Series GR-2531 - Provincial Museum photos of Jordan Meadows

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Provincial Museum photos of Jordan Meadows

General material designation

  • graphic material
  • textual record

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Title statements of responsibility

Title notes

  • Source of title proper: Title based on the contents of the series.

Level of description

Series

Reference code

GR-2531

Edition area

Edition statement

Edition statement of responsibility

Class of material specific details area

Statement of scale (cartographic)

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Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • 1947-1948 (Creation)
    Creator
    British Columbia. Provincial Museum of Natural History and Anthropology

Physical description area

Physical description

54 photographs and 2 p. of textual records

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Archival description area

Name of creator

(1886-1967)

Biographical history

The British Columbia Provincial Museum was established on 25 October 1886 following a petition which was presented to the Lieutenant Governor. Signed by some of the leading men in the province, the petition requested the establishment of a museum which would classify, preserve, and exhibit "specimens of the natural products and Indian antiquities and manufactures" of British Columbia. The status and functions of the museum, however, were not defined until 1913 when the Provincial Museum Act (3 Geo. V, c.50) was passed by the legislature. This act set down the following objectives for the museum:

To secure and preserve specimens illustrating the natural history of the Province.

To collect anthropological material relating to the aboriginal races of the Province.

To obtain information respecting the natural sciences relating particularly to the natural history of the Province and to increase and diffuse knowledge regarding the same.
The museum operated under this legislation until 1967 when a new Museum Act (15 16 Eliz. 2, c.41) was introduced. Under the new act, the museum's objectives were "to secure and preserve specimens and other objects which illustrate the natural history and human history of the Province" and "to increase and diffuse knowledge in these fields by research, exhibits, publications, and other means." The new act introduced at a time when the museum was moving to new quarters from the east wing of the Parliament Buildings broadened the museum's mandate. Specifically, it allowed the museum to devote itself not only to ethnology and natural history, but also to the modern social and industrial history of the province.

The Provincial Museum operated as a branch of the Department of the Provincial Secretary from 1886 until 1942, when it was transferred to the Department of Education. In 1961 control of the museum was passed to the Department of Recreation and Conservation. The museum was returned to the Ministry of the Provincial Secretary in 1976.

Custodial history

Scope and content

The series consists of photographs taken or acquired by George A. Hardy of the Provincial Museum in 1947 and 1948, in order to produce "A report on a study of Jordan Meadows, Vancouver Island." The Jordon Meadows valley is on Southern Vancouver Island between Jordan River and Shawnigan Lake. This report was published as part of the Provincial Museum's annual report for 1948 and contains reproductions of eight of the photographs.

The photographs consist of 21 negatives and 27 prints (accession 198206-046), mostly taken by Hardy during his 1947 and 1948 field trips to document the natural landscape of Jordan Meadows. All but two of the negatives have accompanying prints. Approximately six of the prints were copied from photographs loaned to Hardy by Mrs. C. Bannerman (née Cis Weeks, one of the early settler family Weeks that settled in the Jordan Meadows valley). The photographs contain images of the natural topography and foliage of the valley, as well as photographs of the Weeks family home and the earlier cabin. In addition there are two notecards containing a rough timeline of activity in the Jordan Meadows area, probably compiled by Hardy during his research.

There are also six glass lantern slides made from the negatives, possibly intended for an illustrated lecture (accession 198203-106). These slides mainly show the old cabin and area.

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

Transferred from the British Columbia Provincial Museum in 1975.

Arrangement

Language of material

Script of material

Location of originals

The original photographs loaned by Mrs. C. Bannerman are presumed to be with the family.

Availability of other formats

Restrictions on access

There are no access restrictions.

Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

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Accruals

General note

Accession number(s): 198203-106, 198206-046

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