Profile perspective of two model totem poles carved from argillite, set 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: “43-2”
Close up perspective of the top of the two carved wooden staffs, both inlaid with abalone shell, leaning against a wall side by side, a white sheet serving as a 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: “52-1”
Intricately carved argillite dish inlaid with abalone shell. 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: “51-4”
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: “51-6”
Two carved wooden bentwood boxes; one containing seven carved wooden spoons. 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: “49-5”
Figure on the left is a club-shaped cylindrical figure with bulbous human face at one end; abalone shell is inlaid in the face for eyes. Figure on the right is a club carved in the shape of a whale with inlaid eyes and engraved markings on its sides. 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: “51-1”
Figure on the left is a club-shaped cylindrical figure with bulbous human face at one end; abalone shell is inlaid in the face for eyes. Figure on the right is a club carved in the shape of a whale with inlaid eyes and engraved markings on its sides. 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: “51-1”
Carved stone figure on left features a hole at one end through which a rope is strung; while the figure on the right is a soapstone figure carving of a face with two ears to the sides and split ‘u’ ones at the top of the head. 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: “51-5”
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”
File contains linguistic notes prepared by W.H. Collison and sermons written by W.H. Collison in various First Nations languages.
Series contains publications on the following subjects: linguistics, First Nations studies, anthropology, museum studies, the Missionary Society of the Church of England, the Metlakatla Inquiry, material culture and Canadian geography. It is believed that items published prior to 1922 had been collected by the Archdeacon W.H. Collison, while those published post 1922 (the year W.H. Collison passed away) were collected by both his son W.E. Collison and then his grandaughter Joyce Collison.
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.
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".
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."
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 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".
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 [...?]"
Photograph depicts village buildings along shore.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "67 Section of Massett as it is".
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: “Haida Encampment [crossed through with line]"; "Skidegate Queen Charlottes Islands / To illustrate Introduction / Introduction Trophies from a Song [Trail?] Page 1 Heading."
Totem poles (crest poles?) stand in front of wood building, hills visible in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Poles on QC Isl."
Photograph depicts two men standing at base of totem pole in front of large elaborate lodge building with post reading "MINESQU". Smaller structure stands in background (elevated cache?).
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Chapter XXIV. No. 3. A chief's lodge and totem Nass River."
Four women sit in foreground at a porch partially covered with foliage.
Handwritten annotations on verso read: "Honoured elders of porch of Mission House at Kincolith, Nass River"; "sun set or legend of the past".
Three women sit in foreground at a porch partially covered with foliage.
Handwritten annotations on verso read: "Elders at Mission House Kincolith Nass River BC".
The pair sits with books on bench in unknown room, Collison on right.
Handwritten annotations on verso read: "Archdeacon Collison giving of reading lesson at Kincolith BC"; "'line upon line' or teaching the way of God more perfect [...]"
Three men can be seen on deck of small boat. Rocky shore in foreground, forest and hills on opposite shore in background.
Handwritten annotations on verso read: "Dad - en route up Nass River on official business. (hence the flag & business suit!)"; "Going up the Nass. Dad (Indian Agent) Cap Barry (Inspect. of Schools) travelling up the Nass River to Aiyansh".
Miscellaneous items are scattered in yard behind totem, house partially visible in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Insert this illustration in Chapt. II. No. 2. 'Tlingit Totem.'"
Child stands in distance beside tall totem pole. Tree stumps in foreground, forest and mountains in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "[Sanabati near Upper Queen?] Kasaan Alaska".
Canoes sit on shore in foreground beside village buildings. A dock is visible above water in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Alert Bay Indian Ranch No. 14 Alert Bay. To be shown on page 69 or 70, re Alert Bay Mission."
Chief’s ceremonial Chilkat robe hung for portrait; associated headress is attached to wall above it. Woven headress features the inset face of a carved wooden bird.
Handwritten annotation in pen on verso: “Chief’s Dancing Robe surmounted by Dancing Headress for page 8.” Verso also has additional handwritten annotations which have been crossed out. Stamped photographers mark on recto: “Werner & Son; 39 Grafton St. Dublin.”
Photograph depicts a mortuary pole situated against a snowy landscape.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: “Chapter XVIII, Nom. 1 Chief Gwaksho’s totem pole. The Great Hunter.”
Eight unidentified medicine men in full regalia stand in a row within a long house. Handwritten annotation in pen on verso reads: “Yaulalet Dum guna al git dkdin (?) Party of medicine men Nishka Indians ready for medicine dance. W.H. Collison”. Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Haldane & Bro. Alaskan Photographers, 7 West Street, Metlakahtla – Alaska.”
Two carved wooden figures covered in moss stand side by side with a fallen wooden plank lying between them. Wooden figures have pen marks applied to the surface of the photo.
Handwritten annotation in pen on verso reads: “Chapt. XIX No. 3. A medicine man’s tomb guarded by two figures, one of which has two heads following a tradition. They are both ie (?) the two headed figure, arranged in the headdress containing the swan’s down which is the sign of peace”.
Two carved wooden figures stand side by side to mark the burial of a Haida medicine man. Each figure has one arm up with a hand under or over the chin, while the other arm is down. Carved chiefly headdresses adorn each of their heads.
Handwritten annotation in pen on verso reads: “Illustration for insertion at end of Chapt XIX no. 2. Medicine man’s tomb Queen Charlotte Islands.” Photograph has pen markings made on its recto tracing the outline of these two shapes.
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”