The fonds reflects the research conducted by Lynn Shervill for his book, “Smithers: From Swamp to Village.” The fonds is arranged into a single series: Research records. Records primarily include newspaper clippings, hand-written research notes and correspondence. There are also three black-and-whi…
Lynn Shervill and Sheila Peters created the Creekstone Press in 1988, a printing business where local authors could have their materials published. As of 2019 it had published 21 books. Lynn and Shelia moved to Powell River in 2019.
Lynn Shervill was born in December 1946 and graduated from Western University’s journalism program, beginning his career as a reporter for the London Free Press. By 1988, Shervill had received an RN diploma from the College of New Caledonia in Prince George, B.C., and proceeded to spend the following 10 years working at the Bulkley Valley District Hospital in Smithers, B.C. Lynn worked to establish both the Smithers Cancer Care Unit at Bulkley Valley District Hospital and a palliative care program. He has been on the board of the BV Hospice Society for many years, working mostly in grief support and NavCare – a program to support the frail elderly.
Shervill and his wife, Sheila Peters married in 1978, moving to Driftwood Canyon. In his spare time Lynn became invested in the community’s local history. Shervill was on the Town of Smithers’ 60th Anniversary Committee, and authored a book for the anniversary titled, “Smithers: From Swamp to Village.” Both Lynn and Shelia were active environmental and social justice campaigners (Telkwa Foundation, Amnesty International, Driftwood Foundation, Smithers Human Rights Society).
Custodial History
Records were collected and created by Shervill while conducting research for “Smithers: From Swamp to Village.”
Scope and Content
The fonds reflects the research conducted by Lynn Shervill for his book, “Smithers: From Swamp to Village.” The fonds is arranged into a single series: Research records. Records primarily include newspaper clippings, hand-written research notes and correspondence. There are also three black-and-white slides of photos used in From Swamp to Village.
Fonds consists primarily of photos taken or collected by Louis Schibli, including two pocket albums made in Saskatchewan. The photos date mainly from the 1940s and 1950s and depict people, places, buildings, and events in Smithers and the surrounding area. Fonds also contains a written document by …
1 cm of textual records, 257 photographs and negatives
Date Range
1942-1959, 1998
History / Biographical
Alois “Louis” Schibli was born in Busslingen, Switzerland on December 23, 1919, to parents John Schibli and Anna Schifferli. In 1937, he immigrated to Canada with his father, mother and siblings (John and Agnes). They arrived in Smithers, B.C., on April 10, 1937 and remained there until 1949, when the family sold their farm and moved to Langley, B.C. In Langley, Louis met his wife, Gertrud (Trudi) Herzig. They married in Langley on September 5, 1950, and moved to Smithers in September, 1951. At this time, Schibli mainly worked in construction for his brother-in-law, George Adomeit. In 1958, he took a job in the newly formed School District No. 54 as a maintenance man, eventually being promoted to Maintenance Supervisor. The couple had seven children, including George, Margareth (Piccioni), Irene (Vanderark), Mary Jane (Warren), John, Andrew and Robert. Schibli also had a photography side-business called “Louis Studio”, photographing events such as weddings to school pictures. Schibli passed away on January 5, 2015, in Surrey, B.C. See finding aid for more information.
Custodial History
Records have been donated by various different individuals over the years and added to the Louis Schibli collection. Not all accessions have accession forms available. Items donated by Louis Schibli himself include 1988.3 (1988), 1990.7 (January 8th 1990), 1990.210 (November 1990), 1991.219 (November 8th 1991), 1995.7 (February 13th 1995), and 2017.53 (donated October 23rd 2005 but not given an accession number until July 2017). Item 2017.82 was donated by Melanie Morin of the Witsuwit’en Language and Cultural Society on August 25th 2017.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists primarily of photos taken or collected by Louis Schibli, including two pocket albums made in Saskatchewan. The photos date mainly from the 1940s and 1950s and depict people, places, buildings, and events in Smithers and the surrounding area. Fonds also contains a written document by Louis Schibli and Tony L’Orsa entitled “A Brief Review of Swiss Settlement in the Bulkley Valley.”
Arrangement
This is an artificially-created fonds made by staff members to house items related to Louis Schibli and his family. No original order has been retained. The fonds structure consists of the photograph (P) series and one additional item (“A Brief Review of Swiss Settlement…” by Schibli and Tony L’Orsa).
Fonds consists primarily of photos taken or collected by Louis Schibli, including two pocket albums made in Saskatchewan. The photos date mainly from the 1940s and 1950s and depict people, places, buildings, and events in Smithers and the surrounding area. Fonds also contains a written document by Louis Schibli and Tony L’Orsa entitled “A Brief Review of Swiss Settlement in the Bulkley Valley.”
Research records consist of newspaper clippings collected by Lynn Shervill, as well as Shervill’s research notes and correspondence that contributed to the research for “Smithers: From Swamp to Village.”
There are also three black-and-white slides of photographs which appear in From Swamp to Villag…
Research records consist of newspaper clippings collected by Lynn Shervill, as well as Shervill’s research notes and correspondence that contributed to the research for “Smithers: From Swamp to Village.”
There are also three black-and-white slides of photographs which appear in From Swamp to Village: two pictures of the opening of Highway 16 (pg. 108) and one of soldiers departing for WWII (pg. 104).
Identified in photograph (l-r): [Cornelia?] Stroet (18 years old), John Stroet (father), Willy Stroet (3 years old), Mary Stroet (16 years old), and Pete Stroet (12 years old)
Only a digital copy of this photo exists in the BVM Archives.
Item is a book, Bulkley Valley School Days, about the history of education in the Bulkley Valley. It was written by longtime local educator Della Herman in 1981 and published in partnership with School District #54 in 1982.
Della Herman (nee Carpenter) was a teacher, principal, supervising principal, and school trustee in the Bulkley Valley from 1936 until the mid-1980s, primarily working at Smithers Elementary School / Muheim Memorial Elementary.
Scope and Content
Item is a book, Bulkley Valley School Days, about the history of education in the Bulkley Valley. It was written by longtime local educator Della Herman in 1981 and published in partnership with School District #54 in 1982.
2 Photographs: b&w 17.5 x 12.5 cm
both enlargements from original
Scan Resolution
600 dpi
Date Range
[1954-1959]
Notes
A large gathering with people sitting at long tables having a good time. Possibly one of the Smithers bowling clubs banquets?? Taken at Aero Room in Heggie's Cafe.
2 Photographs: sepia; b) 11.5 x 7 cm;
a) 21 x 13.5 cm
Scan Resolution
600 dpi
Date Range
August 14 1933
Notes
The building to the right is a smokehouse for salmon. Structure at top of the hill is an Indigenous burial place. The body is placed a few feet under the ground and a frame structure is erected. The relatives place food, clothing, and other objects on the grave for several years.
Image depicts a winter scene of a woman on a white horse in the right corner and a man on a dark horse in the left corner. Both are riding on a trail through the snow. Forest is scene in the background. On the trail to Groundhog Mountain.
Image depicts a winter scene of a woman on a white horse in the right corner and a man on a dark horse in the left corner. Both are riding on a trail through the snow. Forest is scene in the background. On the trail to Groundhog Mountain.
Arrangement
Willard D. Tompson Collection series 3, file 1
Notes
Written on back: "Memories. The vicissitudes of a mining engineer's wife."
John Bowie Langston was born on July 28, 1887 in England. Langston married Hessie Alice Forrest in Victoria, B.C., on September 30, 1924; they had two daughters, Ruth and Rosa. Langston worked as a cook in different camps, but was primarily known for his taxidermy. He passed away in Smithers, B.C., in March 1951.
Custodial History
This photo was lent to the Archives for copying by Rosa Clowater, daughter of John Langston, in 2000. Original has been returned to donor.
Scope and Content
Photo of John Langston with various taxidermied animals.
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