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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.

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).

This series contains records of the provincial Board of Education. The records include a minute book of Board meetings (1872-1878), a register of teachers' certificates (1872-1883), correspondence regarding Victoria School Reserve (1875-1876) and diaries of provincial school inspectors John Jessop, R.M. Clemitson, and C.C. McKenzie. McKenzie diary includes list of students [giving names, ages, classes and grades] in provincial schools from 1880-1881. Map of Victoria School Reserve, 1876, transferred to BC Archives Map Division.

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.

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

Documents in this collection pertain to both schools and include: Collegiate School (CS) students' register (1892-1929); CS students' roll book (1910-1929); CS Cadet corps orders book (1910-1919); CS scrapbook (1898-1929); and samples of CS hat ribbons and blazer crests. Muskett's personal account book and Qualicum College students' register (1935-1936) also included.

This series consists of the records of the Commission Regarding the Board of School Trustees of the City of Nelson, 1913. Commission records consist of minutes of proceedings and original signed report.

This series consists of the report of the Commission on South Park School Drawing Books, 1905-1906.

Correspondence from J.W. McKay, chairman of Yale School Board, concerning boundaries of Yale School District, school taxes, and pupils' fees as per Common School Ordinance, 1869. Draft replies to McKay's queries are included.

This series consists of correspondence of the Organizer of Technical Education. This officer dealt with night school, summer school, domestic science and manual training, in addition to technical education. The letterbooks of correspondence outward include the Director of Elementary Agricultural Education.

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.

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 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 correspondence inward to J.W. Gibson, Director of Elementary Agricultural Education. The series includes reports on "Caring for School Gardens" [1913] and notes on correlation of rural science with manual training. It also includes "Remittance Forms" from "Patriotism and Production School Campaign" [1917], a patriotic fund-raising exercise held in schools to assist the war effort. The forms give the name of schools, teachers, and a description of projects undertaken by pupils. There are over one hundred (mainly) rural schools represented. This series may be used in conjunction with GR-0458 and GR-1446 (Elementary Education correspondence, 1915-1929).

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 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.

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).

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.

Draft resolution of the Legislative Assembly, urging the establishment of a nonsectarian public school system for the Colony of Vancouver Island; also a petition from a committee of citizens of Victoria, advocating a central location for the city's common school. These documents are undated, but likely relate to the introduction of the colony's Common School Act of 1865.

This series includes a suggested draft for the 1872 Public Schools Act by Thomas Nicholson (1871), correspondence regarding the school at Burton's Prairie (1882) and correspondence regarding a request for an additional teacher at New Westminster High School (1889).

The series consists of notebooks maintained by senior clerks in the Education Department's Central Office, showing financial grants to schools (3 v. 1917-1944). The series also includes a notebook [probably kept by S.J. Willis, Superintendent of Education] containing memoranda re: school programmes, applications for employment, membership of curriculum revision committees, school inspectors, school buildings grants and education financing, 1931-1945. As well, this notebook contains typescripts by S.J. Willis on "Accredited High School," "Teacher Training (1934)," "School Finance" and "High School Curriculum & High School Correspondence Courses".

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.

This series contains correspondence inward and outward of the Director of Elementary Education and the organizer of Technical Education. Files include correspondence and reports regarding summer schools and night schools, manual training and domestic science, agricultural education and wartime Food Conservation Committee. The series also contains miscellaneous reports from school inspectors and correspondence regarding provincial university and college programmes. This collection may be used in conjunction with GR-0457 (Technical Education, 1915-1923) and GR-0458 (Elementary Agricultural Education, 1915-1929). This collection includes: correspondence (inward and outward) of J. W. Gibson, the Director of Elementary Agricultural Education Branch and John Kyle, the Organizer of Technical Education; the records of George H. Deane, the Supervisor of Technical Education; correspondence and reports pertaining to summer school and night school programs, manual training and domestic science, agriculture education and wartime food supply; miscellaneous reports from school inspectors; and correspondence concerning university and college courses. During this period, the Organizer of Technical Education (John Kyle) was responsible for night schools, domestic science courses, and manual training programs. The Director of the Elementary Agricultural Education Branch (J.W.Â\~Gibson) was responsible for rural science courses, schools gardening projects and acted as director of the Summer School for Teachers. Gibson was also the Provincial Organizer for the Wartime Food Conservation Committee. Both John Kyle and J.W. Gibson reported to George H. Deane, the Assistant Superintendent of Education as well as the Supervisor of Technical Education (19131917). Deane also acted as Inspector of Schools on Vancouver Island, and this collection includes correspondence relating to school inspection and to matters other than technical and agricultural education.

The series consists of correspondence between the director of Elementary Agricultural Education (J.W. Gibson) and school boards throughout the province, created between 1915 and 1929. The correspondence is mainly concerned with gardens in local elementary schools and includes detailed reports on the types of gardens being cultivated at various schools. Some reports also include plans and drawings of gardens.

The files are arranged alphabetically by name of community and chronologically by year.

The Elementary Agricultural Education Branch was established in 1915 to promote nature study and rural science in the public schools of British Columbia. The director of the branch was John Wesley Gibson (1874-1954) who, with a team of district supervisors, established one of the most successful school gardening programmes in the country. As well as developing school gardens, the branch was also involved with patriotic fund raising projects, home garden clubs and agricultural fairs.

The series consists of records created by the branch between 1916 and 1929. It includes correspondence and reports from District Supervisors of Agricultural Instruction, submitted to Superintendent of Elementary Agricultural Education, J.W. Gibson. Included with the correspondence are the supervisors' monthly reports, giving the names of schools inspected, comments on school projects and details of events pertaining to horticulture and agriculture. It also includes memoranda and letters from applicants seeking positions as instructors.

The correspondence was filed alphabetically under the names of the school district supervisors. During the period 1916 1929 the branch supervisors and districts were as follows:

During the period 1916-1929 the branch supervisors and districts were as follows:
W.J. Austin, Kelowna/Vernon
J.E. Britton, Armstrong/Kelowna
W.M. Fleming, Duncan and Cowichan
W.H. Grant, Salmon Arm
H.A. Hallwright, Victoria and Saanich
S.H. Hopkins, Courtenay-Comox
T.H. Jones, Armstrong and Enderby, Penticton
A.M. McDermott, New Westminster
J.B. Munro, Armstrong/Enderby
J.C. Ready, Chilliwack
V.B. Robinson, Vernon/Penticton/Summerland
J.M. Shales, Murrayville [Langley area]
E.L. Small, Cloverdale [Langley and Surrey]
G.V. Van Talisk, Penticton
F.J. Welland, Cloverdale

Researchers should also consult the branch reports which were published annually in the Public Schools Reports.

The series consists of records created by the Dept. of Education between 1915 and 1924. The records include teachers' "Reports on Instruction Given in Rural Science," submitted to J.W. Gibson, director of Elementary Agricultural Instruction. The reports show name of teacher, teacher's length of service at the school, qualifications in rural science, and previous experience with school gardening. The reports also contain information re: syllabuses, textbooks, equipment, etc., as well as monthly calendars of gardening activities of various schools.

The reports are filed alphabetically by teachers' names. Researchers should consult the Public Schools Reports for these years to determine the names of teachers at particular schools.

This series consists of correspondence outward from Dr. H.B. King in his capacity as Technical Adviser, May, 1938 - Aug. 1939, and later as Chief Inspector of Schools, Sep to Oct 1939.

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 McKenzie Family collection consists of the business and personal papers of Kenneth McKenzie (1811-1874), his ancestors and descendants, including correspondence, notebooks, diaries, and other papers. It documents over one hundred and fifty years of family history. The collection is divided into those records relating to Vancouver Island (Boxes 1-19) and those relating to Scotland (Boxes 20-25). The Vancouver Island papers contain correspondence and documents pertaining to Lakehill Farm, the settlement of estates, official appointments, and other family matters. They also chronicle the organization and operation of Craigflower Farm and, to a lesser extent, the other farms operated by the Puget's Sound Agricultural Company on Vancouver Island. The Scottish papers document family events, relationships and property from 1779 to 1852. Included is an extensive record of the protracted settlement of the estate of William Blair (Boxes 22-23). William Blair was the father of Janet McKenzie (Blair).

Born in Edinburgh October 5, 1811, the son of Dr. Kenneth McKenzie (1786-1844) and Janet Blair (1784-1820), Kenneth McKenzie was raised and educated in the same city. Later he moved to his father's estate of Rentonhall, Haddingtonshire, East Lothian where he managed the operations. The estate was sold in 1851 and McKenzie, his wife Agnes Russell (1823-1897) and their six children emigrated to Vancouver Island in 1853. McKenzie had been hired by the Puget's Sound Agricultural Company to oversee the establishment and operation of Craigflower Farm near Victoria. In 1866 the family, now with eight children, moved to Lakehill Farm just north of Victoria. Kenneth McKenzie died there April 10, 1874. A comprehensive biography of Kenneth McKenzie by William R. Sampson is in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography, X, pp.477-479. A rough genealogy of the McKenzie Family is provided in the hardcopy version of the finding aid.

Numbers appearing at the upper left corner of documents are references to the old catalogue system and should not be used for citation.

Boxes 1-4: Kenneth McKenzie (1811-1874) and family: correspondence inward
Box 5: McKenzie, Kenneth (1846-1906): correspondence inward
Box 6: Kenneth McKenzie (1811-1874) and Kenneth McKenzie (1846-1906): correspondence outward
Box 7: Kenneth McKenzie (1811-1874): notebooks and personal papers
Box 8: McKenzie Family: notebooks, diaries, correspondence and personal papers
Box 9: McKenzie Family: material relating to Lakehill property
Boxes 10-18: Craigflower Farm
Box 19: Puget's Sound Agricultural Company
Boxes 20-25: McKenzie family: material relating to Scotland. N.B. See also box 25 for further material relating to the estate of William Blair, d.1800

North Gabriola School Trustees' letterbook (1883-1895), minute books and accounts (1884-1932). Also includes Register of Pupils attending (South) Gabriola School, 1877-1878. Gabriola School District was established in 1872. In 1883 the District Boundaries were altered and two separate schools, South Gabriola and North Gabriola, were opened.