Denman Island Museum and Archives

MUSEUM RECORDS sous fonds – 1964-2019 ongoing – 7.5 cm. of textual records

(A.18.5.1-5) – Loc. A-H-8 – Visitor Books is 5 visitor books signed by guests of the Museum listing the date of the visit, where they were from and occasional remarks. The periods covered by each book are 1964-1984; 1984-1994; 2002-2014; 2014-2016; 2017-2021.

(A. 19.15) – Loc.A-H-11 – Denman Museum & Archives Minutes 2017-2018 is 1.5 cm. (100 pp) of minutes and correspondence from the M&A committee of the DSMS.

Tony Gregson donated this to the Archives.

(A. 20.2) – Loc.A-H-11 – Museum Daily Record Book is one 24 pp. letter size workbook of the records of sunnmer donations and attendance 2015 – 2019. Various notes and comments are included.

REFERENCE – CLIPPINGS sous fonds – 1970’s -1990’s – 1.5 cm. of clippings in scrapbooks and 2,0 cm. of clippings in an album.

(A18.75.1-2) – Loc.A-B-2 – Two Scrapbooks contain clippings from local newspapers on events and history concerning Denman Island. Many focus on the arts. The first book covers the years 1978-1988, the second 1986-1997.

The scrapbooks are spiral bound, 36pp. and 28×35 cm.

They were originally held in the Denman Library.

(A. 18.76) – Loc.A-B-2 – Album of Clippings is a collection of newspaper clippings and magazine articles on topics related to Denman Island. They appear to come mostly from the 1990’s.

The album is 20 pp. and 18x30cm.

Most of the pieces are about gardening or arts and crafts on Denman. Bylines include Jennie Carruthers, O.B.Cobb, Lynda Pesklevits, Lynn Thompson and Christine Wilson.

(A.22.05) – Loc.A-H-11 – Clippings – Jude Kirk is a collection of clippings from Comox Valley papers, 1990s, on Carmen Mirandas, pottery tours, Clacquat protest, soccer, ferry accident, craft fair. Collected by Jude Kirk

(A.24.06) – Loc.A-H-21 – Clipping – Hermitage one clipping on the court case around the Hermitage property.

(A.23.25) – Loc.A-H-21 – Island Trustees 1973-2023 is a list of Denman Trustees 1973-2023 with addresses and phone numbers. From Margie Gang.

(A.23.01) – Loc.A-H-11 – Hornby Island Culture Clash – 1970 is clipping from the Comox District Free Press Mar 4. 1070 by David George on a battle at a ratepayers meeting on Hornby, hippies vs. establishment. Donated by Donna Millen.

REFERENCE – PERIODICALS sous fonds – 1962-2023 – 2 cm. of textual records

This sous fonds contains 4 items. 1. (A.18.31) – Loc. A-H-10 – A commemorative centennial edition of the Comox Free Press Aug. 29, 1962 containing articles on Comox Valley history. 2. (A.18.19) – Loc.A-F-2 – Harrowsmith magazine #16, 1978 with an article on Denman Island hand built homes by Des Kennedy with photos by Paul Bailey. Also a clipped article from BC Outdoors (May 1981) on cycling Denman and Hornby Islands by Liz Pope. 3. (A.18.20) – Loc.A-F- 2 – Western Living magazine July 1983 with an article on island homes by Carolann Rule. Includes Tom Burrows’s home on Hornby and Turid Olafson’s home on Denman. Also a clipped article from Sept. 1987 issue on Bruce Fairbairn’s home on Hornby. 4. (A.18.21) – Loc.A-F-2 – Gardening Life magazine 2000?, a clipped article by Des Kennedy, photos Allan Mandell on Des and Sandy’s garden. Also a short clipped article from Canadian Living Aug. 1993 by Des Kennedy on Sudasi Gardener’s garden. 5. (A.23.20) – Loc. A-H-21 – CV Collective magazine, Summer 2023, with an article by Claire King on Hilda (Slayter) Lacon and the Titanic disaster.

REFERENCE – MUSEUMS sous fonds – 1963-2006 – 12.5cm. of textual and published material

(A. 18.50) – Loc.A-H-5 – This sous fonds contains material pertaining to the creation, organization and management of small museums and archives. Both occasional papers and published works are included. Topics covered include care and preservation of materials, collections management, storage, museum layout, staff organization, education among other topics. Publications include Running a Museum Handbook and Training Guide, ICOM, 2006: Tales from the Attic, Colleen Wilson, 2002: Museum Management, CMA, 1969: Small Museum Design Manual, Lambur, Lee and Sano, 1974: A Manual for Small Archives, AABC,

1994. This last item is stored in the desk drawers as well as a binder of collected articles on museums.

REFERENCE – PUBLICATIONS and BOOKS sous fonds – 1947-2021 – 1.0cm. of published material

This sous fonds contains 15 items.

1. (A.18.56) – Loc.A-F-4 – Men and Trees by Renny Englbert, 1947, 40 pp. a soft cover booklet on the logging industry.

2. (A.18.55) – Loc.A-F-4 – The Company and the Coast ed. E. Blanche Norcross, 1983, 86 pp. a soft cover book on the history of the H.B.C. at Fort Langley and Fort Rupert, Vancouver Island coal production and James Douglas. This book was presented to the Denman Museum by the Nanaimo Historical Society June 3, 1989 and is inscribed as such.

3. (A.21.10) – Loc.A-H-11 – Denman Scenes – from here to there 1975-2014 by Paul Bailey, 70 pp. a soft cover book of photos of events and people of Denman Island taken by Paul between 1975 and 2014.

4. (A.22.06) – Loc.A-C-1 – Island Heritage Buildings by Thomas K. Ovanin, 161 pp. a soft cover book of photos and descriptions of heritage buildings from 12 Islands Trust islands publ. 1984.

5. (A.22.07) – Loc.A-C-2 – The Legacy Collection, 45 pp. a soft cover book showcasing 21 Denman artists on the 2008 studio tour.

6. (A.21.09) – Loc.A-C-2 – Rolling With the Times by Wallace Baikie, 192 pp. softcover book of Wallace Baikie’s life (b. 1902) on Denman and in the logging industry, publ. in 1985 and autographed, includes many photos.

7. (A21.2) – Loc.A-H-11 – Looking Backwards by Alan Corrigall, 70 pp. spiral bound self published autobiography with b/w and colour photos publ. about 2000. Alan grew up on Corrigall Road on Denman.

8. (A.21.3) – Loc.A-C-2 – Images and Voices of Lighthouse Country by Rita Levitz and Leah Willott, 200 pp. softcover book with b/w photos, publ. 1997 is an oral history of Bowser, Deep Bay, Qualicum Bay and Horne lake.

9. (A.21.4) – Loc.A-C-1 – The New Pioneers Handbook by James Bohlen, 275 pp. Hardback book with b/w photos, publ.1975, is a handbook for sustainable rural living. Jim Bohlen was a founder of Greenpeace.

10. (A.21.6) – Loc.A-H-11 – The Denman Island Seafood Cookbook – Vol. II, 8 pp. stapled, recipes from Denman Islanders, publ. 2000?

11. (A.21.7) – Loc.A-H-11 – Rancho Allegria Camp Songs, 20 pp. stapled, Rancho Allegria, a kids camp run by the Redferns on the old McFarlan property on East Road in the 1960s and 70s.

12. (A.21.8) – Loc.A-C-1 – Margaret Callahan – Mother of Northwest Art ed. By Brian Tobey Callahan, 430 pp. softcover book publ. 2009, the compiled writings of Margaret Callahan, mother nothwest school of painters.

13. (A.22.03) – Loc.A-H-11 – Bringing K’omoks to Comox by Jesse Morin 26 pp. a transcription of two presentations (one on Denman, the other on Hornby) by Jesse Morin, archaeologist, on the history of the K’omoks people given in 2018 and 2022. The transcriptions are by Tony Gregson.

14. (A.22.16) – Loc.A-C-2 – Salish S. Redact el of the Pacific Northwest by Audrey Benedict and Joseph Gaydos, 147 pp. softcover books with full colour photos of the natural history of the Salish Sea publ. by Sasquatch Books in Seattle in 2015. Donated by Peter Walford, dentist.

15. (A.20.21) – Loc. book table – Book – The Hymnary is a 850pp. hardback book of hymns published by The United Church in 1930, inscribed Mrs. Thomas Isbister from Mrs. F.R. Kelly.

16. (A.20.20) – Loc. book table – Book – Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity, Book 5 by Richard Hooker is a 550 pp. hardback book on aspects of Christianity. Inscribed “James Ormiston Jan. 1922”.

17. (A.20.19) – Loc. Book table – Book – The Science of Eating by Alfred McCann is a 400 pp. hardback book on nutrition publ. in 1919. It was given as first prize at the Flower Show at the Fall Fair in 1924 by the Women’s Institute.

18. (A.20.18.) – Loc. Book table – Book – Dry Fly Entomology by F.M. Halford is a 320 pp. hardback book publ. 1902 on the development of fly fishing with over 100 illus. Inscription “George from your loving father, July 14, 1908”

19. (A.20.7) or 84.1.1 – Loc. Book table – Williams B.C. Directory 1899 is a 980 pp. hardback book publ. in 1899. It is an index of residents in all BC communities listing names and occupations.

20. (A.20.9) or 84.1.3 – Loc. Book table – Book – Royal Photograph Gallery is a 465 pp. hardback book publ. in 1893 in U.S.A. of black and white photos of scenes from around the world.

21. (A.20.13) or 84.1.4 – Loc. Book table – Book – Sessional Papers B.C. 1882 is a 500 pp. hardback book publ. by vital statistics BC. It contains pop. of places. births, deaths, accounts, public works, mines, prisons, etc. for the years !880 -81.

22. (A.20.14) or 83.44.7 – Loc. Book table – Book – The Life of Our Lord is an 80 pp. hardback book of bible stories for children with colour illustrations, presented to Willis Piercy in 1926 for Sunday School attendance.

23. (A.23.6) – Loc. A-C-6 – Book – The Adventures of Phillip by W.M. Thackeray is a 620 pp. hardback book publ. in 1875, a novel with a preface “A Shabby Genteel Story”. From George Beadnell’s library via his grandson.

24. (A.23.7.a&b) – Loc. A-C-6 – Books – Shakespeare the Complete Works Vol.III and Vol. V are 530 pp. and 420 pp. hardback books publ. 1813. Vol. Il is Prologmena – Historical Account of the Rise and Progress of the English Stage. Vol. V is Merry Wives of Windsor and Twelfth Night. Both are inscribed by George Beadnell 1869 and are in poor condition.

25. (A.23.8) – Loc. A-C-2 – Book – The History of Horses on Denman Island by Jacqueline Ward is a 74 pp. paperback book publ. in 2010 on Deman with b/w photos. It is 17 short oral histories of islanders who had horses on Denman.

26. (A.23.9) – Loc. A-C-3 – Book – Clayquot Mass Trials – defending the rain forest ed. Ron Maclssac & Anne Champagne is a softcover book publ. 1994 which describes the protests in 1993 to save Vancouver Island rainforest with testimony from various individuals.

27. (A.23.10) – Loc.A-C-3 – Book – For the Love of Food by Sally Rae is a softcover cookbook publ. in 2009 with b/w illustrations by Denman Islander Sally Rae.

28. (A.23.11) – Loc. A-C-3 – Book – Pekin Robins and Small Softbills, management and breeding by Peter Karsten is a hardcover book publ. in 2007 with color photos, watercolours and b/w line drawings. It is a detailed account of breeding, raising and caring for robins and their relatives by Denman Islander Peter Karsten.

29. (A.23.12) – Loc. A-C-3 – Book- Like a Child to Home by Bill Engleson is a softcover book publ. 2013. A novel of the life of a social worker in changing times by Denman Islander Bill Engleson.

30. (A.23.13) – Loc. A-C-3 – Book – Rivers of the Yukon, a paddling guide -Rev. ed. By Ken Madsen & Graham Wilson is a softcover book publ.1989 with b/w photos and charts and a paddling guide to Yukon rivers. Ken lives on Denman.

31. (A.23.14.a&b) – Loc. A-C-5 – Books – (a) The Garden Club and the Kumquot Campaign and (b) The Way of a Gardener both by Des Kennedy (a) publ. 1996, is a novel about the eccentric residents of an island on Canada’s west coast. (b) publ.2010, is a memoir of Des Kennedy’s journey from Ireland to Denman Island where Des now lives.

32. (A.23.15. a,b,c,a,e) – Loc. A-C-4 – Books – (a) The Gift, Penance (b) The Gift, Betrayal (c) Deadly Deception (d) Wings of Prey (e) Blood Mark all by J.P. McLean all are softcover books publ. between 2015 and 2021. All are urban fantasy novels, (a) to (d) are part of the 7 volume Gift Legacy series. (e) is the first volume of a second series. J.P. McLean lives on Denman.

33. (A.23.16) – Loc. A-F-5 – Book – A Beach Odyssey by Andrew Fyson is a large format hardcover book of colour photos publ.2016. It documents Andrew’s walk around Denman Island along the shore.

34. (A.23.17) – Loc. A-H-21 – Book – Cooking With Class – Vol.III is a softcover spiralbound cookbook produced by the Denman Community School in 2001.

35. (A.23.19) – Loc.A-H-21 – Imagine Please – early radio broadcasting in B.C. by Dennis J. Duffy is a 92 pp. softcover book publ. 1983 on the history of various radio stations in B.C. using oral history interviews. It is part of the Sound Heritage Series No. 38.

36. (A.24.05) – Loc. A-C-5 – Book – Zella’s Story by Kieth Keller is a softcover book publ. 2010 with b/w photos. It is a biography of Zella Clark, longtime resident of Denman.

37. (A.23.24) – Loc. A-C-5 – Book – Faller’s and Bucker’s Handbook is a 110 pp. softcover handbook publ. 1986 by the Worker’s Compensation Board on how to fall and buck trees safely.

38. (A.24.02) – Loc. A-H-21 – Denman Island Heritage Register is an 8pp. copy of a report of heritage buildings on Denman produced by Islands Trust in 2011. It lists 2 buildings, the community hall and the old school. Donated by Margie Gang.

39. (A.24.01) – Loc.A-H-21 – Denman Island Community Profile 2023 is a 70pp. copied document produced in 2023 by HIRRA, written by Angeleah Hoeppner, outlining the demographics of Denman, housing, economy, education, transport, safety, health, etc.

40. (A.24.09) – Loc.A-C-5 – Book – The Gift, Revelation by J. P. McLean is a softcover book publ. 2013. It is Book 1 in a series of 7 urban fantasy novels. Signed by author who lives on Denman.

41. (A.24.10.) – Loc.A-C-5 – Book – The Gift, Redemption by J. P. McLean is a softcover book publ. 2015. It is Book 3 in a series of 7 urban fantasy novels. The author lives on Denman.

42. (A.24.11) – Loc.A-C-7 – Book – Under The Arctic Sun by Ken Madsen is a softcover book publ. 2002 on environmental issues in N.E. Alaska and the relationship of the Gwitchen people with caribou in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Signed by author.

43. (A.24.07) – Loc.A-C-7 – Book – Islands of British Columbia – 2004 is a softcover book, 222 pp., of the papers presented at The Islands Conference held on Denman Island Aug, 20-22, 2004, on Denman Island. It is edited by Graham Brazier and Nick Doe.

44. (A.24.12) – Loc.A-H-22 – Catalogue – Cynthia Minden is a 32 pp. art catalogue for the art show “look overlook” publ. 2018. It contains full colour photos of Cynthia’s woven figures.

45. (A.24.13) – Loc.A-H-22 – Zine – “Dusk – the nature of anarchy …” is a 71pp. 13×21 cm. zine with b/w illustrations and colour cover. There are 11 pieces of anarchist writing by Denman authors. Probably publ. 2023 -2024.

46. (A.24.14) – Loc.A-H-22 – Booklet – Dependable Seeds is a 14×26 cm. 50 pp. seed catalogue by David Spencer Ltd., Vancouver B.C. publ. 1925 for flowers and vegetables.

47. (A.24.17) – Loc.A-H-12 – Magazine – B.C. Teacher is a 20×23 cm. 24 pp. publication of the B.C. Teacher’s Federation, Vol. IV No. 6 Feb. 1925 with ads and b/w photos and articles of interest to teachers. Addressed to Miss Sadie E. Hopwood.

REFERENCE – GEOLOGY sous fonds – est. 1990 – 0.5 of written material

(A.18.120) – Loc.A-H-9 – Guide to Rocks and Fossils is a 5 pp. letter size handwritten description of the rock and fossil collection in the museum with accession numbers. The rocks and fossils were likely collected by Doras Kirk but this item is not produced by her.

UNIDENTIFIED RECORDS sous fonds – early 20th cent. – 2.0 cm. photo album

(A-. 18.13) – Loc.A-F-4 – This is a 15 x20 cm. photo album of black and white photos of approx.. 100 pp. Only a few photos are identified. People identified are Jack Howe, Mrs. Howe, May Pickles, Gilbert Franklin, Jessie Fisher, Alf Randall, Theodore Nelson. Mr. McMillan. Photos are of people, landscape, boats (The Rex), livestock and probably date from 1900 to 1920.

TAXATION RECORDS sous fonds – (1910-1918) Incomplete – 1.0 cm. of textual records

(A.18.15) – Loc.A-F-5 – Land and School Tax Assessment Records – Comox Valley, Hornby and Denman Islands contain the handwritten tax assessments for properties on Denman Island. They appear to be incomplete. The records are on approx. 70 large 40 x 50 cm. loose sheets that have been torn from the original binding.

CLIMATE RECORDS sous fonds – Mar.1993-May 1996 – 1.0 cm. of textual records

99.3.1-3 – Loc.A-F-2 – Climatological Register – Denman Island contains three 28 x 43 cm. books of Environment Canada climate records taken on Pickles Road on Denman Island by

Jennifer Inderwick. One booklet also contains records for the month, Apr. 93 taken on Lacon Road and includes the instructions from Environment Canada on the method of collecting data.

These items were donated from the estate of Jennifer Indermick.

MAPS and DRAWINGS sous fonds – 1860’s – 2019 – 3 air photos and 3 photos of maps, a map of Can. Collieries land, a map of Denman crown grants, and Green Cemetery drawings, and Denman wetlands, parks and rec.

(A.18.22) – Loc.A-F-5 – Maps contains 3 airphotos of Denman Island from 1950-51, and 3 photos of Admiralty Survey Charts of Denman from the 1860’s produced by Chuck Russell and Brian Grogan. Also a photocopy of a tourist map of Denman from 1999.

The airphotos are of standard size (24×24 cm.) from the BC Prov. Gov’t, Lands and Forests. The 1860 reproductions are 10 x15 cm.

(A.18.121) – Loc.A-H-9 – Green Cemetery Drawings is 4 20×25 cm. copies of landscape architectural plans for the Green Cemetery drawn up by Community Studio. There is also a flash drive with more digital data. Pat Kelly copied and printed them from information given to her by Jane Lighthall.

(A.20.16) – Loc.A-F-5 – Map – Plan of Canadian Collieries Land 1920 is a blueprint (25×46 cm.) of the land owned by Canadian Collieries Dunsmuir on Denman in 1920 with acreages. It was donated to the Denman Archives by the Hornby Archives.

(A.21.1) – Loc.A-F-5 – Map of Denman Crown Grants is a (1.1M. x 0.4M.) paper map of Denman properties with names and dates of original crown grants written in ballpoint ink. Some properties also have dates and names of other owners. The map was donated by Pete Piercy

(A.22.08) – Loc.A-F-5 – Map – Wetlands of Our Home is an (45 x 60 cm.) art map of Denman wetlands, both seasonal and year round. The original is an ink and watercolour hand drawn map by Philippa Joly.

(A.22.14) – Loc.A-H-11 – Denman island Nature and Recreation Guide is a folded map/guide to Denman parks and recreation areas produced by the Marine Stewards (ADIMS). 2019