The British Columbia History Internet/Web Site

BC Archives / Libraries / Museums

To search for new or updated content, use the page-search function of your Web browser and search on "date added" or "date updated". Dates are entered as "yyyy.mm.dd", for example, "1995-2003.08.23".

Directories and Guides

The Archives Association of British Columbia maintains several resources for locating archival records:

1. British Columbia Archival Information Network, "a gateway to information about archives and archival holdings in the province." Date added: 1995-2003.11.02.
2. The British Columbia Archival Union List was developed and maintained by the AABC on its own computer system as of February 1999. The telnet connection is no longer available (1998.10.05).
3. The Canadian North West Archival Network, formerly known as the Interprovincial Archival Union Lists. It includes descriptions of archival records in Alberta, BC, Northwest Territories, and Yukon Territory.
4. A Guide to Archival Repositories in British Columbia is a hypertext version of this invaluable publication

The Interprovincial Archival Union Lists database, jointly developed by the Archives Association of BC with other provincial and territorial archives, is now known as the Canadian North West Archival Network. Links to other provincial/interprovincial union lists can be found on the Canadian Archival Information Network (CAIN) or via Canadian Archival Resources on the Internet.

The British Columbia Museums Association (BCMA) maintains a Web page that includes a searchable and categorized directory of all museum-archives and heritage sites (cultural heritage attractions) in the province.

Individual Institutions

1. Alder Grove Telephone Museum and Community Archives (Alder Grove Heritage Society)
2. Alert Bay Public Library and Museum also preserves community archival records
3. Anglican Church Archives Network in British Columbia (via AABCNet)
4. Armstrong Spallumcheen Museum and Art Complex (Armstrong)
5. Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Date added: 1995-2003.07.20.
6. Bowen Island Community Museum and Archives (Bowen Island Historians)
7. British Columbia Archives (Victoria). Check here for access to the visual records database, including online images of photographs, art, cartographic records; sample moving images and audio clips; the library catalogue since 1985; full-text finding aids and the government records catalogue. All databases are full-text retrieval through a search form allowing you to select one, several or all databases. A separate database is available for access to indexes of birth, marriage and death registration (Vital Statistics Agency) records.
8. British Columbia Aviation Museum (Sidney) includes a history of the Patricia Bay Air Force Base, now the Victoria International Airport
9. British Columbia Museum of Mining (Britannia Beach) is also a National Historic Site. Date updated: 2002-05-07.
10. Canadian Museum of Rail Travel (Cranbrook).
11. Chilliwack Museum, Chilliwack Archives.
12. Chilliwack Museum, Chilliwack Archives (AABC Communities Connect Project prototype).
13. Chilliwack Museum and Archives (BC Museums Association)
14. City of Richmond Archives now includes a photo search and search-holdings database.
15. City of Vancouver Archives includes a searchable database of all records independent of the BC Archival Union List
16. City of Victoria Archives
17. Comox Archives and Museum
18. Courtenay and District Museum and Archives
19. Cowichan Valley Museum and Archives (Duncan). Date updated: 1995-2003.07.04.
20. Craig Heritage Park Museum and Archives (District 69 Historical Society, Parksville)
21. Cranbrook Archives, Museum and Landmark Foundation
22. Creston Archives (Creston and District Museum)
23. Crofton House School Archives (Vancouver).
24. Cumberland Museum and Archives. Date updated: 1995-2003.07.04.
25. Dawson Creek Public Library: Calverley Collection is showcased in its "History Is Where You Stand" site. Features include a search engine and narrative histories of the Peace River region.
26. Delta Museum and Archives. Date updated: 1995-2003.07.04.
27. Diocese of New Westminster Archives (Vancouver School of Theology, UBC)
28. Elphinstone Pioneer Museum (Gibsons)
29. Enderby and District Museum. Date updated: 1995-2003.07.05.
30. Esquimalt Municipal Archives
31. Fort Steele Heritage Town Archives
32. Fraser-Fort George Regional Museum (Prince George)
33. Gabriola Museum Archives
34. Granville Island Sport Fishing Museum (Vancouver)
35. Greater Vernon Museum and Archives
36. Hazelton Pioneer Museum & Archives
37. Icelandic Archives of British Columbia (Icelandic Canadian Club of BC, New Westminster).
38. Japanese Canadian National Museum (Burnaby) includes a Japanese Canadian Timeline.
39. Kamloops Museum and Archives. Date added: 1995-2003.07.04.
40. Kitimat Centennial Museum
41. Kootenay Lake Archives (Kaslo; operated by the Kootenay Lake Historical Society). Date updated: 1995-2003.07.04.
42. Kwagiulth Museum & Cultural Centre (Cape Mudge Village, Quadra Island) is a sister museum to the U'mista Cultural Centre.
43. Langham Japanese Canadian Museum (Langham Cultural Centre Gallery, Kaslo).
44. Langley Centennial Museum and National Exibition Centre includes a photographs database in the Collections section.
45. Maltwood Museum & Art Gallery, University of Victoria. Date updated: 2003-05-03.
46. Maritime Museum of British Columbia (Victoria)
47. Matsqui-Sumas-Abbotsford (MSA) Museum-Archives (MSA Museum Society, Abbotsford)
48. Mennonite Historical Society (Abbotsford) includes an archives
49. Metchosin School Museum
50. Mission Community Archives
51. Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery Archives (University of British Columbia, Vancouver). Date added: 1995-2003.07.05.
52. The Museum at Campbell River, Archives
53. Museum of Anthropology (University of British Columbia, Vancouver)
54. Nanaimo Community Archives
55. Nelson Museum Archives
56. New Westminster Museum and Archives (Irving House Historic Centre)
57. Nikkei Place (National Nikkei Heritage Centre Society) is a bilingual Web site and physical facility in Burnaby devoted to the history and culture of Japanese Canadians and officially opened on September 22, 2000.
58. North Pacific Historic Fishing Village (Port Edward) is a national historic site which includes a fishing and cannery museum.
59. North Vancouver Museum and Archives
60. Pacific Mineral Museum (Vancouver)
61. Powell River Historical Museum and Archives
62. Prince Rupert City and Regional Archives
63. Quesnel and District Museum and Archives
64. Roedde House Museum (Vancouver)
65. Royal British Columbia Museum (Victoria) includes an Object Database with images where available. Images can also be purchased. Date updated: 1995-2003.05.29.
66. Saanich Archives (Corporation of the District of Saanich). Date updated: 2004.06.04.
67. Saanich Pioneers' Society Museum and Archives. Date added: 2002.11.07.
68. Salmon Arm Museum and Heritage Association.
69. Sandon Archives (Sandon Historical Society). Date added: 1995-2003.07.04.
70. Sechelt Community Archives (Sechelt). Date added: 1995-2003.07.05.
71. Secwepemc Archives (Kamloops)
72. Shawnigan Lake School Archives
73. Sidney Museum
74. Simon Fraser University Archives and Library Special Collections (Burnaby)
75. Sooke Region Museum
76. South Peace Historical Society Museum and Archives (Dawson Creek)
77. Sunshine Coast Maritime Museum (Sunshine Coast Maritime History Society, Gibsons)
78. Terrace and Region Archives
79. Transit Museum Society (TRAMS, Vancouver)
80. Trinity Western University Archives and Special Collections (Langley)
81. U'Mista Cultural Centre (Alert Bay)
82. Union of BC Indian Chiefs (Vancouver) manages a Resource Centre which includes a searchable database to Dept. of Indian Affairs records (RG-10) at the National Archives of Canada.
83. United Church of Canada British Columbia Conference Archives (Vancouver)
84. University of British Columbia Library, Charles Woodward Memorial Room (Vancouver)
85. University of British Columbia Library, Special Collections and University Archives Division (Vancouver)
86. University of Victoria Archives
87. University of Victoria Special Collections
88. Valemount and Area Museum
89. Vancouver Art Gallery
90. Vancouver Ballet Society Archives. Date added: 1995-2003.07.05.
91. Vancouver Maritime Museum includes its online Library catalogue.
92. Vancouver Museum
93. Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch, Special Collections includes the Northwest History Collections, Vancouver Building Register, Historical Photographs and various other British Columbiana and Canadiana treasures.
94. West Coast Railway Heritage Park (West Coast Railway Association, Squamish)
95. Whistler Museum and Archives.

Compiled by David Mattison, Victoria Telecommunity Network, BC. Copyright © 1995-2003 by David Mattison. This page may be freely linked to but not duplicated in any fashion without my consent.