The
Almanac Museum: 45820 Spadina Ave Chilliwack, BC, V2P 1T3 604.795.5210
Archives: 9291 Corbould Street Chilliwack, BC V2P 4A6 604.795.9255
www.chilliwackmuseum.ca info@chilliwackmuseum.ca
THANK YOU 25 Years of Thanks from Museum Director Ron Denman It is hard to believe that it has been 25 years since Lois and I arrived in Chilliwack. And what a wonderful time it has been. We have met so many wonderful people and made many friends. Our life has been full. The museum and archives has been (and continues to be) a big part of the experience. The museum and archives is a supportive environment where staff, volunteers, Board and members are all united in the goal of collecting and caring for our history. The collective experiences and knowledge of so many people makes it so much easier to collect this history and make it available to the community. I have loved every minute of it. On October 28, a reception was held at the museum to recognize those 25 years. It was wonderful to see so many people attend and listen to the very kind words of President Fred Feistmann, Heritage Records Manager Paul Ferguson, Sto:lo Nation archaeologist Dave Schaepe, Museum Educator and President of the Chilliwack Visual Artists Association Brenda Paterson, and City Councillor Pat Clark. This reception was a surprise; although I knew something was up when both Alison (our administrative assistant and superb organizer) and Lois suggested that I might want to dress up for the day. Thank you so much everybody for making the day (and the last 25 years) special.
CONTENTS Thank You The Archives Expand Shelving CVAA Presents Upcoming Shows Rebranding the Small Museum Curatorial Corner Volunteer Spotlight Sponsorship Campaign STAFF Ron Denman, Director Paul Ferguson, Heritage Collections Manager Brenda Paterson, Education Coordinator Alison Adamson, Administrative Assistant Shannon Anderson, Heritage Records Manager BOARD OF DIRECTORS Fred Feistman, President Pauline Heppner, Vice President Anna Erho, Treasurer Tia Halstad, Director Bea Mazurenko, Director Esther Harder, Director Charlie Fortin, Director Jason Lum, Director
Fall 2010
ence. If you want to follow the progress go our website (www.chilliwackmuseum.ca) to follow the action By this time next year, the archives building expan- when it starts. sion project will be complete. We will finally be able to consolidate our collection into one building. We Over the last few weeks, Brenda and Paul have been don’t have a definitive schedule for the start of con- busy boxing and moving objects to off-site locations. struction but it will be sooner than later. The contrac- This is a huge task. Paul always amazes me in that he tor, Gerry Enns Contracting, is local and well known can find places to store our collection. The safety and throughout the community. They are also sensitive to security of the collection has always been uppermost our needs and we look forward to a positive experi- in Paul’s mind. What an incredibly valuable person ence as we work through what will be a disruptive Paul is!!! time for us. Moving the collection is necessary because all of curSo what will it mean for the archives? We expect to rent shelving units must be re-located to the addition. remain open throughout the construction phase and Expanding the size of the research room, constructing should be able to provide all of the services that we new walls, adding new shelving, windows and doors normally provide. We will keep everybody informed are all part of the construction phase. We are grateful through our website, facebook page and twitter pres- for the support that the City of Chilliwack and staff are providing so that this expansion can occur.
THE ARCHIVES EXPANSION
THE CVAA PRESENTS Join us for upcoming art exhibitions and opening receptions in the Chambers Gallery at the Chilliwack Museum: Jan 15 -March 10th
March 19 – May 12th
Artists: Hazel Loeb & Elaine Unrau
Artist: Rick Blacklaws
“Expressions of People and Nature”
“ A Fraser River Journey”
Reception: Saturday Jan 15th at 12 – 2pm.
Reception: Saturday March 19 at 12 – 2pm.
REBRANDING THE SMALL MUSEUM Paul Ferguson of the CMA and Karley Cunningham of Big Bold Brand developed and presented a session at the recent British Columbia Museum’s Association Conference in Nanaimo called Rebranding the Small Museum. The session was inspired from our recent work with Karley who worked with our M&A Development Committee, and our Board, to help us develop our own brand. The session in Nanaimo was well attended with representation from both small and large museums. Participants learned how branding vitally assists a museum in establishing an identity within their communities, allowing them to implement strategies for the successful creation of museum targets and goals. The session proved extremely popular with many participants seeking further advice after the presentation ended. Uniquely the material from this session will be available online for all museums and archives at Karley’s Big Bold Brand website.
- 2011School School Brochure is now Visit www.chilliwackmuseum.com 20102010 - 2011 Brochure is online. now online. Visit www.chilliwackmuseum.com Photo caption: Elaine Unrau “Faces of Chilliwack” , watercolour, 24 X 32”
SHELVING
times - are preserved.
Don’t go away. You need to read this article. I know shelving is not really a sexy topic but let’s think about it.
We provide a climate controlled environment for these collections. Of equal importance is the need to house the collections safely. That’s where shelving comes in. Elsewhere in this newsletter, you will find a form that encourages you to think about helping us fund the purchase of museum quality shelving for the new addition. We hope that you will agree that a donation, large or small, will help us fund this project.
We have thousands of objects, big and small, in our storage area. Every object has a story connected to Chilliwack. All must be cared for. In 25, 50 or 100 years we want these objects to still be around because they represent our history. They say a lot about our lives - how our community began, our relationships with each other, and what our hopes and aspirations are and have been. We have extremely limited exhibition space so many of these objects will be stored until opportunities present themselves to bring them out as part of an exhibit. It is just as important that our archives collection maps, photographs, diaries, legal documents, City and community records, and the voices of earlier
CURATORIAL CORNER Can you guess what object this is? Answer is on back page.
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Fun. Dedicated. Knowledgeable. These three words describe our feature volunteer – Esther Harder. Esther has been volunteering at the archives for three years where she has been part of the team cataloguing and scanning photographs and other documents. Esther is also on the Museum’s board of directors. But Esther is not new to the Museum or the community. For over ten years, she’s been our expert consultant on the history of Yarrow, the Mennonite community, and her family’s connection to the hops industry. Esther’s grandparents came to Yarrow in 1928 where she was born, attended school, lived there until her 20’s. In 1998, because of her knowledge and connections to Yarrow, she was asked to be part of a team to research and record Yarrow’s history in a book. Years later, the result of this work is 5 published books on Yarrow.
Visit our Curator’s Blog at: curatorialcorner.blogspot.com
After much of Yarrow’s history was written, Esther was left with other interesting, but unpublished information. She was pleased to join two other local Yarrow-ites on a website project: www.yarrowbc.ca in attempt to tell “the rest of the story”. Historians Elmer Wiens and Edwin Lenzmann are also instrumental in the website project.
ARCHIVAL PHOTOGRAPHS MAKE UNIQUE GIFTS Think of us this holiday season when you are looking for something unique to share with family and friends. The Chilliwack Archives has over 100,000 photographs that depict the people, places and events of Chilliwack’s history. Ordering is quick and easy. 1) Search our photographs online at www.chilliwackmuseum.ca 2) Phone, email or visit us in person to place order 3) We can print or produce on CD your image!
SPONSORSHIP CAMPAIGN
available. The collection defines us – making it accessible takes shelving!
Board member Jason Lum has spent many hours working with Paul to establish a sponsorship package for the acquisition of new shelving for the Archives ANSWER TO CURITORIAL CORNER addition at Evergreen Hall. Part of our plan was initiated on November 15, 2010 when several individuals Its an Autoharp! were interviewed for a new 2 to 3 minute video to apAn Autoharp is a chorded zither and this particular inpear on our website. strument belonged to Agatha Kathleen (Kaye) Wilson The video will provide our online visitors with the op- (nee Freisen) moved to Chilliwack in 1939 where she portunity to learn how the work of the museum and met and married her husband Howard Wilson. After archives has and can impact the lives of its visitors. All living at Boston Bar they moved to North Bend, Orof our participants told us how much they have en- egon in 1940. Mrs. Wilson was very fond of music and joyed working with and at other times contributed to played the accordion, piano, mandolin and the autothe resources of the museum and archives. By making harp. She played piano at both the United Church at the local community and visitors aware of how much North Bend and the Baptist Church at Boston Bar. The we can offer is an important step towards greater Wilsons returned to Boston Bar in 1985 and back to Sardis in 1990. public understanding of what we do. Special thanks to April Gerwatoski, Greg Knill of the Chilliwack Progress, Norm Williams, Greitha van Gameren, Dr. Chad Reimer, Bill Turnbull of the Town Butcher, Lorraine Beger, Joan Donaldson, Karen Klassen, Andrea Lister, our staff and to Jason for their willingness to participate. Their kind words demonstrate that history is indeed everywhere and in everything. Stay tuned as our sponsorship brochure becomes
Published by the Chilliwack Museum and Archives
Kaye and Howard Wilson played violin and piano at various events in the Fraser Canyon. Kaye died February 14, 2007. The autoharp is a 1952 Oscar Schmidt Autoharp Model #73.