This fonds contains textual records, photographs, drawings, VHS tapes, architectural drawings, floorplans, and other archival material relating to the history and functions of the Bulkley Valley Museum.
The Bulkley Valley Museum was founded in large part by Ernest Hann, an early pioneer of the Bulkley Valley. Ernest was one of several local residents who had been slowly amassing a collection of documents, photographs and artifacts representing early settler history in the Valley. These personal collections became the core collection upon which the Museum was founded. A shift towards not only collecting, but also displaying materials came in 1967 when the Museum’s first public displays opened in the newly constructed Smithers Public Library, a centennial project for the Town of Smithers.
In 1971 the Museum was officially incorporated under the Society’s Act of British Columbia as the Bulkley Valley Historical & Museum Society. In 1974 as space became limited in the Library, the Museum was moved to the Central Park Building, a heritage building constructed in 1925 as the government building and courthouse. The Museum first shared space in the Central Park Building with the Smithers Art Gallery, later moving to its own space on the first floor. Today the Museum collects, preserves and presents items of historical and cultural significance from Smithers and the Bulkley Valley and is enjoyed by over 5000 people per year.
Custodial History
These records were produced and used by the Bulkley Valley Museum before being accessioned into the collection.
Scope and Content
This fonds contains textual records, photographs, drawings, VHS tapes, architectural drawings, floorplans, and other archival material relating to the history and functions of the Bulkley Valley Museum.
Arrangement
The fonds is divided into the following six Series:
- S1 Office of the Curator
- S2 Office of the Archivist
- S3 Board of Directors
- S4 Events
- S5 Administrative Records
- S6 Old Church
