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)Donald Macdonald and John Maxwell Collison stand on either side of large log using two-handled saw. Donald married the Archdeacon's daughter Emily in 1910.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Uncle Don, Uncle Max & Grandad Hauling wood off [beach?] at Kincolith".
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 [...]"
Village can be seen in distance. Large church building stands in centre, hills in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "For heading of Page 18. Kincolith or 'The Rock of Scalps.' Section of Kincolith [...]"
Village can be seen in distance. Large church building stands in centre, hills in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Grand Dad on beach at Kincolith".
Arthur Collison stands behind large fish hung from wood shelter, Noah seated in foreground. Arthur is the youngest son of Marion and Archdeacon W.H. Collison.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Arthur Collison with our friend 'Noah' with catch - at Kincolith Nass River".
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".
Photograph depicts large church to left of a tower structure. Power lines cross foreground, and other buildings can be seen in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "New Church Kincolith Nass River BC".
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 the sons and daughters of Marion and Archdeacon W.H. Collison posing in front of an archway covered in foliage, wood building in background. The Archdeacon stands behind his wife Marion who holds Katherine ('Katy') Collison, the oldest of their grandchildren. W.E. Collison stands on far left next to his wife Bertha nee Davis.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Collison family / Kincolith BC".
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]".
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".
The group poses in front of a wood door, ivy on either side.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "The family at Kincolith - Summer House, 1916 / Back Row L-R: Art Macdonald, Bill Collison, Reg Collison, Jack [John] Macdonald / Front L-R: Katie Collison with Don Collison, Marion Collison, Joyce Collison, Muriel (Mimi) Collison with Colin Macdonald, Hugh Macdonald".
The group poses in front of a wood door, ivy on either side.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Family group at Kincolith 1917 / Mimi [Muriel] with Colin, Bill, Katie, Jack / Art, Reg / Winnie [Marion Winnifred], Hugh, Joyce, Don".
Greeting card reads: "Kincolith Church. Wishing you all a very happy Xmas. Your work shall be rewarded. II Chron. XV. 7. [illegible initials]".
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".
Photograph depicts Noah standing in suit and holding a hat. Dog and unknown building visible in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: " 'Noah' Great Hunter & friend at Kincolith B.C."
Photograph depicts Archdeacon William Henry Collison to left of wife Marion, who stands bent over garden on right. Church steeple visible behind wood fence in background. Hills can be seen in distance.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Grandad & Grannie in garden at Kincolith".
Marion sits to left of husband Archdeacon William Henry, small boy in between. Young children sit and stand in foreground, Katherine 'Katy' and Muriel 'Mimi' stand in background (daughters of W.E. Collison). The group poses in front of a wood door, ivy on either side.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Grand-dad (Arch. W.H. Collison) & Grannie with grandchildren at Kincolith".
Marion sits to left of husband Archdeacon William Henry, beside five small children. Muriel 'Mimi' Collison (daughter of W.E. Collison) stands on right holding a younger grandchild.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Arch. WH Collison & Mrs Collison with grand-children at Kincolith".
Photograph depicts Marion and William Henry Collison standing on left with shovel, Bertha Collison on right, and young Muriel and Katherine Collison in centre with shovel (eldest daughters of W.E. Collison). Wood buildings cross midground, trees and hills visible in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Garden at Kincolith / Grandad, Grannie / Mimi, Katie / Mother".
Photograph depicts tall building, with long shorter section crossing midground in front. Path runs through garden in foreground.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Back of Mission House Kincolith".
Photograph depicts large church building behind white fence. Other buildings visible in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "New Church Kincolith Nass River BC".
Photograph depicts two unidentified men sitting on front steps of large church. Building materials are scattered in foreground, and scaffolding is visible on one tower.
Handwritten annotations above and below image read: "Dimensions of 73 Feet in length by 37 Feet in width exclusive of Porch and Buttresses. Destroyed by fire with 30 dwelling houses. The spire had been completed when burnt."; "Kincolith Church, Nth. W. Coast. British Columbia within 5 miles of the Alaskan Coast, was destroyed by fire"
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)".
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Old church - Kincolith Nass River BC".
Chicken wire crosses foreground, hills visible in background.
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.
Photograph features a steep cliff across water, rocky shore in foreground.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Up the 'Big Creek' at Kincolith B.C. Rock face called 'the place of echoes' by the Indian people."
Photograph features a steep cliff across still water.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Place of Scalps / Kincolith BC"
The group poses in front of an archway covered in foliage, wood building in background. The Archdeacon sits in centre, in front of his wife Marion.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Grand-dad + Grannie with family + friends at Kincolith / Mother + Dad lower left" (W.E. Collison sits on left in front of his wife Bertha).
Unidentified boy walks on a wood boardwalk, carrying large bundle. Forest in background.
Handwritten annotations on verso read: "Young boy carrying furs - Village of Kincolith"; "Little Indian boy carrying bear skin [?] at Gitlakdamix".
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".
Archdeacon William Henry Collison stands with cane in centre of group, trees and hills in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Meadow - Kincolith / Uncle Don - Grandfather, Aunt Alice, Aunt Elsie / Uncle Max + cousins". Donald Macdonald married W.H. Collison's daughter Emily.
Photograph depicts two young granddaughters of Marion and W.H. Colllison, holding flowers in grassy area. Forest and hills in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Winnie & Joyce at Kincolith". Marion Winnifred is the daughter of John Maxwell Collison, and Joyce is the daughter of William Edwin Collison.