Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Letters : Provincial Library
General material designation
- textual record
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title based on contents of the series.
Level of description
Series
Reference code
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1915-1936 (Creation)
- Creator
- British Columbia. Legislative Library
Physical description area
Physical description
3 m of textual records
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
Other title information of publisher's series
Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Library was founded in 1863 to serve the Colonial Legislature of Vancouver Island and subsequently the Province of British Columbia when it became a province of Canada in 1871. During its early years, the Library assumed responsibility for archival and provincial public library service, and, therefore, was often referred to as the Provincial Library.
The Legislative Library of British Columbia was formally created by statute in 1894 (SBC, ch. 27) and reported to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. The primary purpose of the Library is to provide reference and research services to the Members of the Legislative Assembly, their staff, the Officers of the House, and legislative support staff.
Custodial history
History unknown. Records accessioned as GR-0543 in September 1972.
Scope and content
The series consists of carbon copies of the outward correspondence of the Provincial Librarian and Archivist created between April 1, 1915 and May 29, 1936. The correspondence has been bound in 30 volumes and does not include any enclosures or copies of inward correspondence. The letters are filed chronologically, each letter being numbered. An alphabetical index, giving the name of the correspondent and the letter number, is at either the front or the back of the volume, with the exception of volumes 14, 15 and 17. In addition, the numbers of previous and subsequent letters with the same correspondent are hand written on some of the letters themselves.
The carbon copies are not signed but the Provincial Librarian and Archivists are as follows:
1915-1919: E.O.S. Scholefield
1920-1926: John Forsyth
1926-1934: John Hosie
1934-1936: W.K. Lamb
Most of the correspondence is routine and deals with book orders and payments but there are also letters regarding the move to the new library in 1915, the acquisition of archival records, procuring transcript copies of archival records, comments about the war, information and advice about historical research and many other topics.
Notes area
Physical condition
The leather bindings of the first 18 volumes are deteriorating. The paper used for carbon copies is low quality, acidic paper and is brittle and discoloured. In many cases, the print has faded.
Immediate source of acquisition
Arrangement
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
There are no access restrictions.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
A volume list is available http://search-bcarchives.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Document/Finding_Aids_Atom/GR-0501_to_GR-1000/GR-0543.pdf
Associated materials
Accruals
General note
Accession number(s): GR-0543.
Alternative identifier(s)
Standard number area
Standard number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- British Columbia. Legislative Library (Subject)
- Scholefield, Ethelbert Olaf Stuart, 1875-1919 (Subject)
- Forsyth, John, 1881-1955 (Subject)
- Hosie, John, 1880-1934 (Subject)
- Lamb, William Kaye, 1904-1999 (Subject)
- Provincial Archives of British Columbia (Subject)