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)Rev. William Edwin Collison stands in centre of boat, with wife Bertha and daughters Muriel and Katherine seated behind. Unknown man and woman are also seated in boat, and an unknown man stands on shore holding rope.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Will Collison with wife & children leaving Metlakatla to catch steamship en route to England (1910)".
Group of men, women, and children pose in front of large building.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Metlakatla BC / with Bishop Ridley - 4th from left - back row / Mrs Ridley - 4th from left - front row / [?] - [super?] of Ridley Home (beside the Bishop) / Father Hogan - behind the Bishop".
Group of men, women, and children pose in front of large building. Rev. William Edwin Collison stands on far left (son of Archdeacon W.H. Collison).
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Early Church Workers at Metlakatla BC / Bishop & Mrs Ridley in centre / (Approx 1898 - 1899)".
Image depicts a boat docked inside what appears to be a type of boathouse, possibly located in Metlakatla near Prince Rupert, B.C.
Moran stands in front of building with the sign "METLAKATLA FIRE DEPARTMENT 628-9307".
Bridget Moran stands on road, unidentified buildings behind on either side. Lake and hills on opposite shore in background. Photo believed to be taken at Metlakatla Lake, B.C. Building on left speculated to be the St. Paul's Anglican Church Learning Centre.
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?]".
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."
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".
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.
Part of a set of 41 original black & white photographs [1908-1933-?]) of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway line in BC depicting surveying crews, town sites (Prince Rupert and its port, Hazelton and Fort George), and First Nations Peoples.
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".
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".
Image depicts buildings in the village community of Metlakatla, B.C.
Image depicts Metlakatla, located near Prince Rupert, B.C.
Image depicts buildings in the village community of Metlakatla, B.C.
Photograph depicts large buildings on shore. Three unidentified individuals can be seen walking on dock in foreground.
Printed on image: "METLAKATLA B.C. / McRAE BROS"; handwritten annotation on verso reads: "A section of Metlakahtla, showing Church & Schoolhouse." See also item 2009.7.1.58 for similar image also featuring the new church building at Metlakatla, B.C.
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 fenced area in front of church building with turret. Other community buildings can be seen in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Metlakatla Church. Replacement for larger church lost in village fire 1903?" See also item 2009.7.1.55 for similar image depicting new church building at Metlakatla, B.C.
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.
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.
Photograph depicts an unidentified man walking on path in front of Bishop Ridley's home. Several children can be seen in fenced yard in midground.
Handwritten annotation below image reads: "Ridley Home and Mission house Metlakahtla."; on verso: "Chapter XXVII / Heading for Chapter / Ridley Home Metlakahtla".
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."
Item is a print of a photograph of a stone totem pole at Metakatla taken between 1906 and 1908.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: " '[Naskeena?' anchored off Metlakatla with Dr. [Mc-?] & Capt. Barry standing on its deck".
Woman stands in front of building with the sign "METLAKATLA FIRE DEPARTMENT 628-9307". Garage door visible on left.
Photograph depicts a row of houses and fenced yards on right, separated from more buildings on left by grassy area.
Printed on image: "Metlakahtla Nr. Prince Rupert. Allen Photo June '11"; handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Metlakatla B.C. North West Coast of America / Collison".
Group poses between two buildings, small dog visible behind. Wood piles and tree stumps can be seen on hill in background.
Handwritten annotation on verso reads: "Metlakatla BC / Back row - W.E. Collison, Fr. Hogan, ?, ? Canon Keen / Front row - ?, ?, Bishop Du Vernet, Archdeacon Laycock". See also item 2009.7.1.32 for image featuring Father Hogan, and 2009.7.1.29 for image featuring Bishop Du Vernet.