The Archdeacon W.H. Collison fonds consists of textual materials, maps, published materials and photographs all documenting Collison’s life and work with North Coastal First Nations communities in British Columbia. Types of records found within this fonds include manuscripts, sermon notes, correspondence, oral history summaries, monographs, cartographic items, photographs and postcards. The Collison fonds also includes some records created by his children and grandchildren as well as a family tree created in 1986. The Collison fonds has been divided into four series.
Collison, W.H. (Archdeacon)Series consists of images pertaining the Collison family, North Coastal First Nations communities, means of transportation along North Coastal British Columbia, and various church structures and religious events.
Large group of women, men, and children pose on front steps of church. Some men standing in back hold brass instruments. Bishop Ridley (with long beard) sits in front centre between W.H. Collison (on right) and his son W.E. Collison. Photograph depicts the first church built in Metlakatla, which was burned in a fire in 1901, and replaced in 1903.
Handwritten annotation below image reads: "A gathering of Missionaries and Indians in front of Metlakahtla Church During Synod"; on verso: "[Ven?] Arch Collison & Mrs Collison".
Banner at front of sanctuary reads "Do this in remembrance of Me".
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Interior of old church. Built by natives themselves".
Canoe with mast floats close to shore in foreground, mountains visible across river in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Arch. W.H. Collison & wife with native friends en route up Skeena River."
Three men stand in centre, each wearing a chief's dress and head-dress. Family members stand and sit on either side. Carved boxes and masks are positioned in foreground. The group poses in front of drapery hung against tall wooden wall.
Community members have stated that the people in this photo are from the Gitwilluyaxw clan from the wolf tribal house of Ksdiyaawak. The photo was taken at Gitlax̱t’aamiks along the Nass River.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Tsimpshian Chiefs & family. Goods [for or fr.] Potlatch".
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "A very old Tsimpsion women - said to be over 110 yrs old."
Groups of men and women can be seen gathered on paths between two large totem poles.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Totem Park Pr Rupert park."
Photograph depicts a large totem pole next to groomed dirt paths. Power poles and river visible in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Edenshaw pole in park at Prince Rupert."
Photograph depicts a totem pole standing on what appears to be a large wooden deck or boardwalk, view of the city in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Totem pole in park in Prince Rupert".
Photograph depicts a row of houses and fenced yards on right, separated from more buildings on left by grassy area.
Printed on image: "Metlakahtla Nr. Prince Rupert. Allen Photo June '11"; handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Metlakatla B.C. North West Coast of America / Collison".
Photograph depicts large buildings on shore. Three unidentified individuals can be seen walking on dock in foreground.
Printed on image: "METLAKATLA B.C. / McRAE BROS"; handwritten annotation on verso reads: "A section of Metlakahtla, showing Church & Schoolhouse." See also item 2009.7.1.58 for similar image also featuring the new church building at Metlakatla, B.C.
Several unidentified individuals can be seen on front steps of church and a group of small children in white stand in line below steps. Other community buildings are visible in background, white fence crosses foreground. Photograph depicts the first church built in Metlakatla, which was burned in a fire in 1901, and replaced in 1903.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Church (of England) at Metlakahtla - British Columbia. Built by the people of the village - largest church then on the pacific coast."
Several unidentified individuals can be seen on front steps of church and a group of small children in white stand in line below steps. Other community buildings are visible in background, white fence crosses foreground. Photograph depicts the first church built in Metlakatla, which was burned in a fire in 1901, and replaced in 1903.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Old church at Metlakatla Before fire. Built by Fr. Duncan & the village people".
Photograph depicts fenced area in front of church building with turret. Other community buildings can be seen in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Metlakatla Church. Replacement for larger church lost in village fire 1903?" See also item 2009.7.1.55 for similar image depicting new church building at Metlakatla, B.C.
Photograph depicts an unidentified man walking on path in front of Bishop Ridley's home. Several children can be seen in fenced yard in midground.
Handwritten annotation below image reads: "Ridley Home and Mission house Metlakahtla."; on verso: "Chapter XXVII / Heading for Chapter / Ridley Home Metlakahtla".
Photograph depicts a large two-storey building with the sign: "CALEDONIA HOSPITAL". Fence crosses foreground, hills visible in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Mission Hosp at Metlakatla B.C."
Photograph depicts a man and woman standing on steps to a round tower in fenced area. Roofs of other buildings can be seen below on right; water and shore visible in background.
Printed on image: "Indian Jail, Metlatkla".
Photograph depicts a group of children dressed in white walking in a line, and adults and other children watching from behind. Group of six man stand in line on left, one holding a flag, another a drum. Jail tower and large building stand behind fence in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Old Mission House & jail at Metlakatla Before the fire."
Photograph depicts a group of men, women, and children walking across beach towards water. Buildings visible on shore in left background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Funeral party - en route to boat Metlakatla BC (Taking body over to Grave Island".
Photograph has been altered with drawings of people on shore fighting canoes approaching the town. Buildings stand behind fenced and walled areas in background.
Handwritten annotation below image reads: "Drawing by F.A., old Hudson B. [...?]"; on verso: "27. To head Chapter III. No. 2. Tsimshians and Haidas fighting on shore at Fort Simpson."
Photograph depicts a figure with two heads standing above stone reading "Here lies the last but not the least because He is the last of all his line the [?] Tribe ABEL WARD SOLOMON WARD". Bushes, building, and hill visible in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Port Simpson BC".
Tall monument featuring a man's profile stands in foreground. Base of monument features writing on plaques.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "No. 30 Paul [Segaics?] Monument at Port Simpson".
Clah or T'amks [Tsimshian name] stands on wood platform in front of shovel and pickaxe leaning against building. Clah was a hereditary chief and Hudson Bay Company employee who helped missionary William Duncan learn the Tsimshian language.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: " 'Clah' or the pioneer missionary's [...?]"
Handwritten annotations read: "At rest, after a rough passage of two days and a night from Massett, Queen Charlotte's Islands by canoe - W.H. Collison and Mrs. Collison with Indians from Masset"; "Archdeacon Collison Indian Canoe & Crew. Return from Queen Charlotte's Islands, Haida & Tsimshian Crew [...?]" Archdeacon and Mrs. Collison sit in centre of canoe.
Photograph depicts many crest poles in front of wooden homes. An unidentified family can be seen sitting by house in centre. Wood pile and path in foreground.
Handwritten annotation on image reads: "Masset Queen Charlotte's Islands, Crest Poles / Masset with Totems."; on verso: "Chap. XIII. No. 1 This photo to be copied as an illustration on 1st page or I Chapt. 'Section of Massett, Haida Encampment showing Totems. Queen Charlotte's Islands.' For heading of page 2 of Trophies."
Handwritten annotation on verso of photograph reads: "W.E. Collison Masset. Interior of Chief [Weah's?] house".
Caption under printed version of photo in W.H. Collison's book 'In the Wake of the War Canoe': "The house is about 40 feet square, forming one large room. The upper cubicles are on a level with the ground, which in front of them is excavated so that the fireplace in the centre is twelve feet below the surface. A ledge, for the use of slaves and dependents, is left half-way down."
Handwritten annotation on verso of photograph reads: "Tombs. ? Massett".
Caption under printed version of photo in W.H. Collison's book 'In the Wake of the War Canoe': "At Masset, Queen Charlotte Islands, B.C. The side-posts are solid and sunk in the ground. The horizontal piece is hollow, and contains the corpse. These tombs are now falling through decay." (see page 216).
Handwritten annotation on verso of photograph reads: "No. 54. Old tombs & totems. / to Haida graves Massett".
Two tombs stand in foreground, each consisting of a horizontal box held by two hollow posts sunk in the ground.
The couple walks arm in arm along dirt path in grass, buildings visible in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso of photograph reads: "Joshua [Moody?] & Wife / ? Masset B.C."
Three unidentified men stand by poles in foreground, wood houses and crest poles visible in background.
Printed below image: "Totem Poles, Massett, Q.C. Island, B.C. "; "T.N. Hibbon & Co., Victoria, B.C. [crossed through with ink]"; handwritten below: "The old style giving way to the new."
Large bear carving sits on top of wide pole, erected in memory of a chief of the Bear crest. Lines of houses stand in background.
Printed below image: "Totem Pole. Old Massett. Q.C.I / J.D. Allen photo Co."; handwritten below: "Mortuary Pole Bear [Crest?]"; on verso: "For Chapt. XIX. The old style and the new. Mortuary Pole & modern houses. No. 3. W.H.C. Oct. [6/ ?] 13".
Photograph depicts village buildings along shore.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "67 Section of Massett as it is".
Photograph depicts village buildings along shore.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Massett in Winter dress."
Photograph depicts large church in fenced area, mission house visible behind trees in background.
Printed on image: "The Church. Old Massett. Q.C.I. / J.D. Allen. Photo. C."
Photographs depict large building in fenced area, trees in yard and in background.
Handwritten annotations on verso read: "Mission House at Massett QCIs"; "Mission House at Massett - Mother & Dad lived there."
Group of eight men wearing suits and ties pose with Reverend Collison (oldest son of Marion & Archdeacon W.H. Collison).
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: “Rev. W. E. Collison & his Lay Readers at Massett, Q.C.Is.”
Photograph depicts an unidentified individual leaning against a large overturned dugout canoe; barrel, bucket, and wood planks in foreground. Houses and other buildings can be seen on shore above beach, and two unidentified individuals stand in distance on far right.
Handwritten annotations on verso read: “Haida canoe on beach at Masset / ? 1898”; “No. 4 Page 5. Haida Canoe ready for steaming to [widen?] out and finish.”
An original negative of this photograph is held by the Canadian Museum of Civilization, no. 26664.
Young boy stands among bushes in snow, totel pole in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: “WE Collison Totem on QCIsl."
Rev. W.E. Collison sits to left of totem pole, smoking a pipe (oldest son of Marion and Archdeacon W.H. Collison). Log fence can be seen in front of forest in right background.
Handwritten annotations on verso read: “W.E. Collison at Massett, QCIs."; "Dad beside totem pole".
The pair sits on ground beside large totem pole, Bertha on left (wife of W.E. Collison). Log fence can be seen in front of forest in right background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: “Mother & Josie Edenshaw at Massett".
Totem poles (crest poles?) stand in front of a line of houses. Blanketed canoes sit on beach in right foreground; forest in background.
Handwritten annotations on verso read: “skidegate village Queen Charlotte Islands as it appeared forty years ago"; "Rev W.E. Collison Prince Rupert"; "Hughes"; "1".
Totem poles (crest poles?) stand in front of a line of houses. Blanketed canoes sit on beach in right foreground; forest in background.
Handwritten annotations on verso read: “Haida Encampment [crossed through with line]"; "Skidegate Queen Charlottes Islands / To illustrate Introduction / Introduction Trophies from a Song [Trail?] Page 1 Heading."
Carvings sit among bushes in front of what appears to be a totem pole.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Eagle & whale Monument Tanu".
Totem poles (crest poles?) stand in front of a line of houses. Sandy beach in foreground, forest on hill in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Kai sun W. Coast Q.C.I."
Totem poles (crest poles?) stand in front of wood building, hills visible in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Poles on QC Isl."
Totem poles (crest poles?) stand in front of forest trees, fallen logs on beach in foreground.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Indian Totems along beach on Q.C. Islands"
Totem poles (crest poles?) stand in front of remains of wood structures, forest visible in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "A deserted Village, Q.C. Islands [...]" (various notes crossed through on verso).
Totem poles (crest poles?) stand in front of remains of wood structures built along sandy shore. View from above, forest on hill in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "[? illegible] Deserted village West Coast QCIs."
Photograph depicts narrow valley between steep cliffs.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "on left Vertical side of old Indian fort at Nagas W. Coast Q.C.I".