at an early age moved with her family to Edmonton. In 1924 she settled in Vancouver where she became active in local Parent-Teacher Associations. She served as President of the British Columbia Parent-Teacher Federation [BCPTF] from 1947 to 1950. Mrs. Kern was actively involved in all aspects of the Parent-Teacher movement in Canada for over twenty-five years, and throughout that time maintained strong ties with the National Congress of Parents and Teachers in the United States. In addition to her work for the Canadian Parent-Teacher movement, she was a member of the Council of the Canadian Association for Adult Education, served on the Advisory Council on School Broadcasting (1943-1950), and participated in the conferences of the Canadian Education Association. In 1946, while serving as Corresponding Secretary for the Canadian Home and School and Parent-Teacher Federation, she was chosen by the Canadian Teachers' Federation and the Wartime Information Board to make a lecture tour of Parent-Teacher Associations across Canada. In 1951, after a term as Executive Secretary, she was awarded a Life Membership in the CHSPTF. She died in 1985. MS-2775 consists of records relating to the British Columbia Parent-Teacher Federation [est'd. 1922] and the National Canadian Home and School Federation [est'd. 1927]. The records include correspondence, minutes of executive meetings, conference proceedings, and convention programs. In addition, this collection comprises historical notes and publications, and subject files on topics such as family relations, citizenship, censorship, health and parent education. Some personal papers are also included.

This record series is composed of the 1960-1963 files of the then Minister of Education, the Hon. Leslie Peterson. The files contain his ministerial correspondence and briefs that he received as a member of the cabinet. The filing system is not consistent over the four years.

The files contain material on almost all types of education activity in the province including home economics, correspondence schools, curriculum, community programs, private schools, technical and vocational education, text books, tests, standards and measurements, religious education, teacher recruitment, the school attendance of Doukhobor children and other subjects. They also contain correspondence with the B.C. Parent Teacher Federation, the B.C. School Trustees Association, the B.C. Teacher's Federation, the Canadian Education Association, the University of British Columbia, the University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University, Jericho Hill School for the deaf and blind and other interest groups and educational institutions.

The series consists of 627 b&w photographs taken or acquired by the Dept. of Education between 1944 and 1963. The photographs are of schools across B.C. and are arranged by the school district number at the time, or name of community. The photographs were taken by the the Division of Visual Education as well as by commercial photographers, School Boards and construction companies. There is some accompanying material consisting of plans, correspondence and pamphlets noted in the file list.

This series consists of a clippings book of articles related to schools in BC from 1953-1958.

The series consists of manuscript histories and biographies written by Goodfellow. Two of the histories are on the Similkameen district (one of which is a prepared speech), and the other two are brief biographies of a Presbyterian missionary and a pioneer in the Similkameen district.

The series consists of School Inspectors' reports created by the Dept. of Education between 1918 and 1957. The reports are arranged alphabetically, by name of school or community, for the years 1918-1938; thereafter, reports are filed alphabetically by name of teacher.

Evaluations of a number of private schools are included, as well as assessments of manual training and domestic science programmes in various schools. These reports contain evaluations of individual teachers and assessments of education programmes in all types of schools throughout the province.

The report forms varied over the years, but in most instances they contain information on teachers' qualifications, teaching methods and classroom discipline, pupils' progress, and the availability and condition of teaching equipment. Early reports on provincial elementary schools also contain information on the size and condition of the school buildings and grounds.

As a rule, the inspectors' reports were arranged alphabetically, by name of school inspected, and filed chronologically under various categories. During the years 1918-1937, the main categories were "Elementary Schools," "High Schools and Superior Schools," and "Manual Training and Domestic Science."

There were, however, frequent exceptions and alterations to this filing system. For example, during the years 1929-1931 Vancouver schools (i.e. those administered by the Vancouver School Board) were filed separately from other municipal schools; during the years 1934-1938 the Jericho Hill School for the Deaf and the Blind was accorded a separate file. Between 1928 and 1937 files pertaining to certain "private schools" were also kept separately. "Private schools" in this instance included some independent schools such as Crofton House, Vancouver, several religious colleges, and a number of Indian residential schools.

In addition, rural elementary schools were listed separately from other provincial elementary schools during the years 1928-1937. The "Rural Schools" reports were prepared by Miss Lottie Bowron, Rural Teachers' Welfare Officer (Women's). Her reports often contain detailed accounts of the conditions faced by teachers in small, isolated communities.

The Department of Education adopted a new filing system in 1938. From that year until 1957, when this series ends, all public school inspectors' reports, irrespective of school categories, were filed alphabetically under the names of individual teachers.

This series consists of Provincial Normal School sessional registers of students at Victoria 1927-1956 and Vancouver 1938-1956.

Records are arranged by school (i.e., Victoria or Vancouver), then academic year, and then alphabetically by student last name. Registers include only the following fields of data for each student: name; city/town of residence; age on Sept. 1st in years and months; academic standing; intelligence rating; grades for professional and special methods courses, teaching practice, personality, and attitude; standing awarded (yes or no); diploma issued (yes or no); and remarks (e.g., passed or withdrew).

The series consists of contract sets for diverse public works: buildings, bridges, roads and road works, ferries and ferry facilities, etc. The contract sets, usually signed by the contractor and the minister, often include the notices to contractors as they appeared in The British Columbia Gazette, tender forms, schedules of quantities, specifications, contracts, insurance policies, correspondence, and plans.

The series consists of records pertaining to teacher training and certification. It includes minute books of the Board of Examiners (1884-1949), teachers certificate registers (1892-1947), student registers at provincial Normal schools (1901-1938), high school examination results (1924-1927), and minutes of the Dept. of Education Appointments Board (1937-1945).

Prior to 1901, teachers in British Columbia were drawn either from outside the province or (after 1876) from graduates of provincial high schools. All teachers required teaching certificates, which were awarded by the Superintendent of Education. Teachers from outside the province were required to sit an examination set by the Provincial Board of Examiners. Candidates were awarded different grades or classes of certificates, depending on the results of their exam. High school graduates qualified for certificates in a similar manner, depending on their scores on terminal examinations. Standards of certification changed frequently over the years, as did the questions which appeared on the "Public School Teachers' Examinations." Basically, though, several classes of certificates were available: Academic and First Class (awarded to university graduates and/or to candidates scoring over 70% on the exam); Second class (awarded to candidates scoring over 50% on examinations); and Third class (awarded to candidates scoring 30% and above on a series of exam questions). First class certificates were permanent, 2nd class were valid for 3 years, while 3rd class certificates were generally good for one year, with the possibility of renewal. "Temporary certificates," valid until the annual examinations were held in July, were also issued under certain circumstances.

In 1901, the province's first Normal School for teacher training was opened in Vancouver. (A second school, in Victoria, was opened in 1915.) Thereafter, graduation from the Normal School replaced the "Public School Teachers' Examinations" for those seeking Academic, First, and Second class certificates. Only Third class certificates valid for a limited period of time were still awarded on the basis of candidates' high school examinations.

This series contains records pertaining to school properties, school sites, and school district boundaries. Vol. 1: Index to Deeds of School Sites, 1886-1948 (provides name of school, date when school district established, legal description of site, and name of vendor of property); Vols. II and III: Index to B.C. Gazette notices defining rural and assisted school districts, 1921-1945; Vol. IV: Alphabetical Register of Rural and Assisted Schools, 1921-1944 [showing dates of establishment, boundary and name changes, etc.]. The series also includes files containing miscellaneous contracts and fire insurance policies, 1914-1934. Vol. I may be used in conjunction with GR-1440, Lands Branch correspondence, File 2655/07.

This series contains directories of school inspectorates, showing names of school inspectors, names of schools and number of teachers within inspectorates. Directories also list schools closed in various school districts. This series may be used in conjunction with GR-0456 (School inspectors' reports, 1940-1946).