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Public Works contracts and other material

  • GR-0054
  • Series
  • 1893-1926

The series consists of records created by the Dept. of Public Works between 1893 and 1926. The files contain contracts, specifications, and plans of Public Works buildings such as schools, gaols, court houses and hospitals. They are arranged chronologically.

British Columbia. Dept. of Public Works

Public Works specifications and other material

  • GR-0070
  • Series
  • 1872-1924

The series consists of specifications for Public Works buildings, including occasional plans and contract forms, created between 1872 and 1924 by the Dept. of Public Works.

British Columbia. Dept. of Public Works

Public Works contracts and other material

  • GR-0071
  • Series
  • 1924-1954

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.

British Columbia. Dept. of Public Works

Public Works correspondence, plans and specifications

  • GR-0080
  • Series
  • 1872-1896

The series consists of records created by the Dept. of Lands and Works between 1872 and 1896 regarding public works. The records contains contracts, specifications, correspondence, and some plans connected with the construction and repair of schools, government buildings, and smaller works.

A limited number of files contained plans and a few files contained plans only. These files are indicated in the finding aid by * and ** respectively. All plans have been removed from the files and accessioned in the Map Collection as M856047. Appendix 1 of the finding aid lists the plans.

The file list provides the file number assigned by Public Works, the original contract number in square brackets, the name of the building or work, and the date of the contract.

British Columbia. Dept. of Lands and Works

School inspectors' reports

  • GR-0122
  • Series
  • 1918-1957

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.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Assistant Superintendent of Education correspondence

  • GR-0134
  • Series
  • 1965-1968

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.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Education Department Central Office notebooks

  • GR-0139
  • Series
  • 1917-1945

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".

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Department of Education executive records

  • GR-0152
  • Series
  • 1960-1963

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.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Elementary School Agricultural Education correspondence

  • GR-0171
  • Series
  • 1915-1929

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.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Elementary School Agricultural Education reports

  • GR-0172
  • Series
  • 1915-1924

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.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Elementary School Agricultural Education correspondence and reports

  • GR-0173
  • Series
  • 1916-1929

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.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Circulars and brochures pertaining to patriotic activities and special events

  • GR-0176
  • Series
  • 1930-1937; 1976

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.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Memoranda, notes and transcripts of speeches regarding vocational education

  • GR-0209
  • Series
  • ca. 1956-1969

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).

British Columbia. Technical and Vocational Education Branch

Clipping book related to BC schools

  • GR-0275
  • Series
  • 1953-1958

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

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

H.B. King correspondence outward

  • GR-0452
  • Series
  • 1938-1939

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.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education. Technical Adviser

Correspondence of the Organizer of Technical Education

  • GR-0457
  • Series
  • 1915-1922

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.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Teachers' Bureau records

  • GR-0461
  • Series
  • 1923, 1928

This series is comprised of School District Information forms distributed by the Teachers Bureau to rural school teachers in 1923 and 1928 to be filled out and returned to the Bureau. The forms are questionnaires for the purpose of obtaining information about teachers’ living conditions in rural school districts. There is no record of similar forms being sent in other years.

Not every rural and assisted school is represented in this collection. Of the 684 rural and assisted schools in BC for the year ending June 1923, there are forms for 651. For the year ending June 1928, there are forms for 711 of the 728 schools.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education. Teachers Bureau

Register of schools, school trustees and teachers

  • GR-0462
  • Series
  • 1917-1946

This series consists of 33 volumes of register of Schools, school trustees and teachers. Records include registers showing the location of rural and assisted schools (1 vol.), names of trustees of rural and assisted school districts, 1917-1946 (29 vols.) and names of teachers in provincial public schools, 1918-1921 (3 vols.).

Volume 1 is a register of rural and assisted schools, ca 1918-1946. The schools are listed alphabetically and the location of each school is described. For example: "JACKSON BAY - a post office on Lewis Channel - Topaz Harbour route of Union Steamship Company from Vancouver;"

Volumes 2-30 are registers showing the names of school trustees of rural and assisted schools. The registers are arranged by year, beginning in 1917/1918 (vol. 2) through 1945/1946 (vol.30). Each register is organized alphabetically by name of school.

Volumes 31-33 are entitled "Teachers' Index Books." These registers are arranged alphabetically by name of teacher. The registers also show where each teacher was posted and the teacher's residence or postal address.

The Teachers' Indexes for 1918-1920 (vols. 31 and 32) list teachers in all categories of public schools City, Rural Municipality, Rural and Assisted. The Index volume for 1920-1921, however, only shows teachers who taught in Graded City Schools and in Rural Municipality Schools; teachers at small country schools (i.e. rural and assisted schools) are not listed in Vol. 33.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Commission on Nelson School Board (1913)

  • GR-0789
  • Series
  • 1913

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.

British Columbia. Commission Re Board of School Trustees of the City of Nelson [1913]

Council of Public Instruction correspondence and other material

  • GR-0899
  • Series
  • 1954-1970

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.

British Columbia. Council of Public Instruction

Qualifying Pupil Lists and other material

  • GR-1412
  • Series
  • 1977-1980

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.

British Columbia. Office of the Inspector of Independent Schools

Superintendent of Education correspondence inward

  • GR-1445
  • Series
  • 1887-1894

Consists of correspondence inward to Superintendents John Jessop (1872-1878), C.C. McKenzie (1878-1884), and S.D. Pope (1884-1899). Types of records include petitions for school buildings, applications for teaching posts, minutes of local school boards, school trustees' reports, etc. This series may be used in conjunction with GR-0449 (Superintendent of Education, Indexes to Correspondence Inward, 1881-1915) and GR-0450 (Superintendent of Education, Correspondence Outward, 1872-1919).

Researchers should also be aware of the Correspondence Inward files of the Provincial Secretary, 1871-1892 (GR-0526). Since the Provincial Secretary was responsible for the Education Department, these files contain many records pertaining to teachers, schools, and education matters in general. Access to documents in GR-0526 is through GR-0524 (Provincial Secretary. Registers and indexes of letters inward, 1872-1924). Documents pertaining to education, etc. are indexed under the headings "SCHOOLS", and "EDUCATION, SUPERINTENDENT".

British Columbia. Superintendent of Education

Elementary and technical education correspondence

  • GR-1446
  • Series
  • 1914-1929

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.Ă‚\~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.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Victoria School Board minutes and other material

  • GR-1465
  • Series
  • 1869-1887

This series contains a bound volume of minutes of meetings of the Victoria School Board, along with receipts of payments made by the Board. The series includes minutes of meetings of school board electors (showing votes cast by individual electors for particular candidates) and contains copies of provincial government circulars relating to education and copies of schools-related bills, by-laws, rules and regulations.

Victoria School District. Board of School Trustees

Board of Education correspondence and other records

  • GR-1468
  • Series
  • 1872-1884

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.

British Columbia. Board of Education

Records with regard to teacher training and certification

  • GR-1471
  • Series
  • 1884-1949

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.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Department of Education correspondence and other records

  • GR-1477
  • Series
  • 1913-1929

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).

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Department of Education administrative records

  • GR-1479
  • Series
  • 1886-1948

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.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

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