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)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: “Q.C. Is.”
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: “Shaman’s grave”.
A bentwood box sitting on a pedestal in front of a bookcase in the office of W.E. Collison. Handwritten annotation in pencil on verso reads: “Carved ‘hope chest’ sent to New York. The box was carved by -- Luke Watson Skidegate. The photo was taken in the office – not bad for a --”
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: “43-3”
Unidentified carved and painted wooden object. Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “46-5”
Unidentified tool leaning against a sheeted backdrop. Carved wooden bark shredder, used to soften and break up fibres of cedar bark lying on sheet covered table. Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “48-3”
Stone figure carved in the likeness of a fish. Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “48-5”
Wooden fish, complete with carved fins and moveable (?) tail. Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “48-1”
Two carved wooden bentwood boxes. Box on the left containing three carved wooden spoons, box on the right containing one carved wooden spoon; between the two lies one large spoon resting against a box. 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: “49-6”
Carved wooden mask depicting a bird/human face painted with a stylized design of feathers and animal's ear to one side of the forehead. Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “44-2”
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”
Ermine-tail headdress with wooden frontlets carved with mythic animal and inlaid with abalone. Sea lion whiskers extending upwards from top of frontlet. 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: “45-6”
This file contains handwritten and typed notes and drafts of First Nations legends, addresses and manuscripts. It is believed this material was authored by W.H. and W.E. Collison although none is signed or dated.
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.
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."
Young boy stands among bushes in snow, totel pole in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: “WE Collison Totem on QCIsl."
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".
Totem poles (crest poles?) stand in front of wooden houses on right. Hills on shoreline visible in background.
Handwritten annotations on verso read: "West Coast QCIs."; "[Old?] Kassan Alaska."
Photograph depicts close-up of unidentified skeletal remains situated on the ground. Handwritten annotation in pen on verso reads: “skeleton fallen from burial box at Masset QCIs. Remains were buried near original site”.
Two model totem poles flank a bentwood box sitting on a pedestal in front of a bookcase in the office of W.E. Collison. Handwritten annotation in pen on verso reads: “Totem & carved chest in Dad’s office.”
Model totem pole standing upright on a chair against the backdrop of a sheet. 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: “46-4”
Frontal perspective of a model totem pole standing upright on a sheet covered table against the backdrop of an additional sheet. Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “47-2”
Profile perspective of a model totem pole standing upright on a sheet covered table against the backdrop of an additional sheet. Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “47-3”
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: “50-6”
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”
Pump drill consisting of a length of wood with a heavy wooden whorl fixed toward the bottom end and a crossbar-like pump arm attached to the upper end; pump arm is free to move up and down the main length of wood through a hole in the arm's center. The notched ends of the pump arm are attached to the top of the pump by twisted gut cord. The central length of wood is rounded and handle-like at the base, tapering towards the 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: “48-6”
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”
Intricately carved argillite dish featuring human faces at either end of its rectangular shape. Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “22-2”
Carved wooden bark shredder inlaid with abalone shell, used to soften and break up fibres of cedar bark. 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: “48-4”
Two cylindrical wooden columns stand parallel, connected at the top by a horizontal wooden panel featuring the carved head and front paws of a wolf. Handwritten annotation in pen on verso reads: “W.E. Collison.” Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources,
Carved wooden sculpture of a seated male figure - his hands on his chest wearing a headdress and a neck ring. Stamped annotation on verso reads: “Department of Mines and Resources, Photographic Section. Oct. 6, 1939”. Numeric annotation on verso: “46-3”.
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”
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.
This unpublished manuscript, authored by W.H. Collison and handwritten by Joyce Collison, comprises 29 identifiable chapters. Content of this manuscript appears to be focused upon the retelling of First Nations stories. The donor identified that this manuscript was intended for publication but was never completed.
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 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."
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."
Rev. W.E. Collison sits to left of totem pole, smoking a pipe (oldest son of Marion and Archdeacon W.H. Collison). Log fence can be seen in front of forest in right background.
Handwritten annotations on verso read: “W.E. Collison at Massett, QCIs."; "Dad beside totem pole".
Photograph depicts a flock of birds at beach, water and shoreline in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: “North Beach Massett QCIs."