Myth-busting the “Cows On Campus” Photograph
[This is an expanded version of an article originally published in Alumni UBC’s Grad Gazette in 2010] One of the enduring legends from the history of the University of British Columbia is that the Faculty of Agriculture’s dairy herd was once allowed to graze along Main Mall. But did this really happen? It is true that, during […]
Working as an Indigenous Work Learn Student at the UBC Archives
[The following was written by Kai Geddes, currently working for the UBC Archives in the Work Learn student employee programme] While continuing my academic career at the University of British Columbia (UBC) as a Masters in Library and Information Studies (MLIS) graduate student in September of 2019, from Vancouver Island University (VIU), I had the […]
My Experiences as a Archival Processing Student Assistant
[The following was written by Trang Dang, who worked in UBC Archives in the Work Learn student employee programme from September 2019 to April 2020] Being a graduate student of the UBC School of Information with an interest in archival processing, the Work Learn position with the UBC Archives provided me significant practical experiences. It […]
University Archives’ closure (UPDATED)
The University of British Columbia Archives is now closed to the public until further notice. Archives staff are working remotely and are able to assist with some reference questions. Inquiries can be sent through our contact form. During this period, be sure to explore digitized materials from the Archives’ collections available on our website and through UBC […]
Elliot Weisgarber’s “Aki-No-Hinode” – a musical legacy
The University of British Columbia Archives recently assisted the Canadian Music Centre in British Columbia in the production of a short documentary film on the work of composer, ethnomusicologist, and UBC School of Music professor Elliot Weisgarber. The film is part of CMC BC’s Legacy Composer Film Series, celebrating the first generation of Canadian composers […]
Re-designed website for UBC Archives
The University of British Columbia Archives has a new website: https://archives.library.ubc.ca/! This is a significant milestone, for several reasons. It is the first re-design of the Archives’ website since March 2010. Also, it coincides with the migration of the site to UBC Library’s WordPress web platform. Finally, the updated design is now fully consistent with […]
Laurenda Daniells, University Archivist Emerita (1923-2017)
[Update: A Memorial will be held at the University Hill Congregation, 6050 Chancellor Blvd. (Google Maps), Sunday, January 22, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. The service will be preceded by lunch at noon and followed by a reception. Parking is available at the UBC Rose Garden parkade.] Laurenda Daniells, first Archivist of the University of British […]
The Vancouver Institute Launches
While transcribing Frank Fairchild Wesbrook’s diary entry for 12 October 1916 onto Twitter (@Pres_FFWesbrook), UBC Archives staff were reminded of an important anniversary: 8:15 Vancouver Institute * Hill Tout in chair. Lecture Archibald – “Atom” Fine. With this rather terse note, starred and underlined in red pencil, UBC’s first president marked the inaugural lecture presented […]
First Nations Historical Resources At UBC Archives
The University Archives has launched a new on-line resource: an annotated list of First Nations-related historical resources held in the Archives. This is an overview of resources maintained by the Archives which may be relevant to research on First Nations history and contemporary issues. It includes references to relevant materials in our various collections and […]
Tweeting from the past: the Wesbrook diaries
Frank Fairchild Wesbrook was the first president of the University of British Columbia. Born in Ontario on July 12, 1868, and raised in Winnipeg, Wesbrook graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1887, and the following year received a master’s degree from the same institution. He received his M.D. from McGill University in 1890, and […]