British Columbia

There are 141 links in this section.

Archives - Libraries - Museums

  • Archives Association of British Columbia  The AABC provides information on the many programs and services offered to archivists and archives in British Columbia.
  • BC Archives  Browse the overview of textual records, and the finding aid databases, or search the catalogue which includes indexes birth, marriage and death registrations.
  • BC Museums Association  This page is the index to all of the museums, art galleries, historic sites, cultural and science centres in BC known to the BCMA.
  • British Columbia Archival Union List  A database of fonds and collection level descriptions of records held at 156 publicly-accessible archival repositories in the province. Searchable.
  • Campbell River Museum  The museum holds a collection of permanent exhibits that represent the unique culture and history of northern Vancouver Island.
  • City of Richmond Archives  Search the archives holdings, browse other research tools, visit the virtual exhibit.
  • City of Vancouver Archives  Holdings include City of Vancouver government records, records of non-government organizations, businesses and individuals, historic photographs, maps, etc. Search the entire database.
  • City of Victoria Archives  Responsible for acquiring, preserving and making accessible archival material documenting the history of Victoria. Includes Vital Statistics search for Ross Bay Cemetery records, death and marriages notices indexes.
  • Cumberland Museum and Archives  Information on the museum and archives in this historic coal mining center.
  • Doukhobor Collection, University of British Columbia  The collection includes printed and manuscript material relating to Doukhobor life in Canada and the Soviet Union.
  • Esquimalt Municipal Archives  Local government records, graphic records, manuscripts and library collections.
  • Guide to Archival Repositories in British Columbia  Entries for 173 archives in the province and includes the name and location of each repository, contact information, and a brief description of the extent, nature and scope of holdings at each institution.
  • Journeys & Transformations: British Columbia Landscapes  Nature, First Peoples and History of British Columbia are interconnected themes throughout the site, presented in pictures, records and information from the museum's collections.
  • Kootenay Lake Archives  Holds material pertaining to the history of Kaslo and surrounding area; the City of Kaslo records (1893-1958); Kootenay Lake Sternwheelers; and the archives of the Langham Japanese Canadian Project.
  • Langley Centennial Museum  owned and operated by the Township of Langley, its collections date back to the 1920's. A collection of over 1,200 archival photographs, 8,500 objects, and 500 works of art are searchable online.
  • Legislative Library  Search the collection which consists of political science, parliamentary procedure, law, public administration, economics and Canadian history.
  • Metchosin School Museum  Metchosin's history, from shipwrecks to schooldays.
  • New Westminster Public Library - Genealogy and local history  Genealogy and local history resources at the New Westminster Public Library.
  • Saanich Historical Artifacts Society  A Volunteer Society devoted to the collection and preservation of memorabilia from their pioneer past.
  • Sidney Museum  The history of Sidney and pioneer families.
  • Simon Fraser University Archives  Information on the university archives, and freedom of information and protection of privacy.
  • Surrey Public Library  Online guide to this library's extensive collection of Canadian genealogical materials. Includes detailed information on current book and microform holdings.
  • UBC Special Collections and Archives  University of British Columbia archival holdings, records management, and listings of many other archival resources on the Internet.
  • University of Northern British Columbia Library  Searchable web Interface to the online catalogue.
  • UVic Library Gateway  Search the Online Catalogue of the McPherson Library and Curriculum Lab.
  • Vancouver Maritime Museum  A list of exhibits displayed at this museum which is the Greater Vancouver region's link to maritime history, art, culture and technology.
  • Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch, Special Collections  Northwest History Collections, Vancouver Building Register, Historical Photographs, Indexes and Finding Aids.

Birth, Marriage, Death

  • BC Bible Records  Transcriptions of family history information of BC families from bible records on line for genealogists to look through.
  • BC Vital Statistics - Genealogy  The Vital Statistics Agency has records of birth, marriage, and death occurring in British Columbia since 1872.

Cemetery - Obituary

  • Barkerville Cemetery  Headboard and Tombstone Inscriptions, listed alphabetically.
  • Boot Hill  Stories from the British Columbia Penitentiary Cemetery
  • British Columbia Cemetery Finding Aid  Search online or download this database of over 340,000 interments in BC Cemeteries.
  • British Columbia Headstone Photo Project  This project is archiving headstone photos for all cemeteries in British Columbia. You can Help!
  • Cemeteries of New Westminster  Information on the three major cemeteries in New Westminster.
  • Langley's Cemeteries  Enjoy a virtual tour of the Township of Langley's two oldest cemeteries, Fort Langley Cemetery and Murrayville Cemetery. Search the over 10,000 records.
  • Mountain View Cemetery  An alphabetical listing of burials.
  • Murrayville Pioneer Cemetery  Transcriptions of Gravestones in Murrayville Pioneer Cemetery, Langley, BC established in 1891.
  • Old Cemeteries Society  A non-profit society to encourage the research, preservation and appreciation of 20 heritage cemeteries in Victoria, BC. Web site contains information on symbols used on stones, a sample database of Ross Bay Cemetery, and tips for recording cemeteries.
  • Prince George Cemetery  Use the plot search feature to obtain information by date or by name.
  • Search for Funeral Homes  This search, provided by BC Vital Statistics, allows you to search for the name, city, address and phone number of Funeral Homes in BC.

Census

  • Census of Vancouver Island  A searchable database of nominal census records for Vancouver Island and parts of mainland British Columbia from 1871, 1881, 1891 & 1901.
  • Southern Interior Census Data  Data from various census databases including Yale District 1881 and 1891, Indian Reserve Commission Census 1877 and OMI Census 1877. Searchable.

Emigration

Explorers

First Nations

  • First Peoples' Cultural Foundation  The focus of the First Peoples' Cultural Foundation is to preserve and enhance the language, culture and heritage of aboriginal people in B.C.

General

  • Children of Fort Langley  Information on the descendants of the Hudson's Bay Company employees who worked at Fort Langley between 1827 and 1895.
  • New Westminster Heritage  A collection of more than 3,100 photographs spanning aspects of life in the city since 1858. Genealogy and local history at the New Westminster Public Library. Historic maps, listing of May Queens and Members of Parliament for New Westminster.

GenWeb

Geography

Government

History

  • Alcan Highway  During World War II, 10,607 U.S. soldiers built a road 1,522 miles long in 8 months. This road cut throught the Canadian Wilderness fron Dawson Creek BC to Fairbanks Alaska.
  • Barkerville Online  The Cariboo Sentinel Newspaper provides information about the Gold Rush and the early development of British Columbia.
  • BC Heritage  Your online guide to BC Heritage historic sites and services and an introduction to the programs of the British Columbia Heritage Trust. A BC Government page.
  • BC Studies - The British Columbian Quarterly  Dedicated to the exploration of British Columbia's cultural, economic, and political life, past and present.
  • Centre for the Study of the Pacific Northwest  This site makes accessible some of the University's myriad resources in regional history. Includes the Pacific Northwest Quarterly which is a journal devoted to the history and culture of the northwestern United States, Alaska, and western Canada.
  • Colonial History Vancouver Island  Vancouver Island's colourful history. It goes behind the scenes of official accounts for a look at the everyday lives of so-called 'ordinary people'.
  • Comox Valley Harbour Authority - Marine History  Timeline of events, pictures and stories of Comox Bay events and development.
  • First Newspapers on Canada's west coast: 1858-1863  Victoria, British Columbia: 1856-1863.
  • Fort Steele Heritage Town  Come to Fort Steele Heritage Town and be transported back in time to a mining boom town in the 1890s. Information on Archives & Library Holdings.
  • History of Esquimalt  Origin of the Name, Historical Outline, Reeves and Mayors of the Township of Esquimalt.
  • History of Fort Langley  Brief history of Fort Langley and the Hudson's Bay Company.
  • History of Houston  Important people and events in Houston's past. Early pioneers, area place names, past mayors, schools, postal service, etc.
  • History of the Northwest Coast  Historical timeline including interesting notes, starting with July 18, 1774 Juan Perez' visit to Queen Charlotte Islands and later to Nootka Sound.
  • Know BC  BC facts, people and places. BC lore and a BC quiz. Information on the Encyclopedia of British Columbia.
  • Living Landscapes: Thompson/Okanagan - Past Present and Future  A Royal British Columbia Museum and Okanagan University College project featuring the human and natural history of this region. Includes articles, historic photographs, census databases, HBC Post Journals and maps.
  • Memorial to the Coal Miners of Michel, Natal & Sparwood, BC  Working in the mines was quite dangerous with men losing their lives in almost every year for the first half of the century. As you can see from the list, the majority of the fatalities occurred in the years up to 1970.
  • Point Ellice Collection of Household Victoriana  Take a virtual tour through the site, chat gossip with the family, look through the cook book. Also contains an on-line database of Victorian objects.
  • St Mary's, Metchosin  A History of St Mary's Church, and information on Metchosin history and pioneers. The Metchosin pioneers section features biographies on different pioneer families.
  • The City of Surrey: A History  Surrey's History from initial contact up to 1970. Including aboriginal settlement, European exploration, pioneer settlement, and the development of roads, railways, agriculture, forestry, and urban centers.
  • The Homeroom  A gateway to resources and information relating to the history of schools and the development of education systems in British Columbia.
  • The Semiahmoo People  The Semiahmoo Indian band, part of the Straits' Salish, is a small remnant of the Semiahmoo people who once dominated the region from Boundary Bay in the north to Birch Bay in the south. The band occupies a 328 acre reservation along Semiahmoo Bay
  • Victoria's Victoria  Focuses on Victoria, BC during the reign of Queen Victoria,
  • Who Killed William Robinson?  A rich social history of the Blacks, Aboriginal People, Kanakas (Hawaiians) and Whites of many national backgrounds who settled Salt Spring Island. Their stories tell us much about the settlement of British Columbia, Canada.

Links

Maritime

Military

  • Band of the 5th (BC) Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery  the oldest military band organization in western Canada. It traces its origins to 1864 as the Band of the Victoria Volunteer Rifle Corps.
  • CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum  The museum's exhibits focus on three distinct military groups who have made an impact on Canada's history and who have left a lasting heritage: the Canadian Women's Army Corps, the Royal Canadian Navy on the West Coast, and the West Coast Defences
  • Vancouver Wireless Station  Began operation in 1949 in Delta, BC. The airport had been built during WW II to accomodate Lancaster bombers flying from it in defense of coastal B.C. against a perceived Japanese attack.

Organizations and Societies

Passenger Lists

  • Bride Ships  In 1862 BC had a mostly male population. Arrangements were made to send potential brides from the UK.

Personal

  • An American Adventure - Gray Family  Family history of John Edward Gray and family, 1908 immigrants to Victoria.
  • Bonnie's WWW Pages  Descendants of Johan Oscar Roos and Nanni Kangas in BC.
  • Cornelius John Soule - Architect/Photographer  This site is mainly about Cornelius .. his life, projects, travels and family.
  • Darlene Gadley's Genealogy Page  Duhig, Bartrim, Craig and Yates from British Columbia. Duhig and Bartrim families were pioneersin Quesnel and Barkerville during 1860's British Columbia gold rush. Also researching Sanders and Compton surnames from Prince Edward Island.
  • Dennice Goudie  Genealogy research including surnames Brule, Poirier, McFadden, Stephens, Michelsen, French, Brooks, Brown, Goudie, Vautrin pioneer Hudson Bay Company employees and their 'country wives' pioneer settlers Vancouver Island British Columbia.
  • Gayle's Family Tree Home Page  Jesperson, Mikkelsen (Michelsen), Unsworth, Carrington, Price, Bate, Jones.
  • Linda Harper - My Family Tree  Surnames include RAY ,DAVIS, SWINK ,PROCTOR, GIBSON, DEBECK, ALTHAUSE, HAMILTON, AIKENS, AIKINS, WEBB.
  • McCormick Family Home Page  The McCormick family from Mayo, Ireland which settled in Vancouver in the late 1800's.
  • Northwest Twig of the PEPPAN Family Tree  The descendants of Louis Seymour Peppan, aka Simeon Peppin aka Simeon Pepin, and his wife, Emma Sarah Peppan nee Houston. Includes link to Chief Dan George.
  • The Buermeyer Family Lineage  An in-depth look at the Buermeyer family.
  • True Life - The Personal Family History of E. John Love  This online album is my personal tribute to family and faded memories. Inside you'll find illustrated personal stories about my family. These are the opinions and personal memories of someone growing up in a dysfunctional, alcoholic Canadian family. This

Publications

  • Danda Humphreys  The author of On the Street Where You Live volumes 1, 2 and 3 which contain information on the history and people behind Victoria street names.
  • Delta History On-Line  User-friendly books of walks around historic Ladner British Columbia. Explore the townÂ?s heritage based on farming, fishing, salmon canneries, ship-building, the railroad and the sawmill. Monthly newsletter for researchers and obituary database.
  • Heritage House Publishing Company  For over three decades, Heritage Houes has been publishing books that celebrate the pioneer spirit and colorful history of western Canada.
  • Sonotek Publishing Ltd.  Books about British Columbia. Includes illustrated histories and historical biographies.

Railway

Religion

Sales

Surnames

  • BC Voters List - 1898  From the Sessional Papers of the British Columbia Government, 1899. Includes Voter regulations and district descriptions.
  • British Columbia Lists From Government Documents  Deaths of Convicts, 1875-1916. Unclaimed Letters, 1863, 1870, 1871. Government Gazette, Vol 2 and Vol 10. Income tax return names, 1889. Justice of the Peace list, 1889. Petitions, 1888, 1889.