Item consists of a letter written by John McCormick to a person named James; it is not made clear if James is a friend or relative. In both his letter to James, John McCormick makes several references to Victoria. His familiarity with Victoria suggests that he may have travelled from Victoria to Barkerville to mine for gold. In his letters to James, John McCormick describes having no money and living under poor conditions. He mentions the great fire that swept through Barkerville and that he lost nothing due to its distance from his house. McCormick also mentions that the Indians are dying quickly of Small Pox in Victoria.

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.

A monthly journal published by the Church Missionary Society (CMS) featuring the work of CMS missionaries around the world. Note: pages 315-320 are missing.

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.

Many rows of pews span foreground. Banners hanging in front of sanctuary read: "THE ANGEL SAID UNTO THEM, FEAR NOT, BEHOLD I BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY WHICH SHALL BE TO ALL PEOPLE".

Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Port [?] Church Interior."

Unknown buildings can be seen in background.

Church stands behind white fence, road and power lines in foreground.

Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "St. Andrew's Church, Sandwick, [?] Campbell River Rd (Maud Highway) The mother church in the '[?] District'."

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 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".

Handwritten annotation on verso reads: " '[Naskeena?' anchored off Metlakatla with Dr. [Mc-?] & Capt. Barry standing on its deck".

Unidentified man can be seen standing by small boat on shore in foreground, a second boat visible in water behind. Hills on opposite shore can be seen in background.

Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Metlakathla B.C. 'Stern-wheeler' passing village."

Photograph depicts town buildings on opposite shore. Beach and dock can be seen in foreground.

Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Chapter XXII, No 1. Eastern Section of Port Simpson as christianized."

Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "A very old Tsimpsion women - said to be over 110 yrs old."

Group of five unidentified men stand on shore to right of large dugout canoe, handling their rifles. Forest and snow-capped mountains stand on opposite shore in background.

Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Mrs Collison (wife of Arch. Collison in Canoe en route to Hazelton B.C."

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."

Five unidentified men sit with dog in canoe. One man stands on dock in foreground.

Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Freighting by canoe on skeena river".

Photograph depicts buildings along shore; bridge and boardwalk cross forest in right foreground. Hills visible in distance.

Handwritten annotation below image reads: "Port Essington from bridge"; on verso: "Heading or full page Illustration Chapter XXIII No2".

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".

Photograph depicts ship resting almost entirely out of water.

Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "A slight steering problem? Union SS Catala on reef off Port Simpson".

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.'"

A monthly journal published by the Church Missionary Society (CMS) featuring the work of CMS missionaries around the world.

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."

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".

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".

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".

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".

Large church stands behind white fence, unidentified man visible on front steps. 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: "With love, from your two old friends JH [& AM Keen?]".

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.

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: "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.

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."

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."

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".

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."

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".

Carvings sit among bushes in front of what appears to be a totem pole.

Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Eagle & whale Monument Tanu".