City of Coquitlam | ARCHIVES
Annual Report 2016
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cover: Brunette Street, ca. 1915 (Coquitlam 100 Years collection) Above: Canadian Western Lumber Employee Golf Tournament, ca. 1948 (Fenton Family collection)
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2016 Highlights Quest—Online Search Portal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Holdings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2016 Acquisition Highlights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Arrangement & Description. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Reference Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Public Requests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Staff Requests. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Outreach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Plans for 2017 & Beyond Permanent Accommodation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
INTRODUCTION
The City of Coquitlam marked its 125th anniversary in 2016. It was a year of celebration, filled with engaging events and widespread demonstrations of civic pride. The City of Coquitlam Archives helped to imbue the occasion with a sense of history through various outreach initiatives and was active at numerous signature events throughout the year. 2016 was a productive year for the City of Coquitlam Archives. The number of reference requests rose by 50%, demonstrating a strong desire among community members, other researchers, and staff to access the advice of professional staff in addition to the ever-increasing online presence of the Archives. A significant photographic collection was digitized and made available online, thereby providing unmediated access to important historical content. The Archives was also part of community programs such as the Community Heritage Symposium and several significant staff initiatives, including Canada Day, Welcome to Coquitlam, and the successful Communities in Bloom program. With every passing year, the City of Coquitlam Archives has become an increasingly integral part of the city administration and the Coquitlam community.
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Above: Lumber Carrier Drivers at Fraser Mills, ca. 1945 (Coquitlam 100 Years collection)
2016 ACQUISITION HIGHLIGHTS
Above: Al Best Service Station, 1940s (Coquitlam 100 Years collection)
Quest- Online Search Portal Quest is the City of Coquitlam Archives’ online search portal, providing descriptions of the holdings as well as access to digitized content. To date, Quest has received more than 27,000 page views by over 2700 unique users, who are viewing an average of 7.95 pages per session. Descriptions are added as archival material is received. This includes any digitized material, which helps to provide unmediated access to Coquitlam’s historical records.
though some were not selected. The complete collection of gathered photographs (copy prints) and the small amount of written documentation prepared by the committee were originally arranged and described in the 1990s by archivist Janet Turner and placed in the care of the Coquitlam Public Library (CPL). In 2016, CPL transferred the entire collection to
Holdings
the City of Coquitlam Archives for permanent
The City of Coquitlam Archives’ holdings are growing every year, with new donations of important historical records that help to tell the story of Coquitlam’s social, economic, and administrative past. At the close of 2016, the extent of the Archives’ holdings amounted to approximately 200 linear meters of textual records and an estimated 800,000 photographs.
preservation. The photographs have now been
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Coquitlam 100 Years collection Coquitlam 100 Years: Reflections of the Past was published in 1990 by the Pioneer Tales Book Committee, which formed in 1987 with the mandate to prepare a special book to commemorate Coquitlam’s centennial and contribute to the written history of the City. Photographs were collected by the committee and most appeared in the final publication,
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digitized and those that are in the public domain have been uploaded to the City of Coquitlam Archives’ online search portal, Quest. The complete photographic collection amounts to more than 650 photographs, 500 of which are now available through Quest, making this the largest collection of Coquitlam images available online. This collection was also supplemented by a donation from Craig Hodge of photographs he accumulated during his time on the Pioneer Tales Book Committee. The donation includes hundreds of copy negatives and copy prints used in the preparation of Coquitlam 100 Years.
2016 ACQUISITION HIGHLIGHTS
Above left: Official Ceremony Attended by Reeve Ralph Booth, ca. 1910s (Coquitlam 100 Years collection)
2.
Aerial Photographs
Western Lumber Company Limited and Crown
The Planning and Development Department
Zellerbach.
transferred a significant collection of aerial
4.
Tri-City News The Tri-City News transferred 29 bound print editions
development of Coquitlam over time. The photographs
of the newspaper spanning 1990 to 1996, as well as
range from 1963 to 1991 and have already been
six rolls of microfilm that include editions from 1985
referenced extensively by heritage consultants and
and 1986.
members of the public. 3.
6.
photographs that are invaluable in depicting the
7.
“Coquitlam, My Town”
Eagle Ridge Residents’ Association records
As part of the 1991 centennial celebrations, Del
The Eagle Ridge Residents’ Association donated
Gachallan composed a song that was adopted as the
the operational records of the Association from its
official Coquitlam centennial song. In 2016, a copy
foundation in 1981 until 2003.
of the sheet music for the song was donated to the
Westwood Plateau Community Association records
Archives.
The Westwood Plateau Community Association donated the operational records of the Association dating from its inception in 1999 to present day. 5.
Fenton Family records The Fenton Family collection consists of eight photographs related to the Fenton Family and its connection to Fraser Mills. The photographs, dating from the mid-1940s, depict the mill site as well as social gatherings of Fraser Mills employees (dinners and golf tournaments). The collection also includes two advertising posters produced by the Canadian
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2016 HIGHLIGHTS
Above: Word cloud using reference request data (Created on December 1st, 2016)
Above: Tom, Burt, and Gerald Hobbis on Austin Ave, ca. 1932 (Coquitlam 100 Years collection)
Arrangement and Description
Digitization
In 2016, 15 new accessions were received and 594 archival descriptions were added to Quest.
Middle: Clydesdale Horse led by Margaret Gardner, ca. 1928 (Coquitlam 100 Years collection)
This important arrangement and description work enables more efficient location of specific items and, in turn, makes the entire collection more accessible and thus more valuable to researchers. This foundational arrangement and description work will continue to be a core activity in 2017 in order to make new acquisitions available to the public as soon as possible.
Although labour intensive, digitization is an important part of providing access to archival materials. In 2016, the City of Coquitlam Archives pursued two major digitization projects. The first was the digitization of the Coquitlam 100 Years collection. The photographs were digitized, creating access and preservation copies, and then made available online through Quest. Researchers are now able to browse the photographs and access them at any time, thereby making them more accessible.
Above right: Large beam on Truck at Fraser Mills, ca. 1940s (Fenton Family collection)
The second major digitization project was as much about preservation as it was about access. The Archives holds a significant collection of tax assessment rolls that date from 1893 to the 1960s. These records are invaluable for researchers looking to understand the history of a property. Unfortunately, the more recent books are very large and cumbersome and their very nature makes them susceptible to damage when physically consulted. In an effort to reduce the impact on the physical volumes, the Archives digitized the tax rolls from 1941-1957.
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2016 HIGHLIGHTS
Above: Horse teams at Fraser Mills, ca. 1909 (Reference: Coquitlam Heritage Society collection)
Conservation Professional conservation treatment is key to the preservation of fragile or damaged archival records. In 2015, the Archives identified a need for the conservation assessment and treatment of the City’s tax assessment rolls and financial journals, which date from 1891. Many of the large ledger books had dirty and yellowing pages, torn or completely detached bindings and, in some cases, highly acidic iron gall ink. The Archives hired a conservation firm to perform an assessment of the collection and make recommendations for treatment. It was determined that full treatment of the books would be prohibitively expensive, so a phased approach was developed in 2016. The oldest volumes most in need were prioritized and given more intensive treatment, while the priority for new volumes will be digitization over the coming years in order to minimize wear and tear. To date, tax assessment rolls from 1893, 1894, and 18991902 have been fully treated and digitized. The financial journal from 1891 (the Archives’ oldest record) has also undergone treatment to restore its binding. Expense journals from 1895-1911 and 1895-1917 have also been treated and have been re-housed in acid-free enclosures.
The tax assessment rolls from 1912 to 1917 are in bound volumes that are small enough to be digitized on book scanners available through service providers in the local area. These will be gradually digitized over the coming year, allowing researchers to access only the digital copies in order to ensure preservation of the originals. Volumes from 1918 to 1940 are in relatively good shape but are too large for conventional scanners. The Archives will moderate access to these volumes to preserve their structure, and will continue to investigate methods of digitization. Finally, the largest and most cumbersome volumes from the 1940s and 1950s have been digitized from existing microfilm, so the originals can be preserved without limiting access to their content.
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2016 HIGHLIGHTS
Above: Children on the Steps of Glen School, ca. 1914 (Coquitlam 100 Years collection) Middle: Antonio and Edna Paré in Front of the Municipal Hall, ca. 1920 (Coquitlam 100 Years collection) Above right: Albert Pett with a Chicken, ca. 1919 (Coquitlam 100 Years collection)
Reference Services 2016 saw a significant rise in reference requests, from 166 in 2015 to 278 in 2016. The Archives has seen consistent, year over year growth in the number of reference requests, which demonstrates a strong and growing desire among community members and staff to access historical records and information. Public Requests In 2016, members of the public made 197 reference requests and 18 on-site reference appointments. The largest proportion of the requests received by the Archives was for historical photographs. These photographs are used for publications, public displays, art projects, educational materials, class projects, heritage reports, research projects, exhibits, television productions, and personal use. Another popular reference topic was property information. Requests for this type of information amounted to 15% of the total reference requests. Many important historical properties in the City have been the subject of Heritage Revitalization Agreements (HRAs), and have benefitted from research conducted in the Archives, primarily focused on the historical tax assessment rolls.
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Staff Requests The City Archivist answered 81 staff requests and has been involved with several staff projects by providing access to records, historical information, and professional expertise. Some highlights include: the City’s winning entry for the national Communities in Bloom program; the historical walking tour included in the 2016 Travel Guide; and the continuation of the Street Naming Database project. Outcomes The results of research at the City of Coquitlam Archives can now be seen all over the city. MP Fin Donnelly created a calendar for his constituents that featured many photographs from the City of Coquitlam’s archival holdings; archival imagery has been used to decorate local businesses and has been used as part of public art in the new Skytrain stations; archival information has helped to preserve historic homes in the Maillardville area; digitized photographs have helped authors of books and blogs answer questions about Coquitlam’s past; items from the holdings inspired and informed the work of the engagement artists during the Coquitlam 125 celebrations; archival content was used by corporate communications to add historical elements to various projects; and records have helped the public better understand the community’s past.
2016 HIGHLIGHTS
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CITY OF COQUITLAM ARCHIVES
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In Coquitlam, History is Everywhere Immerse yourself in Coquitlam’s rich history. 3
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`` Coquitlam was once a place of old-growth forest and rivers teeming with salmon – home to the Coast Salish people who have lived here for thousands of years. European settlers arrived in the 1860s – loggers, farmers, railway engineers and others were attracted by the opportunity to build a new life. With the building of the Ross McLaren Sawmills in 1889 (at a cost of $350,000)—an important industrial site in the history of British Columbia— the town quickly grew. Many of Coquitlam’s most notable historic properties are from just after the turn of the century.
1 Mackin House Museum Mackin House is a landmark in Coquitlam: it is one of the last remaining homes built for the Fraser River Sawmill Company and it was first occupied in 1909 by Henry James Mackin, the mill’s General Manager, and his family. It is now a heritage house museum run by the Coquitlam Heritage Society, which painstakingly restored it. The rooms include furniture from the Edwardian era and a large
collection of toys dating from the early 1900s. Maillardville is where the Coquitlam Heritage Society offers its historic walking tours. coquitlamheritage.ca 2 Maillardville Walk Explore the historic neighbourhood of Maillardville, which is well worth visiting and this includes Carré Heritage Square, the Booth Farm House and the many heritage homes in the area. Starting at Mackin
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CityofCoquitlam
House Museum, you can discover historic Maillardville on a selfguided walk – grab the walking tour brochure from Mackin House and hit the streets. Look for the large interpretive signs! 3 Carré Heritage Square The heritage square marks the historic entrance to Fraser Mills, the lumber mill that dominated Coquitlam’s early years in the twentieth century. You’ll also find the Fraser Mills Station Museum and Place des Arts, Coquitlam’s art centre and music school. 4 Ryan House – Place des Arts Place des Arts began as a non-profit society in 1972 in Ryan House, a turn-of-thecentury residence built by the Fraser Mills lumber mill. It is now a community arts centre and music school, that offers a variety of programming. placedesarts.ca 5 Our Lady of Lourdes The current church was built in 1938 on the site of the original Our Lady of Lourdes Church, which was a focal point for Coquitlam’s vibrant Frenchspeaking community who began to arrive in 1908. 6 Hommage Aux Pionniers This amazing artwork tells the story of Maillardville and was commissioned for the 75th anniversary of this important Coquitlam neighbourhood. It’s located in front of Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
7 Colony Farm and Colony Farm Bunkhouse Colony Farm was purchased by the province in 1904 as the location for a new psychiatric facility. Opened in 1910, the facilities were a provincial demonstration farm with high quality living quarters, modern farm equipment and pristine grounds for the hospital now known as Riverview. The farm was partly staffed by patients. The lowlands of the farm were developed to provide opportunities to work in a healthy, supervised setting and also to provide food supplies for the hospital complex. The space is now a birdwatcher’s delight of grasslands, waterways and marshes crisscrossed by wide, flat trails. metrovancouver.org 8 Minnekhada Lodge The name ‘Minnekhada’ is derived from the Sioux language and means “rattling water.” The land was first granted to George Alderson in 1895 but reverted to the District of Coquitlam in 1920 and then sold at a tax sale in 1921. It had many owners until it was purchased in 1932 by Eric Hamber (President of BC Mills, Timber, and Trading Co.) the 15th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, who owned it until 1958. The Tudor Revival style lodge was completed in 1937 as a country retreat and hunting lodge. Hamber originally used the farm for polo horses and established the famous Greencroft lineage. Sold in 1958 to Colonel Clarence Wallace (President of Burrard Dry Dock, and 18th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, 1950-1955), it
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eventually reverted to the Crown in the late 1970s. Minnekhada Lodge was finally acquired by the GVRD in 1995 as an addition to the Minnekhada Regional Park. 9 Lafarge Lake Thirty years ago, Town Centre Park was the site of a gravel plant and pit. Today’s picturesque Lafarge Lake is, in fact, a manmade excavated lake donated to the City by the Lafarge Company in the late 1970s. To help the City realize its vision of hosting the 1991 BC Summer Games, the Province gave the surrounding land to the City and it was developed into a state-of-the-art sport and recreation facility. Town Centre Park officially opened in May 1989, and the BC Summer Games, held two years later, were a huge success. Within the hundred acres of Town Centre Park, the legacy of sport, recreation and celebration continues as the host park for a number of events in 2016 including the U-19 FIL World Field Lacrosse Championships and Coquitlam 2016 55+ BC Games. 10 Oxbow/Steelhead Ranch The River Springs development sits on the site of the former Oxbow / Steelhead Ranch and several of the streets are named in honour of the stars who visited the ranch, which was originally owned by Alfred Carlyle “Carl” Jacobs (a Canadianborn Hollywood stuntman) and his wife Clara “Babe” Guiol Jacobs (a Hollywood actress).
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The ranch became a retreat for Hollywood celebrities such as Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, John Wayne and Will Rogers. 11 Westwood Plateau / Racetrack The racetrack was the first purpose-built road racing track in Canada and ran 32 seasons from 1959 to 1990. Racing Legend Michael Andretti set the fastest lap time on May 21, 1983 (0:58.795). Several street names in the Westwood Plateau area are named after parts of the track (i.e. Deers Leap Place and Carousel Court). 11
Coquitlam Travel & Experience Guide – Stories to be Created
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Outreach The Archives was very active in its outreach efforts throughout 2016. Coquitlam’s 125th anniversary provided the perfect occasion to promote the City of Coquitlam Archives and raise awareness of the services that it offers. In addition to new outreach initiatives, several key programs from previous years were carried over and augmented.
Coquitlam 125 125 years ago, on July 25th, 1891, the Corporation of the District of Coquitlam was incorporated by Letters Patent. Since that time, the municipality has evolved from its rural and industrial beginnings into a vibrant city. To mark this historic occasion, the Coquitlam 125th Anniversary Steering Task Force was struck to program a year full of events and celebrations. The City of Coquitlam Archives provided important historical content and context to the Task Force and its various sub-committees, and directly participated in several events throughout the year.
Top: Historical Tour (Coquitlam Travel and Experience Guide, 2016) Above left: Eagle Ridge Residents’ Association Records Handover, February 18, 2016 (Photo by Terry O’Neill) Above: City Archivist Emily Lonie at the Communities in Bloom Picnic (Photo by Heather Escaravage)
As part of the 125 celebrations, the City Archivist gave a special public presentation entitled “125 Years: An Archival Tour of Coquitlam’s Thirteen Decades.” The presentation included lively stories about each decade of Coquitlam’s history since the time of incorporation in 1891. It was very well attended, with over eighty community members gathering to hear about Coquitlam’s storied past.
Bottom: Coquitlam Heritage Symposium, April 16, 2016 (Photo by Richard Stewart)
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2016 HIGHLIGHTS
Top: Lest We Forget Exhibit, Coquitlam Public Library, 2016 (Photo by Ron Kozlowski) Left to right: Drawing by Morgan Matthew, Lest We Forget Exhibit 2016 (Photo by Ron Kozlowski) Commemorative suitcase with letters and memorabilia by Vanessa Stewart, Lest We Forget Exhibit 2016 (Photo by Ron Kozlowski) Commemorative clock by Stephanie Prentice, Lest We Forget Exhibit 2016 (Photo by Ron Kozlowski) Painting by Purnima Malik, Lest We Forget Exhibit 2016 (Photo by Ron Kozlowski)
Lest We Forget In 2014, Canada marked the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War. As part of its commemoration efforts, the City of Coquitlam Archives partnered with Douglas College to deliver an expanded version of Library and Archives Canada’s Lest We Forget Program. The program provides an opportunity for students to connect with the past and commemorate the sacrifices made by Canadian soldiers and nurses during the First World War. Students learn to interpret archival military service files from Library and Archives Canada and they use the knowledge they gain to develop their own creative commemorations. Since 2014, the City of Coquitlam Archives has expanded the program, offering the in-class presentation to more than 180 students at Douglas College, conducting a public workshop, and mounting two successful Remembrance Day exhibits at the Coquitlam Public Library.
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The Lest We Forget Exhibit for 2016 featured the thoughtful work of four Douglas College students, who produced moving and powerful visual representations of the details they discovered in the military service files. The Exhibit featured a painting of a Sikh soldier and a sketch of a Western Front battlefield, as well as a decorated clock full of symbolic elements related to the life and service of Lieutenant Edwin Arthur Rand who was killed during the Battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917. The Exhibit also included a suitcase filled with letters and memorabilia that one student imagined to be the
possessions of William Alexander Atkins, a rancher from Coquitlam who was killed on September 27, 1916. The Exhibit was on display at the City Centre Branch of the Coquitlam Public Library during the month of November, was publicized on local radio, and featured in a Shaw Around Town television segment.
2016 HIGHLIGHTS
#TBT – Throwback Thursday
Above: Town Centre Park Track Under Construction, 1989 (Throwback Thursday Post on Facebook with comments, May 12, 2016)
The Archives continued its popular Throwback Thursday initiative across all of the city’s social media platforms as well as through the internal Corqboard, which keeps employees informed of, and engaged with, the work of the Archives. The most popular posts focused on locations and events that staff could connect to living memory.
Left: City of Coquitlam Archives’ Historypin Homepage
Historypin
Below left: Guess That Spot Contest Answer Sheet, Canada Day 2016
The Archives continued to offer access to historical photographs through the popular Historypin site, which provides an opportunity to use a present-day map to explore locations in Coquitlam as they existed in the past. Thirty new photographs were added to the site and they are linked back to Quest to encourage traffic to the Archives’ website. Since it was launched, the City Archives’ Historypin site has received over 900 views.
Canada Day Once again, the Archives was part of Coquitlam’s Canada Day celebrations, which provided an opportunity to connect with the public about the work of the Archives and encourage donations of historical material. Following the success of the “Guess the Year” contest in 2015, a new contest was developed to engage the public in 2016. Using aerial photographs from the 1960s, visitors were asked to identify three prominent locations including Fraser Mills, the Vancouver Golf Club, and the former Westwood Racetrack. Visitors were excited by the contest and it created positive dialogue with Archives staff.
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2016 HIGHLIGHTS
Above: Clearing the Land for the Vancouver Golf Club, ca. 1910s (Coquitlam 100 Years collection) Above left: Canadian Western Lumber Company General Store, ca. 1925 (Coquitlam 100 Years collection)
Professional Associations and Conferences Throughout 2016, the City of Coquitlam Archives continued to be an active and engaged member of the wider archival community in British Columbia and across Canada, to ensure that staff members remained up to date on professional best practices and issues facing the community. The City Archivist completed her term as President of the Archives Association of British Columbia in April 2016 and served on the Program Committee for the Association of Canadian Archivists’ Annual Conference held in Montreal. Following conversations with other municipal archivists in the area, the City Archivist identified a need for a mechanism to enable regular communication among local professionals. To this end, she founded the Lower Mainland Municipal Archivists Forum (LMMAF), which provides an opportunity to discuss a wide range of common archival issues, share best practices and resources, discuss challenges, and discover areas of potential collaboration or cooperation.
Speaking Engagements In 2016, the City Archivist undertook many speaking engagements that raised awareness of the services of the Archives, promoted the use of archives, and contributed to the education of new and diverse professionals. The year began with the Coquitlam 125 public talk, “125 Years: An Archival Tour of Coquitlam’s Thirteen Decades,” which was in keeping with the year’s theme of Stories Told, Stories to be Created. The Archives received helpful press in the lead up to the presentation, with an interview on CKPM FM and an article in the Tri-City News.
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In April, the City Archivist was invited to be a speaker at the Coquitlam History Symposium alongside notable professionals such as Tim Willis (former Director at the Royal BC Museum), Candace Matelic (prominent museum consultant), and Theresa Mackay (Royal Roads University). The symposium brought together expert speakers and community leaders to discuss and develop ways to enrich the City through the sharing of culture and heritage. It is important for professionals to make themselves available to the next generation in order to enhance pedagogy with real world experience. To this end, the City Archivist was invited to sit on a panel of archivists at the University of British Columbia (UBC) for a Masters seminar on archival appraisal. The panel discussed the implementation of archival theory in varying contexts such as university and municipal archives. The City Archivist also gave a guest lecture on the topic of outreach for the UBC Masters seminar on Management of Archives and Libraries. Finally, several internal presentations were given throughout 2016. To engage staff in the work of the Archives, a presentation was given to the Financial Services Department about the conservation work being done to preserve the original tax assessment books and financial ledgers. The City Archivist also gave a presentation to the Coquitlam 125th Anniversary Steering Task Force to provide historical context for the anniversary year, and reported to the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee with regard to the progress of the development of the Archives and the synergies with the Arts, Culture, and Heritage Strategic Plan.
PLANS FOR 2016 & BEYOND Permanent Accommodation The original 2012 proposal to establish the City Archives outlined a phased approach to the physical accommodation requirements necessary to support the Archival Program, starting with a small space in City Hall and culminating in an expansion to a larger, more permanent space after several years. The 2014 Annual Report outlined the requirements for a permanent space, including storage capacity, climate controls, and consultation/research space. These requirements remain the same in the current context. The success of the program has meant that space constraints became an issue sooner than anticipated and continued to be a significant issue in 2016. The current expansion plan is to make use of space that was planned for as part of the reconfiguration of the former library space at City Hall. This space is set to become available in 2019 and would provide approximately 200 m2 (2200 sqft) of dedicated storage and work space for the Archives, as well as a public reading room. It is still believed that this is the ideal location, however, an additional consideration is that the existing expansion plan for the Archives was conceived prior to the Arts, Culture, and Heritage Strategic Plan (ACHSP). In the coming years, it will be important to explore all potential options as part of the larger ACHSP in order to identify the most suitable and cost effective location for the long-term that would provide the necessary space and could be configured to adhere to appropriate climate controls. The costs directly associated with establishing a permanent Archives facility will need to be assessed when a permanent location is determined. The Archives will report to Council on the capital costs associated with such an expansion well in advance of the work needing to be undertaken. These costs would include such items as: ´´ A monitored HVAC system ´´ High Density Mobile Shelving ´´ Records Storage Equipment ´´ Furniture (Offices / Reading Room)
Plans for 2017 & Beyond ´´ Digitizing important collections like the tax assessment rolls and the photographs in the Coquitlam Heritage Society collection ´´ Expanding content available online through Quest ´´ Continuing conservation work on the tax assessment rolls and assessing the conservation needs of the holdings ´´ Developing relationships with community groups to promote the transfer of historical material ´´ Conducting a comprehensive analysis of the records produced by the City. This will inform the archival appraisal of the City’s operational records, which will eventually facilitate the transfer of City records to the Archives. ´´ Continuing existing outreach initiatives like Throwback Thursday, History Pin, Lest We Forget, and speaking engagements ´´ Developing new outreach initiatives related to Canada 150 (e.g. historic plaques) ´´ Creating an exhibit related to the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge and the Coquitlam soldiers who fought in the battle ´´ Continuing to seek relevant archival material and arranging donations to the Archives ´´ Continuing the intellectual and physical processing of new and existing holdings ´´ Continuing to provide detailed responses to public and staff reference requests
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Above left: Hammer Throw at the Highland Games, 1994 (Tri-City News, Black Press fonds) Above: Weight Over the Bar at the Highland Games, 1997 (Tri-City News, Black Press fonds)
CONCLUSION
Above: Evergreen Line Art featuring images from the City of Coquitlam Archives (Photo by Jay Shaw (from the Flickr site)
After 125 years, Coquitlam has much to be proud of, including its commitment to preserving the records of its past. Coquitlam has a unique and vibrant story to tell and, to this end, the City of Coquitlam Archives is dedicated to acquiring important archival records, preserving them in keeping with best practices, making them available to researchers of all kinds, and helping to interpret their content.
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Above: Colony Farm with Essondale’s West Lawn in the Background, ca. 1913 (Coquitlam 100 Years collection)
City of Coquitlam 3000 Guildford Way Coquitlam, BC V3B 7N2 coquitlam.ca/Archives CityofCoquitlam