Carved and painted wooden mask in the shape of a mythic creature with flaring nostrils and oblong eyes. Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “44-6”
Carved wooden mask in the shape of a mythic creature with distinct eyebrows, a wide and flattened nose and a thin lipped mouth. Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “44-3”
Carved portrait mask featuring real fur eyebrow (one is missing) and mustache. Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “45-4”
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”
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”
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."
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 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."
Three men can be seen carrying bundles across bridge above river, forest on shore in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Upper Nass River. Chapt. XXII. No. 4. An Indian Bridge on a canyon."
Photograph depicts totem poles (crest poles?) in front of lodge buildings on river shore. Canoes can be seen floating in foreground, hills in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Chapter XII. Number 1. Section of Indian Village on Nass River showing lodges and totems".
File contains linguistic notes prepared by W.H. Collison and sermons written by W.H. Collison in various First Nations languages.
Two carved poles stand in front of a wide wooden building. Forest in background.
Printed below image: "OLD KAGAAN TOTEMS, KETCHIKAN, ALASKA".
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".
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".
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."
Hand coloured photograph of a cemetery in Gitxsan territory. Annotation on recto reads: "Indian Cemetery, Hazelton, BC."
File includes "In the Wake of the War Canoe" Chapter XX revisions and a note from donor Jean Whiffin on behalf of Joyce Collison regarding the revisions.
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."
Photographs depict groups of men gathered on ice. Herbert leans over behind two friends seated on ice sled (son of Marion and Archdeacon W.H. Collison). Pile of caught fish can be seen in foreground behind large whole in ice.
Handwritten annotations on verso read: "Oolichan Fishing Fishing Bay Nass River"; "Uncle Herbert with Indian friends fishing for oolichan through the ice."
Conical woven hat with a flat top and circular brim. Shells sewn to hat.
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: “50-2”
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."
Haida Grammar. Reverend C. Harrison. From the Transactions of the Royal Society of Canada. Volume I, Section II: 1895.
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.
Newspaper consists of the recto and verso of 2 pages (p. 1-4). It was published in Aiyansh on the Nass River in British Columbia in April 1895 and presents a missionary's perspective of regional First Nations traditions and current affairs of the day.
Group of eight men and seven children stand in front of crest pole on unidentified building.
Handwritten annotation below image reads: "[..?] Alaska. Indian Totem Pole, Eagle Crest South Eastern Alaska."; on verso: "Chapter XXI Illustrations No. 2. [Kinnanook?] Section of Indian Village showing Totem pole of Eagle crest."
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."
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 depicts a tomb elevated over grassy area.
Handwritten annotation on image reads: "26. Front of Indian tomb."; on verso: "Upper Nass River."
Carved wooden flute. Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “33-6”
Rocky shoreline featuring a small dwelling, totem pole, net rack, canoes pulled up to shore, barrels and boxes and a tent.
Handwritten annotation in pencil on verso reads: “Kunhalas [sic] at entrance to C--- Harbour”.
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".
Large ladles used during potlaches to serve guests food from the feast dish; Carved wooden harpoon heads used for hunting large sea mammals and one unidentified item with a triangular shape and flat top. 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: “50-1”
Photograph depicts a totem pole supported by smaller poles, and a second totem pole standing straight in background. Beach in foreground, fence and hills in distance.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Falling greatness, Chapt. XXI No. 5, A Chief's Totem Pole inclined to fall. [Gitaix?] Encampment, Nass River. Five illustration for Chapt. XXI."
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".
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "A very old Tsimpsion women - said to be over 110 yrs old."
Forest and hills on opposite shore in background.
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."
Totem pole stands alone against a mountainous background.
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”
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Travelling thru' canyon on Nass River 'Engine & poles'".
Hill on opposite shore in background.
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 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."
Series consists of journals, draft manuscripts, correspondence, CMS documents and orders, speeches, sermons all written by or to Archdeacon W. H. Collison. Series also contains correspondence to W.E. Collison and Joyce Collison, genealogical information on the Collison family, newspaper clippings and a school paper written by Archdeacon Collison's grandaughter Katy.
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]".
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".