Community records in Oak Bay Archives

Community Records

The collections and fonds listed below have been generously donated to Oak Bay Archives by individuals, families, businesses, and organizations in our community. They are often also referred to as family, business, personal or private papers. "Private" refers to the documents' origins (as opposed to public records created e.g. by local government), rather than their current status. Most of the community records at Oak Bay Archives are available to historical researchers; there are specific exceptions for e.g. personal information that is protected by BC's privacy laws.

How can I view records and find out more? Records can normally be viewed at Oak Bay Archives by appointment in advance. *Please note that cataloguing is incomplete and ongoing. Cataloguing priorities may be influenced by research requests; more information about the collections can be requested from the Archivist. Some of the photographic holdings in these collections have been digitized and are available to search online.

Do you want my historic records? Oak Bay Archives welcomes donations of records of persons, families, businesses and organizations that help to document the history of Oak Bay. We collect mainly textual and photographic records, as we do not have specialist storage or conservation facilities for most types of objects. The Archives normally collects original records rather than copied or published material, except where these provide valuable context to original archival material.

This list is incomplete online - under construction 2023 - . Please contact the Archivist for further details.

The list on this page is long! To search by keyword, hold down Ctrl+F and type your keyword into the search box that pops up.

PR 102 Oak Bay United Church. 13 photographs of the exterior of Oak Bay United Church at Granite x Mitchell. (Accession 2001/5)

PR 103 Patrick Family photographs. Digital copies only. Accessions 2015-012 and 2016-004.

PR 104 Harold & Ada Francis photographs. 152 photographs and ephemera 1900s-1970s. Accession 2016/6. View photos online View collection list

PR 105 Oak Bay public library. Interior and exterior photographs of the original library building and the expansion into Tonkin House (1423 Hampshire Rd). Accession 1999/1.

PR 106 Pattinson family papers. Personal & business papers pertaining to Robert and Rose Pattinson of Oak Bay and their children Joan and Roy Pattinson. Includes several items re Oak Bay Pharmacy, Robert Pattinson's WW1 service, Roy Pattinson's WW2 service and death.Accessions 2015/10, 2016/32. View a selection of photographs online

PR 107 Seniors North West Golf Association. 1923-1990s. 30 cm of textual records. Minutes, financial records, prize lists etc. Accession 2015/11.

PR 109 Bruce Stewart photos. Digital images: photographic survey of dmestic architecture in Oak Bay (2007); photographic survey of Oak Bay United Church (2011). Accession 2015/14.

PR 110. Frank Burrell photos. ca. 250 photographic prints taken by Frank Burrell 1890s-1920s: family portraits and events, civic events, Willows Camp during WW1, portraits, still life, streetscapes, photos of SPhie Pemberton's paintings. Accession 2010/10. View online

PR 111. Willows beach photo. 1 group photo, showing Joyce Whitehead, Mrs Maynard (Oak Bay potter), Madam Valda (dance instructor), Winifred Whitehead. 1920s. Accession 2016/9. View online.

PR 112. Layborn house. 1 electronic image of 2065 Oak Bay Avenue, pre-1967. Copy loan only; original print not held at OBA. View online.

PR 113. "Arden" - Beaven family home, 1120 Beach Drive. 1 plan, 3 photographs, 1 brochure. Accession 2016/11. View selected images online.

PR 114 Haynes family photographs. ca. 450 photos, 2 printed items. Photos relate to AE Haynes family of Beach Drive 1890-1950: Oak Bay Camp, Arthur Haynes real estate office, streetscapes of downtown VIctoria, family life in Oak Bay. Accession 20013/17. View many of the photos online

PR 116 W.E. Oliver papers. 1902-2007. 5 cm of textual records. Papers relating to William Edgar Oliver, first Reeve of Oak Bay, including: an architectural drawing by Francis Rattenbury of "Bongate", the Oliver family home at 1159 Beach Drive; mortgage documents; household accounts ledger, 1917-1920; 1906 petition for incorporation (photocopy); an album of family history; correspondence from Dr Andrew Gillespie. (Accession 2006-004) View a selection of the photos online.

PR 117 Bowker Creek Restoration Restoration Research Project files. 33 photographs, news cuttings, notes on Bowker Creek area history. Accession 2016/15. View a selection of photos online

PR 118 Monterey School fonds. 1914-2005 | 2.2 metres of textual records, photographs, news clippings and trophies. Records of Monterey Elementary School from 1914 to 2005, including class photographs, school activities, examples of students’ work, scrapbooks documenting the history of the school, news clippings of Monterey School students who served in the Second World War, publications and artifacts. Includes the records of the Monterey Parent Association, 1939-2005. (Accessions 1994-018 and 2005-014). Please note restricted access to records containing personal information 100 years old or less.

PR 119 Joe Easingwood fonds 1950-2013 | textual records, photographs, multimedia. Correspondence, news cuttings, photographs and other material relating to the life and career of broadcaster Joe Easingwood and of his wife Dawn Shipton Easingwood. (Accession 2016-021) A detailed description of this fonds is available on MemoryBC.

PR 120 Blethering Place Tea Room reno photographs. 1982. 55 photographs documenting the 1982 renovation of Monterey Mews at the NW corner of Oak Bay Avenue and Monterey Avenue. Accession 2016/28.

PR 121 Association of Women Electors of Greater Victoria. 12 cm textual records including newsletters, MS notes & ephemera. Accession 2010/3, donated 1994 and 1997.

PR 123 Tod House collection. 1976-1999 | 50 cm of textual records, plans, photographs and artifacts. The collection consists of reports, research files, plans, photographs, wallpaper samples and archaeological material relating to Tod House, Oak Bay as compiled by the BC Heritage Branch, 1976-1999. Tod House was built by HBC officer John Tod in 1850 and is one of the oldest buildings in Greater Victoria and the longest continuously occupied residence in western Canada. (Accession 2004-003). For more information about Tod House visit Canada's Historic Places.

PR 124 Sealand of the Pacific - Ruff collection. 1968-1975 | 64 photographs and 1 album (copy). The collection consists of photographs, slides and news clippings relating to Sealand of the Pacific. The collection includes photographs showing the construction of the aquarium facility at the Oak Bay Marina, transportation of whales to captivity, and marine mammal displays. The records were donated to Oak Bay Archives by Stu Ruff in 2016. (Accessions 2016-018 and 2017-010).

PR 125 Pauline family collection. ca.1900. 5 small oil paintings by FA Pauline depicting landscape scenes of England (1890-1920). Accession 2014-008.

PR 126 Oak Bay Girls Drill Team. 1944-1959. 1 album of photographs, correspondence, ephemera & news cuttings, 3 uniforms. Accession 1994/16. View photos online.

PR 127 Majorie & Percy Barber papers. 1925-1978. Photographs, paintings & textual records, Marjorie Martinson's wedding dress. Accession 2016/33

PR 128 Patrick Arena Monument collection. 1998-2002. Research material compiled by Oak Bay Heritage Commission re cairn commemorating Oak Bay's hockey history. Commemorative album, news cuttings, copy photographs, minutes and other material. Accession 2002/12.

PR 129 Woodward family papers. 1930s-1970s. Photo albums, news cuttings and other material re William Culham Woodward, 16th Lt Gov of BC, and Woodward family. Accession 2017/1

PR 131 Logan & Margaret Mayhew house papers. 1955-1987. 30 cm of textual records, photographs & plans. Photographs, architectural drawings, correspondence, news cuttings re construction of Mayhew home, 3515 Beach Drive, 1950. Accession 2009/3. View file list here

PR 132 Rhonda Lillard collection. 4 items: photograph album documenting trip to East Kootenays, 1935-42; Diary of Mrs Walter Burgess nee Mary Hastie, 1907-08, Central Saanich; California Insurance Co receipt book 1892; Gray Bros Victoria account book, 1930. Accession 2010/5. View Burgess diary online

PR 133 Lorna Elder album - Oak Bay Recreation. 1957-1980 | 1 scrapbook. The album consists of news clippings, correspondence, and ephemera documenting the development of recreational facilities in Oak Bay. Lorna Elder, a long-time Oak Bay resident, helped to establish playground and recreational facilities in Oak Bay in the 1960s and 1970s. She was a member of the Association of Women Electors of Greater Victoria. (Accession 2017-008) A description of this item is available on MemoryBC. View album online

PR 134 Denny family papers. 1930-1965. Photographs, slides, letters created by members of the Denny family, incl photographs of 3130 Midland Road, St Christopher's School, 210 Denison, 1863 Crescent road. Accession 2017/12.

PR 135 Edna Hurley papers

PR 136 Gary Wilcox papers

PR 137 "Voices from History" oral history collection.

PR 138 Oak Bay Archives Oral History Collection.

PR 139 Flanagan family papers.

PR 140 Oak Bay Tea Party Society papers. Accession 2017/23

PR 141 Business receipts collection. Accession 1994/2

PR 142 Ross/ Blair Gowie collection. Copy photos of Blair Gowie, 2031 Runnymede Road. Originals not held at OBA. Accession 1994/4.

PR 144 Derek Todd memoir of life in York Place 1940s-1960s. Accession 1994-31.

PR 146 Oak Bay Board of School Trustees. Correspondence 1906. Accession 2013/2

PR 147 Gwladys Downes papers. 1911-1931. Accessions 1995/2, 2003/5.

PR 149 Brice family photographs. Accessions 2000/3, 2014/10.

PR 150 Native Plant Garden Restoration Project papers. Accession 2003/6.

PR 151 New Horizons Village Crafts Society fonds. Minutes, financial reports, correspondence, photographs, grant applications, constitution, board duties, store operation policies. 1973-2009. Accessions 2003/7, 2009/5.

PR 152 Oak Bay High School collection. 1927-2003. Photographs, publications. Accessions 2016/23 and others.

PR 154 Willows School Collection. 1970-1998. Photographs, publications. Accessions 2005/12 and others.

PR 155 Harling Point Chinese Cemetery collection. 1902-1920. Accessions 2004/4, 2004/9.

PR 156 Uplands School fonds. 1959-2002. Accession 2004/5.

PR 157 Warburton Pike collection. 1892-1934. Publications, photograph, cuttings and research correspondence about the life of Warbuton Pike, collected by Major WH Langley. Accession 2004/6.

PR 158 2809 Burdick photographs. Copy photos of 2809 Burdick 1945-1950. Accession 2004/12. Original photograph prints not held at OBA.

PR 159 Terry Reksten fonds. Research collection of photographs, slides, audio tapes, copy photos; personal papers incl day books, personal correspondence and other records; news cuttings albums. Accessions 2004/11, 2009/2.

PR 160 Wootton family papers. 1900-1950. Photographs, news cuttings. Accession 2018/4.

PR 161 Monterey School work. 1935-36. Examples of grade 9 Home Economics work done by Joan Pickles as a student at Monterey School. Accessions 2005/1-2.

PR 163 Douglas McLelland collection. 1887-1976. Uplands booklet, 2 paintings, 1 scrapbook. Accession 2005/16.

PR 164 T P Horne school certificates. 1919-2005. School certificates and other personal papers of Thomas Percy Horne. Accession 2005/18.

PR 166 Marion Bell papers. 1923-1942. Personal papers of Marion Bell. Accession 2010/4.

PR 167 Hope family photographs. Digital copies only. Original album is held by Saanich Archives. Accession 2010/11.

PR 168 WW2 Air Raid Precautions (ARP) artifacts. 1939-1945.

PR 169 Oak Bay Green Committee scrapbooks. 2005-2011.

PR 170 Ker family photographs ca.1947.

PR 172 Evans Coleman & Johnson cement plant, New Westminster - photographs.

PR 173 Norman Pimlott memoir "My Way: Norm's ups and downs on the sea of life" 2012.

PR 174 Victoria Riding Academy. 1942-1947. Photographs.

PR 177 Collett family papers. ca. 1920. WW1 Honour Roll of Hampshire Road Methodist Church, family certificates, photographs, printed books, ephemera.

PR 179 Oak Bay Beach Hotel Commuity Advisory Committee. 2004. Correspondence, research notes, news cuttings. Accession 2017/18.

PR 180 Windsor Dog Park Group papers. 1996-2011. Photograph albums. Accession 2014/9.

PR 181 Oak Bay ephemera. Accession 2011/4.

PR 182 Painting of Uplands Grocery. Accession 2016/16

PR 183 Collection of 7 Christmas postcards. Accession 2016/17

PR 186 F M Rattenbury collection. 2 original letters, research notes, copies of news cuttings, copies of receipts, etc. Accession 2016/24

PR 188 Penny Farthing Pub redevelopment. 2001. Photographs of 2228 Oak Bay Avenue. Accession 2016/30.

PR 191 Davenport Pharmacy collection. 1950-1960s. 2 photographs, 1 newspaper cutting, 1 CD-Rom (digital images). Accession 2017/31.

PR 192 Querky the Garry Oak Tree photo album. Accession 2017/13.

PR 195 BC Agricultural Association collection. 1920-1934. 3 items. Accession 2017/19.

PR 196 Oak Bay Information Centre proposal. 1994. Copies of working drawings. Accession 1994/3.

PR 197 3045 Midland Road. House plans. Accession 2014/6.

PR 198 Bertram Howell photographic fonds. 1885-1925. Accession 2017/24.

PR 199 Oak Bay Cenotaph unveiling ceremony photographs and program. 1948. Accession 2013/6.

PR 201 3385 Upper Terrace records. House plans, garden layout plan. Accession 2007/1.

PR 203 Tor Miller scrapbook. 1923-2001. Accession 2017/26.

PR 204 Kildonan House records. Original blue print plans, 1 cop photograph of Kildonan, 931 Foul Bay Road. Accession 2017/28.

PR 205 Vey family photographs, 2576 Estevan Ave. 1929-1936. 2 photos. Accession 2008/1.

PR 206 Oak Bay Tea Party photographs. 1962-1978. 40 photographs, news cuttings. Accession 2004/7.

PR 208 Watercolour paintings by Norma H Pite. 2 paintings of views from the art room at Oak Bay High School, 1933. Accession 2017/44.

PR 209 Estevan Village photographs by Alan McKinley, 2009 and 2011. 13 photographs. Accession 2009/4.

PR 210 2347 Windsor Road photographs. 5 photos. 1895-1930. Accession 2009-1

PR 211 4 reproductions of works by Edward Goodall. Accession 2017/47.

PR 212 Land deed: AH Blakemore, Cranmore Street & District of Oak Bay, 1912.; 1 photograph, letter. Accession 1997/2.

PR 211 4 reproductions of works by Edward Goodall: the old Oak Bay Boathouse, view of Olympic Mountains from VIctoria Golf Club, sketch of Glenlyon Preparatory School (1701 Beach Drive), view of Cadboro Bay. Not original artworks. Accession 2017/47.

PR 212 Title deed (land transaction record): AH Blakemore, Cranmore Street, and District of Oak Bay.

PR 213 History of the Victoria Coffee Club 1930-2017. Typescript 2017. Accession 2018/2.

PR 214 Hinkins / Unwin photo album. Photographs of south Oak Bay, Victoria and other locations, ca. 1900-1920. Accession 2006/6. View photos online.

PR 215 Lt. Allan Hart papers. Records and artifacts re WW1 service of Lt Allan Hart (1893-1985). Accessions 2017/36, 2019/4.

PR 216 Cllr. Sherry Irvine papers. 3 albums of news cuttings, 1 oral history recording re Charlotte (Sherry) Irvine's 2 terms on Oak Bay Council 1990-1996. Accessions 2018/11, 2019/?.

PR 218 11 photographs of demolition of house at 2042 Byron St, 1994. Accession 1994/8.

PR 219 Harling Point Neighbourhood Association & Chinese Cemetery. Records and photos of committee planning restoration of Chinese Cemtery at Harling Point, 1996-2000. Accessions 201/1, 2001/5, 2004/4.

PR 220 2264 Windsor Road collection. Antique electric toaster, 1910 house furnishings invoices found at 2264 Windsor Road prior to demolition in 2018. Accession 2017/48.

PR 221 Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force photographs, created and collected by Charles Croft. Accession 2019/13.

PR 223 Annandale collection. Accession 2019/8.

PR 224 Box of printing plates used in production of Ron Baird's 1979 book Success Story - the history of Oak Bay.

PR 225 Marjorie Ann Aldritt papers. Achievement certificates, photographs, news cuttings, personal papers and biographical material, prize books, award items.

PR 226 Sealand of the Pacific - Denny collection. Photographs, photo negatives, news cuttings re Sealand of the Pacific, 1970s and later publications. Accession 2019/1

PR 227 Oral history recording: Shirley Tucker, 2018.

PR 228 Oak Bay Volunteer Services fonds. Photographs, cuttings, ephemera, correspondence re early years of Oak Bay Volunteer Services (founded 1977). Accession 2019/21.

PR 229 Campbell family papers. 1914-1918. WW1 documents, photographs and objects re the Campbell family of Dunlevy St, Oak Bay. Accession 2019/3.

PR 230 Nils Jensen papers. Obituary, memorial service leaflet and other items re career of Nils Jensen, Mayor of Oak Bay 2011-2018. Accessions 2019/6.

PR 231 Larry McCann papers. 1908-2016. Research collection re Uplands & Oak Bay land use & planning history. Extent: 51 boxes. Accession 2019/15 View preliminary file list here

PR 232 Jim Munro reference book collection. 250 printed books on BC and local history. Accession 2019/14

PR 233 Diana Butler papers. 1985-1996. speeches, camptaign material, photographs, new cutings re Diana butler's terms as Alderman (Councillor) and Mayor of Oak Bay. Accession 2019-17

PR 234 Harness family collection. 1916-1956. Oak Bay High School printed items, photographs. Accessions 2002/4, 2019/18.

PR 235 Reeve Richard Ratcliffe Taylor papers. 2 photograph albums, family history material, ephemera. View photos online

PR 236 5 tourist postcards, 1906-1930. CPR Empress Hotel, CPR steamer, view of Olympic Mountains, view of Mt Baker. Accession 2015/9.

PR 237 1226 Hampshire Road restoration photographs. 2002-3. 160 photographs. Accession 2013/14.

PR 238 1996 Blizzard - Oak Bay Avenue. Digital photographs. Accession 1996/2

PR 240 Wildflower sketchbook of (Ada) Hope Leeder, later Yarrow. 1909-1910. Accession 2001/7.

PR 242 Bartholomew family papers. Accession 2020/1.