Carved wooden mask of a mythic creature whose mouth is in the shape of an ‘o’. Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “33-2”
Mask created from leather or metal, featuring eyeholes and a mouth hole as well as holes pierced around the perimeter of the mask itself. Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “45-5”
Profile perspective of a model totem pole standing upright on the floor against a blank wall. Handwritten annotation in pen on verso reads: “W.E. Collison.” Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “35-2”
Frontal perspective of a model totem pole standing upright on the floor against a blank wall. Handwritten annotation in pen on verso reads: “W.E. Collison.” Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “35-3”
Three model totem poles carved out of argillite and of various heights standing as a trio against a white backdrop. Handwritten annotation in pen on verso reads: “W.E. Collison.” Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “43-5”
Carved wooden flute. Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “33-6”
Double-ended, double-edged metal dagger with leather (?) strips covering the grip. Both blades are triangular-shaped with a double ridge running across the middle in line with the handle in between. One blade is longer than the other. Intricately beaded pouch appears to be made of felt and was constructed to sheath both heads of the dagger. Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “50-5”
Wooden club carved in the image of a fish. Handle has a hole through which is strung some sort of twine. Metal knife with tapered blades at either end with a leather strip wound around its flat center grip; one blade longer than the other. Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “50-4”
Wooden raven rattle composed of two complementary parts in the form of raven. Reclining figure on raven's back connected to a frog by protruding tongue. Carved wooden face, perhaps a frontlet for a headdress. Handwritten annotation in pen on verso reads: “W.E. Collison.” Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “47-5”
An unidentified carved wooden tool or utensil with twine attached, leans against a sheet covered wall behind a carved wooden platter. Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “50-3”
Intricately carved argillite dish inlaid with abalone shell. Imagery suggests a killer whale and man motif. Handwritten annotation in pen on verso reads: “W.E. Collison.” Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “51-2”
Pedestal bowl carved out of argillite into the shape of a bird next to a table top bowl featuring a seated human figure looking into its centre. Handwritten annotation in pen on verso reads: “W.E. Collison.” Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “49-4”
Intricately carved argillite dish featuring inlaid triangular pieces of stone or shell material around its perimeter and a series of seven faces within its centre. Handwritten annotation in pen on verso reads: “W.E. Collison.” Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “49-1”
Carved wooden mask, perhaps a portrait mask. Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “32-6”
Carved wooden portrait mask. Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “45-3”
Carved wooden mask featuring inlaid teeth and a halo surrounding the face. Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “44-5”
Joyce stands knee-deep in water, holding a long wrapped object, with a bundle resting on her shoulder (daughter of Archdeacon W.H. Collison's eldest son William Edwin). Trees and bushes visible on opposite shore in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Joyce circa 1937 at Kincolith".
The Indian Background of Canadian History. Bulletin No. 86, Anthropological Series No. 21. Diamond Jenness. Ottawa: Department of Mines and Resources, 1937.
Journal of The Royal Society of Arts, Vol. LXXXIII, No. 4320, 6 September 1935. London: G. Bell & Sons, 1935.
This file contains correspondence between W.E. Collison and Richard F. Van Valkenburgh; a letter and book listing from Francis Edwards, Ltd. (bookseller); a copy of a letter by W.E. Collison to the Prince Rupert Daily News; and three letters from First Nations individuals to W.E. Collison in his capacity as Indian Agent.
Canadian Geographic Journal, Vol. VII., No. 5. Montreal: The Canadian Geographical Society, May 1934.
File contains the following:
- Wakanda: Croquis de l’Auteur. Paul Coze. Paris, 1929. (*fragile condition and in French – signed by author to W.E. Collison in thanks for allowing Coze to photograph his mask)
- Envelope from Paul Coze to Mr. and Mrs. Collison containing a happy new year postcard for 1933 "meilleurs voeux pour 1933." Postcard features the face of a leopard drawn by Coze.
- Signed postcard print of a seated leopard (no.49/300) containing a happy new year postcard for 1930 "meilleurs voeux pour 1933, Paul Coze, 50, Rue Saint-Georges, Paris."
- Envelope postdated 1933 from J. Ferenczi & Fils –Editeurs (presumably of Coze's publication "Wakanda") to Mr. Collison containing 1 sheet of magazine quality paper on one side of which is a biographical write-up of Coze (in French) and on the other is a photo of Coze wearing Plains (?) regalia.
Boat floats close to shore in foreground, forest and hills on opposite shore in background. Joyce is the daughter of Bertha and W.E. Collison, and the granddaughter of Marion and Archdeacon W.H. Collison.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Upper Nass River Sept. 1933. Joyce with Tom Moorhouse & the medical officer".
Museum Notes (3 editions):
- Museum Notes, Vol. III., No. 2, June 1928. Vancouver: Art, Historical and Scientific Association of Vancouver, BC, 1928.
- Museum Notes, Vol. III., No. 3, September 1928. Vancouver: Art, Historical and Scientific Association of Vancouver, BC, 1928.
- Museum and Art Notes, Vol. II., No. 1, June 1932. Vancouver: Art, Historical and Scientific Association of Vancouver, BC, 1932.
North British Columbia News with which is incorporated Aiyansh Notes (2 editions):
- North British Columbia News with which is incorporated Aiyansh Notes: A Journal of Missionary Endeavor in the Diocese of Caledonia, British Columbia. Vol. 1, No. 8. October 1911.
- North British Columbia News with which is incorporated Aiyansh Notes: A Journal of Missionary Endeavor in the Diocese of Caledonia, British Columbia. No. 84 April 1931.
The Pacific Salmon. John Pease Babcock. Victoria: The Province of British Columbia, Provincial Fisheries Dept., 1931.
Report of the Provincial Museum of Natural History for the Year 1930. Province of British Columbia. Victoria: 1931.
Group can be seen in distance by canoe close to trees and cliff on opposite shore. Rocky shore of river in foreground.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: " 'The Place of Echoes' The Big Creek at Kincolith. Dad, Jack, Joyce & Bob Stewart". Believed to be present in image are the son, grandson, and granddaughter of Archdeacon W.H. Collison, respectively: Rev. W.E. Collison, John (Jack) Macdonald and Joyce Collison.
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."
Rev. William Edwin Collison stands waist deep in water, with axe resting on shoulder (oldest son of Archdeacon W.H. Collison). Trees and hill on opposite shore visible in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Dad at Kincolith".
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 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".
Chief Allen sits in chair on raised wooden platform, with bear skin over his knee, and two more bear skins laid on wood blocks in front of him. House stands behind picket fence in background. Pot and pan sit to right of chair in foreground.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Albert Allen Kincolith (Nisga Chief)".
American Anthropologist, Vol. 31, No. 1. January-March 1929. Menasha, Wis.: American Anthropological Association, 1929.
Maps within this series document the placer streams, islands and harbours of the Queen Charlotte Islands; as well as the mining properties located within the vicinity of Stewart, BC.
Totem Poles of the Gitksan, Upper Skeena River, British Columbia. Bulletin No. 61, Anthropological Series No. 12. Marius Barbeau. Ottawa: Department of Mines, 1929.
Rev. William Edwin Collison stands to left of wife Bertha who sits on front steps of large shingled home, flower pots in background (oldest son of of Archdeacon W.H. Collison).
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Dad & Mother Prince Rupert".
Bertha Collison stands on front steps, to left of second woman standing below.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Mother & Aunt Rose Davies at our house in Prince Rupert".
Group of six men sit and stand on small boat close to shore. Rev. W.E. Collison stands on far right (son of Marion and Archdeacon W.H. Collison).
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Dr. Macdonald Med officer (Kincolith) / Dr. [McQuarrie?] Med officer Victoria / Steven Clayton Native boat owner / Capt. Bary - Insp. of Indian Schools / W.E. Collison Indian agent. / Inspection trip to villages of upper Nass River".
Petroglyphs featuring coppers painting onto a rock face next to a lake.
Handwritten annotation in pencil on verso reads: “As seen from the R.R. track. By Harlan I. Smith. 4 poles E of 92 mile or about 1 ½ meter E. of Tyce, B.C., Red Pictograph, Note: head above and to the right at the left of log top in shadow of cedar.” Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines Geological Survey Photographic Division, January 21 1926” – in pen above this stamped date is written “7-10-1925”.
Photograph depicts a group of 18 men wearing suits and ties, standing on front steps of large building with pillars.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Conference of Sand Question Committee at Kincolith on Sunday, June 3rd 1923. Mr. [O'Heara?] present. [illegible initials]".
Photograph depicts 8 men posing in suits and ties, and a young girl, Ruth Adams, holding trophy seated in foreground. The group is gathered in open field, large building and hills visible in distance. Man on far right stands in uniform.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Gitlakdamix Village Council 1923. [Charlie Morven] Chairman. / Geo. Manase. / John Davis. / Dennis Woods. / Andrew Nass. / James Adams. Secretary. / Frank Blackwing. Chief Constable. / Walter McMillan (Nass). Constable."
Indian Notes and Monographs (2 editions):
- Slate Mirrors of the Tsimshian: Indian Notes and Monographs – A series of publications relating to the American Aborigines. George T. Emmons. New York: Museum of the American Indian, 1921. Signed by author as gift to W.E. Collison.
- Jade in British Columbia and Alaska, and its Use by the Natives: Indian Notes and Monographs – A series of publications relating to the American Aborigines. George T. Emmons. New York: Museum of the American Indian, 1923.
"North Pacific Mission" chapter from an unidentified book. (pages 219 – 224)
"The Indians of Northern British Columbia" J. H. Keen. Chapter taken from an unidentified book, pages 409-414
File predominantly consists of correspondence to Rev. W.H. Collison from the Church Missionary Society. However, some letters in this file are also from individual parishioners, fellow clergymen, Massett councillors, and the American Geographical Society.
Photograph of the Prince Rupert wharf. A small vessel is docked, and a large tree is in the foreground. Annotation on recto reads: "Prince Rupert Wharf & Harbor. Allen Photo." Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "766[?]"
Photograph of the SS "Distributor" in the open water, with another vessel and mountains in the background. Several passengers and/or crew are visible on deck. Annotation on recto reads: "SS 'Distributor' at Prince Rupert, BC Allen Photo 5/June/0[?]."
Close up photograph of a large residential building in a freshly clear cut area. To the right of the main building is the church and an unidentified commercial building. Annotation on recto reads: "Prince Rupert, BC 1660."