Interview with Vera Collison
https://search.bvmuseum.org/link/descriptions12236
- Date Range
- August 23 1995
- Collection
- BVM Oral History collection
- Description Level
- File
- GMD
- sound recording
- electronic record
- Scope and Content
- Interview with Vera Collison (nee Doodson), recorded on August 23rd 1995 by BVM Curator Lillian Weedmark. Includes raw and edited .WAV files and an MP3 access file.
- Collection
- BVM Oral History collection
- Description Level
- File
- Creator
- Lillian Weedmark
- Fonds No.
- C5
- Item No.
- 2021.21.30
- Accession No.
- 2021.21
- Physical Description
- 1.02 GB of digital records
- Date Range
- August 23 1995
- History / Biographical
- Vera Doodson Collison (1912-2005) was born to William (Bill) and Edith Doodson in New Westminster and moved to Smithers as a young girl. She taught school at Quick and Smithers in the 1930s and early 40s, before marrying Tom Collison and moving to Ontario during WWII. Following the war she returned to Smithers, where she and Tom raised sons Allan and Ron.
- Scope and Content
- Interview with Vera Collison (nee Doodson), recorded on August 23rd 1995 by BVM Curator Lillian Weedmark. Includes raw and edited .WAV files and an MP3 access file.
- Type of Record
- Archival Description
Audio Tracks
Interview with Vera Collison - August 23 1995
Interview with Vera Collison - August 23 1995
https://search.bvmuseum.org/media/Digital%20Fonds%20and%20Collections/C5%20BVM%20Oral%20History%20collection/2021.21.30_Collison,%20Vera/Collison,%20Vera.ACCESS.mp3
The interview begins with Vera Collison's recollections of her family's early days in the Valley. The Doodsons moved to Smithers from Prince Rupert around 1915 and established a butcher shop on Main Street. Vera's brother Charles (Charlie) was born in 1918 in the Hazelton Hospital.
Australia; Bill Doodson; buildings; butcher shop; Charles Doodson; Chinese restaurant; Daisy Eby; Dr. Horace Wrinch; England; family history; Ford runabout; George Frizzell; Hazelton; Hazelton Hospital; Ireland; Kennedy's Pool Room; Moran's Pool Room; Mrs. Doodson; Mrs. Orchard; Phoebe Reid; Prince Rupert; Sandy Gazely
birth; childhood; Doodson family; Smithers
A continuation of Vera Collison's early memories of Smithers. She identifies the various buildings and businesses located around the family's home on Main Street, recalls friends and neighbours, and describes modern amenities which the family was fortunate enough to enjoy.
Adams Drugstore; Bill Orchard; buildings; Bulkley Hotel; businesses; butcher shop; Doris Adams; electricity; garden; ice cream; Interior News; Jack Sealy; Main Street; Mrs. Orchard; Muriel Adams; running water; soda fountain; Warner family; Wiggs O'Neill
childhood; Doodson family; friends; neighbours; Smithers
Collison recalls how she would be passed from the upper floor of her house to the window of a neighbouring house as a small child.
Bill Doodson; Jim Kennedy; Kennedy family
childhood; story
Collison recalls her father's involvement with Gray's Orchestra.
Bill Doodson; Clary Goodacre; Collison family; dances; Florence MacDougal; Jean Kilpatrick; Jim Adams; Katie Doodson; music; musical instruments; Norman Kilpatrick; parades
Gray's Orchestra; Smithers Band
Collison describes Smithers' original town hall and the various public events held there.
Armistice Day; children; children's masquerade; crafts; decorations; heating; Hospital Auxiliary; Legionnaires; Masons; Oddfellows; ski dances; Ski Queen; ski races; winter
Smithers; social events; Town Hall
Collison describes how she became a teacher and recounts her early teaching days at Quick.
Bill Oderkirk; chemistry; cold cream; education; George Heffernan; Great Depression; Mr. Macgregor; Mrs. Oderkirk; Provincial Normal School; Quick School; tea room; teaching certificate; University of British Columbia; Vancouver
career; Quick; teacher; teaching
Collison discusses her parents, Bill and Mrs. (?) Doodson, their businesses, and their hobbies. Note: section ends abruptly.
Anglican Church Women's Auxiliary; Bill Morris; Bob Davidson; butcher shop; Charles Reid; Driftwood; garden; golf; grocery store; Hospital Auxiliary; Jack Sealy; Jean Kilpatrick; Sealy and Doodson; Sealy ranch; Smithers Golf Course; social events; wild game
Bill Doodson; businesses; hobbies; Mrs. Doodson
Collison discusses her teaching career in Smithers during the 1930s. Note: around 30:56 the audio stops and then resumes, sounding foggier.
coronation of King George VI; coronation parade; marriage; moving house; Priscilla Howells; Robert 'Cole' Mutch
Smithers Public School; teacher; teaching
Collison discusses her husband Tom, his family, their marriage and early life together, including the birth of their sons Allan and Ron.
air force; Alfred Street; Allan Collison; Anglican Church; Anglicanism; Archdeacon William Collison; army; BA Oil; Bill Leach; birth; Carl Spicer; choir; Clifford Emerson; Duncan; Frank Parker; Gordon Williams; Home Oil; Hoskins Garage; housing; Jack Chapman; Les Cox; Metlakatla; military service; missionary; Norm Baker; Ontario; organ; Port Alberni; Prince Rupert; Reg Collison; Ron Collison; Veteran's Land Act; World War II
Collison family; marriage; Tom Collison
Collison discusses her family's life after leaving Smithers in 1964, with a particular focus on her son Ron's education and career.
Allan Collison; cerebral palsy; fire hall; Kamloops; Kitimat; Nechako School; Prince George; school band; Scouts; Simon Fraser University; teaching; telegraph office; Terrace; University of British Columbia; Victoria
career; education; Ron Collison; Tom Collison
Collison discusses the deaths of her husband Tom and son Ron.
car accident; health problems; Merced, California; operation; San Francisco; surgery; Vancouver; Victoria
death; loss; Ron Collison; Tom Collison
Collison concludes with her final thoughts on Smithers, where her son Allan still lived (at the time of the interview).
Betty Williamson; cleanliness; Elizabeth Williamson; Gordon Williamson; helicopter ride; new homes; Silver King development; Telkwa; urban growth
Allan Collison; Smithers