What's inSight Summer 2014
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Transcript of What's inSight Summer 2014
$395
Summer 2014
royal bc museum hosts
First AboriginAl culturAl FestivAl
new exhibition
our living lAnguAges First PeoPlesrsquo voices in bc
going DigitAl
globAl PlAnts initiAtive
MAnAging eDitorKathryn swanson Membership amp Marketing Coordinator
MeMbersHiP eDitoriAl coMMittee Angela Williams Chief Operating Officer
erika stenson Head of Marketing amp Development
David AlexanderHead of New Archives amp Digital Preservation
erik lambertsonCorporate Communications Officer
gerry truscottPublisher
Jenny MccleeryGraphic Designer
shane lighter Photographer
Whatrsquos INSight is an electronic magazine released four times annually in March June september and December by the royal bc Museum in the interest of keeping our administrative costs low ndash and our carbon footprint small ndash this print version is provided to members without computer access only
one More WAY to go greencontact Kathryn swanson to request a digital version of Whatrsquos insightMembership amp Marketing Coordinator 250-387-3287membershiproyalbcmuseumbcca
14
22
26
cover imagele la la Dancer telling the Dzunekwa legend A female figure in Kwakwakarsquowakw mythology who brings wealth greatly feared by children she is known as an ogress who steals children and carries them home in her basket to eat Photo courtesy of Aboriginal tourism bc
2
5
6
8
10
13
14
16
17
17
20
22
24
26
suMMer 2014
catch and collect Preserve and Protect
100 objects of interest
A gallery intervention
volunteer ProFile steve suntok
FeAture carr collections
FeAture PArtner vancity
FeAture our living languages
A beautiful collaboration
Aboriginal cultural Festival
stAFF ProFile gerry truscott
FeAture PArtner canadian geographic
Donor ProFile sharon smith
going DigitAl global Plants initiative
Artists get inspired by the collection
A closer looK A vice-regal Mystery
2 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
What would a museum be if it did not collaborate with its communities the royal bc Museum is building partnerships to amplify our stories and bring the collections and archives in front of a global audience this issue of Whatrsquos insight showcases some of these new efforts
on June 21 the royal bc Museum and our partner the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council will open a new exhibition Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC on the top floor of the museum
this groundbreaking interactive exhibition celebrates the resilience and diversity of First nations languages in bc in the face of change take this opportunity to learn what First nations communities throughout the province are doing to help their languages survive and flourish in this evocative new gallery
We have also partnered with Aboriginal tourism bc for our first annual Aboriginal cultural Festival the festival will be held on our campus and thunderbird Park we hope creating a celebratory atmosphere with sound stages performances arts and traditional food
i recently returned from a fascinating trip to china We will be initiating a number of international partnerships with museums in suzhou and nanjing and further developing existing relationships with colleagues in beijing Hong Kong and guangzhou the purpose is to begin to look outwards and to forge relationships that can serve us in years to come
As suzhou is twinned with victoria and guangzhou with vancouver we will be exploring how we can give new meaning to such city to city relationships
our work is enriched by your support and i would like to extend my personal gratitude for your ongoing commitment to us All our staff and volunteers greatly appreciate the support and dedication provided by our donors sponsors partners and members i look forward to evolving the definition of collaboration in terms of the royal bc Museum with you as a dedicated member i look forward to seeing you soon at the museum again
Yours
Professor Jack lohman cbe chief executive officer royal bc Museum
Dear Friends
Professor Jack lohman and tracey Herbert executive Director First Peoplesrsquo cultural council sign the Memorandum of understanding at the languages exhibition Workshop Musqueam nation
royalbcmuseumbcca 1
Catch and Collect Preserve and Protectby gavin Hanke curator vertebrate Zoology
Jaws from our latest whale arrived during the last week of February
2014 they came from the carcass of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) which died and later resurfaced underneath an aquaculture pen in ross Passage about 21 kilometres northwest of tofino i can imagine that the whale was a bit of a shock to the staff of the aquaculture facility After the whale was towed to a beach and examined by researchers from the Department of Fisheries and oceans we arranged to have its skeleton cleaned by Mike deroos of cetacea contracting for the royal bc Museum research collection i think most people would understand the excitement about receiving a new whale skeleton but this one is special the royal bc Museum has isolated leg bones of a Humpback as well as foetal specimens in
alcohol but this is our first complete Humpback Whale skeleton this skeleton is a significant addition to the research collection because it is the first whale in many years As you can imagine there are many reasons a museum would not be able to receive something as large as a whale 1) it is difficult to prepare something this large 2) whales may wash up in remote areas making recovery prohibitively expensive and 3) whale carcasses sometimes are protected for cultural reasons but if another Humpback turned up irsquod gladly acquire it for our research collection the same goes for Killer Whales or Harbour Porpoises even though we have several already
People regularly ask me ldquoWhy do you need another insert species name hererdquo the answer is simple ndash diversity Diversity permeates all life ndash no two organisms are identical
this diversity is the raw material which was filtered by evolution to produce the bewildering array of life as we know it
biological diversity is everywhere Walk down the street look at your neighbours Are they all the same Are they the same age height weight gender race Did they eat the same thing for breakfast Are any diseased or showing signs of trauma some may have piercings some have tattoos some have both even identical twins differ look at any drawer in the natural History collection and yoursquoll see organismal variation (but not piercings and tattoos)
in biology all specimens are unique regardless of species At a quick glance all threespine sticklebacks look alike look closer and you will discover variation between
1
2 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
1 Humpback Whale flensing researchers and staff work to clean the
washed up carcass to be added to the royal bc Museum collection
2 Threespine Sticklebacks three samples from the collection each
with unique variations
3 American Robin one of the 301 in the collection
researchers have examined variation in rodents to hone their identification skills and we have sent umatilla Dace to ottawa so that researchers can confirm variation across the speciesrsquo range
charles Darwin collected specimens but had no idea how scientists would analyse skins and skeletons in 2014 like early explorers i have no idea what will be needed for future research We keep specimens according to standard museum practices and hope future researchers will find ways to use the material in their research Perhaps the glaucous-winged gull will be the next ldquocanaryrdquo for the urban coal mine in recent years a study of tissue chemistry from specimens showed when gull diets changed from natural items to garbage gull tissues may prove invaluable to
specimens some of the variation is obvious (ie some lack pelvic fins or armour)
evolution works by natural selection on variable traits some individuals have a fortuitous set of traits that promote survival and reproduction other individuals fail for one reason or another variation occurs through time and over a speciesrsquo range rates of change differ between regions For the threespine stickleback change can be rapid in small isolated coastal lakes but almost undetectable in the coastal marine population the lack of variation within coastal marine stickleback and greater variation within freshwater lake populations shows where gene flow occurs increased gene flow homogenises populations - reduced gene flow can amplify evolutionary trends in isolated populations We study
2
3
variation to understand boundaries between species and geographic patterns within species variation is the reason why museums need many specimens for research and why we collect as much as we can as often as we can the royal bc Museum has 196 ldquolotsrdquo of threespine stickleback - with any ldquolotrdquo containing one or more specimens extrapolate that to over 16000 lots of fishes and you get an idea of the size of the ichthyology collection alone
At a museum you can examine specimens collected yesterday a year ago or 100 years ago since 2012 we have received five American robins to add to the 296 already in the research collection our first lot of 36 was collected 126 years ago
the royal bc Museum provides you a biological time machine ndash i am sure human history staff feel the same about their material instead of only having information from the present you have information on species through time and across geographical regions As the curator of vertebrate zoology i donrsquot shoot birds and mammals or trap mammals like early explorers did nature is under enough pressure with urban encroachment and pollution i accept many specimens each year - even common species some come from accidental deaths - road-kills window kills by-catch or from researchers with a specific project
the royal bc Museum receives many specimens each year with a focus on british columbia and its immediate neighbours Already in 2014
royalbcmuseumbcca 3
document changing pollution levels on this continent irsquod better collect more gulls
today with the pace of urban and industrial sprawl the study of nature has taken on new urgency With the royal bc Museum research collection you can look at animals and plants collected prior to the invention of plastic You can try to see when traces of minute plastic particles appeared in plankton-feeding animals or maybe you want to examine the skin of amphibians to see when chytridiomycosis arrived in
bc researchers may want to study the range of dietary items over the entire range of a species - and look at specimens from 50 years ago to see if a speciesrsquo diet has changed Perhaps someone would want to study anatomical changes as fish grow or compare the number of eggs females produce across the range of a species Who knew that preserved animals would be used in such ways the potential topics for museum research are staggering yet many in our population have no idea that museums support research
the multidimensional foresight needed to save material for future study is almost entirely unique to museum staff ndash it is part of our culture to many our thoughts and behaviours must look scattered or disorganised sometimes we are accused of being packrats i counter that accusation with the fact that i have 296 packrats in the mammalogy collection and since i can account for variation in Neotoma cinereus i can honestly state that i do not resemble a packrat try do that without a reference collection
this spotted bat (Euderma maculatum) from the okanagan represents the northern-most specimen in north
American museums
4 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
there are over seven million objects in the royal bc Museum
collection from the big ndash full whale skeletons and a rolls royce ndash to the small ndash bugs and thimbles galore the vast majority of these collections are never on display this summer the museum and archiversquos doors will be thrown open and a rare glimpse at the highlights of the collection will be offered through a new website featuring a selection of the rare interesting significant and amazing pieces from the royal bc Museum
experts from all departments have peered into cabinets looked through
drawers and racked their brains submitting their top collection lists From this long list we have narrowed down 100 items this distillation from our collection isnrsquot necessarily the top historical or scientific items they arenrsquot always the prettiest ndash in fact some are downright ugly ndash but they are all significant in their right And many have fascinating stories coming to the royal bc Museum in ways you wouldnrsquot imagine the list includes giant squids a handbook to gold a spider named after a motorcycle the first marriage license treasures from bcrsquos favourite artist a rare First nations mask
and even a hockey stick the online collection will offer insight into the history of the province
look for this new website this summer at royalbcmuseumbcca100
by David Alexander Head of new Archives amp Digital Preservation
1 bubblegum coral
2 spindle Whorl
3 Kermode bear skull
4 childrsquos Dress
5 Yellow-bellied snake
6 Miettia salientensis Hofmann and Mountjoy 2010 Mount robson bc one of the oldest fossils in the collection
100 Objects of Interest
1
4
2
5
3
6
royalbcmuseumbcca 5
A Gallery Intervention by Janet MacDonald Head of learning
the royal bc Museumrsquos script the original exhibition text found
on panels and labels throughout the permanent galleries is now 50 years old
Prof Jack lohman the royal bc Museum ceo has expressed how essential it is to refresh this narrative just ldquoas you would update any text book of that agerdquo With this in mind the royal bc Museum has begun to review the core scripts and text with an eye to revise key messages and to increase the enjoyment and the potential for learning for all our visitors Phase i of this initiative began this spring with the natural History gallery
The Role of Text and a Team Approachchoosing an appropriate writer for the task was the first crucial step We found in Maleea Acker environmental journalist and local author an innate sensibility for the natural world Her writing style from examples of her published work aligned perfectly with the communication style we were after she joined our re-scripting team for the month of April and together with lead curator Dr Ken Marr curator of botany senior designer Ken Johnson and members of our learning staff we conducted a series of walkthroughs with all natural history
curators and collections managers their combined disciplinary expertise allowed us to look at the gallery in a holistic manner and capture the accuracy of the main narrative
As a starting point we acknowledged the importance of the written word in communicating main themes and key messages According to Maleea ldquotext forms a unifying reference point for our visitors as they travel through a variety of displays and exceptional dioramasrdquo such stunning environments can sometimes leave you visually distracted inside the story
6 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
Cool New Fossil Techour ability to properly prepare
fossil material for the collection has increased our collection Manager in Palaeontology Marji Johns has been busy outfitting a portion of the vertebrate lab on the main floor of the Fannin building to accommodate some heavy duty fossil prepping equipment Fossil material is often collected in the form of a matrix of rock containing one or many fossil representations Preparation of a macrofossil allows details to be revealed which are needed for identification and research some of the removed matrix can be chemically treated to recover microscopic fossils study and research on both macro- and microfossils can lead to a better understanding of past environments climates and the geologic history of an area removal of the matrix can reveal an exquisite fossil that may be exhibit quality Plus the reduction in matrix can allow for more efficient storage in the collection for both space and weight
now donrsquot take Jackrsquos analogy of the textbook literally We do not mean to put a book on the wall However there were important re-scripting considerations to keep in mind so many in fact that a text strategy was implemented We committed to acknowledging the myriad of visitor learning styles with an intention to accommodate as many of you as possible the text would be concise accessible and layered ndash the first layer being the most accessible and carrying the main message and subsequent layers providing progressively detailed information for those who want it Most importantly style is everything the writing would be engaging direct and conversational in a tone encouraging questioning and reflection
Getting it Writeto make a long story short we arrived at a stage in the process where the team felt comfortable with the content intent and the conversational aspects of the written words but ultimately true success would rely on whether the text resonated with you our visiting public And so we asked on sunday afternoon April 27 we orchestrated a testing session our seven lsquochapter headingsrsquo were produced in the form of text on paper mock-ups positioned strategically throughout the gallery each headline panel introduced a particular exhibit to visitors as they entered the environment
With the help of a team of volunteers we were able to assess our ability to communicate and engage people the results were fascinating and instructive comments ranged from an appreciation for the larger print type to questions regarding grammatical composition and use of analogies People of all ages time and again expressed their appreciation for being asked their opinion and many more felt that the signs made them think more deeply about what they were looking at
As i write this article the revised script is now in the hands of our trusted design team ndash who will turn our collaborative work into reality We will hang the script for your reading pleasure in June i encourage you to let us know what you think letrsquos not have another 50 years pass before the next revision
25 million year old whale vertebrae found on the west coast of vancouver island by steve suntok
royalbcmuseumbcca 7
treasures come to us in many different artifacts and specimens
today i introduce to you a human treasure victoria lawyer fossil enthusiast and royal bc Museum volunteer steve suntok steve came to us in the late summer of 2013 with an amazing fossil discovery He had found a rare bird bone from the west coast of vancouver island it is only the second fossil of its kind found in these rocks ndash the first find was over 120 years ago bird bones do not preserve well because they are thin and hollow an adaptation for flight
steve had heard from his fossil enthusiast friends that bird expert gary Kaiser was volunteering at the museum and archives gary identified this fossil as a tibiotarsus leg bone from a cormorant-like bird to make the identification he had carefully inspected the royal bc Museumrsquos modern bird research collections
volunteer ProFile
Steve Suntok by Marji Johns collections Manager Palaeontology
due to weathering damage and disintegration He selects specimens that are scientifically significant or recently exposed by erosion but are well preserved Fossils that are discerned as important but too large to transport are photographed and brought to the attention of experts collected specimens include location labels that are also numbered and recorded in a book For important specimens steve learns about them through readings by collaborating with experts and research through local palaeontology societies or volunteering at a museum
After documenting and donating many important specimens to the royal bc Museum such as whale vertebrae ribs teeth rare ammonites nautiloids crustaceans (crabs and lobsters) and unusual plant fossils steve also has helped unwrap document label and enter data for hundreds of other fossil specimens that were recently donated He has assisted with collections moves and the set up of palaeo lab equipment
there are many other volunteers participating in projects matched to their skills and interests they are all indispensable to the advancements of the palaeo collections at the museum and archives For them making contributions and learning are valued and we all enjoy developing friendships and gaining new experiences
other museum collections and scrutinized palaeontology research literature
gary and i were joking and with twinkles in our eyes said to steve ldquoHow about finding us anotherrdquo steve and his family (daughter leah and son graham) not only found another fossil tibiotarsus but also came back with an even rarer and new fossil bird bone from the site the last was in a 45 kg slab talus block that had fallen from the cliff and into the tidal zone it had been found by leah the block could not be easily downsized at the beach so steve carried it 5 kilometers out this rare bone will probably be a new species We know from previous research at the site that the fossil is about 25 million years old When gary Kaiserrsquos research is published you will be hearing more about this exciting find
steve has become an inspiring steward for bc palaeontology He has gained new knowledge about fossils and collections and this has led to important donations of other rare fossils for research and learning He did keep a few less important specimens for his familyrsquos enjoyment including fossils that connect them with memorable experiences of the day
steve collects responsibly meaning his discoveries mostly come from surface collection of fossils that are at greatest risk for being lost
8 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
A Fossil Hunting Adventure
After gazing-up and eyeing a prize eroding out of a waterfall
cliff i knew i had to have this fossil before mother nature swept it away i found myself 20 feet up a steep cliff under an overhang with a water pool below i tried climbing up but instead went for a dive and unexpected swim in January
on the next trip i tried climbing down with ropes got stuck cut myself loose to get down went for a second swim once again during a season best reserved for skiing and snowshoeing
Determined (my wife says obsessed) i welded a fire poker to a steel pipe but the poker broke off and it went
by steve suntok royal bc Museum volunteer amp donor
for a swim the next time i built a rope ladder and climbed to the top to hang it As i started to climb down the boards i was using for rungs broke ndash my third swim
next i went all out and bought a telescoping ladder i chose a 25 pound version because it was a long steep hike through the bush to get to the site the ladder was too short i went home empty-handed
i went and purchased a taller ladder on the plus side it was 22 feet high on the negative side it weighed 40 pounds and was difficult to haul A friend held the ladder steady and after an hour of carefully chipping away at rock the fossil was free i
caught it with my one free hand and now it sits proudly in my office it is a great ammonite but the memories make it all the better
i love fossil hunting in british columbia itrsquos cool that we can hold in our hands the remains of ancient life from millions of years ago i find that vancouver island is one of the most beautiful places on earth the scenery irsquove seen is by itself worth the effort and that you can find fossils while you are out there ndash that is a great bonus i love adventure and learning and i have met many awesome diverse interesting and kind people during these outings
gary Kaiser amp steve suntok
royalbcmuseumbcca 9
towards the end of her life artist and writer emily carr (1871-1945)
reduced the volume of her writings letters and sketchbooks to what would fit in a battered old steamer trunk in her unmistakable block printing carr expressed her wishes on a card and tacked it under the trunkrsquos lid ldquoAt MY DeAtH PleAse senD tHis boX AnD contents intAct to Mr irA DilWortH cAnADiAn broAD-cAsting corP vAncouver bc [signed] emily carrrdquo Dilworth was carrrsquos confidante and literary executor entrusted with the responsibility of managing her writings and posthumously publishing a number
of her manuscripts Many years after Dilworthrsquos death this distillation of a lifersquos work became one of several nuclei of the carr collections entrusted to the care of the bc Archives
the other groups of royal bc Museum carr collections centre around a large body of her artworks (mainly from the period preceding 1927 but including some important mature works) carr-related artifacts and archival and library records created by her peers and scholars the carr collections hold a number of surprises some of carrrsquos pottery pieces several of her hooked rugs and artifacts including First
Peoplersquos-crafted souvenir items purchased in 1907 and an articulated wooden doll that pops up in various carr sketches cartoons and in a documentary photograph of carrrsquos studio taken shortly after her death
While carrrsquos works are cared for and exhibited in over 35 public galleries museums and institutions and treasured in countless private collections world-wide the largest collection of carrrsquos career output is stewarded by the royal bc Museum Much of it can be consulted on a daily basis in the archives or by appointment this year the royal bc Museum is enhancing understanding of this rich legacy through a web
A ricH resource
Carr Collectionsby Don bourdon curator images amp Paintings
tanoo Qci emily carr 1913
10 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
exhibition featuring a timeline stubbed with Carrrsquos paintings drawings writings photographs and artifacts A ldquotreasure boxrdquo Emily Carr Gallery figures prominently in the Royal BC Museumrsquos redevelopment vision
Upon her death in 1945 the Province of BC purchased seven major Carr paintings including Tanoo (see accompanying figure) Artistic executor Lawren Harris selected 170 works from hundreds remaining in Carrrsquos home for the Emily Carr Trust Collection (now housed in the Vancouver Art Gallery and the National Gallery) Many works from her ldquoFrench Periodrdquo and watercolours were identified for sale to support this Trust Still others were set aside for destruction though many were salvaged and eventually made their way to the BC Archives Like so many prolific artists Carr had already given many works away and destroyed many more considered by her unworthy of retention
Today the Royal BC Museum holds the majority of Carrrsquos artistic literary and personal output Carrrsquos personal and professional archives over 1100 works of art Carrrsquos publications and publications about her and her art key photographs interviews and documentaries The works of art total 1112 items Approximately 900 of these are on paper primarily images in sketch books Approximately 200 are major paintings - oil on canvas oil on board or paper and watercolour on paper Also included are 24
representative pieces of pottery that Carr produced in large numbers for sale and several examples of the hooked rugs she used throughout her home and bestowed as gifts
The Emily Carr fonds (the unpublished archival records created and accumulated by Carr between 1879 and 1945) occupy 23 linear metres of shelf space and consist of correspondence journals manuscripts notebooks scrapbooks publications annotated by the artist financial records photographs and paintings
Records pertaining to Carr in other fonds occupy a further 16 linear metres of textual records In particular the records of the following are rich in detail about Carr Edythe Hembroff-Schleicher Flora Burns Humphrey Toms the Newcombe family and Richard Carr 55 sound recordings contain interviews and radio programs about Carr and 14 moving image records contain documentaries interviews and TV programs Our holdings include 10 works of art by other artists pertaining to Carr Of particular interest are 60 photographs of or pertaining to the artistwriter mainly formal portraits and candid shots depicting her with her art her treasured pets and close friends They also depict Carr family members studio interiors her various homes and colleagues
Carrrsquos published writings in various editions total 59 items and in 167 other publications Carr is the principle subject discussed
The Archives has constructed 16 linear centimetres of artist files pertaining to Emily Carr and artcraft works of Carrrsquos sisters The files include exhibit programmes auction information articles correspondence lists and images The Royal BC Museum holds extensive records pertaining to the Emily Carr Gallery that used to be on Wharf Street in Victoria its facility and program and Carr family home as a heritage building and site
Artifacts include Emilyrsquos Governorrsquos General Medal First Peoplesrsquo works purchased by the Carr sisters in Alaska in 1907 ndash and of course the trunk
View online exhibition royalbcmuseumbccaexhibitionsonline
Haida Totems Cha-atl Queen Charlotte IslandEmily Carr 1912
royalbcmuseumbcca 11
Archives Boot Camp Round Threeby Ann ten cate Archives gallery amp theatre learning team lead
After two successful and sold-out boot camps bc Archives staff
will be offering a third boot camp on saturday september 27 2014
our boot camps are designed to give people a crash course on how to do research at the bc Archives An overview of the collections is given ndash and whether you are a beginner or an expert yoursquoll be inspired
Prior to attending wersquoll assign you to a team with similar interests on the day of the boot camp you will rotate through various stations in our reference room receiving coaching from our expert staff our last camp included the History Hounds bouncing biographers colonial canterers the bobrsquos My uncle team the Family tree crew and the community crew by the end of the day yoursquoll have received some
tips about developing a research strategy know how to find material in our collection and you will have seen some of our most fascinating records Yoursquoll also get a tour of our behind-the-scenes storage areas the day finishes with a chance to get ldquostuck-inrdquo and do some individual research with our experts on-hand
our staff really enjoy helping people get started with their research or head out on new tangents itrsquos a day of immersion and discovery there is definitely a real buzz in our reference room as staff and researchers share information You can hear some of what went on at the last boot camp by listening to cbc radiorsquos north by northwest podcast cbccaplayerradiolocal+showsbritish+columbianorth+by+northwestiD2441594449
if yoursquove already attended our boot camp keep your eye on our calendar as later in the year we will start offering specialized workshops
ldquoGreat So glad I could comerdquo
ldquoThis was an excellent experience It gives me the confidence to return to the archives prepared to ask for assistance and feeling that there is a good starting placerdquo
ldquoLoved this Itrsquos the type of program Irsquod take again because there was so much info I think I missed a lot [before]rdquo
register online royalbcmuseumbccaevents
12 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
Supporting the Museum and Archives Through Local Artby christine roome owner sweet Memory Art
sweet Memory Art was born out of love for people and relationships
ndash the humour and the warmth of human connection My jewellery and art are about commemorating and celebrating the human connection and the relationships that carry us through and make us who we are
Museums are a home for preservation and curation and the birthplace of curiosity question connection history and education for people aged twondash92 i believe
that museums need to surface their collections and celebrate their exhibits through connecting with the local and international community
the sweet Memory Art viking jewellery line invites people to take a piece of the museum experience home 50 percent of the retail sale of the royal bc Museum collection on my website will go back to the royal bc Museum Foundation so that we can continue to learn from the past
You can find sweet Memory Art jewellery in the bc Museum gift shop or purchase pieces on christinersquos website at sweetmemoryartcom
FeAture PArtner
As a values-based financial co-operative vancity is committed
to transforming how banking is done so we can help our members and their local communities thrive financially socially and environmentally
We arenrsquot doing this alone on behalf of our members and community partners we are working to place the right tools in the hands of individuals and organizations working to make our world a better place
We seek to invest in and work closely with organizations and sectors that
Wersquore pleased the royal bc Museum has partnered with the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council on the Our Living Languages exhibition and Aboriginal tourism bc on the Aboriginal cultural Festival 2014 We can accomplish more when we work together
check out vancityrsquos online Annual report at vancitycom2013Annual report for more information on how we are working to build healthy communities
visit vancitycomaboriginalcommunities to learn more about how we are investing in Aboriginal communities to achieve economic strength and independence
we feel have the potential for high positive community impact aligned with our three guiding principles ndash social justice and financial inclusion environmental sustainability and co-operative principles and practices
our partnership with the royal bc Museum is an example of this approach in our work with Aboriginal communities in the coast salish territories where we do business and through our partnership with reconciliation canada we better understand the importance of dialogue and the need for all of us to gain more knowledge about the First Peoples We have much to learn about the history of our land and its people and the importance of language and culture as roots of identity pride and self awareness
royalbcmuseumbcca 13
it wasnrsquot designed to be an emotional touchpoint but sometimes people
respond in surprising ways to details in the royal bc Museum Well before the Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC exhibition was due to open when patches of carpet were tagged with green painterrsquos tape and the drywall mud was still damp bobbilee copeland walked through the exhibition space
it wasnrsquot completely empty one of the exhibitionrsquos first elements to be erected were 17 towering double-sided pylons clad in colourful paint and bearing the names of the 34 First nations languages that are indigenous to british columbia ndash what will become known as the ldquolanguage Forestrdquo
copeland ndash coordinator of the language revitalization program at the university of victoria ndash was visiting the royal bc Museum to discuss potential partnerships aligned with indigenous languages
and the museum and archivesrsquo learning programs and was touring the unfinished exhibition space she stopped in mid-stride when she saw her own language written on one of the pylons then walked over and gave the metal ldquotreerdquo a long hug
For staff at the royal bc Museum this was an unanticipated sight but also a welcome affirmation that the exhibition was going to have deep meaning for many visitors
ldquoBobbileersquos spontaneous gesture was overwhelmingly powerful In that instant I realized how important this exhibition was to her and all the champions of language revitalization the lsquotreersquo such a tangible representation of the intangible fragility of languagerdquo
Janet MacDonald the royal bc Museumrsquos Head of learning
and visitor engagement experience
it was a gratifying moment for all involved in the planning and design of the exhibition language is a powerful potent marker of identity and culture think about the emotional resonance of the term ldquomother tonguerdquo ndash the languages we grow up with are our kin nourishment and birthright
so the revitalization of languages in bcrsquos First nations communities is bound to stir up feelings of pride loss pain and joy the Our Living Languages exhibition aims to tell the stories of how languages have been nearly-lost and newly awakened and illustrate the success stories of language diversity and revitalization throughout bc
telling these stories has been a deeply collaborative project the royal bc Museum has relied upon the expertise of its partner the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council to shape the narrative provide content and advice on cultural matters
Our Living Languages A Beautiful Collaborationby erik lamberston corporate communications officer
transmission of traditional knowledge at Kaska language camp
14 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
the royal bc Museumrsquos job has been to find the compelling way to communicate the messages through design the two organizations chose to partner closely as they fine-tune details about design development orthography marketing ndash virtually every aspect of the exhibition
ldquoWe are honoured to be part of creation this important exhibition First Nations language speakers are the true experts when it comes to describing and sharing information about their languages By involving them in the development process we hope to create an experience that is both authentic and meaningful for visitors to the museumrdquo
lorna Williams chair of the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council
in fact the theme of co-mingled multiple perspectives has become
a sub-theme of the exhibition itself For example one of the successes of the exhibition is how well it integrates oral and aural experiences with our other senses visitors often expect museum-going to be a primarily visual experience but Our Living Languages is about language transmission a fundamentally spoken activity
And the truth is that contemporary innovative places like the royal bc Museum are increasingly interactive and multi-sensory so Our Living Language rsquos audio messages are supported through visually-interesting video content and tactile details that are rooted in First nations culture
take the cradleboard theatre ndash a small and intimate space that will replicate a cedar root basket inside visitors will be cocooned in soothing First nations languages and lullabies for an immersive experience the idea came from cultural advisors and the medium was designed and fabricated by the royal bc Museumrsquos exhibition arts team
the cradleboard theatre is just one element of the innovative multi-sensory exhibition the
language forest will ldquospeakrdquo as visitors approach each ldquotreerdquo wired with motion sensors A theatre space a rounded counterpoint to the forest spires will be animated by presenters who will add a live dimension to this human story
Our Living Languages will open on saturday June 21 ndash national Aboriginal Day the royal bc Museum will be a celebratory space that weekend with Aboriginal tourism bc hosting the Aboriginal cultural Festival June 19-21 enlivening the campus outside (see page 16 for details) and this collaborative exhibition drawing new eyes ndash and ears ndash to the fascinating and moving story of language diversity and revitalization in bcrsquos First nations communities
royalbcmuseumbcca 15
From June 19 to 21 victoria will host the 2014 Aboriginal cultural
Festival highlighting and celebrating the regionrsquos rich indigenous culture through storytelling artisans dance song and food
created in partnership with Aboriginal tourism bc (Atbc) the esquimalt and songhees nations the royal bc Museum tourism victoria robert bateman centre greater victoria Harbour Authority and First Peoplesrsquo cultural council the festival will take place on the outdoor campus of the royal bc Museum and around victoriarsquos inner Harbour
the three-day festival will feature main stage performances including three-time world champion hoop dancer Alex Wells an artisan area where people may watch demonstrations meet the artists and also learn about the new Authentic Aboriginal program that helps consumers identify products designed created and sold by bc Aboriginal artists a childrenrsquos storytelling area food vendors and an Aboriginal tourism bc information booth
the festival is also an opportunity to celebrate share and learn more
about the history of the First nations people in bc and the capital before the city became victoria esquimalt and songhees nations were one of the first nations to sign a treaty in bc ndash known as the vancouver island treaties which were signed between 1850ndash1854
this festival also coincides with national Aboriginal Day and the launch of the royal bc Museumrsquos new exhibit Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC opening June 21 2014
learn more onlineaboriginalbccom
Aboriginal Cultural Festival
16 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
gerry truscott earned his degree in creative Writing
from the university of victoria in 1982 and since then he has spent his professional life editing and publishing books He joined the royal bc Museum in 1989 as publisher He has edited and produced more than 100 books for the institution and has written or edited much of the
text that appears in the exhibition galleries in 2008 he wrote the exhibition text and book for the museumrsquos project celebrating british columbiarsquos 150th anniversary entitled Free Spirit Stories of You Me and BC
on his own time gerry writes fiction and has had several short stories published in magazines and anthologies Hersquos also very much
interested in soccer and hockey (playing and watching) jazz and progressive rock hiking cycling and walking his dogs
royal bc Museum publications are available at your local book store the royal bc Museum shop and royalbcmuseumbccapublications
FeAture PArtner
Canadian Geographic canadian geographic magazine
is a proud partner of the royal bc Museum one of canadarsquos most award-winning magazines canadian geographic is unapologetic about celebrating canada Wersquore dedicated to uncovering and communicating the stories about canadian people places frontiers and issues (past and present) that canadian magazine readers want Published by the royal canadian geographical society canadian geographic magazine is more than a geography publication each issue of canadian geographic is a voyage of discovery and exploration that features the latest
science environment travel human and cultural stories from across canada
canadian geographic connects with more than 38 million readers per issue in canada and abroad who share our fascination for canada Filled with stunning colour photography fascinating articles and specially commissioned maps each issue of canadian geographic magazine lets you travel the country without leaving home Yoursquoll discover canadarsquos people and cities our wildlife and wilderness our history and the beauty of our land subscriptions include six regular
issues of canadian geographic plus four issues of canadian geographic travel per year
For a special subscription offer exclusive to rbcM members please go to canadiangeographiccarbcm
stAFF ProFile
Gerry TruscottPublisHer
royalbcmuseumbcca 17
$100000 - $499999
$25000 - $99999
$5000 - $24999
the royal bc Museum appreciates and acknowledges the vital and
ongoing financial support of the Province of British Columbia the Ministry of Community Sport and Cultural Development and the Royal BC Museum Foundation their core support makes our work possible
While approximately 63 percent of our annual operating budget
comes from the Province and another 21 percent comes from memberships and admissions we need to raise the remaining 16 percent ndash three million dollars ndash each year from other sources including donations sponsorships and grants contributions from those who value the work of the royal bc Museum help us to meet our most pressing needs such as
Acquiring items for our collection conserving rare and
precious objects Furthering our world-class
research Developing our learning programs supporting our archives Presenting engaging exhibitions Publishing critically-
acclaimed books
Royal BC Museum Supporters(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Please join us in thanking the following individuals corporations and foundations for their support their demonstrated commitment and their inspiration during the past fiscal year
$500000+
bell Media
royal bc Museum Foundation teck resources limited tourism victoria
bc Hydro
black Press
clipper vacations
Hsbc bank of canada
the estate of Akiko Kamitakahara
lamar Advertising company
Pattison outdoor Advertising
the Jim Pattison broadcast group
Quark expeditions
times colonist
John and Joan Walton innovators Fund
Anonymous (1)
the bay centre
bc transit
black ball Ferry line
canadian Museums Association
cibc
cineplex Media
ctv vancouver island
Fannyrsquos cultured cow Products ltd
garth evans
Friends of the bc Archives
iMAX victoria
elizabeth Kennedy
gwendolyn Page
save on Foods Memorial centre
silk road tea
sunset Magazine
rosita Anna tovell
vancity savings credit union
viking Air
Jack and bev Wallace
Westerkirk capital
if you would like to support the work of the royal bc Museum please contact Jillian Appelman Philanthropy Manager at 250-387-3102 or jappelmanroyalbcmuseumbcca
18 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
$1000 - $4999
$500 - $999
$250 - $499
Collections
Education
Conservation
Research
every effort has been made to ensure our supporters are recognized accurately if you notice an error or omission please call the royal bc Museum Development Department at 250-387-7222
eric and leonda Adler
Patrick and Anne Anderson
Anonymous (1)
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
Joyce clearihue
Daphne corbett in memory of Joan corbett
Karen A Duddlesten
robert and Marianne eng
Flight centre
rupert and robin Hambro
bob and Marjorie Johns
lynne Kennedy
lyall and susan Knott
Professor Jack lohman cbe
ron and May lou-Poy
Kenneth and ellen Mahon
tommy Mayne
stefan and Magdalena opalski
Provincial employees community services Fund
Pauline rafferty and bob Plecas
suromitra sanatani and David turpin
sharon smith
Pauline and robert van Den Driessche
rene and Allison Weir
Angela Williams
Anonymous in memory of Joan corbett
robert Appleton in memory of Joan corbett
robert and birgit bateman
ian beauprie
gary and susan braley
Jeff bray
William and Jean cave
Kelly and rose chu
James and Jean cosgrove
carol cullimore
Jon Declan and bridget Dallison
Joe and linda Harvey
Mark Holford in memory of Joan corbett
erik lythgoe
ian and Margaret Mair
David Mattison
susan K McMillan
Jim and isabel Merston
charles and Marjorie Moser
Pauline and John Mustard Foundation
northwest Magazine
shelley reid
Anne and Don russell
Pete seward
John and Fern spring
W Anthony and Darlene southwell
Mark and elizabeth taylor
Anonymous (2)
robin Ashforth and gerald thompson
Patrick D crofton
Jean e Field and roy A richford
barbara Fields
Joyce Folbigg
Hotel grand Pacific
barbara longworth
Dennis Mccann and Diane Darch
Doreen Mitchell
gary Mitchell
greg and susan McKelvie
Helen Parker
barbara Potash
sandy Pratt
barbara rae and george suart
ernest and Adele roberts
robert rothwell
royal scot Hotel and suites
team telus cares
betty thacker
Alan tompson
victoria international buskers Festival
Maryla and Donovan Waters
Angela Wesley
chuck Wilson
royalbcmuseumbcca 19
1 british columbia MlA lana Popham and royal bc Museum ceo Prof Jack lohman discussing an artifact from the exhibition Vikings Lives Beyond the Legends
2 His excellency teppo tauriainen swedish Ambassador to canada and the Honourable linda reid MlA for richmond east and the speaker of the legislative Assembly at the Annual Kermode gala
3 Prof Jack lohman ceo royal bc Museum with seiji okada consul general of Japan and his wife Yasuko okada
4 sharon smith Francis Kermode group patron and 10-year volunteer
sharon smith is a dedicated 10-year volunteer who now
financially supports the royal bc Museum as a member of the Francis Kermode group ldquoexciting things are coming with the redevelopment plans for the royal bc Museum so it has been a very interesting time for me to get more involvedrdquo she says ldquoi have really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes tours and getting to know the other members of the grouprdquo
Having travelled to museums and historical sites around the world what strikes sharon is our uniqueness ldquoYou just cannot see what is in this collection anywhere else this is the only place that does
what it does it is hugely important to get behind it and i highly recommend that supporters consider joining the Francis Kermode group the activities are very enjoyable and our financial support makes a difference to the core work of the museum and archivesrdquo
she adds ldquoi have learned so much during my time with the group that i have decided to include a gift to the royal bc Museum in my will i feel it is an opportunity to extend my values and my dedication to the museum and archives beyond my lifetime the support is needed and the cause is very important to future generationsrdquo
Donor ProFile
Sharon Smith
The Francis Kermode Groupnamed after the royal bc
Museumrsquos first director the Francis Kermode group is a visionary group of patrons who enjoy a special relationship with the royal bc Museum and our world-class team of curators conservators researchers collections managers and archivists Members of the group deepen their
engagement throughout the year with an exclusive series of customized learning opportunities special privileges and social events created to enlighten stimulate and inspire as they explore the treasures of the royal bc Museum and our wonderful province
1
2
3
4
to join the Francis Kermode group or for more information contact Jon Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
20 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
As sharon smith noted (on the previous page) a will presents
a wonderful opportunity for you to extend your values beyond your lifetime and a meaningful way to connect past present and future generations once you have made
arrangements for your loved ones please consider the merits of making a bequest to the royal bc Museum gifts such as these are incredibly helpful in ensuring the long-term financial health of the museum and archives
For more information or to let us know that you have included us in your will please contact Jonathan Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
Have you considered leaving a gift in your will
there are over seven million artifacts and objects in the royal
bc Museumrsquos permanent collections making it one of the largest and most impressive museum collections in the country these objects bring life to the story of british columbia in ways that enlighten stimulate and inspire Many of these items are accessioned as gifts from generous museum and archives supporters who want to
see a favourite piece often a family heirloom live on forever and impact future generations the royal bc Museum is grateful for objects that help us further our provincial mandate to advance new knowledge and understanding of british columbiarsquos natural history and human history
Acquiring a new object is just the beginning of the story through
professional conservation protection measures and display consultations our highly-skilled conservation staff ensure that each piece is properly cared for and preserved conservation efforts are at the core of the important work we do and the end result is that another integral piece of british columbiarsquos history is shared with the world
Gifts to the Collections(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Mary Andrews
Anonymous (35)
bruce Archibald
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
gary bell
Peter bock
James burgess
Delphine castles
tom cockburn
Michael cooper
carole cullimore
carole Davidson
Howard Dirks
raymond graham
george guy
Hanson Materials limited
edward Harvey
James Douglas Helmcken
Dave Henly
Michael Holmes
richard Holmes
gord Hutchings
carl Jonsson
Milan and sharon lacika
Frank lomer
sandy Mclachlan
H edward Mclean
Mona Mosher
brett nelson
Margaret nelson
Dean nicholson
Frank ogden
Margaret ogilvie
out of the Mist gallery
nettie Pasieczka
tom Perry
bernie simpson
David starr
steve suntok
rosita Anna tovell in Memory of Freeman M tovell
south coast british columbia transportation Authority Police service
John veillette
rick Watson and Mike Watson
robert D Watt and Alison Watt
David Yuen
steve suntok fossil donor and volunteer
We wholeheartedly thank our generous donors to the collection during the past fiscal year
royalbcmuseumbcca 21
going DigitAl
Global Plants Initiativeby Dr erica Wheeler botany collections Manager collections care amp conservation
tYPe sPeciMen = the particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached
The Global Plants Initiativethe royal bc Museum has recently become a partner in the global Plants initiative (gPi) gPi is a collaborative effort among herbaria to make digital images of all botany tYPe sPeciMens available to researchers via access to a centralized repository this repository currently holds over 18 million high resolution images of tYPe sPeciMens contributed by over 270 herbaria from more than 70 countries gPi is funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation the image repository is housed and accessed electronically through (Journal storage) Jstor
the royal bc Museum herbarium houses over 80 tYPe sPeciMens that will be included in this important digitization effort
Describing and naming new species of plantsover 400000 species of plants are known to science that is to say more than 400000 species have been formally described and named by taxonomic experts Describing and naming new species is often slow and can be a complicated process A recent study reported that it takes an
average of 21 years from the date a taxonomist spots something new to science to the date the new name is officially recognized two things are required
the new name and a formal latin description must be validly published and
tYPe sPeciMens must be designated and deposited in a publicly accessible herbarium
During the time that a plant taxonomist is doing the work required to describe a new species they collect and preserve specimens for study the main goal of their study is to describe it in very precise terms in particular how does this new species differ from other related species Are the petals a different colour Are the tiny hairs on the underside of the leaves a different shape is this new species found in markedly different habitats than other closely related species
After the author has described and chosen a name for the new species tYPe sPeciMens are designated from the study material tYPe sPeciMens are the particular specimens to which the scientific name of the new species is formally attached because these are of great importance to the science of documenting biodiversity more
than one tYPe sPeciMen is often designated and these are distributed among different herbaria for safe-keeping in the event that one tYPe sPeciMen is destroyed or lost the others will still be available for study
there are at least seven categories of tYPe sPeciMens but HolotYPes and isotYPes are the most important
HolotYPe the single specimen designated by the author at the time of publication as the specimen upon which the description and name is based
isotYPe any specimen collected on the same date and from the same location as the specimen that is designated as the HolotYPe
Roemerrsquos fescuein 1983 royal bc Museum botany curator Dr leon Pavlick described and published the name of a new variety of grass commonly known as `roemerrsquos fescuersquo the scientific name for this grass is Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick names often describe a notable characteristic of a species or sometimes recognize the person who first discovered the new species roemerrsquos fescue was named after Dr Hans roemer a well-known bc botanist who made some of the early collections of this grass
22 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
in the royal bc Museum herbarium we store the HolotYPe of Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick in a special cabinet reserved for such important specimens High resolution images of this specimen and images of other tYPe sPeciMens in the botany collection will soon be available to researchers around the world via the Jstor repository Access to these images will facilitate global biodiversity research the royal bc Museum herbarium is thrilled to contribute to this effort
royalbcmuseumbcca 23
the Artists in Residence program began in september
of 2013 three artists ndash Aimee van Drimmelen lindsay Delaronde and garth gaudin ndash were selected to take part in the inaugural season of this project in addition to their involvement in events throughout the programming year every two weeks they visit different collections areas of the museum and archives the work they create chronicles both the extraordinary collections and the important work being done by staff and volunteers to maintain collections
Artists Get Inspired by the Collectionby chris orsquoconnor schools amp Family learning team lead
the artists are allowed to go behind the scenes and explore the collections Aimee dived into the botany collection which houses over 215000 specimens made up primarily of native and introduced plant species found in british columbia Most specimens are gathered pressed and affixed to cardstock that is marked with collection data for future reference the specimens are then stacked in folders bagged and stored in lockers the earliest specimen in botany is currently lichen collected in 1889
royal bc Museum volunteer Daniela toriola was helping prepare some new specimen sheets on the day the artists visited she carefully arranged the pressed plants gluing them onto the page with assorted metal weights to hold them down until they dried Daniela noted that she always tries to make the presentation as beautiful as possible it takes a lot of creativity to prepare specimens Whether itrsquos taxidermy
scientific drawings or the placement of sea creatures in a jar a lot of care is taken to make things visually appealing the preservation team takes pride in their work knowing that the collections will be looked upon for years to come
on her visit Aimee used a ldquospill saferdquo ink jar the ink mixed with water was perfect for capturing the transparency of leaves and petals and the dark curly roots she used a couple drops of water to wet her brush and introduced ink with a brush pen
Follow along with our artists and their creations on the royal bc Museum blog royalbcmuseumbccakids artists-in-residence
check out Aimeersquos personal blog featuring more entries and animations from different collection areas aimeesketchblogwordpresscom
ink drawing of liliaceae zigaderiusAimee van Drimmelenfrom the botany collection
royalbcmuseumbcca 25
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
MAnAging eDitorKathryn swanson Membership amp Marketing Coordinator
MeMbersHiP eDitoriAl coMMittee Angela Williams Chief Operating Officer
erika stenson Head of Marketing amp Development
David AlexanderHead of New Archives amp Digital Preservation
erik lambertsonCorporate Communications Officer
gerry truscottPublisher
Jenny MccleeryGraphic Designer
shane lighter Photographer
Whatrsquos INSight is an electronic magazine released four times annually in March June september and December by the royal bc Museum in the interest of keeping our administrative costs low ndash and our carbon footprint small ndash this print version is provided to members without computer access only
one More WAY to go greencontact Kathryn swanson to request a digital version of Whatrsquos insightMembership amp Marketing Coordinator 250-387-3287membershiproyalbcmuseumbcca
14
22
26
cover imagele la la Dancer telling the Dzunekwa legend A female figure in Kwakwakarsquowakw mythology who brings wealth greatly feared by children she is known as an ogress who steals children and carries them home in her basket to eat Photo courtesy of Aboriginal tourism bc
2
5
6
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10
13
14
16
17
17
20
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26
suMMer 2014
catch and collect Preserve and Protect
100 objects of interest
A gallery intervention
volunteer ProFile steve suntok
FeAture carr collections
FeAture PArtner vancity
FeAture our living languages
A beautiful collaboration
Aboriginal cultural Festival
stAFF ProFile gerry truscott
FeAture PArtner canadian geographic
Donor ProFile sharon smith
going DigitAl global Plants initiative
Artists get inspired by the collection
A closer looK A vice-regal Mystery
2 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
What would a museum be if it did not collaborate with its communities the royal bc Museum is building partnerships to amplify our stories and bring the collections and archives in front of a global audience this issue of Whatrsquos insight showcases some of these new efforts
on June 21 the royal bc Museum and our partner the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council will open a new exhibition Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC on the top floor of the museum
this groundbreaking interactive exhibition celebrates the resilience and diversity of First nations languages in bc in the face of change take this opportunity to learn what First nations communities throughout the province are doing to help their languages survive and flourish in this evocative new gallery
We have also partnered with Aboriginal tourism bc for our first annual Aboriginal cultural Festival the festival will be held on our campus and thunderbird Park we hope creating a celebratory atmosphere with sound stages performances arts and traditional food
i recently returned from a fascinating trip to china We will be initiating a number of international partnerships with museums in suzhou and nanjing and further developing existing relationships with colleagues in beijing Hong Kong and guangzhou the purpose is to begin to look outwards and to forge relationships that can serve us in years to come
As suzhou is twinned with victoria and guangzhou with vancouver we will be exploring how we can give new meaning to such city to city relationships
our work is enriched by your support and i would like to extend my personal gratitude for your ongoing commitment to us All our staff and volunteers greatly appreciate the support and dedication provided by our donors sponsors partners and members i look forward to evolving the definition of collaboration in terms of the royal bc Museum with you as a dedicated member i look forward to seeing you soon at the museum again
Yours
Professor Jack lohman cbe chief executive officer royal bc Museum
Dear Friends
Professor Jack lohman and tracey Herbert executive Director First Peoplesrsquo cultural council sign the Memorandum of understanding at the languages exhibition Workshop Musqueam nation
royalbcmuseumbcca 1
Catch and Collect Preserve and Protectby gavin Hanke curator vertebrate Zoology
Jaws from our latest whale arrived during the last week of February
2014 they came from the carcass of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) which died and later resurfaced underneath an aquaculture pen in ross Passage about 21 kilometres northwest of tofino i can imagine that the whale was a bit of a shock to the staff of the aquaculture facility After the whale was towed to a beach and examined by researchers from the Department of Fisheries and oceans we arranged to have its skeleton cleaned by Mike deroos of cetacea contracting for the royal bc Museum research collection i think most people would understand the excitement about receiving a new whale skeleton but this one is special the royal bc Museum has isolated leg bones of a Humpback as well as foetal specimens in
alcohol but this is our first complete Humpback Whale skeleton this skeleton is a significant addition to the research collection because it is the first whale in many years As you can imagine there are many reasons a museum would not be able to receive something as large as a whale 1) it is difficult to prepare something this large 2) whales may wash up in remote areas making recovery prohibitively expensive and 3) whale carcasses sometimes are protected for cultural reasons but if another Humpback turned up irsquod gladly acquire it for our research collection the same goes for Killer Whales or Harbour Porpoises even though we have several already
People regularly ask me ldquoWhy do you need another insert species name hererdquo the answer is simple ndash diversity Diversity permeates all life ndash no two organisms are identical
this diversity is the raw material which was filtered by evolution to produce the bewildering array of life as we know it
biological diversity is everywhere Walk down the street look at your neighbours Are they all the same Are they the same age height weight gender race Did they eat the same thing for breakfast Are any diseased or showing signs of trauma some may have piercings some have tattoos some have both even identical twins differ look at any drawer in the natural History collection and yoursquoll see organismal variation (but not piercings and tattoos)
in biology all specimens are unique regardless of species At a quick glance all threespine sticklebacks look alike look closer and you will discover variation between
1
2 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
1 Humpback Whale flensing researchers and staff work to clean the
washed up carcass to be added to the royal bc Museum collection
2 Threespine Sticklebacks three samples from the collection each
with unique variations
3 American Robin one of the 301 in the collection
researchers have examined variation in rodents to hone their identification skills and we have sent umatilla Dace to ottawa so that researchers can confirm variation across the speciesrsquo range
charles Darwin collected specimens but had no idea how scientists would analyse skins and skeletons in 2014 like early explorers i have no idea what will be needed for future research We keep specimens according to standard museum practices and hope future researchers will find ways to use the material in their research Perhaps the glaucous-winged gull will be the next ldquocanaryrdquo for the urban coal mine in recent years a study of tissue chemistry from specimens showed when gull diets changed from natural items to garbage gull tissues may prove invaluable to
specimens some of the variation is obvious (ie some lack pelvic fins or armour)
evolution works by natural selection on variable traits some individuals have a fortuitous set of traits that promote survival and reproduction other individuals fail for one reason or another variation occurs through time and over a speciesrsquo range rates of change differ between regions For the threespine stickleback change can be rapid in small isolated coastal lakes but almost undetectable in the coastal marine population the lack of variation within coastal marine stickleback and greater variation within freshwater lake populations shows where gene flow occurs increased gene flow homogenises populations - reduced gene flow can amplify evolutionary trends in isolated populations We study
2
3
variation to understand boundaries between species and geographic patterns within species variation is the reason why museums need many specimens for research and why we collect as much as we can as often as we can the royal bc Museum has 196 ldquolotsrdquo of threespine stickleback - with any ldquolotrdquo containing one or more specimens extrapolate that to over 16000 lots of fishes and you get an idea of the size of the ichthyology collection alone
At a museum you can examine specimens collected yesterday a year ago or 100 years ago since 2012 we have received five American robins to add to the 296 already in the research collection our first lot of 36 was collected 126 years ago
the royal bc Museum provides you a biological time machine ndash i am sure human history staff feel the same about their material instead of only having information from the present you have information on species through time and across geographical regions As the curator of vertebrate zoology i donrsquot shoot birds and mammals or trap mammals like early explorers did nature is under enough pressure with urban encroachment and pollution i accept many specimens each year - even common species some come from accidental deaths - road-kills window kills by-catch or from researchers with a specific project
the royal bc Museum receives many specimens each year with a focus on british columbia and its immediate neighbours Already in 2014
royalbcmuseumbcca 3
document changing pollution levels on this continent irsquod better collect more gulls
today with the pace of urban and industrial sprawl the study of nature has taken on new urgency With the royal bc Museum research collection you can look at animals and plants collected prior to the invention of plastic You can try to see when traces of minute plastic particles appeared in plankton-feeding animals or maybe you want to examine the skin of amphibians to see when chytridiomycosis arrived in
bc researchers may want to study the range of dietary items over the entire range of a species - and look at specimens from 50 years ago to see if a speciesrsquo diet has changed Perhaps someone would want to study anatomical changes as fish grow or compare the number of eggs females produce across the range of a species Who knew that preserved animals would be used in such ways the potential topics for museum research are staggering yet many in our population have no idea that museums support research
the multidimensional foresight needed to save material for future study is almost entirely unique to museum staff ndash it is part of our culture to many our thoughts and behaviours must look scattered or disorganised sometimes we are accused of being packrats i counter that accusation with the fact that i have 296 packrats in the mammalogy collection and since i can account for variation in Neotoma cinereus i can honestly state that i do not resemble a packrat try do that without a reference collection
this spotted bat (Euderma maculatum) from the okanagan represents the northern-most specimen in north
American museums
4 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
there are over seven million objects in the royal bc Museum
collection from the big ndash full whale skeletons and a rolls royce ndash to the small ndash bugs and thimbles galore the vast majority of these collections are never on display this summer the museum and archiversquos doors will be thrown open and a rare glimpse at the highlights of the collection will be offered through a new website featuring a selection of the rare interesting significant and amazing pieces from the royal bc Museum
experts from all departments have peered into cabinets looked through
drawers and racked their brains submitting their top collection lists From this long list we have narrowed down 100 items this distillation from our collection isnrsquot necessarily the top historical or scientific items they arenrsquot always the prettiest ndash in fact some are downright ugly ndash but they are all significant in their right And many have fascinating stories coming to the royal bc Museum in ways you wouldnrsquot imagine the list includes giant squids a handbook to gold a spider named after a motorcycle the first marriage license treasures from bcrsquos favourite artist a rare First nations mask
and even a hockey stick the online collection will offer insight into the history of the province
look for this new website this summer at royalbcmuseumbcca100
by David Alexander Head of new Archives amp Digital Preservation
1 bubblegum coral
2 spindle Whorl
3 Kermode bear skull
4 childrsquos Dress
5 Yellow-bellied snake
6 Miettia salientensis Hofmann and Mountjoy 2010 Mount robson bc one of the oldest fossils in the collection
100 Objects of Interest
1
4
2
5
3
6
royalbcmuseumbcca 5
A Gallery Intervention by Janet MacDonald Head of learning
the royal bc Museumrsquos script the original exhibition text found
on panels and labels throughout the permanent galleries is now 50 years old
Prof Jack lohman the royal bc Museum ceo has expressed how essential it is to refresh this narrative just ldquoas you would update any text book of that agerdquo With this in mind the royal bc Museum has begun to review the core scripts and text with an eye to revise key messages and to increase the enjoyment and the potential for learning for all our visitors Phase i of this initiative began this spring with the natural History gallery
The Role of Text and a Team Approachchoosing an appropriate writer for the task was the first crucial step We found in Maleea Acker environmental journalist and local author an innate sensibility for the natural world Her writing style from examples of her published work aligned perfectly with the communication style we were after she joined our re-scripting team for the month of April and together with lead curator Dr Ken Marr curator of botany senior designer Ken Johnson and members of our learning staff we conducted a series of walkthroughs with all natural history
curators and collections managers their combined disciplinary expertise allowed us to look at the gallery in a holistic manner and capture the accuracy of the main narrative
As a starting point we acknowledged the importance of the written word in communicating main themes and key messages According to Maleea ldquotext forms a unifying reference point for our visitors as they travel through a variety of displays and exceptional dioramasrdquo such stunning environments can sometimes leave you visually distracted inside the story
6 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
Cool New Fossil Techour ability to properly prepare
fossil material for the collection has increased our collection Manager in Palaeontology Marji Johns has been busy outfitting a portion of the vertebrate lab on the main floor of the Fannin building to accommodate some heavy duty fossil prepping equipment Fossil material is often collected in the form of a matrix of rock containing one or many fossil representations Preparation of a macrofossil allows details to be revealed which are needed for identification and research some of the removed matrix can be chemically treated to recover microscopic fossils study and research on both macro- and microfossils can lead to a better understanding of past environments climates and the geologic history of an area removal of the matrix can reveal an exquisite fossil that may be exhibit quality Plus the reduction in matrix can allow for more efficient storage in the collection for both space and weight
now donrsquot take Jackrsquos analogy of the textbook literally We do not mean to put a book on the wall However there were important re-scripting considerations to keep in mind so many in fact that a text strategy was implemented We committed to acknowledging the myriad of visitor learning styles with an intention to accommodate as many of you as possible the text would be concise accessible and layered ndash the first layer being the most accessible and carrying the main message and subsequent layers providing progressively detailed information for those who want it Most importantly style is everything the writing would be engaging direct and conversational in a tone encouraging questioning and reflection
Getting it Writeto make a long story short we arrived at a stage in the process where the team felt comfortable with the content intent and the conversational aspects of the written words but ultimately true success would rely on whether the text resonated with you our visiting public And so we asked on sunday afternoon April 27 we orchestrated a testing session our seven lsquochapter headingsrsquo were produced in the form of text on paper mock-ups positioned strategically throughout the gallery each headline panel introduced a particular exhibit to visitors as they entered the environment
With the help of a team of volunteers we were able to assess our ability to communicate and engage people the results were fascinating and instructive comments ranged from an appreciation for the larger print type to questions regarding grammatical composition and use of analogies People of all ages time and again expressed their appreciation for being asked their opinion and many more felt that the signs made them think more deeply about what they were looking at
As i write this article the revised script is now in the hands of our trusted design team ndash who will turn our collaborative work into reality We will hang the script for your reading pleasure in June i encourage you to let us know what you think letrsquos not have another 50 years pass before the next revision
25 million year old whale vertebrae found on the west coast of vancouver island by steve suntok
royalbcmuseumbcca 7
treasures come to us in many different artifacts and specimens
today i introduce to you a human treasure victoria lawyer fossil enthusiast and royal bc Museum volunteer steve suntok steve came to us in the late summer of 2013 with an amazing fossil discovery He had found a rare bird bone from the west coast of vancouver island it is only the second fossil of its kind found in these rocks ndash the first find was over 120 years ago bird bones do not preserve well because they are thin and hollow an adaptation for flight
steve had heard from his fossil enthusiast friends that bird expert gary Kaiser was volunteering at the museum and archives gary identified this fossil as a tibiotarsus leg bone from a cormorant-like bird to make the identification he had carefully inspected the royal bc Museumrsquos modern bird research collections
volunteer ProFile
Steve Suntok by Marji Johns collections Manager Palaeontology
due to weathering damage and disintegration He selects specimens that are scientifically significant or recently exposed by erosion but are well preserved Fossils that are discerned as important but too large to transport are photographed and brought to the attention of experts collected specimens include location labels that are also numbered and recorded in a book For important specimens steve learns about them through readings by collaborating with experts and research through local palaeontology societies or volunteering at a museum
After documenting and donating many important specimens to the royal bc Museum such as whale vertebrae ribs teeth rare ammonites nautiloids crustaceans (crabs and lobsters) and unusual plant fossils steve also has helped unwrap document label and enter data for hundreds of other fossil specimens that were recently donated He has assisted with collections moves and the set up of palaeo lab equipment
there are many other volunteers participating in projects matched to their skills and interests they are all indispensable to the advancements of the palaeo collections at the museum and archives For them making contributions and learning are valued and we all enjoy developing friendships and gaining new experiences
other museum collections and scrutinized palaeontology research literature
gary and i were joking and with twinkles in our eyes said to steve ldquoHow about finding us anotherrdquo steve and his family (daughter leah and son graham) not only found another fossil tibiotarsus but also came back with an even rarer and new fossil bird bone from the site the last was in a 45 kg slab talus block that had fallen from the cliff and into the tidal zone it had been found by leah the block could not be easily downsized at the beach so steve carried it 5 kilometers out this rare bone will probably be a new species We know from previous research at the site that the fossil is about 25 million years old When gary Kaiserrsquos research is published you will be hearing more about this exciting find
steve has become an inspiring steward for bc palaeontology He has gained new knowledge about fossils and collections and this has led to important donations of other rare fossils for research and learning He did keep a few less important specimens for his familyrsquos enjoyment including fossils that connect them with memorable experiences of the day
steve collects responsibly meaning his discoveries mostly come from surface collection of fossils that are at greatest risk for being lost
8 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
A Fossil Hunting Adventure
After gazing-up and eyeing a prize eroding out of a waterfall
cliff i knew i had to have this fossil before mother nature swept it away i found myself 20 feet up a steep cliff under an overhang with a water pool below i tried climbing up but instead went for a dive and unexpected swim in January
on the next trip i tried climbing down with ropes got stuck cut myself loose to get down went for a second swim once again during a season best reserved for skiing and snowshoeing
Determined (my wife says obsessed) i welded a fire poker to a steel pipe but the poker broke off and it went
by steve suntok royal bc Museum volunteer amp donor
for a swim the next time i built a rope ladder and climbed to the top to hang it As i started to climb down the boards i was using for rungs broke ndash my third swim
next i went all out and bought a telescoping ladder i chose a 25 pound version because it was a long steep hike through the bush to get to the site the ladder was too short i went home empty-handed
i went and purchased a taller ladder on the plus side it was 22 feet high on the negative side it weighed 40 pounds and was difficult to haul A friend held the ladder steady and after an hour of carefully chipping away at rock the fossil was free i
caught it with my one free hand and now it sits proudly in my office it is a great ammonite but the memories make it all the better
i love fossil hunting in british columbia itrsquos cool that we can hold in our hands the remains of ancient life from millions of years ago i find that vancouver island is one of the most beautiful places on earth the scenery irsquove seen is by itself worth the effort and that you can find fossils while you are out there ndash that is a great bonus i love adventure and learning and i have met many awesome diverse interesting and kind people during these outings
gary Kaiser amp steve suntok
royalbcmuseumbcca 9
towards the end of her life artist and writer emily carr (1871-1945)
reduced the volume of her writings letters and sketchbooks to what would fit in a battered old steamer trunk in her unmistakable block printing carr expressed her wishes on a card and tacked it under the trunkrsquos lid ldquoAt MY DeAtH PleAse senD tHis boX AnD contents intAct to Mr irA DilWortH cAnADiAn broAD-cAsting corP vAncouver bc [signed] emily carrrdquo Dilworth was carrrsquos confidante and literary executor entrusted with the responsibility of managing her writings and posthumously publishing a number
of her manuscripts Many years after Dilworthrsquos death this distillation of a lifersquos work became one of several nuclei of the carr collections entrusted to the care of the bc Archives
the other groups of royal bc Museum carr collections centre around a large body of her artworks (mainly from the period preceding 1927 but including some important mature works) carr-related artifacts and archival and library records created by her peers and scholars the carr collections hold a number of surprises some of carrrsquos pottery pieces several of her hooked rugs and artifacts including First
Peoplersquos-crafted souvenir items purchased in 1907 and an articulated wooden doll that pops up in various carr sketches cartoons and in a documentary photograph of carrrsquos studio taken shortly after her death
While carrrsquos works are cared for and exhibited in over 35 public galleries museums and institutions and treasured in countless private collections world-wide the largest collection of carrrsquos career output is stewarded by the royal bc Museum Much of it can be consulted on a daily basis in the archives or by appointment this year the royal bc Museum is enhancing understanding of this rich legacy through a web
A ricH resource
Carr Collectionsby Don bourdon curator images amp Paintings
tanoo Qci emily carr 1913
10 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
exhibition featuring a timeline stubbed with Carrrsquos paintings drawings writings photographs and artifacts A ldquotreasure boxrdquo Emily Carr Gallery figures prominently in the Royal BC Museumrsquos redevelopment vision
Upon her death in 1945 the Province of BC purchased seven major Carr paintings including Tanoo (see accompanying figure) Artistic executor Lawren Harris selected 170 works from hundreds remaining in Carrrsquos home for the Emily Carr Trust Collection (now housed in the Vancouver Art Gallery and the National Gallery) Many works from her ldquoFrench Periodrdquo and watercolours were identified for sale to support this Trust Still others were set aside for destruction though many were salvaged and eventually made their way to the BC Archives Like so many prolific artists Carr had already given many works away and destroyed many more considered by her unworthy of retention
Today the Royal BC Museum holds the majority of Carrrsquos artistic literary and personal output Carrrsquos personal and professional archives over 1100 works of art Carrrsquos publications and publications about her and her art key photographs interviews and documentaries The works of art total 1112 items Approximately 900 of these are on paper primarily images in sketch books Approximately 200 are major paintings - oil on canvas oil on board or paper and watercolour on paper Also included are 24
representative pieces of pottery that Carr produced in large numbers for sale and several examples of the hooked rugs she used throughout her home and bestowed as gifts
The Emily Carr fonds (the unpublished archival records created and accumulated by Carr between 1879 and 1945) occupy 23 linear metres of shelf space and consist of correspondence journals manuscripts notebooks scrapbooks publications annotated by the artist financial records photographs and paintings
Records pertaining to Carr in other fonds occupy a further 16 linear metres of textual records In particular the records of the following are rich in detail about Carr Edythe Hembroff-Schleicher Flora Burns Humphrey Toms the Newcombe family and Richard Carr 55 sound recordings contain interviews and radio programs about Carr and 14 moving image records contain documentaries interviews and TV programs Our holdings include 10 works of art by other artists pertaining to Carr Of particular interest are 60 photographs of or pertaining to the artistwriter mainly formal portraits and candid shots depicting her with her art her treasured pets and close friends They also depict Carr family members studio interiors her various homes and colleagues
Carrrsquos published writings in various editions total 59 items and in 167 other publications Carr is the principle subject discussed
The Archives has constructed 16 linear centimetres of artist files pertaining to Emily Carr and artcraft works of Carrrsquos sisters The files include exhibit programmes auction information articles correspondence lists and images The Royal BC Museum holds extensive records pertaining to the Emily Carr Gallery that used to be on Wharf Street in Victoria its facility and program and Carr family home as a heritage building and site
Artifacts include Emilyrsquos Governorrsquos General Medal First Peoplesrsquo works purchased by the Carr sisters in Alaska in 1907 ndash and of course the trunk
View online exhibition royalbcmuseumbccaexhibitionsonline
Haida Totems Cha-atl Queen Charlotte IslandEmily Carr 1912
royalbcmuseumbcca 11
Archives Boot Camp Round Threeby Ann ten cate Archives gallery amp theatre learning team lead
After two successful and sold-out boot camps bc Archives staff
will be offering a third boot camp on saturday september 27 2014
our boot camps are designed to give people a crash course on how to do research at the bc Archives An overview of the collections is given ndash and whether you are a beginner or an expert yoursquoll be inspired
Prior to attending wersquoll assign you to a team with similar interests on the day of the boot camp you will rotate through various stations in our reference room receiving coaching from our expert staff our last camp included the History Hounds bouncing biographers colonial canterers the bobrsquos My uncle team the Family tree crew and the community crew by the end of the day yoursquoll have received some
tips about developing a research strategy know how to find material in our collection and you will have seen some of our most fascinating records Yoursquoll also get a tour of our behind-the-scenes storage areas the day finishes with a chance to get ldquostuck-inrdquo and do some individual research with our experts on-hand
our staff really enjoy helping people get started with their research or head out on new tangents itrsquos a day of immersion and discovery there is definitely a real buzz in our reference room as staff and researchers share information You can hear some of what went on at the last boot camp by listening to cbc radiorsquos north by northwest podcast cbccaplayerradiolocal+showsbritish+columbianorth+by+northwestiD2441594449
if yoursquove already attended our boot camp keep your eye on our calendar as later in the year we will start offering specialized workshops
ldquoGreat So glad I could comerdquo
ldquoThis was an excellent experience It gives me the confidence to return to the archives prepared to ask for assistance and feeling that there is a good starting placerdquo
ldquoLoved this Itrsquos the type of program Irsquod take again because there was so much info I think I missed a lot [before]rdquo
register online royalbcmuseumbccaevents
12 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
Supporting the Museum and Archives Through Local Artby christine roome owner sweet Memory Art
sweet Memory Art was born out of love for people and relationships
ndash the humour and the warmth of human connection My jewellery and art are about commemorating and celebrating the human connection and the relationships that carry us through and make us who we are
Museums are a home for preservation and curation and the birthplace of curiosity question connection history and education for people aged twondash92 i believe
that museums need to surface their collections and celebrate their exhibits through connecting with the local and international community
the sweet Memory Art viking jewellery line invites people to take a piece of the museum experience home 50 percent of the retail sale of the royal bc Museum collection on my website will go back to the royal bc Museum Foundation so that we can continue to learn from the past
You can find sweet Memory Art jewellery in the bc Museum gift shop or purchase pieces on christinersquos website at sweetmemoryartcom
FeAture PArtner
As a values-based financial co-operative vancity is committed
to transforming how banking is done so we can help our members and their local communities thrive financially socially and environmentally
We arenrsquot doing this alone on behalf of our members and community partners we are working to place the right tools in the hands of individuals and organizations working to make our world a better place
We seek to invest in and work closely with organizations and sectors that
Wersquore pleased the royal bc Museum has partnered with the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council on the Our Living Languages exhibition and Aboriginal tourism bc on the Aboriginal cultural Festival 2014 We can accomplish more when we work together
check out vancityrsquos online Annual report at vancitycom2013Annual report for more information on how we are working to build healthy communities
visit vancitycomaboriginalcommunities to learn more about how we are investing in Aboriginal communities to achieve economic strength and independence
we feel have the potential for high positive community impact aligned with our three guiding principles ndash social justice and financial inclusion environmental sustainability and co-operative principles and practices
our partnership with the royal bc Museum is an example of this approach in our work with Aboriginal communities in the coast salish territories where we do business and through our partnership with reconciliation canada we better understand the importance of dialogue and the need for all of us to gain more knowledge about the First Peoples We have much to learn about the history of our land and its people and the importance of language and culture as roots of identity pride and self awareness
royalbcmuseumbcca 13
it wasnrsquot designed to be an emotional touchpoint but sometimes people
respond in surprising ways to details in the royal bc Museum Well before the Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC exhibition was due to open when patches of carpet were tagged with green painterrsquos tape and the drywall mud was still damp bobbilee copeland walked through the exhibition space
it wasnrsquot completely empty one of the exhibitionrsquos first elements to be erected were 17 towering double-sided pylons clad in colourful paint and bearing the names of the 34 First nations languages that are indigenous to british columbia ndash what will become known as the ldquolanguage Forestrdquo
copeland ndash coordinator of the language revitalization program at the university of victoria ndash was visiting the royal bc Museum to discuss potential partnerships aligned with indigenous languages
and the museum and archivesrsquo learning programs and was touring the unfinished exhibition space she stopped in mid-stride when she saw her own language written on one of the pylons then walked over and gave the metal ldquotreerdquo a long hug
For staff at the royal bc Museum this was an unanticipated sight but also a welcome affirmation that the exhibition was going to have deep meaning for many visitors
ldquoBobbileersquos spontaneous gesture was overwhelmingly powerful In that instant I realized how important this exhibition was to her and all the champions of language revitalization the lsquotreersquo such a tangible representation of the intangible fragility of languagerdquo
Janet MacDonald the royal bc Museumrsquos Head of learning
and visitor engagement experience
it was a gratifying moment for all involved in the planning and design of the exhibition language is a powerful potent marker of identity and culture think about the emotional resonance of the term ldquomother tonguerdquo ndash the languages we grow up with are our kin nourishment and birthright
so the revitalization of languages in bcrsquos First nations communities is bound to stir up feelings of pride loss pain and joy the Our Living Languages exhibition aims to tell the stories of how languages have been nearly-lost and newly awakened and illustrate the success stories of language diversity and revitalization throughout bc
telling these stories has been a deeply collaborative project the royal bc Museum has relied upon the expertise of its partner the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council to shape the narrative provide content and advice on cultural matters
Our Living Languages A Beautiful Collaborationby erik lamberston corporate communications officer
transmission of traditional knowledge at Kaska language camp
14 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
the royal bc Museumrsquos job has been to find the compelling way to communicate the messages through design the two organizations chose to partner closely as they fine-tune details about design development orthography marketing ndash virtually every aspect of the exhibition
ldquoWe are honoured to be part of creation this important exhibition First Nations language speakers are the true experts when it comes to describing and sharing information about their languages By involving them in the development process we hope to create an experience that is both authentic and meaningful for visitors to the museumrdquo
lorna Williams chair of the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council
in fact the theme of co-mingled multiple perspectives has become
a sub-theme of the exhibition itself For example one of the successes of the exhibition is how well it integrates oral and aural experiences with our other senses visitors often expect museum-going to be a primarily visual experience but Our Living Languages is about language transmission a fundamentally spoken activity
And the truth is that contemporary innovative places like the royal bc Museum are increasingly interactive and multi-sensory so Our Living Language rsquos audio messages are supported through visually-interesting video content and tactile details that are rooted in First nations culture
take the cradleboard theatre ndash a small and intimate space that will replicate a cedar root basket inside visitors will be cocooned in soothing First nations languages and lullabies for an immersive experience the idea came from cultural advisors and the medium was designed and fabricated by the royal bc Museumrsquos exhibition arts team
the cradleboard theatre is just one element of the innovative multi-sensory exhibition the
language forest will ldquospeakrdquo as visitors approach each ldquotreerdquo wired with motion sensors A theatre space a rounded counterpoint to the forest spires will be animated by presenters who will add a live dimension to this human story
Our Living Languages will open on saturday June 21 ndash national Aboriginal Day the royal bc Museum will be a celebratory space that weekend with Aboriginal tourism bc hosting the Aboriginal cultural Festival June 19-21 enlivening the campus outside (see page 16 for details) and this collaborative exhibition drawing new eyes ndash and ears ndash to the fascinating and moving story of language diversity and revitalization in bcrsquos First nations communities
royalbcmuseumbcca 15
From June 19 to 21 victoria will host the 2014 Aboriginal cultural
Festival highlighting and celebrating the regionrsquos rich indigenous culture through storytelling artisans dance song and food
created in partnership with Aboriginal tourism bc (Atbc) the esquimalt and songhees nations the royal bc Museum tourism victoria robert bateman centre greater victoria Harbour Authority and First Peoplesrsquo cultural council the festival will take place on the outdoor campus of the royal bc Museum and around victoriarsquos inner Harbour
the three-day festival will feature main stage performances including three-time world champion hoop dancer Alex Wells an artisan area where people may watch demonstrations meet the artists and also learn about the new Authentic Aboriginal program that helps consumers identify products designed created and sold by bc Aboriginal artists a childrenrsquos storytelling area food vendors and an Aboriginal tourism bc information booth
the festival is also an opportunity to celebrate share and learn more
about the history of the First nations people in bc and the capital before the city became victoria esquimalt and songhees nations were one of the first nations to sign a treaty in bc ndash known as the vancouver island treaties which were signed between 1850ndash1854
this festival also coincides with national Aboriginal Day and the launch of the royal bc Museumrsquos new exhibit Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC opening June 21 2014
learn more onlineaboriginalbccom
Aboriginal Cultural Festival
16 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
gerry truscott earned his degree in creative Writing
from the university of victoria in 1982 and since then he has spent his professional life editing and publishing books He joined the royal bc Museum in 1989 as publisher He has edited and produced more than 100 books for the institution and has written or edited much of the
text that appears in the exhibition galleries in 2008 he wrote the exhibition text and book for the museumrsquos project celebrating british columbiarsquos 150th anniversary entitled Free Spirit Stories of You Me and BC
on his own time gerry writes fiction and has had several short stories published in magazines and anthologies Hersquos also very much
interested in soccer and hockey (playing and watching) jazz and progressive rock hiking cycling and walking his dogs
royal bc Museum publications are available at your local book store the royal bc Museum shop and royalbcmuseumbccapublications
FeAture PArtner
Canadian Geographic canadian geographic magazine
is a proud partner of the royal bc Museum one of canadarsquos most award-winning magazines canadian geographic is unapologetic about celebrating canada Wersquore dedicated to uncovering and communicating the stories about canadian people places frontiers and issues (past and present) that canadian magazine readers want Published by the royal canadian geographical society canadian geographic magazine is more than a geography publication each issue of canadian geographic is a voyage of discovery and exploration that features the latest
science environment travel human and cultural stories from across canada
canadian geographic connects with more than 38 million readers per issue in canada and abroad who share our fascination for canada Filled with stunning colour photography fascinating articles and specially commissioned maps each issue of canadian geographic magazine lets you travel the country without leaving home Yoursquoll discover canadarsquos people and cities our wildlife and wilderness our history and the beauty of our land subscriptions include six regular
issues of canadian geographic plus four issues of canadian geographic travel per year
For a special subscription offer exclusive to rbcM members please go to canadiangeographiccarbcm
stAFF ProFile
Gerry TruscottPublisHer
royalbcmuseumbcca 17
$100000 - $499999
$25000 - $99999
$5000 - $24999
the royal bc Museum appreciates and acknowledges the vital and
ongoing financial support of the Province of British Columbia the Ministry of Community Sport and Cultural Development and the Royal BC Museum Foundation their core support makes our work possible
While approximately 63 percent of our annual operating budget
comes from the Province and another 21 percent comes from memberships and admissions we need to raise the remaining 16 percent ndash three million dollars ndash each year from other sources including donations sponsorships and grants contributions from those who value the work of the royal bc Museum help us to meet our most pressing needs such as
Acquiring items for our collection conserving rare and
precious objects Furthering our world-class
research Developing our learning programs supporting our archives Presenting engaging exhibitions Publishing critically-
acclaimed books
Royal BC Museum Supporters(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Please join us in thanking the following individuals corporations and foundations for their support their demonstrated commitment and their inspiration during the past fiscal year
$500000+
bell Media
royal bc Museum Foundation teck resources limited tourism victoria
bc Hydro
black Press
clipper vacations
Hsbc bank of canada
the estate of Akiko Kamitakahara
lamar Advertising company
Pattison outdoor Advertising
the Jim Pattison broadcast group
Quark expeditions
times colonist
John and Joan Walton innovators Fund
Anonymous (1)
the bay centre
bc transit
black ball Ferry line
canadian Museums Association
cibc
cineplex Media
ctv vancouver island
Fannyrsquos cultured cow Products ltd
garth evans
Friends of the bc Archives
iMAX victoria
elizabeth Kennedy
gwendolyn Page
save on Foods Memorial centre
silk road tea
sunset Magazine
rosita Anna tovell
vancity savings credit union
viking Air
Jack and bev Wallace
Westerkirk capital
if you would like to support the work of the royal bc Museum please contact Jillian Appelman Philanthropy Manager at 250-387-3102 or jappelmanroyalbcmuseumbcca
18 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
$1000 - $4999
$500 - $999
$250 - $499
Collections
Education
Conservation
Research
every effort has been made to ensure our supporters are recognized accurately if you notice an error or omission please call the royal bc Museum Development Department at 250-387-7222
eric and leonda Adler
Patrick and Anne Anderson
Anonymous (1)
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
Joyce clearihue
Daphne corbett in memory of Joan corbett
Karen A Duddlesten
robert and Marianne eng
Flight centre
rupert and robin Hambro
bob and Marjorie Johns
lynne Kennedy
lyall and susan Knott
Professor Jack lohman cbe
ron and May lou-Poy
Kenneth and ellen Mahon
tommy Mayne
stefan and Magdalena opalski
Provincial employees community services Fund
Pauline rafferty and bob Plecas
suromitra sanatani and David turpin
sharon smith
Pauline and robert van Den Driessche
rene and Allison Weir
Angela Williams
Anonymous in memory of Joan corbett
robert Appleton in memory of Joan corbett
robert and birgit bateman
ian beauprie
gary and susan braley
Jeff bray
William and Jean cave
Kelly and rose chu
James and Jean cosgrove
carol cullimore
Jon Declan and bridget Dallison
Joe and linda Harvey
Mark Holford in memory of Joan corbett
erik lythgoe
ian and Margaret Mair
David Mattison
susan K McMillan
Jim and isabel Merston
charles and Marjorie Moser
Pauline and John Mustard Foundation
northwest Magazine
shelley reid
Anne and Don russell
Pete seward
John and Fern spring
W Anthony and Darlene southwell
Mark and elizabeth taylor
Anonymous (2)
robin Ashforth and gerald thompson
Patrick D crofton
Jean e Field and roy A richford
barbara Fields
Joyce Folbigg
Hotel grand Pacific
barbara longworth
Dennis Mccann and Diane Darch
Doreen Mitchell
gary Mitchell
greg and susan McKelvie
Helen Parker
barbara Potash
sandy Pratt
barbara rae and george suart
ernest and Adele roberts
robert rothwell
royal scot Hotel and suites
team telus cares
betty thacker
Alan tompson
victoria international buskers Festival
Maryla and Donovan Waters
Angela Wesley
chuck Wilson
royalbcmuseumbcca 19
1 british columbia MlA lana Popham and royal bc Museum ceo Prof Jack lohman discussing an artifact from the exhibition Vikings Lives Beyond the Legends
2 His excellency teppo tauriainen swedish Ambassador to canada and the Honourable linda reid MlA for richmond east and the speaker of the legislative Assembly at the Annual Kermode gala
3 Prof Jack lohman ceo royal bc Museum with seiji okada consul general of Japan and his wife Yasuko okada
4 sharon smith Francis Kermode group patron and 10-year volunteer
sharon smith is a dedicated 10-year volunteer who now
financially supports the royal bc Museum as a member of the Francis Kermode group ldquoexciting things are coming with the redevelopment plans for the royal bc Museum so it has been a very interesting time for me to get more involvedrdquo she says ldquoi have really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes tours and getting to know the other members of the grouprdquo
Having travelled to museums and historical sites around the world what strikes sharon is our uniqueness ldquoYou just cannot see what is in this collection anywhere else this is the only place that does
what it does it is hugely important to get behind it and i highly recommend that supporters consider joining the Francis Kermode group the activities are very enjoyable and our financial support makes a difference to the core work of the museum and archivesrdquo
she adds ldquoi have learned so much during my time with the group that i have decided to include a gift to the royal bc Museum in my will i feel it is an opportunity to extend my values and my dedication to the museum and archives beyond my lifetime the support is needed and the cause is very important to future generationsrdquo
Donor ProFile
Sharon Smith
The Francis Kermode Groupnamed after the royal bc
Museumrsquos first director the Francis Kermode group is a visionary group of patrons who enjoy a special relationship with the royal bc Museum and our world-class team of curators conservators researchers collections managers and archivists Members of the group deepen their
engagement throughout the year with an exclusive series of customized learning opportunities special privileges and social events created to enlighten stimulate and inspire as they explore the treasures of the royal bc Museum and our wonderful province
1
2
3
4
to join the Francis Kermode group or for more information contact Jon Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
20 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
As sharon smith noted (on the previous page) a will presents
a wonderful opportunity for you to extend your values beyond your lifetime and a meaningful way to connect past present and future generations once you have made
arrangements for your loved ones please consider the merits of making a bequest to the royal bc Museum gifts such as these are incredibly helpful in ensuring the long-term financial health of the museum and archives
For more information or to let us know that you have included us in your will please contact Jonathan Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
Have you considered leaving a gift in your will
there are over seven million artifacts and objects in the royal
bc Museumrsquos permanent collections making it one of the largest and most impressive museum collections in the country these objects bring life to the story of british columbia in ways that enlighten stimulate and inspire Many of these items are accessioned as gifts from generous museum and archives supporters who want to
see a favourite piece often a family heirloom live on forever and impact future generations the royal bc Museum is grateful for objects that help us further our provincial mandate to advance new knowledge and understanding of british columbiarsquos natural history and human history
Acquiring a new object is just the beginning of the story through
professional conservation protection measures and display consultations our highly-skilled conservation staff ensure that each piece is properly cared for and preserved conservation efforts are at the core of the important work we do and the end result is that another integral piece of british columbiarsquos history is shared with the world
Gifts to the Collections(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Mary Andrews
Anonymous (35)
bruce Archibald
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
gary bell
Peter bock
James burgess
Delphine castles
tom cockburn
Michael cooper
carole cullimore
carole Davidson
Howard Dirks
raymond graham
george guy
Hanson Materials limited
edward Harvey
James Douglas Helmcken
Dave Henly
Michael Holmes
richard Holmes
gord Hutchings
carl Jonsson
Milan and sharon lacika
Frank lomer
sandy Mclachlan
H edward Mclean
Mona Mosher
brett nelson
Margaret nelson
Dean nicholson
Frank ogden
Margaret ogilvie
out of the Mist gallery
nettie Pasieczka
tom Perry
bernie simpson
David starr
steve suntok
rosita Anna tovell in Memory of Freeman M tovell
south coast british columbia transportation Authority Police service
John veillette
rick Watson and Mike Watson
robert D Watt and Alison Watt
David Yuen
steve suntok fossil donor and volunteer
We wholeheartedly thank our generous donors to the collection during the past fiscal year
royalbcmuseumbcca 21
going DigitAl
Global Plants Initiativeby Dr erica Wheeler botany collections Manager collections care amp conservation
tYPe sPeciMen = the particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached
The Global Plants Initiativethe royal bc Museum has recently become a partner in the global Plants initiative (gPi) gPi is a collaborative effort among herbaria to make digital images of all botany tYPe sPeciMens available to researchers via access to a centralized repository this repository currently holds over 18 million high resolution images of tYPe sPeciMens contributed by over 270 herbaria from more than 70 countries gPi is funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation the image repository is housed and accessed electronically through (Journal storage) Jstor
the royal bc Museum herbarium houses over 80 tYPe sPeciMens that will be included in this important digitization effort
Describing and naming new species of plantsover 400000 species of plants are known to science that is to say more than 400000 species have been formally described and named by taxonomic experts Describing and naming new species is often slow and can be a complicated process A recent study reported that it takes an
average of 21 years from the date a taxonomist spots something new to science to the date the new name is officially recognized two things are required
the new name and a formal latin description must be validly published and
tYPe sPeciMens must be designated and deposited in a publicly accessible herbarium
During the time that a plant taxonomist is doing the work required to describe a new species they collect and preserve specimens for study the main goal of their study is to describe it in very precise terms in particular how does this new species differ from other related species Are the petals a different colour Are the tiny hairs on the underside of the leaves a different shape is this new species found in markedly different habitats than other closely related species
After the author has described and chosen a name for the new species tYPe sPeciMens are designated from the study material tYPe sPeciMens are the particular specimens to which the scientific name of the new species is formally attached because these are of great importance to the science of documenting biodiversity more
than one tYPe sPeciMen is often designated and these are distributed among different herbaria for safe-keeping in the event that one tYPe sPeciMen is destroyed or lost the others will still be available for study
there are at least seven categories of tYPe sPeciMens but HolotYPes and isotYPes are the most important
HolotYPe the single specimen designated by the author at the time of publication as the specimen upon which the description and name is based
isotYPe any specimen collected on the same date and from the same location as the specimen that is designated as the HolotYPe
Roemerrsquos fescuein 1983 royal bc Museum botany curator Dr leon Pavlick described and published the name of a new variety of grass commonly known as `roemerrsquos fescuersquo the scientific name for this grass is Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick names often describe a notable characteristic of a species or sometimes recognize the person who first discovered the new species roemerrsquos fescue was named after Dr Hans roemer a well-known bc botanist who made some of the early collections of this grass
22 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
in the royal bc Museum herbarium we store the HolotYPe of Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick in a special cabinet reserved for such important specimens High resolution images of this specimen and images of other tYPe sPeciMens in the botany collection will soon be available to researchers around the world via the Jstor repository Access to these images will facilitate global biodiversity research the royal bc Museum herbarium is thrilled to contribute to this effort
royalbcmuseumbcca 23
the Artists in Residence program began in september
of 2013 three artists ndash Aimee van Drimmelen lindsay Delaronde and garth gaudin ndash were selected to take part in the inaugural season of this project in addition to their involvement in events throughout the programming year every two weeks they visit different collections areas of the museum and archives the work they create chronicles both the extraordinary collections and the important work being done by staff and volunteers to maintain collections
Artists Get Inspired by the Collectionby chris orsquoconnor schools amp Family learning team lead
the artists are allowed to go behind the scenes and explore the collections Aimee dived into the botany collection which houses over 215000 specimens made up primarily of native and introduced plant species found in british columbia Most specimens are gathered pressed and affixed to cardstock that is marked with collection data for future reference the specimens are then stacked in folders bagged and stored in lockers the earliest specimen in botany is currently lichen collected in 1889
royal bc Museum volunteer Daniela toriola was helping prepare some new specimen sheets on the day the artists visited she carefully arranged the pressed plants gluing them onto the page with assorted metal weights to hold them down until they dried Daniela noted that she always tries to make the presentation as beautiful as possible it takes a lot of creativity to prepare specimens Whether itrsquos taxidermy
scientific drawings or the placement of sea creatures in a jar a lot of care is taken to make things visually appealing the preservation team takes pride in their work knowing that the collections will be looked upon for years to come
on her visit Aimee used a ldquospill saferdquo ink jar the ink mixed with water was perfect for capturing the transparency of leaves and petals and the dark curly roots she used a couple drops of water to wet her brush and introduced ink with a brush pen
Follow along with our artists and their creations on the royal bc Museum blog royalbcmuseumbccakids artists-in-residence
check out Aimeersquos personal blog featuring more entries and animations from different collection areas aimeesketchblogwordpresscom
ink drawing of liliaceae zigaderiusAimee van Drimmelenfrom the botany collection
royalbcmuseumbcca 25
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
What would a museum be if it did not collaborate with its communities the royal bc Museum is building partnerships to amplify our stories and bring the collections and archives in front of a global audience this issue of Whatrsquos insight showcases some of these new efforts
on June 21 the royal bc Museum and our partner the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council will open a new exhibition Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC on the top floor of the museum
this groundbreaking interactive exhibition celebrates the resilience and diversity of First nations languages in bc in the face of change take this opportunity to learn what First nations communities throughout the province are doing to help their languages survive and flourish in this evocative new gallery
We have also partnered with Aboriginal tourism bc for our first annual Aboriginal cultural Festival the festival will be held on our campus and thunderbird Park we hope creating a celebratory atmosphere with sound stages performances arts and traditional food
i recently returned from a fascinating trip to china We will be initiating a number of international partnerships with museums in suzhou and nanjing and further developing existing relationships with colleagues in beijing Hong Kong and guangzhou the purpose is to begin to look outwards and to forge relationships that can serve us in years to come
As suzhou is twinned with victoria and guangzhou with vancouver we will be exploring how we can give new meaning to such city to city relationships
our work is enriched by your support and i would like to extend my personal gratitude for your ongoing commitment to us All our staff and volunteers greatly appreciate the support and dedication provided by our donors sponsors partners and members i look forward to evolving the definition of collaboration in terms of the royal bc Museum with you as a dedicated member i look forward to seeing you soon at the museum again
Yours
Professor Jack lohman cbe chief executive officer royal bc Museum
Dear Friends
Professor Jack lohman and tracey Herbert executive Director First Peoplesrsquo cultural council sign the Memorandum of understanding at the languages exhibition Workshop Musqueam nation
royalbcmuseumbcca 1
Catch and Collect Preserve and Protectby gavin Hanke curator vertebrate Zoology
Jaws from our latest whale arrived during the last week of February
2014 they came from the carcass of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) which died and later resurfaced underneath an aquaculture pen in ross Passage about 21 kilometres northwest of tofino i can imagine that the whale was a bit of a shock to the staff of the aquaculture facility After the whale was towed to a beach and examined by researchers from the Department of Fisheries and oceans we arranged to have its skeleton cleaned by Mike deroos of cetacea contracting for the royal bc Museum research collection i think most people would understand the excitement about receiving a new whale skeleton but this one is special the royal bc Museum has isolated leg bones of a Humpback as well as foetal specimens in
alcohol but this is our first complete Humpback Whale skeleton this skeleton is a significant addition to the research collection because it is the first whale in many years As you can imagine there are many reasons a museum would not be able to receive something as large as a whale 1) it is difficult to prepare something this large 2) whales may wash up in remote areas making recovery prohibitively expensive and 3) whale carcasses sometimes are protected for cultural reasons but if another Humpback turned up irsquod gladly acquire it for our research collection the same goes for Killer Whales or Harbour Porpoises even though we have several already
People regularly ask me ldquoWhy do you need another insert species name hererdquo the answer is simple ndash diversity Diversity permeates all life ndash no two organisms are identical
this diversity is the raw material which was filtered by evolution to produce the bewildering array of life as we know it
biological diversity is everywhere Walk down the street look at your neighbours Are they all the same Are they the same age height weight gender race Did they eat the same thing for breakfast Are any diseased or showing signs of trauma some may have piercings some have tattoos some have both even identical twins differ look at any drawer in the natural History collection and yoursquoll see organismal variation (but not piercings and tattoos)
in biology all specimens are unique regardless of species At a quick glance all threespine sticklebacks look alike look closer and you will discover variation between
1
2 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
1 Humpback Whale flensing researchers and staff work to clean the
washed up carcass to be added to the royal bc Museum collection
2 Threespine Sticklebacks three samples from the collection each
with unique variations
3 American Robin one of the 301 in the collection
researchers have examined variation in rodents to hone their identification skills and we have sent umatilla Dace to ottawa so that researchers can confirm variation across the speciesrsquo range
charles Darwin collected specimens but had no idea how scientists would analyse skins and skeletons in 2014 like early explorers i have no idea what will be needed for future research We keep specimens according to standard museum practices and hope future researchers will find ways to use the material in their research Perhaps the glaucous-winged gull will be the next ldquocanaryrdquo for the urban coal mine in recent years a study of tissue chemistry from specimens showed when gull diets changed from natural items to garbage gull tissues may prove invaluable to
specimens some of the variation is obvious (ie some lack pelvic fins or armour)
evolution works by natural selection on variable traits some individuals have a fortuitous set of traits that promote survival and reproduction other individuals fail for one reason or another variation occurs through time and over a speciesrsquo range rates of change differ between regions For the threespine stickleback change can be rapid in small isolated coastal lakes but almost undetectable in the coastal marine population the lack of variation within coastal marine stickleback and greater variation within freshwater lake populations shows where gene flow occurs increased gene flow homogenises populations - reduced gene flow can amplify evolutionary trends in isolated populations We study
2
3
variation to understand boundaries between species and geographic patterns within species variation is the reason why museums need many specimens for research and why we collect as much as we can as often as we can the royal bc Museum has 196 ldquolotsrdquo of threespine stickleback - with any ldquolotrdquo containing one or more specimens extrapolate that to over 16000 lots of fishes and you get an idea of the size of the ichthyology collection alone
At a museum you can examine specimens collected yesterday a year ago or 100 years ago since 2012 we have received five American robins to add to the 296 already in the research collection our first lot of 36 was collected 126 years ago
the royal bc Museum provides you a biological time machine ndash i am sure human history staff feel the same about their material instead of only having information from the present you have information on species through time and across geographical regions As the curator of vertebrate zoology i donrsquot shoot birds and mammals or trap mammals like early explorers did nature is under enough pressure with urban encroachment and pollution i accept many specimens each year - even common species some come from accidental deaths - road-kills window kills by-catch or from researchers with a specific project
the royal bc Museum receives many specimens each year with a focus on british columbia and its immediate neighbours Already in 2014
royalbcmuseumbcca 3
document changing pollution levels on this continent irsquod better collect more gulls
today with the pace of urban and industrial sprawl the study of nature has taken on new urgency With the royal bc Museum research collection you can look at animals and plants collected prior to the invention of plastic You can try to see when traces of minute plastic particles appeared in plankton-feeding animals or maybe you want to examine the skin of amphibians to see when chytridiomycosis arrived in
bc researchers may want to study the range of dietary items over the entire range of a species - and look at specimens from 50 years ago to see if a speciesrsquo diet has changed Perhaps someone would want to study anatomical changes as fish grow or compare the number of eggs females produce across the range of a species Who knew that preserved animals would be used in such ways the potential topics for museum research are staggering yet many in our population have no idea that museums support research
the multidimensional foresight needed to save material for future study is almost entirely unique to museum staff ndash it is part of our culture to many our thoughts and behaviours must look scattered or disorganised sometimes we are accused of being packrats i counter that accusation with the fact that i have 296 packrats in the mammalogy collection and since i can account for variation in Neotoma cinereus i can honestly state that i do not resemble a packrat try do that without a reference collection
this spotted bat (Euderma maculatum) from the okanagan represents the northern-most specimen in north
American museums
4 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
there are over seven million objects in the royal bc Museum
collection from the big ndash full whale skeletons and a rolls royce ndash to the small ndash bugs and thimbles galore the vast majority of these collections are never on display this summer the museum and archiversquos doors will be thrown open and a rare glimpse at the highlights of the collection will be offered through a new website featuring a selection of the rare interesting significant and amazing pieces from the royal bc Museum
experts from all departments have peered into cabinets looked through
drawers and racked their brains submitting their top collection lists From this long list we have narrowed down 100 items this distillation from our collection isnrsquot necessarily the top historical or scientific items they arenrsquot always the prettiest ndash in fact some are downright ugly ndash but they are all significant in their right And many have fascinating stories coming to the royal bc Museum in ways you wouldnrsquot imagine the list includes giant squids a handbook to gold a spider named after a motorcycle the first marriage license treasures from bcrsquos favourite artist a rare First nations mask
and even a hockey stick the online collection will offer insight into the history of the province
look for this new website this summer at royalbcmuseumbcca100
by David Alexander Head of new Archives amp Digital Preservation
1 bubblegum coral
2 spindle Whorl
3 Kermode bear skull
4 childrsquos Dress
5 Yellow-bellied snake
6 Miettia salientensis Hofmann and Mountjoy 2010 Mount robson bc one of the oldest fossils in the collection
100 Objects of Interest
1
4
2
5
3
6
royalbcmuseumbcca 5
A Gallery Intervention by Janet MacDonald Head of learning
the royal bc Museumrsquos script the original exhibition text found
on panels and labels throughout the permanent galleries is now 50 years old
Prof Jack lohman the royal bc Museum ceo has expressed how essential it is to refresh this narrative just ldquoas you would update any text book of that agerdquo With this in mind the royal bc Museum has begun to review the core scripts and text with an eye to revise key messages and to increase the enjoyment and the potential for learning for all our visitors Phase i of this initiative began this spring with the natural History gallery
The Role of Text and a Team Approachchoosing an appropriate writer for the task was the first crucial step We found in Maleea Acker environmental journalist and local author an innate sensibility for the natural world Her writing style from examples of her published work aligned perfectly with the communication style we were after she joined our re-scripting team for the month of April and together with lead curator Dr Ken Marr curator of botany senior designer Ken Johnson and members of our learning staff we conducted a series of walkthroughs with all natural history
curators and collections managers their combined disciplinary expertise allowed us to look at the gallery in a holistic manner and capture the accuracy of the main narrative
As a starting point we acknowledged the importance of the written word in communicating main themes and key messages According to Maleea ldquotext forms a unifying reference point for our visitors as they travel through a variety of displays and exceptional dioramasrdquo such stunning environments can sometimes leave you visually distracted inside the story
6 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
Cool New Fossil Techour ability to properly prepare
fossil material for the collection has increased our collection Manager in Palaeontology Marji Johns has been busy outfitting a portion of the vertebrate lab on the main floor of the Fannin building to accommodate some heavy duty fossil prepping equipment Fossil material is often collected in the form of a matrix of rock containing one or many fossil representations Preparation of a macrofossil allows details to be revealed which are needed for identification and research some of the removed matrix can be chemically treated to recover microscopic fossils study and research on both macro- and microfossils can lead to a better understanding of past environments climates and the geologic history of an area removal of the matrix can reveal an exquisite fossil that may be exhibit quality Plus the reduction in matrix can allow for more efficient storage in the collection for both space and weight
now donrsquot take Jackrsquos analogy of the textbook literally We do not mean to put a book on the wall However there were important re-scripting considerations to keep in mind so many in fact that a text strategy was implemented We committed to acknowledging the myriad of visitor learning styles with an intention to accommodate as many of you as possible the text would be concise accessible and layered ndash the first layer being the most accessible and carrying the main message and subsequent layers providing progressively detailed information for those who want it Most importantly style is everything the writing would be engaging direct and conversational in a tone encouraging questioning and reflection
Getting it Writeto make a long story short we arrived at a stage in the process where the team felt comfortable with the content intent and the conversational aspects of the written words but ultimately true success would rely on whether the text resonated with you our visiting public And so we asked on sunday afternoon April 27 we orchestrated a testing session our seven lsquochapter headingsrsquo were produced in the form of text on paper mock-ups positioned strategically throughout the gallery each headline panel introduced a particular exhibit to visitors as they entered the environment
With the help of a team of volunteers we were able to assess our ability to communicate and engage people the results were fascinating and instructive comments ranged from an appreciation for the larger print type to questions regarding grammatical composition and use of analogies People of all ages time and again expressed their appreciation for being asked their opinion and many more felt that the signs made them think more deeply about what they were looking at
As i write this article the revised script is now in the hands of our trusted design team ndash who will turn our collaborative work into reality We will hang the script for your reading pleasure in June i encourage you to let us know what you think letrsquos not have another 50 years pass before the next revision
25 million year old whale vertebrae found on the west coast of vancouver island by steve suntok
royalbcmuseumbcca 7
treasures come to us in many different artifacts and specimens
today i introduce to you a human treasure victoria lawyer fossil enthusiast and royal bc Museum volunteer steve suntok steve came to us in the late summer of 2013 with an amazing fossil discovery He had found a rare bird bone from the west coast of vancouver island it is only the second fossil of its kind found in these rocks ndash the first find was over 120 years ago bird bones do not preserve well because they are thin and hollow an adaptation for flight
steve had heard from his fossil enthusiast friends that bird expert gary Kaiser was volunteering at the museum and archives gary identified this fossil as a tibiotarsus leg bone from a cormorant-like bird to make the identification he had carefully inspected the royal bc Museumrsquos modern bird research collections
volunteer ProFile
Steve Suntok by Marji Johns collections Manager Palaeontology
due to weathering damage and disintegration He selects specimens that are scientifically significant or recently exposed by erosion but are well preserved Fossils that are discerned as important but too large to transport are photographed and brought to the attention of experts collected specimens include location labels that are also numbered and recorded in a book For important specimens steve learns about them through readings by collaborating with experts and research through local palaeontology societies or volunteering at a museum
After documenting and donating many important specimens to the royal bc Museum such as whale vertebrae ribs teeth rare ammonites nautiloids crustaceans (crabs and lobsters) and unusual plant fossils steve also has helped unwrap document label and enter data for hundreds of other fossil specimens that were recently donated He has assisted with collections moves and the set up of palaeo lab equipment
there are many other volunteers participating in projects matched to their skills and interests they are all indispensable to the advancements of the palaeo collections at the museum and archives For them making contributions and learning are valued and we all enjoy developing friendships and gaining new experiences
other museum collections and scrutinized palaeontology research literature
gary and i were joking and with twinkles in our eyes said to steve ldquoHow about finding us anotherrdquo steve and his family (daughter leah and son graham) not only found another fossil tibiotarsus but also came back with an even rarer and new fossil bird bone from the site the last was in a 45 kg slab talus block that had fallen from the cliff and into the tidal zone it had been found by leah the block could not be easily downsized at the beach so steve carried it 5 kilometers out this rare bone will probably be a new species We know from previous research at the site that the fossil is about 25 million years old When gary Kaiserrsquos research is published you will be hearing more about this exciting find
steve has become an inspiring steward for bc palaeontology He has gained new knowledge about fossils and collections and this has led to important donations of other rare fossils for research and learning He did keep a few less important specimens for his familyrsquos enjoyment including fossils that connect them with memorable experiences of the day
steve collects responsibly meaning his discoveries mostly come from surface collection of fossils that are at greatest risk for being lost
8 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
A Fossil Hunting Adventure
After gazing-up and eyeing a prize eroding out of a waterfall
cliff i knew i had to have this fossil before mother nature swept it away i found myself 20 feet up a steep cliff under an overhang with a water pool below i tried climbing up but instead went for a dive and unexpected swim in January
on the next trip i tried climbing down with ropes got stuck cut myself loose to get down went for a second swim once again during a season best reserved for skiing and snowshoeing
Determined (my wife says obsessed) i welded a fire poker to a steel pipe but the poker broke off and it went
by steve suntok royal bc Museum volunteer amp donor
for a swim the next time i built a rope ladder and climbed to the top to hang it As i started to climb down the boards i was using for rungs broke ndash my third swim
next i went all out and bought a telescoping ladder i chose a 25 pound version because it was a long steep hike through the bush to get to the site the ladder was too short i went home empty-handed
i went and purchased a taller ladder on the plus side it was 22 feet high on the negative side it weighed 40 pounds and was difficult to haul A friend held the ladder steady and after an hour of carefully chipping away at rock the fossil was free i
caught it with my one free hand and now it sits proudly in my office it is a great ammonite but the memories make it all the better
i love fossil hunting in british columbia itrsquos cool that we can hold in our hands the remains of ancient life from millions of years ago i find that vancouver island is one of the most beautiful places on earth the scenery irsquove seen is by itself worth the effort and that you can find fossils while you are out there ndash that is a great bonus i love adventure and learning and i have met many awesome diverse interesting and kind people during these outings
gary Kaiser amp steve suntok
royalbcmuseumbcca 9
towards the end of her life artist and writer emily carr (1871-1945)
reduced the volume of her writings letters and sketchbooks to what would fit in a battered old steamer trunk in her unmistakable block printing carr expressed her wishes on a card and tacked it under the trunkrsquos lid ldquoAt MY DeAtH PleAse senD tHis boX AnD contents intAct to Mr irA DilWortH cAnADiAn broAD-cAsting corP vAncouver bc [signed] emily carrrdquo Dilworth was carrrsquos confidante and literary executor entrusted with the responsibility of managing her writings and posthumously publishing a number
of her manuscripts Many years after Dilworthrsquos death this distillation of a lifersquos work became one of several nuclei of the carr collections entrusted to the care of the bc Archives
the other groups of royal bc Museum carr collections centre around a large body of her artworks (mainly from the period preceding 1927 but including some important mature works) carr-related artifacts and archival and library records created by her peers and scholars the carr collections hold a number of surprises some of carrrsquos pottery pieces several of her hooked rugs and artifacts including First
Peoplersquos-crafted souvenir items purchased in 1907 and an articulated wooden doll that pops up in various carr sketches cartoons and in a documentary photograph of carrrsquos studio taken shortly after her death
While carrrsquos works are cared for and exhibited in over 35 public galleries museums and institutions and treasured in countless private collections world-wide the largest collection of carrrsquos career output is stewarded by the royal bc Museum Much of it can be consulted on a daily basis in the archives or by appointment this year the royal bc Museum is enhancing understanding of this rich legacy through a web
A ricH resource
Carr Collectionsby Don bourdon curator images amp Paintings
tanoo Qci emily carr 1913
10 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
exhibition featuring a timeline stubbed with Carrrsquos paintings drawings writings photographs and artifacts A ldquotreasure boxrdquo Emily Carr Gallery figures prominently in the Royal BC Museumrsquos redevelopment vision
Upon her death in 1945 the Province of BC purchased seven major Carr paintings including Tanoo (see accompanying figure) Artistic executor Lawren Harris selected 170 works from hundreds remaining in Carrrsquos home for the Emily Carr Trust Collection (now housed in the Vancouver Art Gallery and the National Gallery) Many works from her ldquoFrench Periodrdquo and watercolours were identified for sale to support this Trust Still others were set aside for destruction though many were salvaged and eventually made their way to the BC Archives Like so many prolific artists Carr had already given many works away and destroyed many more considered by her unworthy of retention
Today the Royal BC Museum holds the majority of Carrrsquos artistic literary and personal output Carrrsquos personal and professional archives over 1100 works of art Carrrsquos publications and publications about her and her art key photographs interviews and documentaries The works of art total 1112 items Approximately 900 of these are on paper primarily images in sketch books Approximately 200 are major paintings - oil on canvas oil on board or paper and watercolour on paper Also included are 24
representative pieces of pottery that Carr produced in large numbers for sale and several examples of the hooked rugs she used throughout her home and bestowed as gifts
The Emily Carr fonds (the unpublished archival records created and accumulated by Carr between 1879 and 1945) occupy 23 linear metres of shelf space and consist of correspondence journals manuscripts notebooks scrapbooks publications annotated by the artist financial records photographs and paintings
Records pertaining to Carr in other fonds occupy a further 16 linear metres of textual records In particular the records of the following are rich in detail about Carr Edythe Hembroff-Schleicher Flora Burns Humphrey Toms the Newcombe family and Richard Carr 55 sound recordings contain interviews and radio programs about Carr and 14 moving image records contain documentaries interviews and TV programs Our holdings include 10 works of art by other artists pertaining to Carr Of particular interest are 60 photographs of or pertaining to the artistwriter mainly formal portraits and candid shots depicting her with her art her treasured pets and close friends They also depict Carr family members studio interiors her various homes and colleagues
Carrrsquos published writings in various editions total 59 items and in 167 other publications Carr is the principle subject discussed
The Archives has constructed 16 linear centimetres of artist files pertaining to Emily Carr and artcraft works of Carrrsquos sisters The files include exhibit programmes auction information articles correspondence lists and images The Royal BC Museum holds extensive records pertaining to the Emily Carr Gallery that used to be on Wharf Street in Victoria its facility and program and Carr family home as a heritage building and site
Artifacts include Emilyrsquos Governorrsquos General Medal First Peoplesrsquo works purchased by the Carr sisters in Alaska in 1907 ndash and of course the trunk
View online exhibition royalbcmuseumbccaexhibitionsonline
Haida Totems Cha-atl Queen Charlotte IslandEmily Carr 1912
royalbcmuseumbcca 11
Archives Boot Camp Round Threeby Ann ten cate Archives gallery amp theatre learning team lead
After two successful and sold-out boot camps bc Archives staff
will be offering a third boot camp on saturday september 27 2014
our boot camps are designed to give people a crash course on how to do research at the bc Archives An overview of the collections is given ndash and whether you are a beginner or an expert yoursquoll be inspired
Prior to attending wersquoll assign you to a team with similar interests on the day of the boot camp you will rotate through various stations in our reference room receiving coaching from our expert staff our last camp included the History Hounds bouncing biographers colonial canterers the bobrsquos My uncle team the Family tree crew and the community crew by the end of the day yoursquoll have received some
tips about developing a research strategy know how to find material in our collection and you will have seen some of our most fascinating records Yoursquoll also get a tour of our behind-the-scenes storage areas the day finishes with a chance to get ldquostuck-inrdquo and do some individual research with our experts on-hand
our staff really enjoy helping people get started with their research or head out on new tangents itrsquos a day of immersion and discovery there is definitely a real buzz in our reference room as staff and researchers share information You can hear some of what went on at the last boot camp by listening to cbc radiorsquos north by northwest podcast cbccaplayerradiolocal+showsbritish+columbianorth+by+northwestiD2441594449
if yoursquove already attended our boot camp keep your eye on our calendar as later in the year we will start offering specialized workshops
ldquoGreat So glad I could comerdquo
ldquoThis was an excellent experience It gives me the confidence to return to the archives prepared to ask for assistance and feeling that there is a good starting placerdquo
ldquoLoved this Itrsquos the type of program Irsquod take again because there was so much info I think I missed a lot [before]rdquo
register online royalbcmuseumbccaevents
12 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
Supporting the Museum and Archives Through Local Artby christine roome owner sweet Memory Art
sweet Memory Art was born out of love for people and relationships
ndash the humour and the warmth of human connection My jewellery and art are about commemorating and celebrating the human connection and the relationships that carry us through and make us who we are
Museums are a home for preservation and curation and the birthplace of curiosity question connection history and education for people aged twondash92 i believe
that museums need to surface their collections and celebrate their exhibits through connecting with the local and international community
the sweet Memory Art viking jewellery line invites people to take a piece of the museum experience home 50 percent of the retail sale of the royal bc Museum collection on my website will go back to the royal bc Museum Foundation so that we can continue to learn from the past
You can find sweet Memory Art jewellery in the bc Museum gift shop or purchase pieces on christinersquos website at sweetmemoryartcom
FeAture PArtner
As a values-based financial co-operative vancity is committed
to transforming how banking is done so we can help our members and their local communities thrive financially socially and environmentally
We arenrsquot doing this alone on behalf of our members and community partners we are working to place the right tools in the hands of individuals and organizations working to make our world a better place
We seek to invest in and work closely with organizations and sectors that
Wersquore pleased the royal bc Museum has partnered with the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council on the Our Living Languages exhibition and Aboriginal tourism bc on the Aboriginal cultural Festival 2014 We can accomplish more when we work together
check out vancityrsquos online Annual report at vancitycom2013Annual report for more information on how we are working to build healthy communities
visit vancitycomaboriginalcommunities to learn more about how we are investing in Aboriginal communities to achieve economic strength and independence
we feel have the potential for high positive community impact aligned with our three guiding principles ndash social justice and financial inclusion environmental sustainability and co-operative principles and practices
our partnership with the royal bc Museum is an example of this approach in our work with Aboriginal communities in the coast salish territories where we do business and through our partnership with reconciliation canada we better understand the importance of dialogue and the need for all of us to gain more knowledge about the First Peoples We have much to learn about the history of our land and its people and the importance of language and culture as roots of identity pride and self awareness
royalbcmuseumbcca 13
it wasnrsquot designed to be an emotional touchpoint but sometimes people
respond in surprising ways to details in the royal bc Museum Well before the Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC exhibition was due to open when patches of carpet were tagged with green painterrsquos tape and the drywall mud was still damp bobbilee copeland walked through the exhibition space
it wasnrsquot completely empty one of the exhibitionrsquos first elements to be erected were 17 towering double-sided pylons clad in colourful paint and bearing the names of the 34 First nations languages that are indigenous to british columbia ndash what will become known as the ldquolanguage Forestrdquo
copeland ndash coordinator of the language revitalization program at the university of victoria ndash was visiting the royal bc Museum to discuss potential partnerships aligned with indigenous languages
and the museum and archivesrsquo learning programs and was touring the unfinished exhibition space she stopped in mid-stride when she saw her own language written on one of the pylons then walked over and gave the metal ldquotreerdquo a long hug
For staff at the royal bc Museum this was an unanticipated sight but also a welcome affirmation that the exhibition was going to have deep meaning for many visitors
ldquoBobbileersquos spontaneous gesture was overwhelmingly powerful In that instant I realized how important this exhibition was to her and all the champions of language revitalization the lsquotreersquo such a tangible representation of the intangible fragility of languagerdquo
Janet MacDonald the royal bc Museumrsquos Head of learning
and visitor engagement experience
it was a gratifying moment for all involved in the planning and design of the exhibition language is a powerful potent marker of identity and culture think about the emotional resonance of the term ldquomother tonguerdquo ndash the languages we grow up with are our kin nourishment and birthright
so the revitalization of languages in bcrsquos First nations communities is bound to stir up feelings of pride loss pain and joy the Our Living Languages exhibition aims to tell the stories of how languages have been nearly-lost and newly awakened and illustrate the success stories of language diversity and revitalization throughout bc
telling these stories has been a deeply collaborative project the royal bc Museum has relied upon the expertise of its partner the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council to shape the narrative provide content and advice on cultural matters
Our Living Languages A Beautiful Collaborationby erik lamberston corporate communications officer
transmission of traditional knowledge at Kaska language camp
14 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
the royal bc Museumrsquos job has been to find the compelling way to communicate the messages through design the two organizations chose to partner closely as they fine-tune details about design development orthography marketing ndash virtually every aspect of the exhibition
ldquoWe are honoured to be part of creation this important exhibition First Nations language speakers are the true experts when it comes to describing and sharing information about their languages By involving them in the development process we hope to create an experience that is both authentic and meaningful for visitors to the museumrdquo
lorna Williams chair of the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council
in fact the theme of co-mingled multiple perspectives has become
a sub-theme of the exhibition itself For example one of the successes of the exhibition is how well it integrates oral and aural experiences with our other senses visitors often expect museum-going to be a primarily visual experience but Our Living Languages is about language transmission a fundamentally spoken activity
And the truth is that contemporary innovative places like the royal bc Museum are increasingly interactive and multi-sensory so Our Living Language rsquos audio messages are supported through visually-interesting video content and tactile details that are rooted in First nations culture
take the cradleboard theatre ndash a small and intimate space that will replicate a cedar root basket inside visitors will be cocooned in soothing First nations languages and lullabies for an immersive experience the idea came from cultural advisors and the medium was designed and fabricated by the royal bc Museumrsquos exhibition arts team
the cradleboard theatre is just one element of the innovative multi-sensory exhibition the
language forest will ldquospeakrdquo as visitors approach each ldquotreerdquo wired with motion sensors A theatre space a rounded counterpoint to the forest spires will be animated by presenters who will add a live dimension to this human story
Our Living Languages will open on saturday June 21 ndash national Aboriginal Day the royal bc Museum will be a celebratory space that weekend with Aboriginal tourism bc hosting the Aboriginal cultural Festival June 19-21 enlivening the campus outside (see page 16 for details) and this collaborative exhibition drawing new eyes ndash and ears ndash to the fascinating and moving story of language diversity and revitalization in bcrsquos First nations communities
royalbcmuseumbcca 15
From June 19 to 21 victoria will host the 2014 Aboriginal cultural
Festival highlighting and celebrating the regionrsquos rich indigenous culture through storytelling artisans dance song and food
created in partnership with Aboriginal tourism bc (Atbc) the esquimalt and songhees nations the royal bc Museum tourism victoria robert bateman centre greater victoria Harbour Authority and First Peoplesrsquo cultural council the festival will take place on the outdoor campus of the royal bc Museum and around victoriarsquos inner Harbour
the three-day festival will feature main stage performances including three-time world champion hoop dancer Alex Wells an artisan area where people may watch demonstrations meet the artists and also learn about the new Authentic Aboriginal program that helps consumers identify products designed created and sold by bc Aboriginal artists a childrenrsquos storytelling area food vendors and an Aboriginal tourism bc information booth
the festival is also an opportunity to celebrate share and learn more
about the history of the First nations people in bc and the capital before the city became victoria esquimalt and songhees nations were one of the first nations to sign a treaty in bc ndash known as the vancouver island treaties which were signed between 1850ndash1854
this festival also coincides with national Aboriginal Day and the launch of the royal bc Museumrsquos new exhibit Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC opening June 21 2014
learn more onlineaboriginalbccom
Aboriginal Cultural Festival
16 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
gerry truscott earned his degree in creative Writing
from the university of victoria in 1982 and since then he has spent his professional life editing and publishing books He joined the royal bc Museum in 1989 as publisher He has edited and produced more than 100 books for the institution and has written or edited much of the
text that appears in the exhibition galleries in 2008 he wrote the exhibition text and book for the museumrsquos project celebrating british columbiarsquos 150th anniversary entitled Free Spirit Stories of You Me and BC
on his own time gerry writes fiction and has had several short stories published in magazines and anthologies Hersquos also very much
interested in soccer and hockey (playing and watching) jazz and progressive rock hiking cycling and walking his dogs
royal bc Museum publications are available at your local book store the royal bc Museum shop and royalbcmuseumbccapublications
FeAture PArtner
Canadian Geographic canadian geographic magazine
is a proud partner of the royal bc Museum one of canadarsquos most award-winning magazines canadian geographic is unapologetic about celebrating canada Wersquore dedicated to uncovering and communicating the stories about canadian people places frontiers and issues (past and present) that canadian magazine readers want Published by the royal canadian geographical society canadian geographic magazine is more than a geography publication each issue of canadian geographic is a voyage of discovery and exploration that features the latest
science environment travel human and cultural stories from across canada
canadian geographic connects with more than 38 million readers per issue in canada and abroad who share our fascination for canada Filled with stunning colour photography fascinating articles and specially commissioned maps each issue of canadian geographic magazine lets you travel the country without leaving home Yoursquoll discover canadarsquos people and cities our wildlife and wilderness our history and the beauty of our land subscriptions include six regular
issues of canadian geographic plus four issues of canadian geographic travel per year
For a special subscription offer exclusive to rbcM members please go to canadiangeographiccarbcm
stAFF ProFile
Gerry TruscottPublisHer
royalbcmuseumbcca 17
$100000 - $499999
$25000 - $99999
$5000 - $24999
the royal bc Museum appreciates and acknowledges the vital and
ongoing financial support of the Province of British Columbia the Ministry of Community Sport and Cultural Development and the Royal BC Museum Foundation their core support makes our work possible
While approximately 63 percent of our annual operating budget
comes from the Province and another 21 percent comes from memberships and admissions we need to raise the remaining 16 percent ndash three million dollars ndash each year from other sources including donations sponsorships and grants contributions from those who value the work of the royal bc Museum help us to meet our most pressing needs such as
Acquiring items for our collection conserving rare and
precious objects Furthering our world-class
research Developing our learning programs supporting our archives Presenting engaging exhibitions Publishing critically-
acclaimed books
Royal BC Museum Supporters(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Please join us in thanking the following individuals corporations and foundations for their support their demonstrated commitment and their inspiration during the past fiscal year
$500000+
bell Media
royal bc Museum Foundation teck resources limited tourism victoria
bc Hydro
black Press
clipper vacations
Hsbc bank of canada
the estate of Akiko Kamitakahara
lamar Advertising company
Pattison outdoor Advertising
the Jim Pattison broadcast group
Quark expeditions
times colonist
John and Joan Walton innovators Fund
Anonymous (1)
the bay centre
bc transit
black ball Ferry line
canadian Museums Association
cibc
cineplex Media
ctv vancouver island
Fannyrsquos cultured cow Products ltd
garth evans
Friends of the bc Archives
iMAX victoria
elizabeth Kennedy
gwendolyn Page
save on Foods Memorial centre
silk road tea
sunset Magazine
rosita Anna tovell
vancity savings credit union
viking Air
Jack and bev Wallace
Westerkirk capital
if you would like to support the work of the royal bc Museum please contact Jillian Appelman Philanthropy Manager at 250-387-3102 or jappelmanroyalbcmuseumbcca
18 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
$1000 - $4999
$500 - $999
$250 - $499
Collections
Education
Conservation
Research
every effort has been made to ensure our supporters are recognized accurately if you notice an error or omission please call the royal bc Museum Development Department at 250-387-7222
eric and leonda Adler
Patrick and Anne Anderson
Anonymous (1)
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
Joyce clearihue
Daphne corbett in memory of Joan corbett
Karen A Duddlesten
robert and Marianne eng
Flight centre
rupert and robin Hambro
bob and Marjorie Johns
lynne Kennedy
lyall and susan Knott
Professor Jack lohman cbe
ron and May lou-Poy
Kenneth and ellen Mahon
tommy Mayne
stefan and Magdalena opalski
Provincial employees community services Fund
Pauline rafferty and bob Plecas
suromitra sanatani and David turpin
sharon smith
Pauline and robert van Den Driessche
rene and Allison Weir
Angela Williams
Anonymous in memory of Joan corbett
robert Appleton in memory of Joan corbett
robert and birgit bateman
ian beauprie
gary and susan braley
Jeff bray
William and Jean cave
Kelly and rose chu
James and Jean cosgrove
carol cullimore
Jon Declan and bridget Dallison
Joe and linda Harvey
Mark Holford in memory of Joan corbett
erik lythgoe
ian and Margaret Mair
David Mattison
susan K McMillan
Jim and isabel Merston
charles and Marjorie Moser
Pauline and John Mustard Foundation
northwest Magazine
shelley reid
Anne and Don russell
Pete seward
John and Fern spring
W Anthony and Darlene southwell
Mark and elizabeth taylor
Anonymous (2)
robin Ashforth and gerald thompson
Patrick D crofton
Jean e Field and roy A richford
barbara Fields
Joyce Folbigg
Hotel grand Pacific
barbara longworth
Dennis Mccann and Diane Darch
Doreen Mitchell
gary Mitchell
greg and susan McKelvie
Helen Parker
barbara Potash
sandy Pratt
barbara rae and george suart
ernest and Adele roberts
robert rothwell
royal scot Hotel and suites
team telus cares
betty thacker
Alan tompson
victoria international buskers Festival
Maryla and Donovan Waters
Angela Wesley
chuck Wilson
royalbcmuseumbcca 19
1 british columbia MlA lana Popham and royal bc Museum ceo Prof Jack lohman discussing an artifact from the exhibition Vikings Lives Beyond the Legends
2 His excellency teppo tauriainen swedish Ambassador to canada and the Honourable linda reid MlA for richmond east and the speaker of the legislative Assembly at the Annual Kermode gala
3 Prof Jack lohman ceo royal bc Museum with seiji okada consul general of Japan and his wife Yasuko okada
4 sharon smith Francis Kermode group patron and 10-year volunteer
sharon smith is a dedicated 10-year volunteer who now
financially supports the royal bc Museum as a member of the Francis Kermode group ldquoexciting things are coming with the redevelopment plans for the royal bc Museum so it has been a very interesting time for me to get more involvedrdquo she says ldquoi have really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes tours and getting to know the other members of the grouprdquo
Having travelled to museums and historical sites around the world what strikes sharon is our uniqueness ldquoYou just cannot see what is in this collection anywhere else this is the only place that does
what it does it is hugely important to get behind it and i highly recommend that supporters consider joining the Francis Kermode group the activities are very enjoyable and our financial support makes a difference to the core work of the museum and archivesrdquo
she adds ldquoi have learned so much during my time with the group that i have decided to include a gift to the royal bc Museum in my will i feel it is an opportunity to extend my values and my dedication to the museum and archives beyond my lifetime the support is needed and the cause is very important to future generationsrdquo
Donor ProFile
Sharon Smith
The Francis Kermode Groupnamed after the royal bc
Museumrsquos first director the Francis Kermode group is a visionary group of patrons who enjoy a special relationship with the royal bc Museum and our world-class team of curators conservators researchers collections managers and archivists Members of the group deepen their
engagement throughout the year with an exclusive series of customized learning opportunities special privileges and social events created to enlighten stimulate and inspire as they explore the treasures of the royal bc Museum and our wonderful province
1
2
3
4
to join the Francis Kermode group or for more information contact Jon Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
20 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
As sharon smith noted (on the previous page) a will presents
a wonderful opportunity for you to extend your values beyond your lifetime and a meaningful way to connect past present and future generations once you have made
arrangements for your loved ones please consider the merits of making a bequest to the royal bc Museum gifts such as these are incredibly helpful in ensuring the long-term financial health of the museum and archives
For more information or to let us know that you have included us in your will please contact Jonathan Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
Have you considered leaving a gift in your will
there are over seven million artifacts and objects in the royal
bc Museumrsquos permanent collections making it one of the largest and most impressive museum collections in the country these objects bring life to the story of british columbia in ways that enlighten stimulate and inspire Many of these items are accessioned as gifts from generous museum and archives supporters who want to
see a favourite piece often a family heirloom live on forever and impact future generations the royal bc Museum is grateful for objects that help us further our provincial mandate to advance new knowledge and understanding of british columbiarsquos natural history and human history
Acquiring a new object is just the beginning of the story through
professional conservation protection measures and display consultations our highly-skilled conservation staff ensure that each piece is properly cared for and preserved conservation efforts are at the core of the important work we do and the end result is that another integral piece of british columbiarsquos history is shared with the world
Gifts to the Collections(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Mary Andrews
Anonymous (35)
bruce Archibald
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
gary bell
Peter bock
James burgess
Delphine castles
tom cockburn
Michael cooper
carole cullimore
carole Davidson
Howard Dirks
raymond graham
george guy
Hanson Materials limited
edward Harvey
James Douglas Helmcken
Dave Henly
Michael Holmes
richard Holmes
gord Hutchings
carl Jonsson
Milan and sharon lacika
Frank lomer
sandy Mclachlan
H edward Mclean
Mona Mosher
brett nelson
Margaret nelson
Dean nicholson
Frank ogden
Margaret ogilvie
out of the Mist gallery
nettie Pasieczka
tom Perry
bernie simpson
David starr
steve suntok
rosita Anna tovell in Memory of Freeman M tovell
south coast british columbia transportation Authority Police service
John veillette
rick Watson and Mike Watson
robert D Watt and Alison Watt
David Yuen
steve suntok fossil donor and volunteer
We wholeheartedly thank our generous donors to the collection during the past fiscal year
royalbcmuseumbcca 21
going DigitAl
Global Plants Initiativeby Dr erica Wheeler botany collections Manager collections care amp conservation
tYPe sPeciMen = the particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached
The Global Plants Initiativethe royal bc Museum has recently become a partner in the global Plants initiative (gPi) gPi is a collaborative effort among herbaria to make digital images of all botany tYPe sPeciMens available to researchers via access to a centralized repository this repository currently holds over 18 million high resolution images of tYPe sPeciMens contributed by over 270 herbaria from more than 70 countries gPi is funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation the image repository is housed and accessed electronically through (Journal storage) Jstor
the royal bc Museum herbarium houses over 80 tYPe sPeciMens that will be included in this important digitization effort
Describing and naming new species of plantsover 400000 species of plants are known to science that is to say more than 400000 species have been formally described and named by taxonomic experts Describing and naming new species is often slow and can be a complicated process A recent study reported that it takes an
average of 21 years from the date a taxonomist spots something new to science to the date the new name is officially recognized two things are required
the new name and a formal latin description must be validly published and
tYPe sPeciMens must be designated and deposited in a publicly accessible herbarium
During the time that a plant taxonomist is doing the work required to describe a new species they collect and preserve specimens for study the main goal of their study is to describe it in very precise terms in particular how does this new species differ from other related species Are the petals a different colour Are the tiny hairs on the underside of the leaves a different shape is this new species found in markedly different habitats than other closely related species
After the author has described and chosen a name for the new species tYPe sPeciMens are designated from the study material tYPe sPeciMens are the particular specimens to which the scientific name of the new species is formally attached because these are of great importance to the science of documenting biodiversity more
than one tYPe sPeciMen is often designated and these are distributed among different herbaria for safe-keeping in the event that one tYPe sPeciMen is destroyed or lost the others will still be available for study
there are at least seven categories of tYPe sPeciMens but HolotYPes and isotYPes are the most important
HolotYPe the single specimen designated by the author at the time of publication as the specimen upon which the description and name is based
isotYPe any specimen collected on the same date and from the same location as the specimen that is designated as the HolotYPe
Roemerrsquos fescuein 1983 royal bc Museum botany curator Dr leon Pavlick described and published the name of a new variety of grass commonly known as `roemerrsquos fescuersquo the scientific name for this grass is Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick names often describe a notable characteristic of a species or sometimes recognize the person who first discovered the new species roemerrsquos fescue was named after Dr Hans roemer a well-known bc botanist who made some of the early collections of this grass
22 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
in the royal bc Museum herbarium we store the HolotYPe of Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick in a special cabinet reserved for such important specimens High resolution images of this specimen and images of other tYPe sPeciMens in the botany collection will soon be available to researchers around the world via the Jstor repository Access to these images will facilitate global biodiversity research the royal bc Museum herbarium is thrilled to contribute to this effort
royalbcmuseumbcca 23
the Artists in Residence program began in september
of 2013 three artists ndash Aimee van Drimmelen lindsay Delaronde and garth gaudin ndash were selected to take part in the inaugural season of this project in addition to their involvement in events throughout the programming year every two weeks they visit different collections areas of the museum and archives the work they create chronicles both the extraordinary collections and the important work being done by staff and volunteers to maintain collections
Artists Get Inspired by the Collectionby chris orsquoconnor schools amp Family learning team lead
the artists are allowed to go behind the scenes and explore the collections Aimee dived into the botany collection which houses over 215000 specimens made up primarily of native and introduced plant species found in british columbia Most specimens are gathered pressed and affixed to cardstock that is marked with collection data for future reference the specimens are then stacked in folders bagged and stored in lockers the earliest specimen in botany is currently lichen collected in 1889
royal bc Museum volunteer Daniela toriola was helping prepare some new specimen sheets on the day the artists visited she carefully arranged the pressed plants gluing them onto the page with assorted metal weights to hold them down until they dried Daniela noted that she always tries to make the presentation as beautiful as possible it takes a lot of creativity to prepare specimens Whether itrsquos taxidermy
scientific drawings or the placement of sea creatures in a jar a lot of care is taken to make things visually appealing the preservation team takes pride in their work knowing that the collections will be looked upon for years to come
on her visit Aimee used a ldquospill saferdquo ink jar the ink mixed with water was perfect for capturing the transparency of leaves and petals and the dark curly roots she used a couple drops of water to wet her brush and introduced ink with a brush pen
Follow along with our artists and their creations on the royal bc Museum blog royalbcmuseumbccakids artists-in-residence
check out Aimeersquos personal blog featuring more entries and animations from different collection areas aimeesketchblogwordpresscom
ink drawing of liliaceae zigaderiusAimee van Drimmelenfrom the botany collection
royalbcmuseumbcca 25
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
Catch and Collect Preserve and Protectby gavin Hanke curator vertebrate Zoology
Jaws from our latest whale arrived during the last week of February
2014 they came from the carcass of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) which died and later resurfaced underneath an aquaculture pen in ross Passage about 21 kilometres northwest of tofino i can imagine that the whale was a bit of a shock to the staff of the aquaculture facility After the whale was towed to a beach and examined by researchers from the Department of Fisheries and oceans we arranged to have its skeleton cleaned by Mike deroos of cetacea contracting for the royal bc Museum research collection i think most people would understand the excitement about receiving a new whale skeleton but this one is special the royal bc Museum has isolated leg bones of a Humpback as well as foetal specimens in
alcohol but this is our first complete Humpback Whale skeleton this skeleton is a significant addition to the research collection because it is the first whale in many years As you can imagine there are many reasons a museum would not be able to receive something as large as a whale 1) it is difficult to prepare something this large 2) whales may wash up in remote areas making recovery prohibitively expensive and 3) whale carcasses sometimes are protected for cultural reasons but if another Humpback turned up irsquod gladly acquire it for our research collection the same goes for Killer Whales or Harbour Porpoises even though we have several already
People regularly ask me ldquoWhy do you need another insert species name hererdquo the answer is simple ndash diversity Diversity permeates all life ndash no two organisms are identical
this diversity is the raw material which was filtered by evolution to produce the bewildering array of life as we know it
biological diversity is everywhere Walk down the street look at your neighbours Are they all the same Are they the same age height weight gender race Did they eat the same thing for breakfast Are any diseased or showing signs of trauma some may have piercings some have tattoos some have both even identical twins differ look at any drawer in the natural History collection and yoursquoll see organismal variation (but not piercings and tattoos)
in biology all specimens are unique regardless of species At a quick glance all threespine sticklebacks look alike look closer and you will discover variation between
1
2 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
1 Humpback Whale flensing researchers and staff work to clean the
washed up carcass to be added to the royal bc Museum collection
2 Threespine Sticklebacks three samples from the collection each
with unique variations
3 American Robin one of the 301 in the collection
researchers have examined variation in rodents to hone their identification skills and we have sent umatilla Dace to ottawa so that researchers can confirm variation across the speciesrsquo range
charles Darwin collected specimens but had no idea how scientists would analyse skins and skeletons in 2014 like early explorers i have no idea what will be needed for future research We keep specimens according to standard museum practices and hope future researchers will find ways to use the material in their research Perhaps the glaucous-winged gull will be the next ldquocanaryrdquo for the urban coal mine in recent years a study of tissue chemistry from specimens showed when gull diets changed from natural items to garbage gull tissues may prove invaluable to
specimens some of the variation is obvious (ie some lack pelvic fins or armour)
evolution works by natural selection on variable traits some individuals have a fortuitous set of traits that promote survival and reproduction other individuals fail for one reason or another variation occurs through time and over a speciesrsquo range rates of change differ between regions For the threespine stickleback change can be rapid in small isolated coastal lakes but almost undetectable in the coastal marine population the lack of variation within coastal marine stickleback and greater variation within freshwater lake populations shows where gene flow occurs increased gene flow homogenises populations - reduced gene flow can amplify evolutionary trends in isolated populations We study
2
3
variation to understand boundaries between species and geographic patterns within species variation is the reason why museums need many specimens for research and why we collect as much as we can as often as we can the royal bc Museum has 196 ldquolotsrdquo of threespine stickleback - with any ldquolotrdquo containing one or more specimens extrapolate that to over 16000 lots of fishes and you get an idea of the size of the ichthyology collection alone
At a museum you can examine specimens collected yesterday a year ago or 100 years ago since 2012 we have received five American robins to add to the 296 already in the research collection our first lot of 36 was collected 126 years ago
the royal bc Museum provides you a biological time machine ndash i am sure human history staff feel the same about their material instead of only having information from the present you have information on species through time and across geographical regions As the curator of vertebrate zoology i donrsquot shoot birds and mammals or trap mammals like early explorers did nature is under enough pressure with urban encroachment and pollution i accept many specimens each year - even common species some come from accidental deaths - road-kills window kills by-catch or from researchers with a specific project
the royal bc Museum receives many specimens each year with a focus on british columbia and its immediate neighbours Already in 2014
royalbcmuseumbcca 3
document changing pollution levels on this continent irsquod better collect more gulls
today with the pace of urban and industrial sprawl the study of nature has taken on new urgency With the royal bc Museum research collection you can look at animals and plants collected prior to the invention of plastic You can try to see when traces of minute plastic particles appeared in plankton-feeding animals or maybe you want to examine the skin of amphibians to see when chytridiomycosis arrived in
bc researchers may want to study the range of dietary items over the entire range of a species - and look at specimens from 50 years ago to see if a speciesrsquo diet has changed Perhaps someone would want to study anatomical changes as fish grow or compare the number of eggs females produce across the range of a species Who knew that preserved animals would be used in such ways the potential topics for museum research are staggering yet many in our population have no idea that museums support research
the multidimensional foresight needed to save material for future study is almost entirely unique to museum staff ndash it is part of our culture to many our thoughts and behaviours must look scattered or disorganised sometimes we are accused of being packrats i counter that accusation with the fact that i have 296 packrats in the mammalogy collection and since i can account for variation in Neotoma cinereus i can honestly state that i do not resemble a packrat try do that without a reference collection
this spotted bat (Euderma maculatum) from the okanagan represents the northern-most specimen in north
American museums
4 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
there are over seven million objects in the royal bc Museum
collection from the big ndash full whale skeletons and a rolls royce ndash to the small ndash bugs and thimbles galore the vast majority of these collections are never on display this summer the museum and archiversquos doors will be thrown open and a rare glimpse at the highlights of the collection will be offered through a new website featuring a selection of the rare interesting significant and amazing pieces from the royal bc Museum
experts from all departments have peered into cabinets looked through
drawers and racked their brains submitting their top collection lists From this long list we have narrowed down 100 items this distillation from our collection isnrsquot necessarily the top historical or scientific items they arenrsquot always the prettiest ndash in fact some are downright ugly ndash but they are all significant in their right And many have fascinating stories coming to the royal bc Museum in ways you wouldnrsquot imagine the list includes giant squids a handbook to gold a spider named after a motorcycle the first marriage license treasures from bcrsquos favourite artist a rare First nations mask
and even a hockey stick the online collection will offer insight into the history of the province
look for this new website this summer at royalbcmuseumbcca100
by David Alexander Head of new Archives amp Digital Preservation
1 bubblegum coral
2 spindle Whorl
3 Kermode bear skull
4 childrsquos Dress
5 Yellow-bellied snake
6 Miettia salientensis Hofmann and Mountjoy 2010 Mount robson bc one of the oldest fossils in the collection
100 Objects of Interest
1
4
2
5
3
6
royalbcmuseumbcca 5
A Gallery Intervention by Janet MacDonald Head of learning
the royal bc Museumrsquos script the original exhibition text found
on panels and labels throughout the permanent galleries is now 50 years old
Prof Jack lohman the royal bc Museum ceo has expressed how essential it is to refresh this narrative just ldquoas you would update any text book of that agerdquo With this in mind the royal bc Museum has begun to review the core scripts and text with an eye to revise key messages and to increase the enjoyment and the potential for learning for all our visitors Phase i of this initiative began this spring with the natural History gallery
The Role of Text and a Team Approachchoosing an appropriate writer for the task was the first crucial step We found in Maleea Acker environmental journalist and local author an innate sensibility for the natural world Her writing style from examples of her published work aligned perfectly with the communication style we were after she joined our re-scripting team for the month of April and together with lead curator Dr Ken Marr curator of botany senior designer Ken Johnson and members of our learning staff we conducted a series of walkthroughs with all natural history
curators and collections managers their combined disciplinary expertise allowed us to look at the gallery in a holistic manner and capture the accuracy of the main narrative
As a starting point we acknowledged the importance of the written word in communicating main themes and key messages According to Maleea ldquotext forms a unifying reference point for our visitors as they travel through a variety of displays and exceptional dioramasrdquo such stunning environments can sometimes leave you visually distracted inside the story
6 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
Cool New Fossil Techour ability to properly prepare
fossil material for the collection has increased our collection Manager in Palaeontology Marji Johns has been busy outfitting a portion of the vertebrate lab on the main floor of the Fannin building to accommodate some heavy duty fossil prepping equipment Fossil material is often collected in the form of a matrix of rock containing one or many fossil representations Preparation of a macrofossil allows details to be revealed which are needed for identification and research some of the removed matrix can be chemically treated to recover microscopic fossils study and research on both macro- and microfossils can lead to a better understanding of past environments climates and the geologic history of an area removal of the matrix can reveal an exquisite fossil that may be exhibit quality Plus the reduction in matrix can allow for more efficient storage in the collection for both space and weight
now donrsquot take Jackrsquos analogy of the textbook literally We do not mean to put a book on the wall However there were important re-scripting considerations to keep in mind so many in fact that a text strategy was implemented We committed to acknowledging the myriad of visitor learning styles with an intention to accommodate as many of you as possible the text would be concise accessible and layered ndash the first layer being the most accessible and carrying the main message and subsequent layers providing progressively detailed information for those who want it Most importantly style is everything the writing would be engaging direct and conversational in a tone encouraging questioning and reflection
Getting it Writeto make a long story short we arrived at a stage in the process where the team felt comfortable with the content intent and the conversational aspects of the written words but ultimately true success would rely on whether the text resonated with you our visiting public And so we asked on sunday afternoon April 27 we orchestrated a testing session our seven lsquochapter headingsrsquo were produced in the form of text on paper mock-ups positioned strategically throughout the gallery each headline panel introduced a particular exhibit to visitors as they entered the environment
With the help of a team of volunteers we were able to assess our ability to communicate and engage people the results were fascinating and instructive comments ranged from an appreciation for the larger print type to questions regarding grammatical composition and use of analogies People of all ages time and again expressed their appreciation for being asked their opinion and many more felt that the signs made them think more deeply about what they were looking at
As i write this article the revised script is now in the hands of our trusted design team ndash who will turn our collaborative work into reality We will hang the script for your reading pleasure in June i encourage you to let us know what you think letrsquos not have another 50 years pass before the next revision
25 million year old whale vertebrae found on the west coast of vancouver island by steve suntok
royalbcmuseumbcca 7
treasures come to us in many different artifacts and specimens
today i introduce to you a human treasure victoria lawyer fossil enthusiast and royal bc Museum volunteer steve suntok steve came to us in the late summer of 2013 with an amazing fossil discovery He had found a rare bird bone from the west coast of vancouver island it is only the second fossil of its kind found in these rocks ndash the first find was over 120 years ago bird bones do not preserve well because they are thin and hollow an adaptation for flight
steve had heard from his fossil enthusiast friends that bird expert gary Kaiser was volunteering at the museum and archives gary identified this fossil as a tibiotarsus leg bone from a cormorant-like bird to make the identification he had carefully inspected the royal bc Museumrsquos modern bird research collections
volunteer ProFile
Steve Suntok by Marji Johns collections Manager Palaeontology
due to weathering damage and disintegration He selects specimens that are scientifically significant or recently exposed by erosion but are well preserved Fossils that are discerned as important but too large to transport are photographed and brought to the attention of experts collected specimens include location labels that are also numbered and recorded in a book For important specimens steve learns about them through readings by collaborating with experts and research through local palaeontology societies or volunteering at a museum
After documenting and donating many important specimens to the royal bc Museum such as whale vertebrae ribs teeth rare ammonites nautiloids crustaceans (crabs and lobsters) and unusual plant fossils steve also has helped unwrap document label and enter data for hundreds of other fossil specimens that were recently donated He has assisted with collections moves and the set up of palaeo lab equipment
there are many other volunteers participating in projects matched to their skills and interests they are all indispensable to the advancements of the palaeo collections at the museum and archives For them making contributions and learning are valued and we all enjoy developing friendships and gaining new experiences
other museum collections and scrutinized palaeontology research literature
gary and i were joking and with twinkles in our eyes said to steve ldquoHow about finding us anotherrdquo steve and his family (daughter leah and son graham) not only found another fossil tibiotarsus but also came back with an even rarer and new fossil bird bone from the site the last was in a 45 kg slab talus block that had fallen from the cliff and into the tidal zone it had been found by leah the block could not be easily downsized at the beach so steve carried it 5 kilometers out this rare bone will probably be a new species We know from previous research at the site that the fossil is about 25 million years old When gary Kaiserrsquos research is published you will be hearing more about this exciting find
steve has become an inspiring steward for bc palaeontology He has gained new knowledge about fossils and collections and this has led to important donations of other rare fossils for research and learning He did keep a few less important specimens for his familyrsquos enjoyment including fossils that connect them with memorable experiences of the day
steve collects responsibly meaning his discoveries mostly come from surface collection of fossils that are at greatest risk for being lost
8 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
A Fossil Hunting Adventure
After gazing-up and eyeing a prize eroding out of a waterfall
cliff i knew i had to have this fossil before mother nature swept it away i found myself 20 feet up a steep cliff under an overhang with a water pool below i tried climbing up but instead went for a dive and unexpected swim in January
on the next trip i tried climbing down with ropes got stuck cut myself loose to get down went for a second swim once again during a season best reserved for skiing and snowshoeing
Determined (my wife says obsessed) i welded a fire poker to a steel pipe but the poker broke off and it went
by steve suntok royal bc Museum volunteer amp donor
for a swim the next time i built a rope ladder and climbed to the top to hang it As i started to climb down the boards i was using for rungs broke ndash my third swim
next i went all out and bought a telescoping ladder i chose a 25 pound version because it was a long steep hike through the bush to get to the site the ladder was too short i went home empty-handed
i went and purchased a taller ladder on the plus side it was 22 feet high on the negative side it weighed 40 pounds and was difficult to haul A friend held the ladder steady and after an hour of carefully chipping away at rock the fossil was free i
caught it with my one free hand and now it sits proudly in my office it is a great ammonite but the memories make it all the better
i love fossil hunting in british columbia itrsquos cool that we can hold in our hands the remains of ancient life from millions of years ago i find that vancouver island is one of the most beautiful places on earth the scenery irsquove seen is by itself worth the effort and that you can find fossils while you are out there ndash that is a great bonus i love adventure and learning and i have met many awesome diverse interesting and kind people during these outings
gary Kaiser amp steve suntok
royalbcmuseumbcca 9
towards the end of her life artist and writer emily carr (1871-1945)
reduced the volume of her writings letters and sketchbooks to what would fit in a battered old steamer trunk in her unmistakable block printing carr expressed her wishes on a card and tacked it under the trunkrsquos lid ldquoAt MY DeAtH PleAse senD tHis boX AnD contents intAct to Mr irA DilWortH cAnADiAn broAD-cAsting corP vAncouver bc [signed] emily carrrdquo Dilworth was carrrsquos confidante and literary executor entrusted with the responsibility of managing her writings and posthumously publishing a number
of her manuscripts Many years after Dilworthrsquos death this distillation of a lifersquos work became one of several nuclei of the carr collections entrusted to the care of the bc Archives
the other groups of royal bc Museum carr collections centre around a large body of her artworks (mainly from the period preceding 1927 but including some important mature works) carr-related artifacts and archival and library records created by her peers and scholars the carr collections hold a number of surprises some of carrrsquos pottery pieces several of her hooked rugs and artifacts including First
Peoplersquos-crafted souvenir items purchased in 1907 and an articulated wooden doll that pops up in various carr sketches cartoons and in a documentary photograph of carrrsquos studio taken shortly after her death
While carrrsquos works are cared for and exhibited in over 35 public galleries museums and institutions and treasured in countless private collections world-wide the largest collection of carrrsquos career output is stewarded by the royal bc Museum Much of it can be consulted on a daily basis in the archives or by appointment this year the royal bc Museum is enhancing understanding of this rich legacy through a web
A ricH resource
Carr Collectionsby Don bourdon curator images amp Paintings
tanoo Qci emily carr 1913
10 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
exhibition featuring a timeline stubbed with Carrrsquos paintings drawings writings photographs and artifacts A ldquotreasure boxrdquo Emily Carr Gallery figures prominently in the Royal BC Museumrsquos redevelopment vision
Upon her death in 1945 the Province of BC purchased seven major Carr paintings including Tanoo (see accompanying figure) Artistic executor Lawren Harris selected 170 works from hundreds remaining in Carrrsquos home for the Emily Carr Trust Collection (now housed in the Vancouver Art Gallery and the National Gallery) Many works from her ldquoFrench Periodrdquo and watercolours were identified for sale to support this Trust Still others were set aside for destruction though many were salvaged and eventually made their way to the BC Archives Like so many prolific artists Carr had already given many works away and destroyed many more considered by her unworthy of retention
Today the Royal BC Museum holds the majority of Carrrsquos artistic literary and personal output Carrrsquos personal and professional archives over 1100 works of art Carrrsquos publications and publications about her and her art key photographs interviews and documentaries The works of art total 1112 items Approximately 900 of these are on paper primarily images in sketch books Approximately 200 are major paintings - oil on canvas oil on board or paper and watercolour on paper Also included are 24
representative pieces of pottery that Carr produced in large numbers for sale and several examples of the hooked rugs she used throughout her home and bestowed as gifts
The Emily Carr fonds (the unpublished archival records created and accumulated by Carr between 1879 and 1945) occupy 23 linear metres of shelf space and consist of correspondence journals manuscripts notebooks scrapbooks publications annotated by the artist financial records photographs and paintings
Records pertaining to Carr in other fonds occupy a further 16 linear metres of textual records In particular the records of the following are rich in detail about Carr Edythe Hembroff-Schleicher Flora Burns Humphrey Toms the Newcombe family and Richard Carr 55 sound recordings contain interviews and radio programs about Carr and 14 moving image records contain documentaries interviews and TV programs Our holdings include 10 works of art by other artists pertaining to Carr Of particular interest are 60 photographs of or pertaining to the artistwriter mainly formal portraits and candid shots depicting her with her art her treasured pets and close friends They also depict Carr family members studio interiors her various homes and colleagues
Carrrsquos published writings in various editions total 59 items and in 167 other publications Carr is the principle subject discussed
The Archives has constructed 16 linear centimetres of artist files pertaining to Emily Carr and artcraft works of Carrrsquos sisters The files include exhibit programmes auction information articles correspondence lists and images The Royal BC Museum holds extensive records pertaining to the Emily Carr Gallery that used to be on Wharf Street in Victoria its facility and program and Carr family home as a heritage building and site
Artifacts include Emilyrsquos Governorrsquos General Medal First Peoplesrsquo works purchased by the Carr sisters in Alaska in 1907 ndash and of course the trunk
View online exhibition royalbcmuseumbccaexhibitionsonline
Haida Totems Cha-atl Queen Charlotte IslandEmily Carr 1912
royalbcmuseumbcca 11
Archives Boot Camp Round Threeby Ann ten cate Archives gallery amp theatre learning team lead
After two successful and sold-out boot camps bc Archives staff
will be offering a third boot camp on saturday september 27 2014
our boot camps are designed to give people a crash course on how to do research at the bc Archives An overview of the collections is given ndash and whether you are a beginner or an expert yoursquoll be inspired
Prior to attending wersquoll assign you to a team with similar interests on the day of the boot camp you will rotate through various stations in our reference room receiving coaching from our expert staff our last camp included the History Hounds bouncing biographers colonial canterers the bobrsquos My uncle team the Family tree crew and the community crew by the end of the day yoursquoll have received some
tips about developing a research strategy know how to find material in our collection and you will have seen some of our most fascinating records Yoursquoll also get a tour of our behind-the-scenes storage areas the day finishes with a chance to get ldquostuck-inrdquo and do some individual research with our experts on-hand
our staff really enjoy helping people get started with their research or head out on new tangents itrsquos a day of immersion and discovery there is definitely a real buzz in our reference room as staff and researchers share information You can hear some of what went on at the last boot camp by listening to cbc radiorsquos north by northwest podcast cbccaplayerradiolocal+showsbritish+columbianorth+by+northwestiD2441594449
if yoursquove already attended our boot camp keep your eye on our calendar as later in the year we will start offering specialized workshops
ldquoGreat So glad I could comerdquo
ldquoThis was an excellent experience It gives me the confidence to return to the archives prepared to ask for assistance and feeling that there is a good starting placerdquo
ldquoLoved this Itrsquos the type of program Irsquod take again because there was so much info I think I missed a lot [before]rdquo
register online royalbcmuseumbccaevents
12 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
Supporting the Museum and Archives Through Local Artby christine roome owner sweet Memory Art
sweet Memory Art was born out of love for people and relationships
ndash the humour and the warmth of human connection My jewellery and art are about commemorating and celebrating the human connection and the relationships that carry us through and make us who we are
Museums are a home for preservation and curation and the birthplace of curiosity question connection history and education for people aged twondash92 i believe
that museums need to surface their collections and celebrate their exhibits through connecting with the local and international community
the sweet Memory Art viking jewellery line invites people to take a piece of the museum experience home 50 percent of the retail sale of the royal bc Museum collection on my website will go back to the royal bc Museum Foundation so that we can continue to learn from the past
You can find sweet Memory Art jewellery in the bc Museum gift shop or purchase pieces on christinersquos website at sweetmemoryartcom
FeAture PArtner
As a values-based financial co-operative vancity is committed
to transforming how banking is done so we can help our members and their local communities thrive financially socially and environmentally
We arenrsquot doing this alone on behalf of our members and community partners we are working to place the right tools in the hands of individuals and organizations working to make our world a better place
We seek to invest in and work closely with organizations and sectors that
Wersquore pleased the royal bc Museum has partnered with the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council on the Our Living Languages exhibition and Aboriginal tourism bc on the Aboriginal cultural Festival 2014 We can accomplish more when we work together
check out vancityrsquos online Annual report at vancitycom2013Annual report for more information on how we are working to build healthy communities
visit vancitycomaboriginalcommunities to learn more about how we are investing in Aboriginal communities to achieve economic strength and independence
we feel have the potential for high positive community impact aligned with our three guiding principles ndash social justice and financial inclusion environmental sustainability and co-operative principles and practices
our partnership with the royal bc Museum is an example of this approach in our work with Aboriginal communities in the coast salish territories where we do business and through our partnership with reconciliation canada we better understand the importance of dialogue and the need for all of us to gain more knowledge about the First Peoples We have much to learn about the history of our land and its people and the importance of language and culture as roots of identity pride and self awareness
royalbcmuseumbcca 13
it wasnrsquot designed to be an emotional touchpoint but sometimes people
respond in surprising ways to details in the royal bc Museum Well before the Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC exhibition was due to open when patches of carpet were tagged with green painterrsquos tape and the drywall mud was still damp bobbilee copeland walked through the exhibition space
it wasnrsquot completely empty one of the exhibitionrsquos first elements to be erected were 17 towering double-sided pylons clad in colourful paint and bearing the names of the 34 First nations languages that are indigenous to british columbia ndash what will become known as the ldquolanguage Forestrdquo
copeland ndash coordinator of the language revitalization program at the university of victoria ndash was visiting the royal bc Museum to discuss potential partnerships aligned with indigenous languages
and the museum and archivesrsquo learning programs and was touring the unfinished exhibition space she stopped in mid-stride when she saw her own language written on one of the pylons then walked over and gave the metal ldquotreerdquo a long hug
For staff at the royal bc Museum this was an unanticipated sight but also a welcome affirmation that the exhibition was going to have deep meaning for many visitors
ldquoBobbileersquos spontaneous gesture was overwhelmingly powerful In that instant I realized how important this exhibition was to her and all the champions of language revitalization the lsquotreersquo such a tangible representation of the intangible fragility of languagerdquo
Janet MacDonald the royal bc Museumrsquos Head of learning
and visitor engagement experience
it was a gratifying moment for all involved in the planning and design of the exhibition language is a powerful potent marker of identity and culture think about the emotional resonance of the term ldquomother tonguerdquo ndash the languages we grow up with are our kin nourishment and birthright
so the revitalization of languages in bcrsquos First nations communities is bound to stir up feelings of pride loss pain and joy the Our Living Languages exhibition aims to tell the stories of how languages have been nearly-lost and newly awakened and illustrate the success stories of language diversity and revitalization throughout bc
telling these stories has been a deeply collaborative project the royal bc Museum has relied upon the expertise of its partner the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council to shape the narrative provide content and advice on cultural matters
Our Living Languages A Beautiful Collaborationby erik lamberston corporate communications officer
transmission of traditional knowledge at Kaska language camp
14 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
the royal bc Museumrsquos job has been to find the compelling way to communicate the messages through design the two organizations chose to partner closely as they fine-tune details about design development orthography marketing ndash virtually every aspect of the exhibition
ldquoWe are honoured to be part of creation this important exhibition First Nations language speakers are the true experts when it comes to describing and sharing information about their languages By involving them in the development process we hope to create an experience that is both authentic and meaningful for visitors to the museumrdquo
lorna Williams chair of the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council
in fact the theme of co-mingled multiple perspectives has become
a sub-theme of the exhibition itself For example one of the successes of the exhibition is how well it integrates oral and aural experiences with our other senses visitors often expect museum-going to be a primarily visual experience but Our Living Languages is about language transmission a fundamentally spoken activity
And the truth is that contemporary innovative places like the royal bc Museum are increasingly interactive and multi-sensory so Our Living Language rsquos audio messages are supported through visually-interesting video content and tactile details that are rooted in First nations culture
take the cradleboard theatre ndash a small and intimate space that will replicate a cedar root basket inside visitors will be cocooned in soothing First nations languages and lullabies for an immersive experience the idea came from cultural advisors and the medium was designed and fabricated by the royal bc Museumrsquos exhibition arts team
the cradleboard theatre is just one element of the innovative multi-sensory exhibition the
language forest will ldquospeakrdquo as visitors approach each ldquotreerdquo wired with motion sensors A theatre space a rounded counterpoint to the forest spires will be animated by presenters who will add a live dimension to this human story
Our Living Languages will open on saturday June 21 ndash national Aboriginal Day the royal bc Museum will be a celebratory space that weekend with Aboriginal tourism bc hosting the Aboriginal cultural Festival June 19-21 enlivening the campus outside (see page 16 for details) and this collaborative exhibition drawing new eyes ndash and ears ndash to the fascinating and moving story of language diversity and revitalization in bcrsquos First nations communities
royalbcmuseumbcca 15
From June 19 to 21 victoria will host the 2014 Aboriginal cultural
Festival highlighting and celebrating the regionrsquos rich indigenous culture through storytelling artisans dance song and food
created in partnership with Aboriginal tourism bc (Atbc) the esquimalt and songhees nations the royal bc Museum tourism victoria robert bateman centre greater victoria Harbour Authority and First Peoplesrsquo cultural council the festival will take place on the outdoor campus of the royal bc Museum and around victoriarsquos inner Harbour
the three-day festival will feature main stage performances including three-time world champion hoop dancer Alex Wells an artisan area where people may watch demonstrations meet the artists and also learn about the new Authentic Aboriginal program that helps consumers identify products designed created and sold by bc Aboriginal artists a childrenrsquos storytelling area food vendors and an Aboriginal tourism bc information booth
the festival is also an opportunity to celebrate share and learn more
about the history of the First nations people in bc and the capital before the city became victoria esquimalt and songhees nations were one of the first nations to sign a treaty in bc ndash known as the vancouver island treaties which were signed between 1850ndash1854
this festival also coincides with national Aboriginal Day and the launch of the royal bc Museumrsquos new exhibit Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC opening June 21 2014
learn more onlineaboriginalbccom
Aboriginal Cultural Festival
16 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
gerry truscott earned his degree in creative Writing
from the university of victoria in 1982 and since then he has spent his professional life editing and publishing books He joined the royal bc Museum in 1989 as publisher He has edited and produced more than 100 books for the institution and has written or edited much of the
text that appears in the exhibition galleries in 2008 he wrote the exhibition text and book for the museumrsquos project celebrating british columbiarsquos 150th anniversary entitled Free Spirit Stories of You Me and BC
on his own time gerry writes fiction and has had several short stories published in magazines and anthologies Hersquos also very much
interested in soccer and hockey (playing and watching) jazz and progressive rock hiking cycling and walking his dogs
royal bc Museum publications are available at your local book store the royal bc Museum shop and royalbcmuseumbccapublications
FeAture PArtner
Canadian Geographic canadian geographic magazine
is a proud partner of the royal bc Museum one of canadarsquos most award-winning magazines canadian geographic is unapologetic about celebrating canada Wersquore dedicated to uncovering and communicating the stories about canadian people places frontiers and issues (past and present) that canadian magazine readers want Published by the royal canadian geographical society canadian geographic magazine is more than a geography publication each issue of canadian geographic is a voyage of discovery and exploration that features the latest
science environment travel human and cultural stories from across canada
canadian geographic connects with more than 38 million readers per issue in canada and abroad who share our fascination for canada Filled with stunning colour photography fascinating articles and specially commissioned maps each issue of canadian geographic magazine lets you travel the country without leaving home Yoursquoll discover canadarsquos people and cities our wildlife and wilderness our history and the beauty of our land subscriptions include six regular
issues of canadian geographic plus four issues of canadian geographic travel per year
For a special subscription offer exclusive to rbcM members please go to canadiangeographiccarbcm
stAFF ProFile
Gerry TruscottPublisHer
royalbcmuseumbcca 17
$100000 - $499999
$25000 - $99999
$5000 - $24999
the royal bc Museum appreciates and acknowledges the vital and
ongoing financial support of the Province of British Columbia the Ministry of Community Sport and Cultural Development and the Royal BC Museum Foundation their core support makes our work possible
While approximately 63 percent of our annual operating budget
comes from the Province and another 21 percent comes from memberships and admissions we need to raise the remaining 16 percent ndash three million dollars ndash each year from other sources including donations sponsorships and grants contributions from those who value the work of the royal bc Museum help us to meet our most pressing needs such as
Acquiring items for our collection conserving rare and
precious objects Furthering our world-class
research Developing our learning programs supporting our archives Presenting engaging exhibitions Publishing critically-
acclaimed books
Royal BC Museum Supporters(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Please join us in thanking the following individuals corporations and foundations for their support their demonstrated commitment and their inspiration during the past fiscal year
$500000+
bell Media
royal bc Museum Foundation teck resources limited tourism victoria
bc Hydro
black Press
clipper vacations
Hsbc bank of canada
the estate of Akiko Kamitakahara
lamar Advertising company
Pattison outdoor Advertising
the Jim Pattison broadcast group
Quark expeditions
times colonist
John and Joan Walton innovators Fund
Anonymous (1)
the bay centre
bc transit
black ball Ferry line
canadian Museums Association
cibc
cineplex Media
ctv vancouver island
Fannyrsquos cultured cow Products ltd
garth evans
Friends of the bc Archives
iMAX victoria
elizabeth Kennedy
gwendolyn Page
save on Foods Memorial centre
silk road tea
sunset Magazine
rosita Anna tovell
vancity savings credit union
viking Air
Jack and bev Wallace
Westerkirk capital
if you would like to support the work of the royal bc Museum please contact Jillian Appelman Philanthropy Manager at 250-387-3102 or jappelmanroyalbcmuseumbcca
18 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
$1000 - $4999
$500 - $999
$250 - $499
Collections
Education
Conservation
Research
every effort has been made to ensure our supporters are recognized accurately if you notice an error or omission please call the royal bc Museum Development Department at 250-387-7222
eric and leonda Adler
Patrick and Anne Anderson
Anonymous (1)
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
Joyce clearihue
Daphne corbett in memory of Joan corbett
Karen A Duddlesten
robert and Marianne eng
Flight centre
rupert and robin Hambro
bob and Marjorie Johns
lynne Kennedy
lyall and susan Knott
Professor Jack lohman cbe
ron and May lou-Poy
Kenneth and ellen Mahon
tommy Mayne
stefan and Magdalena opalski
Provincial employees community services Fund
Pauline rafferty and bob Plecas
suromitra sanatani and David turpin
sharon smith
Pauline and robert van Den Driessche
rene and Allison Weir
Angela Williams
Anonymous in memory of Joan corbett
robert Appleton in memory of Joan corbett
robert and birgit bateman
ian beauprie
gary and susan braley
Jeff bray
William and Jean cave
Kelly and rose chu
James and Jean cosgrove
carol cullimore
Jon Declan and bridget Dallison
Joe and linda Harvey
Mark Holford in memory of Joan corbett
erik lythgoe
ian and Margaret Mair
David Mattison
susan K McMillan
Jim and isabel Merston
charles and Marjorie Moser
Pauline and John Mustard Foundation
northwest Magazine
shelley reid
Anne and Don russell
Pete seward
John and Fern spring
W Anthony and Darlene southwell
Mark and elizabeth taylor
Anonymous (2)
robin Ashforth and gerald thompson
Patrick D crofton
Jean e Field and roy A richford
barbara Fields
Joyce Folbigg
Hotel grand Pacific
barbara longworth
Dennis Mccann and Diane Darch
Doreen Mitchell
gary Mitchell
greg and susan McKelvie
Helen Parker
barbara Potash
sandy Pratt
barbara rae and george suart
ernest and Adele roberts
robert rothwell
royal scot Hotel and suites
team telus cares
betty thacker
Alan tompson
victoria international buskers Festival
Maryla and Donovan Waters
Angela Wesley
chuck Wilson
royalbcmuseumbcca 19
1 british columbia MlA lana Popham and royal bc Museum ceo Prof Jack lohman discussing an artifact from the exhibition Vikings Lives Beyond the Legends
2 His excellency teppo tauriainen swedish Ambassador to canada and the Honourable linda reid MlA for richmond east and the speaker of the legislative Assembly at the Annual Kermode gala
3 Prof Jack lohman ceo royal bc Museum with seiji okada consul general of Japan and his wife Yasuko okada
4 sharon smith Francis Kermode group patron and 10-year volunteer
sharon smith is a dedicated 10-year volunteer who now
financially supports the royal bc Museum as a member of the Francis Kermode group ldquoexciting things are coming with the redevelopment plans for the royal bc Museum so it has been a very interesting time for me to get more involvedrdquo she says ldquoi have really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes tours and getting to know the other members of the grouprdquo
Having travelled to museums and historical sites around the world what strikes sharon is our uniqueness ldquoYou just cannot see what is in this collection anywhere else this is the only place that does
what it does it is hugely important to get behind it and i highly recommend that supporters consider joining the Francis Kermode group the activities are very enjoyable and our financial support makes a difference to the core work of the museum and archivesrdquo
she adds ldquoi have learned so much during my time with the group that i have decided to include a gift to the royal bc Museum in my will i feel it is an opportunity to extend my values and my dedication to the museum and archives beyond my lifetime the support is needed and the cause is very important to future generationsrdquo
Donor ProFile
Sharon Smith
The Francis Kermode Groupnamed after the royal bc
Museumrsquos first director the Francis Kermode group is a visionary group of patrons who enjoy a special relationship with the royal bc Museum and our world-class team of curators conservators researchers collections managers and archivists Members of the group deepen their
engagement throughout the year with an exclusive series of customized learning opportunities special privileges and social events created to enlighten stimulate and inspire as they explore the treasures of the royal bc Museum and our wonderful province
1
2
3
4
to join the Francis Kermode group or for more information contact Jon Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
20 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
As sharon smith noted (on the previous page) a will presents
a wonderful opportunity for you to extend your values beyond your lifetime and a meaningful way to connect past present and future generations once you have made
arrangements for your loved ones please consider the merits of making a bequest to the royal bc Museum gifts such as these are incredibly helpful in ensuring the long-term financial health of the museum and archives
For more information or to let us know that you have included us in your will please contact Jonathan Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
Have you considered leaving a gift in your will
there are over seven million artifacts and objects in the royal
bc Museumrsquos permanent collections making it one of the largest and most impressive museum collections in the country these objects bring life to the story of british columbia in ways that enlighten stimulate and inspire Many of these items are accessioned as gifts from generous museum and archives supporters who want to
see a favourite piece often a family heirloom live on forever and impact future generations the royal bc Museum is grateful for objects that help us further our provincial mandate to advance new knowledge and understanding of british columbiarsquos natural history and human history
Acquiring a new object is just the beginning of the story through
professional conservation protection measures and display consultations our highly-skilled conservation staff ensure that each piece is properly cared for and preserved conservation efforts are at the core of the important work we do and the end result is that another integral piece of british columbiarsquos history is shared with the world
Gifts to the Collections(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Mary Andrews
Anonymous (35)
bruce Archibald
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
gary bell
Peter bock
James burgess
Delphine castles
tom cockburn
Michael cooper
carole cullimore
carole Davidson
Howard Dirks
raymond graham
george guy
Hanson Materials limited
edward Harvey
James Douglas Helmcken
Dave Henly
Michael Holmes
richard Holmes
gord Hutchings
carl Jonsson
Milan and sharon lacika
Frank lomer
sandy Mclachlan
H edward Mclean
Mona Mosher
brett nelson
Margaret nelson
Dean nicholson
Frank ogden
Margaret ogilvie
out of the Mist gallery
nettie Pasieczka
tom Perry
bernie simpson
David starr
steve suntok
rosita Anna tovell in Memory of Freeman M tovell
south coast british columbia transportation Authority Police service
John veillette
rick Watson and Mike Watson
robert D Watt and Alison Watt
David Yuen
steve suntok fossil donor and volunteer
We wholeheartedly thank our generous donors to the collection during the past fiscal year
royalbcmuseumbcca 21
going DigitAl
Global Plants Initiativeby Dr erica Wheeler botany collections Manager collections care amp conservation
tYPe sPeciMen = the particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached
The Global Plants Initiativethe royal bc Museum has recently become a partner in the global Plants initiative (gPi) gPi is a collaborative effort among herbaria to make digital images of all botany tYPe sPeciMens available to researchers via access to a centralized repository this repository currently holds over 18 million high resolution images of tYPe sPeciMens contributed by over 270 herbaria from more than 70 countries gPi is funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation the image repository is housed and accessed electronically through (Journal storage) Jstor
the royal bc Museum herbarium houses over 80 tYPe sPeciMens that will be included in this important digitization effort
Describing and naming new species of plantsover 400000 species of plants are known to science that is to say more than 400000 species have been formally described and named by taxonomic experts Describing and naming new species is often slow and can be a complicated process A recent study reported that it takes an
average of 21 years from the date a taxonomist spots something new to science to the date the new name is officially recognized two things are required
the new name and a formal latin description must be validly published and
tYPe sPeciMens must be designated and deposited in a publicly accessible herbarium
During the time that a plant taxonomist is doing the work required to describe a new species they collect and preserve specimens for study the main goal of their study is to describe it in very precise terms in particular how does this new species differ from other related species Are the petals a different colour Are the tiny hairs on the underside of the leaves a different shape is this new species found in markedly different habitats than other closely related species
After the author has described and chosen a name for the new species tYPe sPeciMens are designated from the study material tYPe sPeciMens are the particular specimens to which the scientific name of the new species is formally attached because these are of great importance to the science of documenting biodiversity more
than one tYPe sPeciMen is often designated and these are distributed among different herbaria for safe-keeping in the event that one tYPe sPeciMen is destroyed or lost the others will still be available for study
there are at least seven categories of tYPe sPeciMens but HolotYPes and isotYPes are the most important
HolotYPe the single specimen designated by the author at the time of publication as the specimen upon which the description and name is based
isotYPe any specimen collected on the same date and from the same location as the specimen that is designated as the HolotYPe
Roemerrsquos fescuein 1983 royal bc Museum botany curator Dr leon Pavlick described and published the name of a new variety of grass commonly known as `roemerrsquos fescuersquo the scientific name for this grass is Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick names often describe a notable characteristic of a species or sometimes recognize the person who first discovered the new species roemerrsquos fescue was named after Dr Hans roemer a well-known bc botanist who made some of the early collections of this grass
22 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
in the royal bc Museum herbarium we store the HolotYPe of Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick in a special cabinet reserved for such important specimens High resolution images of this specimen and images of other tYPe sPeciMens in the botany collection will soon be available to researchers around the world via the Jstor repository Access to these images will facilitate global biodiversity research the royal bc Museum herbarium is thrilled to contribute to this effort
royalbcmuseumbcca 23
the Artists in Residence program began in september
of 2013 three artists ndash Aimee van Drimmelen lindsay Delaronde and garth gaudin ndash were selected to take part in the inaugural season of this project in addition to their involvement in events throughout the programming year every two weeks they visit different collections areas of the museum and archives the work they create chronicles both the extraordinary collections and the important work being done by staff and volunteers to maintain collections
Artists Get Inspired by the Collectionby chris orsquoconnor schools amp Family learning team lead
the artists are allowed to go behind the scenes and explore the collections Aimee dived into the botany collection which houses over 215000 specimens made up primarily of native and introduced plant species found in british columbia Most specimens are gathered pressed and affixed to cardstock that is marked with collection data for future reference the specimens are then stacked in folders bagged and stored in lockers the earliest specimen in botany is currently lichen collected in 1889
royal bc Museum volunteer Daniela toriola was helping prepare some new specimen sheets on the day the artists visited she carefully arranged the pressed plants gluing them onto the page with assorted metal weights to hold them down until they dried Daniela noted that she always tries to make the presentation as beautiful as possible it takes a lot of creativity to prepare specimens Whether itrsquos taxidermy
scientific drawings or the placement of sea creatures in a jar a lot of care is taken to make things visually appealing the preservation team takes pride in their work knowing that the collections will be looked upon for years to come
on her visit Aimee used a ldquospill saferdquo ink jar the ink mixed with water was perfect for capturing the transparency of leaves and petals and the dark curly roots she used a couple drops of water to wet her brush and introduced ink with a brush pen
Follow along with our artists and their creations on the royal bc Museum blog royalbcmuseumbccakids artists-in-residence
check out Aimeersquos personal blog featuring more entries and animations from different collection areas aimeesketchblogwordpresscom
ink drawing of liliaceae zigaderiusAimee van Drimmelenfrom the botany collection
royalbcmuseumbcca 25
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
1 Humpback Whale flensing researchers and staff work to clean the
washed up carcass to be added to the royal bc Museum collection
2 Threespine Sticklebacks three samples from the collection each
with unique variations
3 American Robin one of the 301 in the collection
researchers have examined variation in rodents to hone their identification skills and we have sent umatilla Dace to ottawa so that researchers can confirm variation across the speciesrsquo range
charles Darwin collected specimens but had no idea how scientists would analyse skins and skeletons in 2014 like early explorers i have no idea what will be needed for future research We keep specimens according to standard museum practices and hope future researchers will find ways to use the material in their research Perhaps the glaucous-winged gull will be the next ldquocanaryrdquo for the urban coal mine in recent years a study of tissue chemistry from specimens showed when gull diets changed from natural items to garbage gull tissues may prove invaluable to
specimens some of the variation is obvious (ie some lack pelvic fins or armour)
evolution works by natural selection on variable traits some individuals have a fortuitous set of traits that promote survival and reproduction other individuals fail for one reason or another variation occurs through time and over a speciesrsquo range rates of change differ between regions For the threespine stickleback change can be rapid in small isolated coastal lakes but almost undetectable in the coastal marine population the lack of variation within coastal marine stickleback and greater variation within freshwater lake populations shows where gene flow occurs increased gene flow homogenises populations - reduced gene flow can amplify evolutionary trends in isolated populations We study
2
3
variation to understand boundaries between species and geographic patterns within species variation is the reason why museums need many specimens for research and why we collect as much as we can as often as we can the royal bc Museum has 196 ldquolotsrdquo of threespine stickleback - with any ldquolotrdquo containing one or more specimens extrapolate that to over 16000 lots of fishes and you get an idea of the size of the ichthyology collection alone
At a museum you can examine specimens collected yesterday a year ago or 100 years ago since 2012 we have received five American robins to add to the 296 already in the research collection our first lot of 36 was collected 126 years ago
the royal bc Museum provides you a biological time machine ndash i am sure human history staff feel the same about their material instead of only having information from the present you have information on species through time and across geographical regions As the curator of vertebrate zoology i donrsquot shoot birds and mammals or trap mammals like early explorers did nature is under enough pressure with urban encroachment and pollution i accept many specimens each year - even common species some come from accidental deaths - road-kills window kills by-catch or from researchers with a specific project
the royal bc Museum receives many specimens each year with a focus on british columbia and its immediate neighbours Already in 2014
royalbcmuseumbcca 3
document changing pollution levels on this continent irsquod better collect more gulls
today with the pace of urban and industrial sprawl the study of nature has taken on new urgency With the royal bc Museum research collection you can look at animals and plants collected prior to the invention of plastic You can try to see when traces of minute plastic particles appeared in plankton-feeding animals or maybe you want to examine the skin of amphibians to see when chytridiomycosis arrived in
bc researchers may want to study the range of dietary items over the entire range of a species - and look at specimens from 50 years ago to see if a speciesrsquo diet has changed Perhaps someone would want to study anatomical changes as fish grow or compare the number of eggs females produce across the range of a species Who knew that preserved animals would be used in such ways the potential topics for museum research are staggering yet many in our population have no idea that museums support research
the multidimensional foresight needed to save material for future study is almost entirely unique to museum staff ndash it is part of our culture to many our thoughts and behaviours must look scattered or disorganised sometimes we are accused of being packrats i counter that accusation with the fact that i have 296 packrats in the mammalogy collection and since i can account for variation in Neotoma cinereus i can honestly state that i do not resemble a packrat try do that without a reference collection
this spotted bat (Euderma maculatum) from the okanagan represents the northern-most specimen in north
American museums
4 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
there are over seven million objects in the royal bc Museum
collection from the big ndash full whale skeletons and a rolls royce ndash to the small ndash bugs and thimbles galore the vast majority of these collections are never on display this summer the museum and archiversquos doors will be thrown open and a rare glimpse at the highlights of the collection will be offered through a new website featuring a selection of the rare interesting significant and amazing pieces from the royal bc Museum
experts from all departments have peered into cabinets looked through
drawers and racked their brains submitting their top collection lists From this long list we have narrowed down 100 items this distillation from our collection isnrsquot necessarily the top historical or scientific items they arenrsquot always the prettiest ndash in fact some are downright ugly ndash but they are all significant in their right And many have fascinating stories coming to the royal bc Museum in ways you wouldnrsquot imagine the list includes giant squids a handbook to gold a spider named after a motorcycle the first marriage license treasures from bcrsquos favourite artist a rare First nations mask
and even a hockey stick the online collection will offer insight into the history of the province
look for this new website this summer at royalbcmuseumbcca100
by David Alexander Head of new Archives amp Digital Preservation
1 bubblegum coral
2 spindle Whorl
3 Kermode bear skull
4 childrsquos Dress
5 Yellow-bellied snake
6 Miettia salientensis Hofmann and Mountjoy 2010 Mount robson bc one of the oldest fossils in the collection
100 Objects of Interest
1
4
2
5
3
6
royalbcmuseumbcca 5
A Gallery Intervention by Janet MacDonald Head of learning
the royal bc Museumrsquos script the original exhibition text found
on panels and labels throughout the permanent galleries is now 50 years old
Prof Jack lohman the royal bc Museum ceo has expressed how essential it is to refresh this narrative just ldquoas you would update any text book of that agerdquo With this in mind the royal bc Museum has begun to review the core scripts and text with an eye to revise key messages and to increase the enjoyment and the potential for learning for all our visitors Phase i of this initiative began this spring with the natural History gallery
The Role of Text and a Team Approachchoosing an appropriate writer for the task was the first crucial step We found in Maleea Acker environmental journalist and local author an innate sensibility for the natural world Her writing style from examples of her published work aligned perfectly with the communication style we were after she joined our re-scripting team for the month of April and together with lead curator Dr Ken Marr curator of botany senior designer Ken Johnson and members of our learning staff we conducted a series of walkthroughs with all natural history
curators and collections managers their combined disciplinary expertise allowed us to look at the gallery in a holistic manner and capture the accuracy of the main narrative
As a starting point we acknowledged the importance of the written word in communicating main themes and key messages According to Maleea ldquotext forms a unifying reference point for our visitors as they travel through a variety of displays and exceptional dioramasrdquo such stunning environments can sometimes leave you visually distracted inside the story
6 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
Cool New Fossil Techour ability to properly prepare
fossil material for the collection has increased our collection Manager in Palaeontology Marji Johns has been busy outfitting a portion of the vertebrate lab on the main floor of the Fannin building to accommodate some heavy duty fossil prepping equipment Fossil material is often collected in the form of a matrix of rock containing one or many fossil representations Preparation of a macrofossil allows details to be revealed which are needed for identification and research some of the removed matrix can be chemically treated to recover microscopic fossils study and research on both macro- and microfossils can lead to a better understanding of past environments climates and the geologic history of an area removal of the matrix can reveal an exquisite fossil that may be exhibit quality Plus the reduction in matrix can allow for more efficient storage in the collection for both space and weight
now donrsquot take Jackrsquos analogy of the textbook literally We do not mean to put a book on the wall However there were important re-scripting considerations to keep in mind so many in fact that a text strategy was implemented We committed to acknowledging the myriad of visitor learning styles with an intention to accommodate as many of you as possible the text would be concise accessible and layered ndash the first layer being the most accessible and carrying the main message and subsequent layers providing progressively detailed information for those who want it Most importantly style is everything the writing would be engaging direct and conversational in a tone encouraging questioning and reflection
Getting it Writeto make a long story short we arrived at a stage in the process where the team felt comfortable with the content intent and the conversational aspects of the written words but ultimately true success would rely on whether the text resonated with you our visiting public And so we asked on sunday afternoon April 27 we orchestrated a testing session our seven lsquochapter headingsrsquo were produced in the form of text on paper mock-ups positioned strategically throughout the gallery each headline panel introduced a particular exhibit to visitors as they entered the environment
With the help of a team of volunteers we were able to assess our ability to communicate and engage people the results were fascinating and instructive comments ranged from an appreciation for the larger print type to questions regarding grammatical composition and use of analogies People of all ages time and again expressed their appreciation for being asked their opinion and many more felt that the signs made them think more deeply about what they were looking at
As i write this article the revised script is now in the hands of our trusted design team ndash who will turn our collaborative work into reality We will hang the script for your reading pleasure in June i encourage you to let us know what you think letrsquos not have another 50 years pass before the next revision
25 million year old whale vertebrae found on the west coast of vancouver island by steve suntok
royalbcmuseumbcca 7
treasures come to us in many different artifacts and specimens
today i introduce to you a human treasure victoria lawyer fossil enthusiast and royal bc Museum volunteer steve suntok steve came to us in the late summer of 2013 with an amazing fossil discovery He had found a rare bird bone from the west coast of vancouver island it is only the second fossil of its kind found in these rocks ndash the first find was over 120 years ago bird bones do not preserve well because they are thin and hollow an adaptation for flight
steve had heard from his fossil enthusiast friends that bird expert gary Kaiser was volunteering at the museum and archives gary identified this fossil as a tibiotarsus leg bone from a cormorant-like bird to make the identification he had carefully inspected the royal bc Museumrsquos modern bird research collections
volunteer ProFile
Steve Suntok by Marji Johns collections Manager Palaeontology
due to weathering damage and disintegration He selects specimens that are scientifically significant or recently exposed by erosion but are well preserved Fossils that are discerned as important but too large to transport are photographed and brought to the attention of experts collected specimens include location labels that are also numbered and recorded in a book For important specimens steve learns about them through readings by collaborating with experts and research through local palaeontology societies or volunteering at a museum
After documenting and donating many important specimens to the royal bc Museum such as whale vertebrae ribs teeth rare ammonites nautiloids crustaceans (crabs and lobsters) and unusual plant fossils steve also has helped unwrap document label and enter data for hundreds of other fossil specimens that were recently donated He has assisted with collections moves and the set up of palaeo lab equipment
there are many other volunteers participating in projects matched to their skills and interests they are all indispensable to the advancements of the palaeo collections at the museum and archives For them making contributions and learning are valued and we all enjoy developing friendships and gaining new experiences
other museum collections and scrutinized palaeontology research literature
gary and i were joking and with twinkles in our eyes said to steve ldquoHow about finding us anotherrdquo steve and his family (daughter leah and son graham) not only found another fossil tibiotarsus but also came back with an even rarer and new fossil bird bone from the site the last was in a 45 kg slab talus block that had fallen from the cliff and into the tidal zone it had been found by leah the block could not be easily downsized at the beach so steve carried it 5 kilometers out this rare bone will probably be a new species We know from previous research at the site that the fossil is about 25 million years old When gary Kaiserrsquos research is published you will be hearing more about this exciting find
steve has become an inspiring steward for bc palaeontology He has gained new knowledge about fossils and collections and this has led to important donations of other rare fossils for research and learning He did keep a few less important specimens for his familyrsquos enjoyment including fossils that connect them with memorable experiences of the day
steve collects responsibly meaning his discoveries mostly come from surface collection of fossils that are at greatest risk for being lost
8 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
A Fossil Hunting Adventure
After gazing-up and eyeing a prize eroding out of a waterfall
cliff i knew i had to have this fossil before mother nature swept it away i found myself 20 feet up a steep cliff under an overhang with a water pool below i tried climbing up but instead went for a dive and unexpected swim in January
on the next trip i tried climbing down with ropes got stuck cut myself loose to get down went for a second swim once again during a season best reserved for skiing and snowshoeing
Determined (my wife says obsessed) i welded a fire poker to a steel pipe but the poker broke off and it went
by steve suntok royal bc Museum volunteer amp donor
for a swim the next time i built a rope ladder and climbed to the top to hang it As i started to climb down the boards i was using for rungs broke ndash my third swim
next i went all out and bought a telescoping ladder i chose a 25 pound version because it was a long steep hike through the bush to get to the site the ladder was too short i went home empty-handed
i went and purchased a taller ladder on the plus side it was 22 feet high on the negative side it weighed 40 pounds and was difficult to haul A friend held the ladder steady and after an hour of carefully chipping away at rock the fossil was free i
caught it with my one free hand and now it sits proudly in my office it is a great ammonite but the memories make it all the better
i love fossil hunting in british columbia itrsquos cool that we can hold in our hands the remains of ancient life from millions of years ago i find that vancouver island is one of the most beautiful places on earth the scenery irsquove seen is by itself worth the effort and that you can find fossils while you are out there ndash that is a great bonus i love adventure and learning and i have met many awesome diverse interesting and kind people during these outings
gary Kaiser amp steve suntok
royalbcmuseumbcca 9
towards the end of her life artist and writer emily carr (1871-1945)
reduced the volume of her writings letters and sketchbooks to what would fit in a battered old steamer trunk in her unmistakable block printing carr expressed her wishes on a card and tacked it under the trunkrsquos lid ldquoAt MY DeAtH PleAse senD tHis boX AnD contents intAct to Mr irA DilWortH cAnADiAn broAD-cAsting corP vAncouver bc [signed] emily carrrdquo Dilworth was carrrsquos confidante and literary executor entrusted with the responsibility of managing her writings and posthumously publishing a number
of her manuscripts Many years after Dilworthrsquos death this distillation of a lifersquos work became one of several nuclei of the carr collections entrusted to the care of the bc Archives
the other groups of royal bc Museum carr collections centre around a large body of her artworks (mainly from the period preceding 1927 but including some important mature works) carr-related artifacts and archival and library records created by her peers and scholars the carr collections hold a number of surprises some of carrrsquos pottery pieces several of her hooked rugs and artifacts including First
Peoplersquos-crafted souvenir items purchased in 1907 and an articulated wooden doll that pops up in various carr sketches cartoons and in a documentary photograph of carrrsquos studio taken shortly after her death
While carrrsquos works are cared for and exhibited in over 35 public galleries museums and institutions and treasured in countless private collections world-wide the largest collection of carrrsquos career output is stewarded by the royal bc Museum Much of it can be consulted on a daily basis in the archives or by appointment this year the royal bc Museum is enhancing understanding of this rich legacy through a web
A ricH resource
Carr Collectionsby Don bourdon curator images amp Paintings
tanoo Qci emily carr 1913
10 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
exhibition featuring a timeline stubbed with Carrrsquos paintings drawings writings photographs and artifacts A ldquotreasure boxrdquo Emily Carr Gallery figures prominently in the Royal BC Museumrsquos redevelopment vision
Upon her death in 1945 the Province of BC purchased seven major Carr paintings including Tanoo (see accompanying figure) Artistic executor Lawren Harris selected 170 works from hundreds remaining in Carrrsquos home for the Emily Carr Trust Collection (now housed in the Vancouver Art Gallery and the National Gallery) Many works from her ldquoFrench Periodrdquo and watercolours were identified for sale to support this Trust Still others were set aside for destruction though many were salvaged and eventually made their way to the BC Archives Like so many prolific artists Carr had already given many works away and destroyed many more considered by her unworthy of retention
Today the Royal BC Museum holds the majority of Carrrsquos artistic literary and personal output Carrrsquos personal and professional archives over 1100 works of art Carrrsquos publications and publications about her and her art key photographs interviews and documentaries The works of art total 1112 items Approximately 900 of these are on paper primarily images in sketch books Approximately 200 are major paintings - oil on canvas oil on board or paper and watercolour on paper Also included are 24
representative pieces of pottery that Carr produced in large numbers for sale and several examples of the hooked rugs she used throughout her home and bestowed as gifts
The Emily Carr fonds (the unpublished archival records created and accumulated by Carr between 1879 and 1945) occupy 23 linear metres of shelf space and consist of correspondence journals manuscripts notebooks scrapbooks publications annotated by the artist financial records photographs and paintings
Records pertaining to Carr in other fonds occupy a further 16 linear metres of textual records In particular the records of the following are rich in detail about Carr Edythe Hembroff-Schleicher Flora Burns Humphrey Toms the Newcombe family and Richard Carr 55 sound recordings contain interviews and radio programs about Carr and 14 moving image records contain documentaries interviews and TV programs Our holdings include 10 works of art by other artists pertaining to Carr Of particular interest are 60 photographs of or pertaining to the artistwriter mainly formal portraits and candid shots depicting her with her art her treasured pets and close friends They also depict Carr family members studio interiors her various homes and colleagues
Carrrsquos published writings in various editions total 59 items and in 167 other publications Carr is the principle subject discussed
The Archives has constructed 16 linear centimetres of artist files pertaining to Emily Carr and artcraft works of Carrrsquos sisters The files include exhibit programmes auction information articles correspondence lists and images The Royal BC Museum holds extensive records pertaining to the Emily Carr Gallery that used to be on Wharf Street in Victoria its facility and program and Carr family home as a heritage building and site
Artifacts include Emilyrsquos Governorrsquos General Medal First Peoplesrsquo works purchased by the Carr sisters in Alaska in 1907 ndash and of course the trunk
View online exhibition royalbcmuseumbccaexhibitionsonline
Haida Totems Cha-atl Queen Charlotte IslandEmily Carr 1912
royalbcmuseumbcca 11
Archives Boot Camp Round Threeby Ann ten cate Archives gallery amp theatre learning team lead
After two successful and sold-out boot camps bc Archives staff
will be offering a third boot camp on saturday september 27 2014
our boot camps are designed to give people a crash course on how to do research at the bc Archives An overview of the collections is given ndash and whether you are a beginner or an expert yoursquoll be inspired
Prior to attending wersquoll assign you to a team with similar interests on the day of the boot camp you will rotate through various stations in our reference room receiving coaching from our expert staff our last camp included the History Hounds bouncing biographers colonial canterers the bobrsquos My uncle team the Family tree crew and the community crew by the end of the day yoursquoll have received some
tips about developing a research strategy know how to find material in our collection and you will have seen some of our most fascinating records Yoursquoll also get a tour of our behind-the-scenes storage areas the day finishes with a chance to get ldquostuck-inrdquo and do some individual research with our experts on-hand
our staff really enjoy helping people get started with their research or head out on new tangents itrsquos a day of immersion and discovery there is definitely a real buzz in our reference room as staff and researchers share information You can hear some of what went on at the last boot camp by listening to cbc radiorsquos north by northwest podcast cbccaplayerradiolocal+showsbritish+columbianorth+by+northwestiD2441594449
if yoursquove already attended our boot camp keep your eye on our calendar as later in the year we will start offering specialized workshops
ldquoGreat So glad I could comerdquo
ldquoThis was an excellent experience It gives me the confidence to return to the archives prepared to ask for assistance and feeling that there is a good starting placerdquo
ldquoLoved this Itrsquos the type of program Irsquod take again because there was so much info I think I missed a lot [before]rdquo
register online royalbcmuseumbccaevents
12 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
Supporting the Museum and Archives Through Local Artby christine roome owner sweet Memory Art
sweet Memory Art was born out of love for people and relationships
ndash the humour and the warmth of human connection My jewellery and art are about commemorating and celebrating the human connection and the relationships that carry us through and make us who we are
Museums are a home for preservation and curation and the birthplace of curiosity question connection history and education for people aged twondash92 i believe
that museums need to surface their collections and celebrate their exhibits through connecting with the local and international community
the sweet Memory Art viking jewellery line invites people to take a piece of the museum experience home 50 percent of the retail sale of the royal bc Museum collection on my website will go back to the royal bc Museum Foundation so that we can continue to learn from the past
You can find sweet Memory Art jewellery in the bc Museum gift shop or purchase pieces on christinersquos website at sweetmemoryartcom
FeAture PArtner
As a values-based financial co-operative vancity is committed
to transforming how banking is done so we can help our members and their local communities thrive financially socially and environmentally
We arenrsquot doing this alone on behalf of our members and community partners we are working to place the right tools in the hands of individuals and organizations working to make our world a better place
We seek to invest in and work closely with organizations and sectors that
Wersquore pleased the royal bc Museum has partnered with the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council on the Our Living Languages exhibition and Aboriginal tourism bc on the Aboriginal cultural Festival 2014 We can accomplish more when we work together
check out vancityrsquos online Annual report at vancitycom2013Annual report for more information on how we are working to build healthy communities
visit vancitycomaboriginalcommunities to learn more about how we are investing in Aboriginal communities to achieve economic strength and independence
we feel have the potential for high positive community impact aligned with our three guiding principles ndash social justice and financial inclusion environmental sustainability and co-operative principles and practices
our partnership with the royal bc Museum is an example of this approach in our work with Aboriginal communities in the coast salish territories where we do business and through our partnership with reconciliation canada we better understand the importance of dialogue and the need for all of us to gain more knowledge about the First Peoples We have much to learn about the history of our land and its people and the importance of language and culture as roots of identity pride and self awareness
royalbcmuseumbcca 13
it wasnrsquot designed to be an emotional touchpoint but sometimes people
respond in surprising ways to details in the royal bc Museum Well before the Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC exhibition was due to open when patches of carpet were tagged with green painterrsquos tape and the drywall mud was still damp bobbilee copeland walked through the exhibition space
it wasnrsquot completely empty one of the exhibitionrsquos first elements to be erected were 17 towering double-sided pylons clad in colourful paint and bearing the names of the 34 First nations languages that are indigenous to british columbia ndash what will become known as the ldquolanguage Forestrdquo
copeland ndash coordinator of the language revitalization program at the university of victoria ndash was visiting the royal bc Museum to discuss potential partnerships aligned with indigenous languages
and the museum and archivesrsquo learning programs and was touring the unfinished exhibition space she stopped in mid-stride when she saw her own language written on one of the pylons then walked over and gave the metal ldquotreerdquo a long hug
For staff at the royal bc Museum this was an unanticipated sight but also a welcome affirmation that the exhibition was going to have deep meaning for many visitors
ldquoBobbileersquos spontaneous gesture was overwhelmingly powerful In that instant I realized how important this exhibition was to her and all the champions of language revitalization the lsquotreersquo such a tangible representation of the intangible fragility of languagerdquo
Janet MacDonald the royal bc Museumrsquos Head of learning
and visitor engagement experience
it was a gratifying moment for all involved in the planning and design of the exhibition language is a powerful potent marker of identity and culture think about the emotional resonance of the term ldquomother tonguerdquo ndash the languages we grow up with are our kin nourishment and birthright
so the revitalization of languages in bcrsquos First nations communities is bound to stir up feelings of pride loss pain and joy the Our Living Languages exhibition aims to tell the stories of how languages have been nearly-lost and newly awakened and illustrate the success stories of language diversity and revitalization throughout bc
telling these stories has been a deeply collaborative project the royal bc Museum has relied upon the expertise of its partner the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council to shape the narrative provide content and advice on cultural matters
Our Living Languages A Beautiful Collaborationby erik lamberston corporate communications officer
transmission of traditional knowledge at Kaska language camp
14 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
the royal bc Museumrsquos job has been to find the compelling way to communicate the messages through design the two organizations chose to partner closely as they fine-tune details about design development orthography marketing ndash virtually every aspect of the exhibition
ldquoWe are honoured to be part of creation this important exhibition First Nations language speakers are the true experts when it comes to describing and sharing information about their languages By involving them in the development process we hope to create an experience that is both authentic and meaningful for visitors to the museumrdquo
lorna Williams chair of the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council
in fact the theme of co-mingled multiple perspectives has become
a sub-theme of the exhibition itself For example one of the successes of the exhibition is how well it integrates oral and aural experiences with our other senses visitors often expect museum-going to be a primarily visual experience but Our Living Languages is about language transmission a fundamentally spoken activity
And the truth is that contemporary innovative places like the royal bc Museum are increasingly interactive and multi-sensory so Our Living Language rsquos audio messages are supported through visually-interesting video content and tactile details that are rooted in First nations culture
take the cradleboard theatre ndash a small and intimate space that will replicate a cedar root basket inside visitors will be cocooned in soothing First nations languages and lullabies for an immersive experience the idea came from cultural advisors and the medium was designed and fabricated by the royal bc Museumrsquos exhibition arts team
the cradleboard theatre is just one element of the innovative multi-sensory exhibition the
language forest will ldquospeakrdquo as visitors approach each ldquotreerdquo wired with motion sensors A theatre space a rounded counterpoint to the forest spires will be animated by presenters who will add a live dimension to this human story
Our Living Languages will open on saturday June 21 ndash national Aboriginal Day the royal bc Museum will be a celebratory space that weekend with Aboriginal tourism bc hosting the Aboriginal cultural Festival June 19-21 enlivening the campus outside (see page 16 for details) and this collaborative exhibition drawing new eyes ndash and ears ndash to the fascinating and moving story of language diversity and revitalization in bcrsquos First nations communities
royalbcmuseumbcca 15
From June 19 to 21 victoria will host the 2014 Aboriginal cultural
Festival highlighting and celebrating the regionrsquos rich indigenous culture through storytelling artisans dance song and food
created in partnership with Aboriginal tourism bc (Atbc) the esquimalt and songhees nations the royal bc Museum tourism victoria robert bateman centre greater victoria Harbour Authority and First Peoplesrsquo cultural council the festival will take place on the outdoor campus of the royal bc Museum and around victoriarsquos inner Harbour
the three-day festival will feature main stage performances including three-time world champion hoop dancer Alex Wells an artisan area where people may watch demonstrations meet the artists and also learn about the new Authentic Aboriginal program that helps consumers identify products designed created and sold by bc Aboriginal artists a childrenrsquos storytelling area food vendors and an Aboriginal tourism bc information booth
the festival is also an opportunity to celebrate share and learn more
about the history of the First nations people in bc and the capital before the city became victoria esquimalt and songhees nations were one of the first nations to sign a treaty in bc ndash known as the vancouver island treaties which were signed between 1850ndash1854
this festival also coincides with national Aboriginal Day and the launch of the royal bc Museumrsquos new exhibit Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC opening June 21 2014
learn more onlineaboriginalbccom
Aboriginal Cultural Festival
16 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
gerry truscott earned his degree in creative Writing
from the university of victoria in 1982 and since then he has spent his professional life editing and publishing books He joined the royal bc Museum in 1989 as publisher He has edited and produced more than 100 books for the institution and has written or edited much of the
text that appears in the exhibition galleries in 2008 he wrote the exhibition text and book for the museumrsquos project celebrating british columbiarsquos 150th anniversary entitled Free Spirit Stories of You Me and BC
on his own time gerry writes fiction and has had several short stories published in magazines and anthologies Hersquos also very much
interested in soccer and hockey (playing and watching) jazz and progressive rock hiking cycling and walking his dogs
royal bc Museum publications are available at your local book store the royal bc Museum shop and royalbcmuseumbccapublications
FeAture PArtner
Canadian Geographic canadian geographic magazine
is a proud partner of the royal bc Museum one of canadarsquos most award-winning magazines canadian geographic is unapologetic about celebrating canada Wersquore dedicated to uncovering and communicating the stories about canadian people places frontiers and issues (past and present) that canadian magazine readers want Published by the royal canadian geographical society canadian geographic magazine is more than a geography publication each issue of canadian geographic is a voyage of discovery and exploration that features the latest
science environment travel human and cultural stories from across canada
canadian geographic connects with more than 38 million readers per issue in canada and abroad who share our fascination for canada Filled with stunning colour photography fascinating articles and specially commissioned maps each issue of canadian geographic magazine lets you travel the country without leaving home Yoursquoll discover canadarsquos people and cities our wildlife and wilderness our history and the beauty of our land subscriptions include six regular
issues of canadian geographic plus four issues of canadian geographic travel per year
For a special subscription offer exclusive to rbcM members please go to canadiangeographiccarbcm
stAFF ProFile
Gerry TruscottPublisHer
royalbcmuseumbcca 17
$100000 - $499999
$25000 - $99999
$5000 - $24999
the royal bc Museum appreciates and acknowledges the vital and
ongoing financial support of the Province of British Columbia the Ministry of Community Sport and Cultural Development and the Royal BC Museum Foundation their core support makes our work possible
While approximately 63 percent of our annual operating budget
comes from the Province and another 21 percent comes from memberships and admissions we need to raise the remaining 16 percent ndash three million dollars ndash each year from other sources including donations sponsorships and grants contributions from those who value the work of the royal bc Museum help us to meet our most pressing needs such as
Acquiring items for our collection conserving rare and
precious objects Furthering our world-class
research Developing our learning programs supporting our archives Presenting engaging exhibitions Publishing critically-
acclaimed books
Royal BC Museum Supporters(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Please join us in thanking the following individuals corporations and foundations for their support their demonstrated commitment and their inspiration during the past fiscal year
$500000+
bell Media
royal bc Museum Foundation teck resources limited tourism victoria
bc Hydro
black Press
clipper vacations
Hsbc bank of canada
the estate of Akiko Kamitakahara
lamar Advertising company
Pattison outdoor Advertising
the Jim Pattison broadcast group
Quark expeditions
times colonist
John and Joan Walton innovators Fund
Anonymous (1)
the bay centre
bc transit
black ball Ferry line
canadian Museums Association
cibc
cineplex Media
ctv vancouver island
Fannyrsquos cultured cow Products ltd
garth evans
Friends of the bc Archives
iMAX victoria
elizabeth Kennedy
gwendolyn Page
save on Foods Memorial centre
silk road tea
sunset Magazine
rosita Anna tovell
vancity savings credit union
viking Air
Jack and bev Wallace
Westerkirk capital
if you would like to support the work of the royal bc Museum please contact Jillian Appelman Philanthropy Manager at 250-387-3102 or jappelmanroyalbcmuseumbcca
18 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
$1000 - $4999
$500 - $999
$250 - $499
Collections
Education
Conservation
Research
every effort has been made to ensure our supporters are recognized accurately if you notice an error or omission please call the royal bc Museum Development Department at 250-387-7222
eric and leonda Adler
Patrick and Anne Anderson
Anonymous (1)
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
Joyce clearihue
Daphne corbett in memory of Joan corbett
Karen A Duddlesten
robert and Marianne eng
Flight centre
rupert and robin Hambro
bob and Marjorie Johns
lynne Kennedy
lyall and susan Knott
Professor Jack lohman cbe
ron and May lou-Poy
Kenneth and ellen Mahon
tommy Mayne
stefan and Magdalena opalski
Provincial employees community services Fund
Pauline rafferty and bob Plecas
suromitra sanatani and David turpin
sharon smith
Pauline and robert van Den Driessche
rene and Allison Weir
Angela Williams
Anonymous in memory of Joan corbett
robert Appleton in memory of Joan corbett
robert and birgit bateman
ian beauprie
gary and susan braley
Jeff bray
William and Jean cave
Kelly and rose chu
James and Jean cosgrove
carol cullimore
Jon Declan and bridget Dallison
Joe and linda Harvey
Mark Holford in memory of Joan corbett
erik lythgoe
ian and Margaret Mair
David Mattison
susan K McMillan
Jim and isabel Merston
charles and Marjorie Moser
Pauline and John Mustard Foundation
northwest Magazine
shelley reid
Anne and Don russell
Pete seward
John and Fern spring
W Anthony and Darlene southwell
Mark and elizabeth taylor
Anonymous (2)
robin Ashforth and gerald thompson
Patrick D crofton
Jean e Field and roy A richford
barbara Fields
Joyce Folbigg
Hotel grand Pacific
barbara longworth
Dennis Mccann and Diane Darch
Doreen Mitchell
gary Mitchell
greg and susan McKelvie
Helen Parker
barbara Potash
sandy Pratt
barbara rae and george suart
ernest and Adele roberts
robert rothwell
royal scot Hotel and suites
team telus cares
betty thacker
Alan tompson
victoria international buskers Festival
Maryla and Donovan Waters
Angela Wesley
chuck Wilson
royalbcmuseumbcca 19
1 british columbia MlA lana Popham and royal bc Museum ceo Prof Jack lohman discussing an artifact from the exhibition Vikings Lives Beyond the Legends
2 His excellency teppo tauriainen swedish Ambassador to canada and the Honourable linda reid MlA for richmond east and the speaker of the legislative Assembly at the Annual Kermode gala
3 Prof Jack lohman ceo royal bc Museum with seiji okada consul general of Japan and his wife Yasuko okada
4 sharon smith Francis Kermode group patron and 10-year volunteer
sharon smith is a dedicated 10-year volunteer who now
financially supports the royal bc Museum as a member of the Francis Kermode group ldquoexciting things are coming with the redevelopment plans for the royal bc Museum so it has been a very interesting time for me to get more involvedrdquo she says ldquoi have really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes tours and getting to know the other members of the grouprdquo
Having travelled to museums and historical sites around the world what strikes sharon is our uniqueness ldquoYou just cannot see what is in this collection anywhere else this is the only place that does
what it does it is hugely important to get behind it and i highly recommend that supporters consider joining the Francis Kermode group the activities are very enjoyable and our financial support makes a difference to the core work of the museum and archivesrdquo
she adds ldquoi have learned so much during my time with the group that i have decided to include a gift to the royal bc Museum in my will i feel it is an opportunity to extend my values and my dedication to the museum and archives beyond my lifetime the support is needed and the cause is very important to future generationsrdquo
Donor ProFile
Sharon Smith
The Francis Kermode Groupnamed after the royal bc
Museumrsquos first director the Francis Kermode group is a visionary group of patrons who enjoy a special relationship with the royal bc Museum and our world-class team of curators conservators researchers collections managers and archivists Members of the group deepen their
engagement throughout the year with an exclusive series of customized learning opportunities special privileges and social events created to enlighten stimulate and inspire as they explore the treasures of the royal bc Museum and our wonderful province
1
2
3
4
to join the Francis Kermode group or for more information contact Jon Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
20 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
As sharon smith noted (on the previous page) a will presents
a wonderful opportunity for you to extend your values beyond your lifetime and a meaningful way to connect past present and future generations once you have made
arrangements for your loved ones please consider the merits of making a bequest to the royal bc Museum gifts such as these are incredibly helpful in ensuring the long-term financial health of the museum and archives
For more information or to let us know that you have included us in your will please contact Jonathan Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
Have you considered leaving a gift in your will
there are over seven million artifacts and objects in the royal
bc Museumrsquos permanent collections making it one of the largest and most impressive museum collections in the country these objects bring life to the story of british columbia in ways that enlighten stimulate and inspire Many of these items are accessioned as gifts from generous museum and archives supporters who want to
see a favourite piece often a family heirloom live on forever and impact future generations the royal bc Museum is grateful for objects that help us further our provincial mandate to advance new knowledge and understanding of british columbiarsquos natural history and human history
Acquiring a new object is just the beginning of the story through
professional conservation protection measures and display consultations our highly-skilled conservation staff ensure that each piece is properly cared for and preserved conservation efforts are at the core of the important work we do and the end result is that another integral piece of british columbiarsquos history is shared with the world
Gifts to the Collections(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Mary Andrews
Anonymous (35)
bruce Archibald
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
gary bell
Peter bock
James burgess
Delphine castles
tom cockburn
Michael cooper
carole cullimore
carole Davidson
Howard Dirks
raymond graham
george guy
Hanson Materials limited
edward Harvey
James Douglas Helmcken
Dave Henly
Michael Holmes
richard Holmes
gord Hutchings
carl Jonsson
Milan and sharon lacika
Frank lomer
sandy Mclachlan
H edward Mclean
Mona Mosher
brett nelson
Margaret nelson
Dean nicholson
Frank ogden
Margaret ogilvie
out of the Mist gallery
nettie Pasieczka
tom Perry
bernie simpson
David starr
steve suntok
rosita Anna tovell in Memory of Freeman M tovell
south coast british columbia transportation Authority Police service
John veillette
rick Watson and Mike Watson
robert D Watt and Alison Watt
David Yuen
steve suntok fossil donor and volunteer
We wholeheartedly thank our generous donors to the collection during the past fiscal year
royalbcmuseumbcca 21
going DigitAl
Global Plants Initiativeby Dr erica Wheeler botany collections Manager collections care amp conservation
tYPe sPeciMen = the particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached
The Global Plants Initiativethe royal bc Museum has recently become a partner in the global Plants initiative (gPi) gPi is a collaborative effort among herbaria to make digital images of all botany tYPe sPeciMens available to researchers via access to a centralized repository this repository currently holds over 18 million high resolution images of tYPe sPeciMens contributed by over 270 herbaria from more than 70 countries gPi is funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation the image repository is housed and accessed electronically through (Journal storage) Jstor
the royal bc Museum herbarium houses over 80 tYPe sPeciMens that will be included in this important digitization effort
Describing and naming new species of plantsover 400000 species of plants are known to science that is to say more than 400000 species have been formally described and named by taxonomic experts Describing and naming new species is often slow and can be a complicated process A recent study reported that it takes an
average of 21 years from the date a taxonomist spots something new to science to the date the new name is officially recognized two things are required
the new name and a formal latin description must be validly published and
tYPe sPeciMens must be designated and deposited in a publicly accessible herbarium
During the time that a plant taxonomist is doing the work required to describe a new species they collect and preserve specimens for study the main goal of their study is to describe it in very precise terms in particular how does this new species differ from other related species Are the petals a different colour Are the tiny hairs on the underside of the leaves a different shape is this new species found in markedly different habitats than other closely related species
After the author has described and chosen a name for the new species tYPe sPeciMens are designated from the study material tYPe sPeciMens are the particular specimens to which the scientific name of the new species is formally attached because these are of great importance to the science of documenting biodiversity more
than one tYPe sPeciMen is often designated and these are distributed among different herbaria for safe-keeping in the event that one tYPe sPeciMen is destroyed or lost the others will still be available for study
there are at least seven categories of tYPe sPeciMens but HolotYPes and isotYPes are the most important
HolotYPe the single specimen designated by the author at the time of publication as the specimen upon which the description and name is based
isotYPe any specimen collected on the same date and from the same location as the specimen that is designated as the HolotYPe
Roemerrsquos fescuein 1983 royal bc Museum botany curator Dr leon Pavlick described and published the name of a new variety of grass commonly known as `roemerrsquos fescuersquo the scientific name for this grass is Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick names often describe a notable characteristic of a species or sometimes recognize the person who first discovered the new species roemerrsquos fescue was named after Dr Hans roemer a well-known bc botanist who made some of the early collections of this grass
22 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
in the royal bc Museum herbarium we store the HolotYPe of Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick in a special cabinet reserved for such important specimens High resolution images of this specimen and images of other tYPe sPeciMens in the botany collection will soon be available to researchers around the world via the Jstor repository Access to these images will facilitate global biodiversity research the royal bc Museum herbarium is thrilled to contribute to this effort
royalbcmuseumbcca 23
the Artists in Residence program began in september
of 2013 three artists ndash Aimee van Drimmelen lindsay Delaronde and garth gaudin ndash were selected to take part in the inaugural season of this project in addition to their involvement in events throughout the programming year every two weeks they visit different collections areas of the museum and archives the work they create chronicles both the extraordinary collections and the important work being done by staff and volunteers to maintain collections
Artists Get Inspired by the Collectionby chris orsquoconnor schools amp Family learning team lead
the artists are allowed to go behind the scenes and explore the collections Aimee dived into the botany collection which houses over 215000 specimens made up primarily of native and introduced plant species found in british columbia Most specimens are gathered pressed and affixed to cardstock that is marked with collection data for future reference the specimens are then stacked in folders bagged and stored in lockers the earliest specimen in botany is currently lichen collected in 1889
royal bc Museum volunteer Daniela toriola was helping prepare some new specimen sheets on the day the artists visited she carefully arranged the pressed plants gluing them onto the page with assorted metal weights to hold them down until they dried Daniela noted that she always tries to make the presentation as beautiful as possible it takes a lot of creativity to prepare specimens Whether itrsquos taxidermy
scientific drawings or the placement of sea creatures in a jar a lot of care is taken to make things visually appealing the preservation team takes pride in their work knowing that the collections will be looked upon for years to come
on her visit Aimee used a ldquospill saferdquo ink jar the ink mixed with water was perfect for capturing the transparency of leaves and petals and the dark curly roots she used a couple drops of water to wet her brush and introduced ink with a brush pen
Follow along with our artists and their creations on the royal bc Museum blog royalbcmuseumbccakids artists-in-residence
check out Aimeersquos personal blog featuring more entries and animations from different collection areas aimeesketchblogwordpresscom
ink drawing of liliaceae zigaderiusAimee van Drimmelenfrom the botany collection
royalbcmuseumbcca 25
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
document changing pollution levels on this continent irsquod better collect more gulls
today with the pace of urban and industrial sprawl the study of nature has taken on new urgency With the royal bc Museum research collection you can look at animals and plants collected prior to the invention of plastic You can try to see when traces of minute plastic particles appeared in plankton-feeding animals or maybe you want to examine the skin of amphibians to see when chytridiomycosis arrived in
bc researchers may want to study the range of dietary items over the entire range of a species - and look at specimens from 50 years ago to see if a speciesrsquo diet has changed Perhaps someone would want to study anatomical changes as fish grow or compare the number of eggs females produce across the range of a species Who knew that preserved animals would be used in such ways the potential topics for museum research are staggering yet many in our population have no idea that museums support research
the multidimensional foresight needed to save material for future study is almost entirely unique to museum staff ndash it is part of our culture to many our thoughts and behaviours must look scattered or disorganised sometimes we are accused of being packrats i counter that accusation with the fact that i have 296 packrats in the mammalogy collection and since i can account for variation in Neotoma cinereus i can honestly state that i do not resemble a packrat try do that without a reference collection
this spotted bat (Euderma maculatum) from the okanagan represents the northern-most specimen in north
American museums
4 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
there are over seven million objects in the royal bc Museum
collection from the big ndash full whale skeletons and a rolls royce ndash to the small ndash bugs and thimbles galore the vast majority of these collections are never on display this summer the museum and archiversquos doors will be thrown open and a rare glimpse at the highlights of the collection will be offered through a new website featuring a selection of the rare interesting significant and amazing pieces from the royal bc Museum
experts from all departments have peered into cabinets looked through
drawers and racked their brains submitting their top collection lists From this long list we have narrowed down 100 items this distillation from our collection isnrsquot necessarily the top historical or scientific items they arenrsquot always the prettiest ndash in fact some are downright ugly ndash but they are all significant in their right And many have fascinating stories coming to the royal bc Museum in ways you wouldnrsquot imagine the list includes giant squids a handbook to gold a spider named after a motorcycle the first marriage license treasures from bcrsquos favourite artist a rare First nations mask
and even a hockey stick the online collection will offer insight into the history of the province
look for this new website this summer at royalbcmuseumbcca100
by David Alexander Head of new Archives amp Digital Preservation
1 bubblegum coral
2 spindle Whorl
3 Kermode bear skull
4 childrsquos Dress
5 Yellow-bellied snake
6 Miettia salientensis Hofmann and Mountjoy 2010 Mount robson bc one of the oldest fossils in the collection
100 Objects of Interest
1
4
2
5
3
6
royalbcmuseumbcca 5
A Gallery Intervention by Janet MacDonald Head of learning
the royal bc Museumrsquos script the original exhibition text found
on panels and labels throughout the permanent galleries is now 50 years old
Prof Jack lohman the royal bc Museum ceo has expressed how essential it is to refresh this narrative just ldquoas you would update any text book of that agerdquo With this in mind the royal bc Museum has begun to review the core scripts and text with an eye to revise key messages and to increase the enjoyment and the potential for learning for all our visitors Phase i of this initiative began this spring with the natural History gallery
The Role of Text and a Team Approachchoosing an appropriate writer for the task was the first crucial step We found in Maleea Acker environmental journalist and local author an innate sensibility for the natural world Her writing style from examples of her published work aligned perfectly with the communication style we were after she joined our re-scripting team for the month of April and together with lead curator Dr Ken Marr curator of botany senior designer Ken Johnson and members of our learning staff we conducted a series of walkthroughs with all natural history
curators and collections managers their combined disciplinary expertise allowed us to look at the gallery in a holistic manner and capture the accuracy of the main narrative
As a starting point we acknowledged the importance of the written word in communicating main themes and key messages According to Maleea ldquotext forms a unifying reference point for our visitors as they travel through a variety of displays and exceptional dioramasrdquo such stunning environments can sometimes leave you visually distracted inside the story
6 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
Cool New Fossil Techour ability to properly prepare
fossil material for the collection has increased our collection Manager in Palaeontology Marji Johns has been busy outfitting a portion of the vertebrate lab on the main floor of the Fannin building to accommodate some heavy duty fossil prepping equipment Fossil material is often collected in the form of a matrix of rock containing one or many fossil representations Preparation of a macrofossil allows details to be revealed which are needed for identification and research some of the removed matrix can be chemically treated to recover microscopic fossils study and research on both macro- and microfossils can lead to a better understanding of past environments climates and the geologic history of an area removal of the matrix can reveal an exquisite fossil that may be exhibit quality Plus the reduction in matrix can allow for more efficient storage in the collection for both space and weight
now donrsquot take Jackrsquos analogy of the textbook literally We do not mean to put a book on the wall However there were important re-scripting considerations to keep in mind so many in fact that a text strategy was implemented We committed to acknowledging the myriad of visitor learning styles with an intention to accommodate as many of you as possible the text would be concise accessible and layered ndash the first layer being the most accessible and carrying the main message and subsequent layers providing progressively detailed information for those who want it Most importantly style is everything the writing would be engaging direct and conversational in a tone encouraging questioning and reflection
Getting it Writeto make a long story short we arrived at a stage in the process where the team felt comfortable with the content intent and the conversational aspects of the written words but ultimately true success would rely on whether the text resonated with you our visiting public And so we asked on sunday afternoon April 27 we orchestrated a testing session our seven lsquochapter headingsrsquo were produced in the form of text on paper mock-ups positioned strategically throughout the gallery each headline panel introduced a particular exhibit to visitors as they entered the environment
With the help of a team of volunteers we were able to assess our ability to communicate and engage people the results were fascinating and instructive comments ranged from an appreciation for the larger print type to questions regarding grammatical composition and use of analogies People of all ages time and again expressed their appreciation for being asked their opinion and many more felt that the signs made them think more deeply about what they were looking at
As i write this article the revised script is now in the hands of our trusted design team ndash who will turn our collaborative work into reality We will hang the script for your reading pleasure in June i encourage you to let us know what you think letrsquos not have another 50 years pass before the next revision
25 million year old whale vertebrae found on the west coast of vancouver island by steve suntok
royalbcmuseumbcca 7
treasures come to us in many different artifacts and specimens
today i introduce to you a human treasure victoria lawyer fossil enthusiast and royal bc Museum volunteer steve suntok steve came to us in the late summer of 2013 with an amazing fossil discovery He had found a rare bird bone from the west coast of vancouver island it is only the second fossil of its kind found in these rocks ndash the first find was over 120 years ago bird bones do not preserve well because they are thin and hollow an adaptation for flight
steve had heard from his fossil enthusiast friends that bird expert gary Kaiser was volunteering at the museum and archives gary identified this fossil as a tibiotarsus leg bone from a cormorant-like bird to make the identification he had carefully inspected the royal bc Museumrsquos modern bird research collections
volunteer ProFile
Steve Suntok by Marji Johns collections Manager Palaeontology
due to weathering damage and disintegration He selects specimens that are scientifically significant or recently exposed by erosion but are well preserved Fossils that are discerned as important but too large to transport are photographed and brought to the attention of experts collected specimens include location labels that are also numbered and recorded in a book For important specimens steve learns about them through readings by collaborating with experts and research through local palaeontology societies or volunteering at a museum
After documenting and donating many important specimens to the royal bc Museum such as whale vertebrae ribs teeth rare ammonites nautiloids crustaceans (crabs and lobsters) and unusual plant fossils steve also has helped unwrap document label and enter data for hundreds of other fossil specimens that were recently donated He has assisted with collections moves and the set up of palaeo lab equipment
there are many other volunteers participating in projects matched to their skills and interests they are all indispensable to the advancements of the palaeo collections at the museum and archives For them making contributions and learning are valued and we all enjoy developing friendships and gaining new experiences
other museum collections and scrutinized palaeontology research literature
gary and i were joking and with twinkles in our eyes said to steve ldquoHow about finding us anotherrdquo steve and his family (daughter leah and son graham) not only found another fossil tibiotarsus but also came back with an even rarer and new fossil bird bone from the site the last was in a 45 kg slab talus block that had fallen from the cliff and into the tidal zone it had been found by leah the block could not be easily downsized at the beach so steve carried it 5 kilometers out this rare bone will probably be a new species We know from previous research at the site that the fossil is about 25 million years old When gary Kaiserrsquos research is published you will be hearing more about this exciting find
steve has become an inspiring steward for bc palaeontology He has gained new knowledge about fossils and collections and this has led to important donations of other rare fossils for research and learning He did keep a few less important specimens for his familyrsquos enjoyment including fossils that connect them with memorable experiences of the day
steve collects responsibly meaning his discoveries mostly come from surface collection of fossils that are at greatest risk for being lost
8 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
A Fossil Hunting Adventure
After gazing-up and eyeing a prize eroding out of a waterfall
cliff i knew i had to have this fossil before mother nature swept it away i found myself 20 feet up a steep cliff under an overhang with a water pool below i tried climbing up but instead went for a dive and unexpected swim in January
on the next trip i tried climbing down with ropes got stuck cut myself loose to get down went for a second swim once again during a season best reserved for skiing and snowshoeing
Determined (my wife says obsessed) i welded a fire poker to a steel pipe but the poker broke off and it went
by steve suntok royal bc Museum volunteer amp donor
for a swim the next time i built a rope ladder and climbed to the top to hang it As i started to climb down the boards i was using for rungs broke ndash my third swim
next i went all out and bought a telescoping ladder i chose a 25 pound version because it was a long steep hike through the bush to get to the site the ladder was too short i went home empty-handed
i went and purchased a taller ladder on the plus side it was 22 feet high on the negative side it weighed 40 pounds and was difficult to haul A friend held the ladder steady and after an hour of carefully chipping away at rock the fossil was free i
caught it with my one free hand and now it sits proudly in my office it is a great ammonite but the memories make it all the better
i love fossil hunting in british columbia itrsquos cool that we can hold in our hands the remains of ancient life from millions of years ago i find that vancouver island is one of the most beautiful places on earth the scenery irsquove seen is by itself worth the effort and that you can find fossils while you are out there ndash that is a great bonus i love adventure and learning and i have met many awesome diverse interesting and kind people during these outings
gary Kaiser amp steve suntok
royalbcmuseumbcca 9
towards the end of her life artist and writer emily carr (1871-1945)
reduced the volume of her writings letters and sketchbooks to what would fit in a battered old steamer trunk in her unmistakable block printing carr expressed her wishes on a card and tacked it under the trunkrsquos lid ldquoAt MY DeAtH PleAse senD tHis boX AnD contents intAct to Mr irA DilWortH cAnADiAn broAD-cAsting corP vAncouver bc [signed] emily carrrdquo Dilworth was carrrsquos confidante and literary executor entrusted with the responsibility of managing her writings and posthumously publishing a number
of her manuscripts Many years after Dilworthrsquos death this distillation of a lifersquos work became one of several nuclei of the carr collections entrusted to the care of the bc Archives
the other groups of royal bc Museum carr collections centre around a large body of her artworks (mainly from the period preceding 1927 but including some important mature works) carr-related artifacts and archival and library records created by her peers and scholars the carr collections hold a number of surprises some of carrrsquos pottery pieces several of her hooked rugs and artifacts including First
Peoplersquos-crafted souvenir items purchased in 1907 and an articulated wooden doll that pops up in various carr sketches cartoons and in a documentary photograph of carrrsquos studio taken shortly after her death
While carrrsquos works are cared for and exhibited in over 35 public galleries museums and institutions and treasured in countless private collections world-wide the largest collection of carrrsquos career output is stewarded by the royal bc Museum Much of it can be consulted on a daily basis in the archives or by appointment this year the royal bc Museum is enhancing understanding of this rich legacy through a web
A ricH resource
Carr Collectionsby Don bourdon curator images amp Paintings
tanoo Qci emily carr 1913
10 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
exhibition featuring a timeline stubbed with Carrrsquos paintings drawings writings photographs and artifacts A ldquotreasure boxrdquo Emily Carr Gallery figures prominently in the Royal BC Museumrsquos redevelopment vision
Upon her death in 1945 the Province of BC purchased seven major Carr paintings including Tanoo (see accompanying figure) Artistic executor Lawren Harris selected 170 works from hundreds remaining in Carrrsquos home for the Emily Carr Trust Collection (now housed in the Vancouver Art Gallery and the National Gallery) Many works from her ldquoFrench Periodrdquo and watercolours were identified for sale to support this Trust Still others were set aside for destruction though many were salvaged and eventually made their way to the BC Archives Like so many prolific artists Carr had already given many works away and destroyed many more considered by her unworthy of retention
Today the Royal BC Museum holds the majority of Carrrsquos artistic literary and personal output Carrrsquos personal and professional archives over 1100 works of art Carrrsquos publications and publications about her and her art key photographs interviews and documentaries The works of art total 1112 items Approximately 900 of these are on paper primarily images in sketch books Approximately 200 are major paintings - oil on canvas oil on board or paper and watercolour on paper Also included are 24
representative pieces of pottery that Carr produced in large numbers for sale and several examples of the hooked rugs she used throughout her home and bestowed as gifts
The Emily Carr fonds (the unpublished archival records created and accumulated by Carr between 1879 and 1945) occupy 23 linear metres of shelf space and consist of correspondence journals manuscripts notebooks scrapbooks publications annotated by the artist financial records photographs and paintings
Records pertaining to Carr in other fonds occupy a further 16 linear metres of textual records In particular the records of the following are rich in detail about Carr Edythe Hembroff-Schleicher Flora Burns Humphrey Toms the Newcombe family and Richard Carr 55 sound recordings contain interviews and radio programs about Carr and 14 moving image records contain documentaries interviews and TV programs Our holdings include 10 works of art by other artists pertaining to Carr Of particular interest are 60 photographs of or pertaining to the artistwriter mainly formal portraits and candid shots depicting her with her art her treasured pets and close friends They also depict Carr family members studio interiors her various homes and colleagues
Carrrsquos published writings in various editions total 59 items and in 167 other publications Carr is the principle subject discussed
The Archives has constructed 16 linear centimetres of artist files pertaining to Emily Carr and artcraft works of Carrrsquos sisters The files include exhibit programmes auction information articles correspondence lists and images The Royal BC Museum holds extensive records pertaining to the Emily Carr Gallery that used to be on Wharf Street in Victoria its facility and program and Carr family home as a heritage building and site
Artifacts include Emilyrsquos Governorrsquos General Medal First Peoplesrsquo works purchased by the Carr sisters in Alaska in 1907 ndash and of course the trunk
View online exhibition royalbcmuseumbccaexhibitionsonline
Haida Totems Cha-atl Queen Charlotte IslandEmily Carr 1912
royalbcmuseumbcca 11
Archives Boot Camp Round Threeby Ann ten cate Archives gallery amp theatre learning team lead
After two successful and sold-out boot camps bc Archives staff
will be offering a third boot camp on saturday september 27 2014
our boot camps are designed to give people a crash course on how to do research at the bc Archives An overview of the collections is given ndash and whether you are a beginner or an expert yoursquoll be inspired
Prior to attending wersquoll assign you to a team with similar interests on the day of the boot camp you will rotate through various stations in our reference room receiving coaching from our expert staff our last camp included the History Hounds bouncing biographers colonial canterers the bobrsquos My uncle team the Family tree crew and the community crew by the end of the day yoursquoll have received some
tips about developing a research strategy know how to find material in our collection and you will have seen some of our most fascinating records Yoursquoll also get a tour of our behind-the-scenes storage areas the day finishes with a chance to get ldquostuck-inrdquo and do some individual research with our experts on-hand
our staff really enjoy helping people get started with their research or head out on new tangents itrsquos a day of immersion and discovery there is definitely a real buzz in our reference room as staff and researchers share information You can hear some of what went on at the last boot camp by listening to cbc radiorsquos north by northwest podcast cbccaplayerradiolocal+showsbritish+columbianorth+by+northwestiD2441594449
if yoursquove already attended our boot camp keep your eye on our calendar as later in the year we will start offering specialized workshops
ldquoGreat So glad I could comerdquo
ldquoThis was an excellent experience It gives me the confidence to return to the archives prepared to ask for assistance and feeling that there is a good starting placerdquo
ldquoLoved this Itrsquos the type of program Irsquod take again because there was so much info I think I missed a lot [before]rdquo
register online royalbcmuseumbccaevents
12 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
Supporting the Museum and Archives Through Local Artby christine roome owner sweet Memory Art
sweet Memory Art was born out of love for people and relationships
ndash the humour and the warmth of human connection My jewellery and art are about commemorating and celebrating the human connection and the relationships that carry us through and make us who we are
Museums are a home for preservation and curation and the birthplace of curiosity question connection history and education for people aged twondash92 i believe
that museums need to surface their collections and celebrate their exhibits through connecting with the local and international community
the sweet Memory Art viking jewellery line invites people to take a piece of the museum experience home 50 percent of the retail sale of the royal bc Museum collection on my website will go back to the royal bc Museum Foundation so that we can continue to learn from the past
You can find sweet Memory Art jewellery in the bc Museum gift shop or purchase pieces on christinersquos website at sweetmemoryartcom
FeAture PArtner
As a values-based financial co-operative vancity is committed
to transforming how banking is done so we can help our members and their local communities thrive financially socially and environmentally
We arenrsquot doing this alone on behalf of our members and community partners we are working to place the right tools in the hands of individuals and organizations working to make our world a better place
We seek to invest in and work closely with organizations and sectors that
Wersquore pleased the royal bc Museum has partnered with the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council on the Our Living Languages exhibition and Aboriginal tourism bc on the Aboriginal cultural Festival 2014 We can accomplish more when we work together
check out vancityrsquos online Annual report at vancitycom2013Annual report for more information on how we are working to build healthy communities
visit vancitycomaboriginalcommunities to learn more about how we are investing in Aboriginal communities to achieve economic strength and independence
we feel have the potential for high positive community impact aligned with our three guiding principles ndash social justice and financial inclusion environmental sustainability and co-operative principles and practices
our partnership with the royal bc Museum is an example of this approach in our work with Aboriginal communities in the coast salish territories where we do business and through our partnership with reconciliation canada we better understand the importance of dialogue and the need for all of us to gain more knowledge about the First Peoples We have much to learn about the history of our land and its people and the importance of language and culture as roots of identity pride and self awareness
royalbcmuseumbcca 13
it wasnrsquot designed to be an emotional touchpoint but sometimes people
respond in surprising ways to details in the royal bc Museum Well before the Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC exhibition was due to open when patches of carpet were tagged with green painterrsquos tape and the drywall mud was still damp bobbilee copeland walked through the exhibition space
it wasnrsquot completely empty one of the exhibitionrsquos first elements to be erected were 17 towering double-sided pylons clad in colourful paint and bearing the names of the 34 First nations languages that are indigenous to british columbia ndash what will become known as the ldquolanguage Forestrdquo
copeland ndash coordinator of the language revitalization program at the university of victoria ndash was visiting the royal bc Museum to discuss potential partnerships aligned with indigenous languages
and the museum and archivesrsquo learning programs and was touring the unfinished exhibition space she stopped in mid-stride when she saw her own language written on one of the pylons then walked over and gave the metal ldquotreerdquo a long hug
For staff at the royal bc Museum this was an unanticipated sight but also a welcome affirmation that the exhibition was going to have deep meaning for many visitors
ldquoBobbileersquos spontaneous gesture was overwhelmingly powerful In that instant I realized how important this exhibition was to her and all the champions of language revitalization the lsquotreersquo such a tangible representation of the intangible fragility of languagerdquo
Janet MacDonald the royal bc Museumrsquos Head of learning
and visitor engagement experience
it was a gratifying moment for all involved in the planning and design of the exhibition language is a powerful potent marker of identity and culture think about the emotional resonance of the term ldquomother tonguerdquo ndash the languages we grow up with are our kin nourishment and birthright
so the revitalization of languages in bcrsquos First nations communities is bound to stir up feelings of pride loss pain and joy the Our Living Languages exhibition aims to tell the stories of how languages have been nearly-lost and newly awakened and illustrate the success stories of language diversity and revitalization throughout bc
telling these stories has been a deeply collaborative project the royal bc Museum has relied upon the expertise of its partner the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council to shape the narrative provide content and advice on cultural matters
Our Living Languages A Beautiful Collaborationby erik lamberston corporate communications officer
transmission of traditional knowledge at Kaska language camp
14 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
the royal bc Museumrsquos job has been to find the compelling way to communicate the messages through design the two organizations chose to partner closely as they fine-tune details about design development orthography marketing ndash virtually every aspect of the exhibition
ldquoWe are honoured to be part of creation this important exhibition First Nations language speakers are the true experts when it comes to describing and sharing information about their languages By involving them in the development process we hope to create an experience that is both authentic and meaningful for visitors to the museumrdquo
lorna Williams chair of the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council
in fact the theme of co-mingled multiple perspectives has become
a sub-theme of the exhibition itself For example one of the successes of the exhibition is how well it integrates oral and aural experiences with our other senses visitors often expect museum-going to be a primarily visual experience but Our Living Languages is about language transmission a fundamentally spoken activity
And the truth is that contemporary innovative places like the royal bc Museum are increasingly interactive and multi-sensory so Our Living Language rsquos audio messages are supported through visually-interesting video content and tactile details that are rooted in First nations culture
take the cradleboard theatre ndash a small and intimate space that will replicate a cedar root basket inside visitors will be cocooned in soothing First nations languages and lullabies for an immersive experience the idea came from cultural advisors and the medium was designed and fabricated by the royal bc Museumrsquos exhibition arts team
the cradleboard theatre is just one element of the innovative multi-sensory exhibition the
language forest will ldquospeakrdquo as visitors approach each ldquotreerdquo wired with motion sensors A theatre space a rounded counterpoint to the forest spires will be animated by presenters who will add a live dimension to this human story
Our Living Languages will open on saturday June 21 ndash national Aboriginal Day the royal bc Museum will be a celebratory space that weekend with Aboriginal tourism bc hosting the Aboriginal cultural Festival June 19-21 enlivening the campus outside (see page 16 for details) and this collaborative exhibition drawing new eyes ndash and ears ndash to the fascinating and moving story of language diversity and revitalization in bcrsquos First nations communities
royalbcmuseumbcca 15
From June 19 to 21 victoria will host the 2014 Aboriginal cultural
Festival highlighting and celebrating the regionrsquos rich indigenous culture through storytelling artisans dance song and food
created in partnership with Aboriginal tourism bc (Atbc) the esquimalt and songhees nations the royal bc Museum tourism victoria robert bateman centre greater victoria Harbour Authority and First Peoplesrsquo cultural council the festival will take place on the outdoor campus of the royal bc Museum and around victoriarsquos inner Harbour
the three-day festival will feature main stage performances including three-time world champion hoop dancer Alex Wells an artisan area where people may watch demonstrations meet the artists and also learn about the new Authentic Aboriginal program that helps consumers identify products designed created and sold by bc Aboriginal artists a childrenrsquos storytelling area food vendors and an Aboriginal tourism bc information booth
the festival is also an opportunity to celebrate share and learn more
about the history of the First nations people in bc and the capital before the city became victoria esquimalt and songhees nations were one of the first nations to sign a treaty in bc ndash known as the vancouver island treaties which were signed between 1850ndash1854
this festival also coincides with national Aboriginal Day and the launch of the royal bc Museumrsquos new exhibit Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC opening June 21 2014
learn more onlineaboriginalbccom
Aboriginal Cultural Festival
16 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
gerry truscott earned his degree in creative Writing
from the university of victoria in 1982 and since then he has spent his professional life editing and publishing books He joined the royal bc Museum in 1989 as publisher He has edited and produced more than 100 books for the institution and has written or edited much of the
text that appears in the exhibition galleries in 2008 he wrote the exhibition text and book for the museumrsquos project celebrating british columbiarsquos 150th anniversary entitled Free Spirit Stories of You Me and BC
on his own time gerry writes fiction and has had several short stories published in magazines and anthologies Hersquos also very much
interested in soccer and hockey (playing and watching) jazz and progressive rock hiking cycling and walking his dogs
royal bc Museum publications are available at your local book store the royal bc Museum shop and royalbcmuseumbccapublications
FeAture PArtner
Canadian Geographic canadian geographic magazine
is a proud partner of the royal bc Museum one of canadarsquos most award-winning magazines canadian geographic is unapologetic about celebrating canada Wersquore dedicated to uncovering and communicating the stories about canadian people places frontiers and issues (past and present) that canadian magazine readers want Published by the royal canadian geographical society canadian geographic magazine is more than a geography publication each issue of canadian geographic is a voyage of discovery and exploration that features the latest
science environment travel human and cultural stories from across canada
canadian geographic connects with more than 38 million readers per issue in canada and abroad who share our fascination for canada Filled with stunning colour photography fascinating articles and specially commissioned maps each issue of canadian geographic magazine lets you travel the country without leaving home Yoursquoll discover canadarsquos people and cities our wildlife and wilderness our history and the beauty of our land subscriptions include six regular
issues of canadian geographic plus four issues of canadian geographic travel per year
For a special subscription offer exclusive to rbcM members please go to canadiangeographiccarbcm
stAFF ProFile
Gerry TruscottPublisHer
royalbcmuseumbcca 17
$100000 - $499999
$25000 - $99999
$5000 - $24999
the royal bc Museum appreciates and acknowledges the vital and
ongoing financial support of the Province of British Columbia the Ministry of Community Sport and Cultural Development and the Royal BC Museum Foundation their core support makes our work possible
While approximately 63 percent of our annual operating budget
comes from the Province and another 21 percent comes from memberships and admissions we need to raise the remaining 16 percent ndash three million dollars ndash each year from other sources including donations sponsorships and grants contributions from those who value the work of the royal bc Museum help us to meet our most pressing needs such as
Acquiring items for our collection conserving rare and
precious objects Furthering our world-class
research Developing our learning programs supporting our archives Presenting engaging exhibitions Publishing critically-
acclaimed books
Royal BC Museum Supporters(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Please join us in thanking the following individuals corporations and foundations for their support their demonstrated commitment and their inspiration during the past fiscal year
$500000+
bell Media
royal bc Museum Foundation teck resources limited tourism victoria
bc Hydro
black Press
clipper vacations
Hsbc bank of canada
the estate of Akiko Kamitakahara
lamar Advertising company
Pattison outdoor Advertising
the Jim Pattison broadcast group
Quark expeditions
times colonist
John and Joan Walton innovators Fund
Anonymous (1)
the bay centre
bc transit
black ball Ferry line
canadian Museums Association
cibc
cineplex Media
ctv vancouver island
Fannyrsquos cultured cow Products ltd
garth evans
Friends of the bc Archives
iMAX victoria
elizabeth Kennedy
gwendolyn Page
save on Foods Memorial centre
silk road tea
sunset Magazine
rosita Anna tovell
vancity savings credit union
viking Air
Jack and bev Wallace
Westerkirk capital
if you would like to support the work of the royal bc Museum please contact Jillian Appelman Philanthropy Manager at 250-387-3102 or jappelmanroyalbcmuseumbcca
18 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
$1000 - $4999
$500 - $999
$250 - $499
Collections
Education
Conservation
Research
every effort has been made to ensure our supporters are recognized accurately if you notice an error or omission please call the royal bc Museum Development Department at 250-387-7222
eric and leonda Adler
Patrick and Anne Anderson
Anonymous (1)
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
Joyce clearihue
Daphne corbett in memory of Joan corbett
Karen A Duddlesten
robert and Marianne eng
Flight centre
rupert and robin Hambro
bob and Marjorie Johns
lynne Kennedy
lyall and susan Knott
Professor Jack lohman cbe
ron and May lou-Poy
Kenneth and ellen Mahon
tommy Mayne
stefan and Magdalena opalski
Provincial employees community services Fund
Pauline rafferty and bob Plecas
suromitra sanatani and David turpin
sharon smith
Pauline and robert van Den Driessche
rene and Allison Weir
Angela Williams
Anonymous in memory of Joan corbett
robert Appleton in memory of Joan corbett
robert and birgit bateman
ian beauprie
gary and susan braley
Jeff bray
William and Jean cave
Kelly and rose chu
James and Jean cosgrove
carol cullimore
Jon Declan and bridget Dallison
Joe and linda Harvey
Mark Holford in memory of Joan corbett
erik lythgoe
ian and Margaret Mair
David Mattison
susan K McMillan
Jim and isabel Merston
charles and Marjorie Moser
Pauline and John Mustard Foundation
northwest Magazine
shelley reid
Anne and Don russell
Pete seward
John and Fern spring
W Anthony and Darlene southwell
Mark and elizabeth taylor
Anonymous (2)
robin Ashforth and gerald thompson
Patrick D crofton
Jean e Field and roy A richford
barbara Fields
Joyce Folbigg
Hotel grand Pacific
barbara longworth
Dennis Mccann and Diane Darch
Doreen Mitchell
gary Mitchell
greg and susan McKelvie
Helen Parker
barbara Potash
sandy Pratt
barbara rae and george suart
ernest and Adele roberts
robert rothwell
royal scot Hotel and suites
team telus cares
betty thacker
Alan tompson
victoria international buskers Festival
Maryla and Donovan Waters
Angela Wesley
chuck Wilson
royalbcmuseumbcca 19
1 british columbia MlA lana Popham and royal bc Museum ceo Prof Jack lohman discussing an artifact from the exhibition Vikings Lives Beyond the Legends
2 His excellency teppo tauriainen swedish Ambassador to canada and the Honourable linda reid MlA for richmond east and the speaker of the legislative Assembly at the Annual Kermode gala
3 Prof Jack lohman ceo royal bc Museum with seiji okada consul general of Japan and his wife Yasuko okada
4 sharon smith Francis Kermode group patron and 10-year volunteer
sharon smith is a dedicated 10-year volunteer who now
financially supports the royal bc Museum as a member of the Francis Kermode group ldquoexciting things are coming with the redevelopment plans for the royal bc Museum so it has been a very interesting time for me to get more involvedrdquo she says ldquoi have really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes tours and getting to know the other members of the grouprdquo
Having travelled to museums and historical sites around the world what strikes sharon is our uniqueness ldquoYou just cannot see what is in this collection anywhere else this is the only place that does
what it does it is hugely important to get behind it and i highly recommend that supporters consider joining the Francis Kermode group the activities are very enjoyable and our financial support makes a difference to the core work of the museum and archivesrdquo
she adds ldquoi have learned so much during my time with the group that i have decided to include a gift to the royal bc Museum in my will i feel it is an opportunity to extend my values and my dedication to the museum and archives beyond my lifetime the support is needed and the cause is very important to future generationsrdquo
Donor ProFile
Sharon Smith
The Francis Kermode Groupnamed after the royal bc
Museumrsquos first director the Francis Kermode group is a visionary group of patrons who enjoy a special relationship with the royal bc Museum and our world-class team of curators conservators researchers collections managers and archivists Members of the group deepen their
engagement throughout the year with an exclusive series of customized learning opportunities special privileges and social events created to enlighten stimulate and inspire as they explore the treasures of the royal bc Museum and our wonderful province
1
2
3
4
to join the Francis Kermode group or for more information contact Jon Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
20 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
As sharon smith noted (on the previous page) a will presents
a wonderful opportunity for you to extend your values beyond your lifetime and a meaningful way to connect past present and future generations once you have made
arrangements for your loved ones please consider the merits of making a bequest to the royal bc Museum gifts such as these are incredibly helpful in ensuring the long-term financial health of the museum and archives
For more information or to let us know that you have included us in your will please contact Jonathan Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
Have you considered leaving a gift in your will
there are over seven million artifacts and objects in the royal
bc Museumrsquos permanent collections making it one of the largest and most impressive museum collections in the country these objects bring life to the story of british columbia in ways that enlighten stimulate and inspire Many of these items are accessioned as gifts from generous museum and archives supporters who want to
see a favourite piece often a family heirloom live on forever and impact future generations the royal bc Museum is grateful for objects that help us further our provincial mandate to advance new knowledge and understanding of british columbiarsquos natural history and human history
Acquiring a new object is just the beginning of the story through
professional conservation protection measures and display consultations our highly-skilled conservation staff ensure that each piece is properly cared for and preserved conservation efforts are at the core of the important work we do and the end result is that another integral piece of british columbiarsquos history is shared with the world
Gifts to the Collections(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Mary Andrews
Anonymous (35)
bruce Archibald
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
gary bell
Peter bock
James burgess
Delphine castles
tom cockburn
Michael cooper
carole cullimore
carole Davidson
Howard Dirks
raymond graham
george guy
Hanson Materials limited
edward Harvey
James Douglas Helmcken
Dave Henly
Michael Holmes
richard Holmes
gord Hutchings
carl Jonsson
Milan and sharon lacika
Frank lomer
sandy Mclachlan
H edward Mclean
Mona Mosher
brett nelson
Margaret nelson
Dean nicholson
Frank ogden
Margaret ogilvie
out of the Mist gallery
nettie Pasieczka
tom Perry
bernie simpson
David starr
steve suntok
rosita Anna tovell in Memory of Freeman M tovell
south coast british columbia transportation Authority Police service
John veillette
rick Watson and Mike Watson
robert D Watt and Alison Watt
David Yuen
steve suntok fossil donor and volunteer
We wholeheartedly thank our generous donors to the collection during the past fiscal year
royalbcmuseumbcca 21
going DigitAl
Global Plants Initiativeby Dr erica Wheeler botany collections Manager collections care amp conservation
tYPe sPeciMen = the particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached
The Global Plants Initiativethe royal bc Museum has recently become a partner in the global Plants initiative (gPi) gPi is a collaborative effort among herbaria to make digital images of all botany tYPe sPeciMens available to researchers via access to a centralized repository this repository currently holds over 18 million high resolution images of tYPe sPeciMens contributed by over 270 herbaria from more than 70 countries gPi is funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation the image repository is housed and accessed electronically through (Journal storage) Jstor
the royal bc Museum herbarium houses over 80 tYPe sPeciMens that will be included in this important digitization effort
Describing and naming new species of plantsover 400000 species of plants are known to science that is to say more than 400000 species have been formally described and named by taxonomic experts Describing and naming new species is often slow and can be a complicated process A recent study reported that it takes an
average of 21 years from the date a taxonomist spots something new to science to the date the new name is officially recognized two things are required
the new name and a formal latin description must be validly published and
tYPe sPeciMens must be designated and deposited in a publicly accessible herbarium
During the time that a plant taxonomist is doing the work required to describe a new species they collect and preserve specimens for study the main goal of their study is to describe it in very precise terms in particular how does this new species differ from other related species Are the petals a different colour Are the tiny hairs on the underside of the leaves a different shape is this new species found in markedly different habitats than other closely related species
After the author has described and chosen a name for the new species tYPe sPeciMens are designated from the study material tYPe sPeciMens are the particular specimens to which the scientific name of the new species is formally attached because these are of great importance to the science of documenting biodiversity more
than one tYPe sPeciMen is often designated and these are distributed among different herbaria for safe-keeping in the event that one tYPe sPeciMen is destroyed or lost the others will still be available for study
there are at least seven categories of tYPe sPeciMens but HolotYPes and isotYPes are the most important
HolotYPe the single specimen designated by the author at the time of publication as the specimen upon which the description and name is based
isotYPe any specimen collected on the same date and from the same location as the specimen that is designated as the HolotYPe
Roemerrsquos fescuein 1983 royal bc Museum botany curator Dr leon Pavlick described and published the name of a new variety of grass commonly known as `roemerrsquos fescuersquo the scientific name for this grass is Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick names often describe a notable characteristic of a species or sometimes recognize the person who first discovered the new species roemerrsquos fescue was named after Dr Hans roemer a well-known bc botanist who made some of the early collections of this grass
22 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
in the royal bc Museum herbarium we store the HolotYPe of Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick in a special cabinet reserved for such important specimens High resolution images of this specimen and images of other tYPe sPeciMens in the botany collection will soon be available to researchers around the world via the Jstor repository Access to these images will facilitate global biodiversity research the royal bc Museum herbarium is thrilled to contribute to this effort
royalbcmuseumbcca 23
the Artists in Residence program began in september
of 2013 three artists ndash Aimee van Drimmelen lindsay Delaronde and garth gaudin ndash were selected to take part in the inaugural season of this project in addition to their involvement in events throughout the programming year every two weeks they visit different collections areas of the museum and archives the work they create chronicles both the extraordinary collections and the important work being done by staff and volunteers to maintain collections
Artists Get Inspired by the Collectionby chris orsquoconnor schools amp Family learning team lead
the artists are allowed to go behind the scenes and explore the collections Aimee dived into the botany collection which houses over 215000 specimens made up primarily of native and introduced plant species found in british columbia Most specimens are gathered pressed and affixed to cardstock that is marked with collection data for future reference the specimens are then stacked in folders bagged and stored in lockers the earliest specimen in botany is currently lichen collected in 1889
royal bc Museum volunteer Daniela toriola was helping prepare some new specimen sheets on the day the artists visited she carefully arranged the pressed plants gluing them onto the page with assorted metal weights to hold them down until they dried Daniela noted that she always tries to make the presentation as beautiful as possible it takes a lot of creativity to prepare specimens Whether itrsquos taxidermy
scientific drawings or the placement of sea creatures in a jar a lot of care is taken to make things visually appealing the preservation team takes pride in their work knowing that the collections will be looked upon for years to come
on her visit Aimee used a ldquospill saferdquo ink jar the ink mixed with water was perfect for capturing the transparency of leaves and petals and the dark curly roots she used a couple drops of water to wet her brush and introduced ink with a brush pen
Follow along with our artists and their creations on the royal bc Museum blog royalbcmuseumbccakids artists-in-residence
check out Aimeersquos personal blog featuring more entries and animations from different collection areas aimeesketchblogwordpresscom
ink drawing of liliaceae zigaderiusAimee van Drimmelenfrom the botany collection
royalbcmuseumbcca 25
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
there are over seven million objects in the royal bc Museum
collection from the big ndash full whale skeletons and a rolls royce ndash to the small ndash bugs and thimbles galore the vast majority of these collections are never on display this summer the museum and archiversquos doors will be thrown open and a rare glimpse at the highlights of the collection will be offered through a new website featuring a selection of the rare interesting significant and amazing pieces from the royal bc Museum
experts from all departments have peered into cabinets looked through
drawers and racked their brains submitting their top collection lists From this long list we have narrowed down 100 items this distillation from our collection isnrsquot necessarily the top historical or scientific items they arenrsquot always the prettiest ndash in fact some are downright ugly ndash but they are all significant in their right And many have fascinating stories coming to the royal bc Museum in ways you wouldnrsquot imagine the list includes giant squids a handbook to gold a spider named after a motorcycle the first marriage license treasures from bcrsquos favourite artist a rare First nations mask
and even a hockey stick the online collection will offer insight into the history of the province
look for this new website this summer at royalbcmuseumbcca100
by David Alexander Head of new Archives amp Digital Preservation
1 bubblegum coral
2 spindle Whorl
3 Kermode bear skull
4 childrsquos Dress
5 Yellow-bellied snake
6 Miettia salientensis Hofmann and Mountjoy 2010 Mount robson bc one of the oldest fossils in the collection
100 Objects of Interest
1
4
2
5
3
6
royalbcmuseumbcca 5
A Gallery Intervention by Janet MacDonald Head of learning
the royal bc Museumrsquos script the original exhibition text found
on panels and labels throughout the permanent galleries is now 50 years old
Prof Jack lohman the royal bc Museum ceo has expressed how essential it is to refresh this narrative just ldquoas you would update any text book of that agerdquo With this in mind the royal bc Museum has begun to review the core scripts and text with an eye to revise key messages and to increase the enjoyment and the potential for learning for all our visitors Phase i of this initiative began this spring with the natural History gallery
The Role of Text and a Team Approachchoosing an appropriate writer for the task was the first crucial step We found in Maleea Acker environmental journalist and local author an innate sensibility for the natural world Her writing style from examples of her published work aligned perfectly with the communication style we were after she joined our re-scripting team for the month of April and together with lead curator Dr Ken Marr curator of botany senior designer Ken Johnson and members of our learning staff we conducted a series of walkthroughs with all natural history
curators and collections managers their combined disciplinary expertise allowed us to look at the gallery in a holistic manner and capture the accuracy of the main narrative
As a starting point we acknowledged the importance of the written word in communicating main themes and key messages According to Maleea ldquotext forms a unifying reference point for our visitors as they travel through a variety of displays and exceptional dioramasrdquo such stunning environments can sometimes leave you visually distracted inside the story
6 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
Cool New Fossil Techour ability to properly prepare
fossil material for the collection has increased our collection Manager in Palaeontology Marji Johns has been busy outfitting a portion of the vertebrate lab on the main floor of the Fannin building to accommodate some heavy duty fossil prepping equipment Fossil material is often collected in the form of a matrix of rock containing one or many fossil representations Preparation of a macrofossil allows details to be revealed which are needed for identification and research some of the removed matrix can be chemically treated to recover microscopic fossils study and research on both macro- and microfossils can lead to a better understanding of past environments climates and the geologic history of an area removal of the matrix can reveal an exquisite fossil that may be exhibit quality Plus the reduction in matrix can allow for more efficient storage in the collection for both space and weight
now donrsquot take Jackrsquos analogy of the textbook literally We do not mean to put a book on the wall However there were important re-scripting considerations to keep in mind so many in fact that a text strategy was implemented We committed to acknowledging the myriad of visitor learning styles with an intention to accommodate as many of you as possible the text would be concise accessible and layered ndash the first layer being the most accessible and carrying the main message and subsequent layers providing progressively detailed information for those who want it Most importantly style is everything the writing would be engaging direct and conversational in a tone encouraging questioning and reflection
Getting it Writeto make a long story short we arrived at a stage in the process where the team felt comfortable with the content intent and the conversational aspects of the written words but ultimately true success would rely on whether the text resonated with you our visiting public And so we asked on sunday afternoon April 27 we orchestrated a testing session our seven lsquochapter headingsrsquo were produced in the form of text on paper mock-ups positioned strategically throughout the gallery each headline panel introduced a particular exhibit to visitors as they entered the environment
With the help of a team of volunteers we were able to assess our ability to communicate and engage people the results were fascinating and instructive comments ranged from an appreciation for the larger print type to questions regarding grammatical composition and use of analogies People of all ages time and again expressed their appreciation for being asked their opinion and many more felt that the signs made them think more deeply about what they were looking at
As i write this article the revised script is now in the hands of our trusted design team ndash who will turn our collaborative work into reality We will hang the script for your reading pleasure in June i encourage you to let us know what you think letrsquos not have another 50 years pass before the next revision
25 million year old whale vertebrae found on the west coast of vancouver island by steve suntok
royalbcmuseumbcca 7
treasures come to us in many different artifacts and specimens
today i introduce to you a human treasure victoria lawyer fossil enthusiast and royal bc Museum volunteer steve suntok steve came to us in the late summer of 2013 with an amazing fossil discovery He had found a rare bird bone from the west coast of vancouver island it is only the second fossil of its kind found in these rocks ndash the first find was over 120 years ago bird bones do not preserve well because they are thin and hollow an adaptation for flight
steve had heard from his fossil enthusiast friends that bird expert gary Kaiser was volunteering at the museum and archives gary identified this fossil as a tibiotarsus leg bone from a cormorant-like bird to make the identification he had carefully inspected the royal bc Museumrsquos modern bird research collections
volunteer ProFile
Steve Suntok by Marji Johns collections Manager Palaeontology
due to weathering damage and disintegration He selects specimens that are scientifically significant or recently exposed by erosion but are well preserved Fossils that are discerned as important but too large to transport are photographed and brought to the attention of experts collected specimens include location labels that are also numbered and recorded in a book For important specimens steve learns about them through readings by collaborating with experts and research through local palaeontology societies or volunteering at a museum
After documenting and donating many important specimens to the royal bc Museum such as whale vertebrae ribs teeth rare ammonites nautiloids crustaceans (crabs and lobsters) and unusual plant fossils steve also has helped unwrap document label and enter data for hundreds of other fossil specimens that were recently donated He has assisted with collections moves and the set up of palaeo lab equipment
there are many other volunteers participating in projects matched to their skills and interests they are all indispensable to the advancements of the palaeo collections at the museum and archives For them making contributions and learning are valued and we all enjoy developing friendships and gaining new experiences
other museum collections and scrutinized palaeontology research literature
gary and i were joking and with twinkles in our eyes said to steve ldquoHow about finding us anotherrdquo steve and his family (daughter leah and son graham) not only found another fossil tibiotarsus but also came back with an even rarer and new fossil bird bone from the site the last was in a 45 kg slab talus block that had fallen from the cliff and into the tidal zone it had been found by leah the block could not be easily downsized at the beach so steve carried it 5 kilometers out this rare bone will probably be a new species We know from previous research at the site that the fossil is about 25 million years old When gary Kaiserrsquos research is published you will be hearing more about this exciting find
steve has become an inspiring steward for bc palaeontology He has gained new knowledge about fossils and collections and this has led to important donations of other rare fossils for research and learning He did keep a few less important specimens for his familyrsquos enjoyment including fossils that connect them with memorable experiences of the day
steve collects responsibly meaning his discoveries mostly come from surface collection of fossils that are at greatest risk for being lost
8 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
A Fossil Hunting Adventure
After gazing-up and eyeing a prize eroding out of a waterfall
cliff i knew i had to have this fossil before mother nature swept it away i found myself 20 feet up a steep cliff under an overhang with a water pool below i tried climbing up but instead went for a dive and unexpected swim in January
on the next trip i tried climbing down with ropes got stuck cut myself loose to get down went for a second swim once again during a season best reserved for skiing and snowshoeing
Determined (my wife says obsessed) i welded a fire poker to a steel pipe but the poker broke off and it went
by steve suntok royal bc Museum volunteer amp donor
for a swim the next time i built a rope ladder and climbed to the top to hang it As i started to climb down the boards i was using for rungs broke ndash my third swim
next i went all out and bought a telescoping ladder i chose a 25 pound version because it was a long steep hike through the bush to get to the site the ladder was too short i went home empty-handed
i went and purchased a taller ladder on the plus side it was 22 feet high on the negative side it weighed 40 pounds and was difficult to haul A friend held the ladder steady and after an hour of carefully chipping away at rock the fossil was free i
caught it with my one free hand and now it sits proudly in my office it is a great ammonite but the memories make it all the better
i love fossil hunting in british columbia itrsquos cool that we can hold in our hands the remains of ancient life from millions of years ago i find that vancouver island is one of the most beautiful places on earth the scenery irsquove seen is by itself worth the effort and that you can find fossils while you are out there ndash that is a great bonus i love adventure and learning and i have met many awesome diverse interesting and kind people during these outings
gary Kaiser amp steve suntok
royalbcmuseumbcca 9
towards the end of her life artist and writer emily carr (1871-1945)
reduced the volume of her writings letters and sketchbooks to what would fit in a battered old steamer trunk in her unmistakable block printing carr expressed her wishes on a card and tacked it under the trunkrsquos lid ldquoAt MY DeAtH PleAse senD tHis boX AnD contents intAct to Mr irA DilWortH cAnADiAn broAD-cAsting corP vAncouver bc [signed] emily carrrdquo Dilworth was carrrsquos confidante and literary executor entrusted with the responsibility of managing her writings and posthumously publishing a number
of her manuscripts Many years after Dilworthrsquos death this distillation of a lifersquos work became one of several nuclei of the carr collections entrusted to the care of the bc Archives
the other groups of royal bc Museum carr collections centre around a large body of her artworks (mainly from the period preceding 1927 but including some important mature works) carr-related artifacts and archival and library records created by her peers and scholars the carr collections hold a number of surprises some of carrrsquos pottery pieces several of her hooked rugs and artifacts including First
Peoplersquos-crafted souvenir items purchased in 1907 and an articulated wooden doll that pops up in various carr sketches cartoons and in a documentary photograph of carrrsquos studio taken shortly after her death
While carrrsquos works are cared for and exhibited in over 35 public galleries museums and institutions and treasured in countless private collections world-wide the largest collection of carrrsquos career output is stewarded by the royal bc Museum Much of it can be consulted on a daily basis in the archives or by appointment this year the royal bc Museum is enhancing understanding of this rich legacy through a web
A ricH resource
Carr Collectionsby Don bourdon curator images amp Paintings
tanoo Qci emily carr 1913
10 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
exhibition featuring a timeline stubbed with Carrrsquos paintings drawings writings photographs and artifacts A ldquotreasure boxrdquo Emily Carr Gallery figures prominently in the Royal BC Museumrsquos redevelopment vision
Upon her death in 1945 the Province of BC purchased seven major Carr paintings including Tanoo (see accompanying figure) Artistic executor Lawren Harris selected 170 works from hundreds remaining in Carrrsquos home for the Emily Carr Trust Collection (now housed in the Vancouver Art Gallery and the National Gallery) Many works from her ldquoFrench Periodrdquo and watercolours were identified for sale to support this Trust Still others were set aside for destruction though many were salvaged and eventually made their way to the BC Archives Like so many prolific artists Carr had already given many works away and destroyed many more considered by her unworthy of retention
Today the Royal BC Museum holds the majority of Carrrsquos artistic literary and personal output Carrrsquos personal and professional archives over 1100 works of art Carrrsquos publications and publications about her and her art key photographs interviews and documentaries The works of art total 1112 items Approximately 900 of these are on paper primarily images in sketch books Approximately 200 are major paintings - oil on canvas oil on board or paper and watercolour on paper Also included are 24
representative pieces of pottery that Carr produced in large numbers for sale and several examples of the hooked rugs she used throughout her home and bestowed as gifts
The Emily Carr fonds (the unpublished archival records created and accumulated by Carr between 1879 and 1945) occupy 23 linear metres of shelf space and consist of correspondence journals manuscripts notebooks scrapbooks publications annotated by the artist financial records photographs and paintings
Records pertaining to Carr in other fonds occupy a further 16 linear metres of textual records In particular the records of the following are rich in detail about Carr Edythe Hembroff-Schleicher Flora Burns Humphrey Toms the Newcombe family and Richard Carr 55 sound recordings contain interviews and radio programs about Carr and 14 moving image records contain documentaries interviews and TV programs Our holdings include 10 works of art by other artists pertaining to Carr Of particular interest are 60 photographs of or pertaining to the artistwriter mainly formal portraits and candid shots depicting her with her art her treasured pets and close friends They also depict Carr family members studio interiors her various homes and colleagues
Carrrsquos published writings in various editions total 59 items and in 167 other publications Carr is the principle subject discussed
The Archives has constructed 16 linear centimetres of artist files pertaining to Emily Carr and artcraft works of Carrrsquos sisters The files include exhibit programmes auction information articles correspondence lists and images The Royal BC Museum holds extensive records pertaining to the Emily Carr Gallery that used to be on Wharf Street in Victoria its facility and program and Carr family home as a heritage building and site
Artifacts include Emilyrsquos Governorrsquos General Medal First Peoplesrsquo works purchased by the Carr sisters in Alaska in 1907 ndash and of course the trunk
View online exhibition royalbcmuseumbccaexhibitionsonline
Haida Totems Cha-atl Queen Charlotte IslandEmily Carr 1912
royalbcmuseumbcca 11
Archives Boot Camp Round Threeby Ann ten cate Archives gallery amp theatre learning team lead
After two successful and sold-out boot camps bc Archives staff
will be offering a third boot camp on saturday september 27 2014
our boot camps are designed to give people a crash course on how to do research at the bc Archives An overview of the collections is given ndash and whether you are a beginner or an expert yoursquoll be inspired
Prior to attending wersquoll assign you to a team with similar interests on the day of the boot camp you will rotate through various stations in our reference room receiving coaching from our expert staff our last camp included the History Hounds bouncing biographers colonial canterers the bobrsquos My uncle team the Family tree crew and the community crew by the end of the day yoursquoll have received some
tips about developing a research strategy know how to find material in our collection and you will have seen some of our most fascinating records Yoursquoll also get a tour of our behind-the-scenes storage areas the day finishes with a chance to get ldquostuck-inrdquo and do some individual research with our experts on-hand
our staff really enjoy helping people get started with their research or head out on new tangents itrsquos a day of immersion and discovery there is definitely a real buzz in our reference room as staff and researchers share information You can hear some of what went on at the last boot camp by listening to cbc radiorsquos north by northwest podcast cbccaplayerradiolocal+showsbritish+columbianorth+by+northwestiD2441594449
if yoursquove already attended our boot camp keep your eye on our calendar as later in the year we will start offering specialized workshops
ldquoGreat So glad I could comerdquo
ldquoThis was an excellent experience It gives me the confidence to return to the archives prepared to ask for assistance and feeling that there is a good starting placerdquo
ldquoLoved this Itrsquos the type of program Irsquod take again because there was so much info I think I missed a lot [before]rdquo
register online royalbcmuseumbccaevents
12 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
Supporting the Museum and Archives Through Local Artby christine roome owner sweet Memory Art
sweet Memory Art was born out of love for people and relationships
ndash the humour and the warmth of human connection My jewellery and art are about commemorating and celebrating the human connection and the relationships that carry us through and make us who we are
Museums are a home for preservation and curation and the birthplace of curiosity question connection history and education for people aged twondash92 i believe
that museums need to surface their collections and celebrate their exhibits through connecting with the local and international community
the sweet Memory Art viking jewellery line invites people to take a piece of the museum experience home 50 percent of the retail sale of the royal bc Museum collection on my website will go back to the royal bc Museum Foundation so that we can continue to learn from the past
You can find sweet Memory Art jewellery in the bc Museum gift shop or purchase pieces on christinersquos website at sweetmemoryartcom
FeAture PArtner
As a values-based financial co-operative vancity is committed
to transforming how banking is done so we can help our members and their local communities thrive financially socially and environmentally
We arenrsquot doing this alone on behalf of our members and community partners we are working to place the right tools in the hands of individuals and organizations working to make our world a better place
We seek to invest in and work closely with organizations and sectors that
Wersquore pleased the royal bc Museum has partnered with the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council on the Our Living Languages exhibition and Aboriginal tourism bc on the Aboriginal cultural Festival 2014 We can accomplish more when we work together
check out vancityrsquos online Annual report at vancitycom2013Annual report for more information on how we are working to build healthy communities
visit vancitycomaboriginalcommunities to learn more about how we are investing in Aboriginal communities to achieve economic strength and independence
we feel have the potential for high positive community impact aligned with our three guiding principles ndash social justice and financial inclusion environmental sustainability and co-operative principles and practices
our partnership with the royal bc Museum is an example of this approach in our work with Aboriginal communities in the coast salish territories where we do business and through our partnership with reconciliation canada we better understand the importance of dialogue and the need for all of us to gain more knowledge about the First Peoples We have much to learn about the history of our land and its people and the importance of language and culture as roots of identity pride and self awareness
royalbcmuseumbcca 13
it wasnrsquot designed to be an emotional touchpoint but sometimes people
respond in surprising ways to details in the royal bc Museum Well before the Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC exhibition was due to open when patches of carpet were tagged with green painterrsquos tape and the drywall mud was still damp bobbilee copeland walked through the exhibition space
it wasnrsquot completely empty one of the exhibitionrsquos first elements to be erected were 17 towering double-sided pylons clad in colourful paint and bearing the names of the 34 First nations languages that are indigenous to british columbia ndash what will become known as the ldquolanguage Forestrdquo
copeland ndash coordinator of the language revitalization program at the university of victoria ndash was visiting the royal bc Museum to discuss potential partnerships aligned with indigenous languages
and the museum and archivesrsquo learning programs and was touring the unfinished exhibition space she stopped in mid-stride when she saw her own language written on one of the pylons then walked over and gave the metal ldquotreerdquo a long hug
For staff at the royal bc Museum this was an unanticipated sight but also a welcome affirmation that the exhibition was going to have deep meaning for many visitors
ldquoBobbileersquos spontaneous gesture was overwhelmingly powerful In that instant I realized how important this exhibition was to her and all the champions of language revitalization the lsquotreersquo such a tangible representation of the intangible fragility of languagerdquo
Janet MacDonald the royal bc Museumrsquos Head of learning
and visitor engagement experience
it was a gratifying moment for all involved in the planning and design of the exhibition language is a powerful potent marker of identity and culture think about the emotional resonance of the term ldquomother tonguerdquo ndash the languages we grow up with are our kin nourishment and birthright
so the revitalization of languages in bcrsquos First nations communities is bound to stir up feelings of pride loss pain and joy the Our Living Languages exhibition aims to tell the stories of how languages have been nearly-lost and newly awakened and illustrate the success stories of language diversity and revitalization throughout bc
telling these stories has been a deeply collaborative project the royal bc Museum has relied upon the expertise of its partner the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council to shape the narrative provide content and advice on cultural matters
Our Living Languages A Beautiful Collaborationby erik lamberston corporate communications officer
transmission of traditional knowledge at Kaska language camp
14 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
the royal bc Museumrsquos job has been to find the compelling way to communicate the messages through design the two organizations chose to partner closely as they fine-tune details about design development orthography marketing ndash virtually every aspect of the exhibition
ldquoWe are honoured to be part of creation this important exhibition First Nations language speakers are the true experts when it comes to describing and sharing information about their languages By involving them in the development process we hope to create an experience that is both authentic and meaningful for visitors to the museumrdquo
lorna Williams chair of the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council
in fact the theme of co-mingled multiple perspectives has become
a sub-theme of the exhibition itself For example one of the successes of the exhibition is how well it integrates oral and aural experiences with our other senses visitors often expect museum-going to be a primarily visual experience but Our Living Languages is about language transmission a fundamentally spoken activity
And the truth is that contemporary innovative places like the royal bc Museum are increasingly interactive and multi-sensory so Our Living Language rsquos audio messages are supported through visually-interesting video content and tactile details that are rooted in First nations culture
take the cradleboard theatre ndash a small and intimate space that will replicate a cedar root basket inside visitors will be cocooned in soothing First nations languages and lullabies for an immersive experience the idea came from cultural advisors and the medium was designed and fabricated by the royal bc Museumrsquos exhibition arts team
the cradleboard theatre is just one element of the innovative multi-sensory exhibition the
language forest will ldquospeakrdquo as visitors approach each ldquotreerdquo wired with motion sensors A theatre space a rounded counterpoint to the forest spires will be animated by presenters who will add a live dimension to this human story
Our Living Languages will open on saturday June 21 ndash national Aboriginal Day the royal bc Museum will be a celebratory space that weekend with Aboriginal tourism bc hosting the Aboriginal cultural Festival June 19-21 enlivening the campus outside (see page 16 for details) and this collaborative exhibition drawing new eyes ndash and ears ndash to the fascinating and moving story of language diversity and revitalization in bcrsquos First nations communities
royalbcmuseumbcca 15
From June 19 to 21 victoria will host the 2014 Aboriginal cultural
Festival highlighting and celebrating the regionrsquos rich indigenous culture through storytelling artisans dance song and food
created in partnership with Aboriginal tourism bc (Atbc) the esquimalt and songhees nations the royal bc Museum tourism victoria robert bateman centre greater victoria Harbour Authority and First Peoplesrsquo cultural council the festival will take place on the outdoor campus of the royal bc Museum and around victoriarsquos inner Harbour
the three-day festival will feature main stage performances including three-time world champion hoop dancer Alex Wells an artisan area where people may watch demonstrations meet the artists and also learn about the new Authentic Aboriginal program that helps consumers identify products designed created and sold by bc Aboriginal artists a childrenrsquos storytelling area food vendors and an Aboriginal tourism bc information booth
the festival is also an opportunity to celebrate share and learn more
about the history of the First nations people in bc and the capital before the city became victoria esquimalt and songhees nations were one of the first nations to sign a treaty in bc ndash known as the vancouver island treaties which were signed between 1850ndash1854
this festival also coincides with national Aboriginal Day and the launch of the royal bc Museumrsquos new exhibit Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC opening June 21 2014
learn more onlineaboriginalbccom
Aboriginal Cultural Festival
16 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
gerry truscott earned his degree in creative Writing
from the university of victoria in 1982 and since then he has spent his professional life editing and publishing books He joined the royal bc Museum in 1989 as publisher He has edited and produced more than 100 books for the institution and has written or edited much of the
text that appears in the exhibition galleries in 2008 he wrote the exhibition text and book for the museumrsquos project celebrating british columbiarsquos 150th anniversary entitled Free Spirit Stories of You Me and BC
on his own time gerry writes fiction and has had several short stories published in magazines and anthologies Hersquos also very much
interested in soccer and hockey (playing and watching) jazz and progressive rock hiking cycling and walking his dogs
royal bc Museum publications are available at your local book store the royal bc Museum shop and royalbcmuseumbccapublications
FeAture PArtner
Canadian Geographic canadian geographic magazine
is a proud partner of the royal bc Museum one of canadarsquos most award-winning magazines canadian geographic is unapologetic about celebrating canada Wersquore dedicated to uncovering and communicating the stories about canadian people places frontiers and issues (past and present) that canadian magazine readers want Published by the royal canadian geographical society canadian geographic magazine is more than a geography publication each issue of canadian geographic is a voyage of discovery and exploration that features the latest
science environment travel human and cultural stories from across canada
canadian geographic connects with more than 38 million readers per issue in canada and abroad who share our fascination for canada Filled with stunning colour photography fascinating articles and specially commissioned maps each issue of canadian geographic magazine lets you travel the country without leaving home Yoursquoll discover canadarsquos people and cities our wildlife and wilderness our history and the beauty of our land subscriptions include six regular
issues of canadian geographic plus four issues of canadian geographic travel per year
For a special subscription offer exclusive to rbcM members please go to canadiangeographiccarbcm
stAFF ProFile
Gerry TruscottPublisHer
royalbcmuseumbcca 17
$100000 - $499999
$25000 - $99999
$5000 - $24999
the royal bc Museum appreciates and acknowledges the vital and
ongoing financial support of the Province of British Columbia the Ministry of Community Sport and Cultural Development and the Royal BC Museum Foundation their core support makes our work possible
While approximately 63 percent of our annual operating budget
comes from the Province and another 21 percent comes from memberships and admissions we need to raise the remaining 16 percent ndash three million dollars ndash each year from other sources including donations sponsorships and grants contributions from those who value the work of the royal bc Museum help us to meet our most pressing needs such as
Acquiring items for our collection conserving rare and
precious objects Furthering our world-class
research Developing our learning programs supporting our archives Presenting engaging exhibitions Publishing critically-
acclaimed books
Royal BC Museum Supporters(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Please join us in thanking the following individuals corporations and foundations for their support their demonstrated commitment and their inspiration during the past fiscal year
$500000+
bell Media
royal bc Museum Foundation teck resources limited tourism victoria
bc Hydro
black Press
clipper vacations
Hsbc bank of canada
the estate of Akiko Kamitakahara
lamar Advertising company
Pattison outdoor Advertising
the Jim Pattison broadcast group
Quark expeditions
times colonist
John and Joan Walton innovators Fund
Anonymous (1)
the bay centre
bc transit
black ball Ferry line
canadian Museums Association
cibc
cineplex Media
ctv vancouver island
Fannyrsquos cultured cow Products ltd
garth evans
Friends of the bc Archives
iMAX victoria
elizabeth Kennedy
gwendolyn Page
save on Foods Memorial centre
silk road tea
sunset Magazine
rosita Anna tovell
vancity savings credit union
viking Air
Jack and bev Wallace
Westerkirk capital
if you would like to support the work of the royal bc Museum please contact Jillian Appelman Philanthropy Manager at 250-387-3102 or jappelmanroyalbcmuseumbcca
18 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
$1000 - $4999
$500 - $999
$250 - $499
Collections
Education
Conservation
Research
every effort has been made to ensure our supporters are recognized accurately if you notice an error or omission please call the royal bc Museum Development Department at 250-387-7222
eric and leonda Adler
Patrick and Anne Anderson
Anonymous (1)
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
Joyce clearihue
Daphne corbett in memory of Joan corbett
Karen A Duddlesten
robert and Marianne eng
Flight centre
rupert and robin Hambro
bob and Marjorie Johns
lynne Kennedy
lyall and susan Knott
Professor Jack lohman cbe
ron and May lou-Poy
Kenneth and ellen Mahon
tommy Mayne
stefan and Magdalena opalski
Provincial employees community services Fund
Pauline rafferty and bob Plecas
suromitra sanatani and David turpin
sharon smith
Pauline and robert van Den Driessche
rene and Allison Weir
Angela Williams
Anonymous in memory of Joan corbett
robert Appleton in memory of Joan corbett
robert and birgit bateman
ian beauprie
gary and susan braley
Jeff bray
William and Jean cave
Kelly and rose chu
James and Jean cosgrove
carol cullimore
Jon Declan and bridget Dallison
Joe and linda Harvey
Mark Holford in memory of Joan corbett
erik lythgoe
ian and Margaret Mair
David Mattison
susan K McMillan
Jim and isabel Merston
charles and Marjorie Moser
Pauline and John Mustard Foundation
northwest Magazine
shelley reid
Anne and Don russell
Pete seward
John and Fern spring
W Anthony and Darlene southwell
Mark and elizabeth taylor
Anonymous (2)
robin Ashforth and gerald thompson
Patrick D crofton
Jean e Field and roy A richford
barbara Fields
Joyce Folbigg
Hotel grand Pacific
barbara longworth
Dennis Mccann and Diane Darch
Doreen Mitchell
gary Mitchell
greg and susan McKelvie
Helen Parker
barbara Potash
sandy Pratt
barbara rae and george suart
ernest and Adele roberts
robert rothwell
royal scot Hotel and suites
team telus cares
betty thacker
Alan tompson
victoria international buskers Festival
Maryla and Donovan Waters
Angela Wesley
chuck Wilson
royalbcmuseumbcca 19
1 british columbia MlA lana Popham and royal bc Museum ceo Prof Jack lohman discussing an artifact from the exhibition Vikings Lives Beyond the Legends
2 His excellency teppo tauriainen swedish Ambassador to canada and the Honourable linda reid MlA for richmond east and the speaker of the legislative Assembly at the Annual Kermode gala
3 Prof Jack lohman ceo royal bc Museum with seiji okada consul general of Japan and his wife Yasuko okada
4 sharon smith Francis Kermode group patron and 10-year volunteer
sharon smith is a dedicated 10-year volunteer who now
financially supports the royal bc Museum as a member of the Francis Kermode group ldquoexciting things are coming with the redevelopment plans for the royal bc Museum so it has been a very interesting time for me to get more involvedrdquo she says ldquoi have really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes tours and getting to know the other members of the grouprdquo
Having travelled to museums and historical sites around the world what strikes sharon is our uniqueness ldquoYou just cannot see what is in this collection anywhere else this is the only place that does
what it does it is hugely important to get behind it and i highly recommend that supporters consider joining the Francis Kermode group the activities are very enjoyable and our financial support makes a difference to the core work of the museum and archivesrdquo
she adds ldquoi have learned so much during my time with the group that i have decided to include a gift to the royal bc Museum in my will i feel it is an opportunity to extend my values and my dedication to the museum and archives beyond my lifetime the support is needed and the cause is very important to future generationsrdquo
Donor ProFile
Sharon Smith
The Francis Kermode Groupnamed after the royal bc
Museumrsquos first director the Francis Kermode group is a visionary group of patrons who enjoy a special relationship with the royal bc Museum and our world-class team of curators conservators researchers collections managers and archivists Members of the group deepen their
engagement throughout the year with an exclusive series of customized learning opportunities special privileges and social events created to enlighten stimulate and inspire as they explore the treasures of the royal bc Museum and our wonderful province
1
2
3
4
to join the Francis Kermode group or for more information contact Jon Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
20 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
As sharon smith noted (on the previous page) a will presents
a wonderful opportunity for you to extend your values beyond your lifetime and a meaningful way to connect past present and future generations once you have made
arrangements for your loved ones please consider the merits of making a bequest to the royal bc Museum gifts such as these are incredibly helpful in ensuring the long-term financial health of the museum and archives
For more information or to let us know that you have included us in your will please contact Jonathan Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
Have you considered leaving a gift in your will
there are over seven million artifacts and objects in the royal
bc Museumrsquos permanent collections making it one of the largest and most impressive museum collections in the country these objects bring life to the story of british columbia in ways that enlighten stimulate and inspire Many of these items are accessioned as gifts from generous museum and archives supporters who want to
see a favourite piece often a family heirloom live on forever and impact future generations the royal bc Museum is grateful for objects that help us further our provincial mandate to advance new knowledge and understanding of british columbiarsquos natural history and human history
Acquiring a new object is just the beginning of the story through
professional conservation protection measures and display consultations our highly-skilled conservation staff ensure that each piece is properly cared for and preserved conservation efforts are at the core of the important work we do and the end result is that another integral piece of british columbiarsquos history is shared with the world
Gifts to the Collections(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Mary Andrews
Anonymous (35)
bruce Archibald
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
gary bell
Peter bock
James burgess
Delphine castles
tom cockburn
Michael cooper
carole cullimore
carole Davidson
Howard Dirks
raymond graham
george guy
Hanson Materials limited
edward Harvey
James Douglas Helmcken
Dave Henly
Michael Holmes
richard Holmes
gord Hutchings
carl Jonsson
Milan and sharon lacika
Frank lomer
sandy Mclachlan
H edward Mclean
Mona Mosher
brett nelson
Margaret nelson
Dean nicholson
Frank ogden
Margaret ogilvie
out of the Mist gallery
nettie Pasieczka
tom Perry
bernie simpson
David starr
steve suntok
rosita Anna tovell in Memory of Freeman M tovell
south coast british columbia transportation Authority Police service
John veillette
rick Watson and Mike Watson
robert D Watt and Alison Watt
David Yuen
steve suntok fossil donor and volunteer
We wholeheartedly thank our generous donors to the collection during the past fiscal year
royalbcmuseumbcca 21
going DigitAl
Global Plants Initiativeby Dr erica Wheeler botany collections Manager collections care amp conservation
tYPe sPeciMen = the particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached
The Global Plants Initiativethe royal bc Museum has recently become a partner in the global Plants initiative (gPi) gPi is a collaborative effort among herbaria to make digital images of all botany tYPe sPeciMens available to researchers via access to a centralized repository this repository currently holds over 18 million high resolution images of tYPe sPeciMens contributed by over 270 herbaria from more than 70 countries gPi is funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation the image repository is housed and accessed electronically through (Journal storage) Jstor
the royal bc Museum herbarium houses over 80 tYPe sPeciMens that will be included in this important digitization effort
Describing and naming new species of plantsover 400000 species of plants are known to science that is to say more than 400000 species have been formally described and named by taxonomic experts Describing and naming new species is often slow and can be a complicated process A recent study reported that it takes an
average of 21 years from the date a taxonomist spots something new to science to the date the new name is officially recognized two things are required
the new name and a formal latin description must be validly published and
tYPe sPeciMens must be designated and deposited in a publicly accessible herbarium
During the time that a plant taxonomist is doing the work required to describe a new species they collect and preserve specimens for study the main goal of their study is to describe it in very precise terms in particular how does this new species differ from other related species Are the petals a different colour Are the tiny hairs on the underside of the leaves a different shape is this new species found in markedly different habitats than other closely related species
After the author has described and chosen a name for the new species tYPe sPeciMens are designated from the study material tYPe sPeciMens are the particular specimens to which the scientific name of the new species is formally attached because these are of great importance to the science of documenting biodiversity more
than one tYPe sPeciMen is often designated and these are distributed among different herbaria for safe-keeping in the event that one tYPe sPeciMen is destroyed or lost the others will still be available for study
there are at least seven categories of tYPe sPeciMens but HolotYPes and isotYPes are the most important
HolotYPe the single specimen designated by the author at the time of publication as the specimen upon which the description and name is based
isotYPe any specimen collected on the same date and from the same location as the specimen that is designated as the HolotYPe
Roemerrsquos fescuein 1983 royal bc Museum botany curator Dr leon Pavlick described and published the name of a new variety of grass commonly known as `roemerrsquos fescuersquo the scientific name for this grass is Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick names often describe a notable characteristic of a species or sometimes recognize the person who first discovered the new species roemerrsquos fescue was named after Dr Hans roemer a well-known bc botanist who made some of the early collections of this grass
22 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
in the royal bc Museum herbarium we store the HolotYPe of Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick in a special cabinet reserved for such important specimens High resolution images of this specimen and images of other tYPe sPeciMens in the botany collection will soon be available to researchers around the world via the Jstor repository Access to these images will facilitate global biodiversity research the royal bc Museum herbarium is thrilled to contribute to this effort
royalbcmuseumbcca 23
the Artists in Residence program began in september
of 2013 three artists ndash Aimee van Drimmelen lindsay Delaronde and garth gaudin ndash were selected to take part in the inaugural season of this project in addition to their involvement in events throughout the programming year every two weeks they visit different collections areas of the museum and archives the work they create chronicles both the extraordinary collections and the important work being done by staff and volunteers to maintain collections
Artists Get Inspired by the Collectionby chris orsquoconnor schools amp Family learning team lead
the artists are allowed to go behind the scenes and explore the collections Aimee dived into the botany collection which houses over 215000 specimens made up primarily of native and introduced plant species found in british columbia Most specimens are gathered pressed and affixed to cardstock that is marked with collection data for future reference the specimens are then stacked in folders bagged and stored in lockers the earliest specimen in botany is currently lichen collected in 1889
royal bc Museum volunteer Daniela toriola was helping prepare some new specimen sheets on the day the artists visited she carefully arranged the pressed plants gluing them onto the page with assorted metal weights to hold them down until they dried Daniela noted that she always tries to make the presentation as beautiful as possible it takes a lot of creativity to prepare specimens Whether itrsquos taxidermy
scientific drawings or the placement of sea creatures in a jar a lot of care is taken to make things visually appealing the preservation team takes pride in their work knowing that the collections will be looked upon for years to come
on her visit Aimee used a ldquospill saferdquo ink jar the ink mixed with water was perfect for capturing the transparency of leaves and petals and the dark curly roots she used a couple drops of water to wet her brush and introduced ink with a brush pen
Follow along with our artists and their creations on the royal bc Museum blog royalbcmuseumbccakids artists-in-residence
check out Aimeersquos personal blog featuring more entries and animations from different collection areas aimeesketchblogwordpresscom
ink drawing of liliaceae zigaderiusAimee van Drimmelenfrom the botany collection
royalbcmuseumbcca 25
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
A Gallery Intervention by Janet MacDonald Head of learning
the royal bc Museumrsquos script the original exhibition text found
on panels and labels throughout the permanent galleries is now 50 years old
Prof Jack lohman the royal bc Museum ceo has expressed how essential it is to refresh this narrative just ldquoas you would update any text book of that agerdquo With this in mind the royal bc Museum has begun to review the core scripts and text with an eye to revise key messages and to increase the enjoyment and the potential for learning for all our visitors Phase i of this initiative began this spring with the natural History gallery
The Role of Text and a Team Approachchoosing an appropriate writer for the task was the first crucial step We found in Maleea Acker environmental journalist and local author an innate sensibility for the natural world Her writing style from examples of her published work aligned perfectly with the communication style we were after she joined our re-scripting team for the month of April and together with lead curator Dr Ken Marr curator of botany senior designer Ken Johnson and members of our learning staff we conducted a series of walkthroughs with all natural history
curators and collections managers their combined disciplinary expertise allowed us to look at the gallery in a holistic manner and capture the accuracy of the main narrative
As a starting point we acknowledged the importance of the written word in communicating main themes and key messages According to Maleea ldquotext forms a unifying reference point for our visitors as they travel through a variety of displays and exceptional dioramasrdquo such stunning environments can sometimes leave you visually distracted inside the story
6 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
Cool New Fossil Techour ability to properly prepare
fossil material for the collection has increased our collection Manager in Palaeontology Marji Johns has been busy outfitting a portion of the vertebrate lab on the main floor of the Fannin building to accommodate some heavy duty fossil prepping equipment Fossil material is often collected in the form of a matrix of rock containing one or many fossil representations Preparation of a macrofossil allows details to be revealed which are needed for identification and research some of the removed matrix can be chemically treated to recover microscopic fossils study and research on both macro- and microfossils can lead to a better understanding of past environments climates and the geologic history of an area removal of the matrix can reveal an exquisite fossil that may be exhibit quality Plus the reduction in matrix can allow for more efficient storage in the collection for both space and weight
now donrsquot take Jackrsquos analogy of the textbook literally We do not mean to put a book on the wall However there were important re-scripting considerations to keep in mind so many in fact that a text strategy was implemented We committed to acknowledging the myriad of visitor learning styles with an intention to accommodate as many of you as possible the text would be concise accessible and layered ndash the first layer being the most accessible and carrying the main message and subsequent layers providing progressively detailed information for those who want it Most importantly style is everything the writing would be engaging direct and conversational in a tone encouraging questioning and reflection
Getting it Writeto make a long story short we arrived at a stage in the process where the team felt comfortable with the content intent and the conversational aspects of the written words but ultimately true success would rely on whether the text resonated with you our visiting public And so we asked on sunday afternoon April 27 we orchestrated a testing session our seven lsquochapter headingsrsquo were produced in the form of text on paper mock-ups positioned strategically throughout the gallery each headline panel introduced a particular exhibit to visitors as they entered the environment
With the help of a team of volunteers we were able to assess our ability to communicate and engage people the results were fascinating and instructive comments ranged from an appreciation for the larger print type to questions regarding grammatical composition and use of analogies People of all ages time and again expressed their appreciation for being asked their opinion and many more felt that the signs made them think more deeply about what they were looking at
As i write this article the revised script is now in the hands of our trusted design team ndash who will turn our collaborative work into reality We will hang the script for your reading pleasure in June i encourage you to let us know what you think letrsquos not have another 50 years pass before the next revision
25 million year old whale vertebrae found on the west coast of vancouver island by steve suntok
royalbcmuseumbcca 7
treasures come to us in many different artifacts and specimens
today i introduce to you a human treasure victoria lawyer fossil enthusiast and royal bc Museum volunteer steve suntok steve came to us in the late summer of 2013 with an amazing fossil discovery He had found a rare bird bone from the west coast of vancouver island it is only the second fossil of its kind found in these rocks ndash the first find was over 120 years ago bird bones do not preserve well because they are thin and hollow an adaptation for flight
steve had heard from his fossil enthusiast friends that bird expert gary Kaiser was volunteering at the museum and archives gary identified this fossil as a tibiotarsus leg bone from a cormorant-like bird to make the identification he had carefully inspected the royal bc Museumrsquos modern bird research collections
volunteer ProFile
Steve Suntok by Marji Johns collections Manager Palaeontology
due to weathering damage and disintegration He selects specimens that are scientifically significant or recently exposed by erosion but are well preserved Fossils that are discerned as important but too large to transport are photographed and brought to the attention of experts collected specimens include location labels that are also numbered and recorded in a book For important specimens steve learns about them through readings by collaborating with experts and research through local palaeontology societies or volunteering at a museum
After documenting and donating many important specimens to the royal bc Museum such as whale vertebrae ribs teeth rare ammonites nautiloids crustaceans (crabs and lobsters) and unusual plant fossils steve also has helped unwrap document label and enter data for hundreds of other fossil specimens that were recently donated He has assisted with collections moves and the set up of palaeo lab equipment
there are many other volunteers participating in projects matched to their skills and interests they are all indispensable to the advancements of the palaeo collections at the museum and archives For them making contributions and learning are valued and we all enjoy developing friendships and gaining new experiences
other museum collections and scrutinized palaeontology research literature
gary and i were joking and with twinkles in our eyes said to steve ldquoHow about finding us anotherrdquo steve and his family (daughter leah and son graham) not only found another fossil tibiotarsus but also came back with an even rarer and new fossil bird bone from the site the last was in a 45 kg slab talus block that had fallen from the cliff and into the tidal zone it had been found by leah the block could not be easily downsized at the beach so steve carried it 5 kilometers out this rare bone will probably be a new species We know from previous research at the site that the fossil is about 25 million years old When gary Kaiserrsquos research is published you will be hearing more about this exciting find
steve has become an inspiring steward for bc palaeontology He has gained new knowledge about fossils and collections and this has led to important donations of other rare fossils for research and learning He did keep a few less important specimens for his familyrsquos enjoyment including fossils that connect them with memorable experiences of the day
steve collects responsibly meaning his discoveries mostly come from surface collection of fossils that are at greatest risk for being lost
8 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
A Fossil Hunting Adventure
After gazing-up and eyeing a prize eroding out of a waterfall
cliff i knew i had to have this fossil before mother nature swept it away i found myself 20 feet up a steep cliff under an overhang with a water pool below i tried climbing up but instead went for a dive and unexpected swim in January
on the next trip i tried climbing down with ropes got stuck cut myself loose to get down went for a second swim once again during a season best reserved for skiing and snowshoeing
Determined (my wife says obsessed) i welded a fire poker to a steel pipe but the poker broke off and it went
by steve suntok royal bc Museum volunteer amp donor
for a swim the next time i built a rope ladder and climbed to the top to hang it As i started to climb down the boards i was using for rungs broke ndash my third swim
next i went all out and bought a telescoping ladder i chose a 25 pound version because it was a long steep hike through the bush to get to the site the ladder was too short i went home empty-handed
i went and purchased a taller ladder on the plus side it was 22 feet high on the negative side it weighed 40 pounds and was difficult to haul A friend held the ladder steady and after an hour of carefully chipping away at rock the fossil was free i
caught it with my one free hand and now it sits proudly in my office it is a great ammonite but the memories make it all the better
i love fossil hunting in british columbia itrsquos cool that we can hold in our hands the remains of ancient life from millions of years ago i find that vancouver island is one of the most beautiful places on earth the scenery irsquove seen is by itself worth the effort and that you can find fossils while you are out there ndash that is a great bonus i love adventure and learning and i have met many awesome diverse interesting and kind people during these outings
gary Kaiser amp steve suntok
royalbcmuseumbcca 9
towards the end of her life artist and writer emily carr (1871-1945)
reduced the volume of her writings letters and sketchbooks to what would fit in a battered old steamer trunk in her unmistakable block printing carr expressed her wishes on a card and tacked it under the trunkrsquos lid ldquoAt MY DeAtH PleAse senD tHis boX AnD contents intAct to Mr irA DilWortH cAnADiAn broAD-cAsting corP vAncouver bc [signed] emily carrrdquo Dilworth was carrrsquos confidante and literary executor entrusted with the responsibility of managing her writings and posthumously publishing a number
of her manuscripts Many years after Dilworthrsquos death this distillation of a lifersquos work became one of several nuclei of the carr collections entrusted to the care of the bc Archives
the other groups of royal bc Museum carr collections centre around a large body of her artworks (mainly from the period preceding 1927 but including some important mature works) carr-related artifacts and archival and library records created by her peers and scholars the carr collections hold a number of surprises some of carrrsquos pottery pieces several of her hooked rugs and artifacts including First
Peoplersquos-crafted souvenir items purchased in 1907 and an articulated wooden doll that pops up in various carr sketches cartoons and in a documentary photograph of carrrsquos studio taken shortly after her death
While carrrsquos works are cared for and exhibited in over 35 public galleries museums and institutions and treasured in countless private collections world-wide the largest collection of carrrsquos career output is stewarded by the royal bc Museum Much of it can be consulted on a daily basis in the archives or by appointment this year the royal bc Museum is enhancing understanding of this rich legacy through a web
A ricH resource
Carr Collectionsby Don bourdon curator images amp Paintings
tanoo Qci emily carr 1913
10 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
exhibition featuring a timeline stubbed with Carrrsquos paintings drawings writings photographs and artifacts A ldquotreasure boxrdquo Emily Carr Gallery figures prominently in the Royal BC Museumrsquos redevelopment vision
Upon her death in 1945 the Province of BC purchased seven major Carr paintings including Tanoo (see accompanying figure) Artistic executor Lawren Harris selected 170 works from hundreds remaining in Carrrsquos home for the Emily Carr Trust Collection (now housed in the Vancouver Art Gallery and the National Gallery) Many works from her ldquoFrench Periodrdquo and watercolours were identified for sale to support this Trust Still others were set aside for destruction though many were salvaged and eventually made their way to the BC Archives Like so many prolific artists Carr had already given many works away and destroyed many more considered by her unworthy of retention
Today the Royal BC Museum holds the majority of Carrrsquos artistic literary and personal output Carrrsquos personal and professional archives over 1100 works of art Carrrsquos publications and publications about her and her art key photographs interviews and documentaries The works of art total 1112 items Approximately 900 of these are on paper primarily images in sketch books Approximately 200 are major paintings - oil on canvas oil on board or paper and watercolour on paper Also included are 24
representative pieces of pottery that Carr produced in large numbers for sale and several examples of the hooked rugs she used throughout her home and bestowed as gifts
The Emily Carr fonds (the unpublished archival records created and accumulated by Carr between 1879 and 1945) occupy 23 linear metres of shelf space and consist of correspondence journals manuscripts notebooks scrapbooks publications annotated by the artist financial records photographs and paintings
Records pertaining to Carr in other fonds occupy a further 16 linear metres of textual records In particular the records of the following are rich in detail about Carr Edythe Hembroff-Schleicher Flora Burns Humphrey Toms the Newcombe family and Richard Carr 55 sound recordings contain interviews and radio programs about Carr and 14 moving image records contain documentaries interviews and TV programs Our holdings include 10 works of art by other artists pertaining to Carr Of particular interest are 60 photographs of or pertaining to the artistwriter mainly formal portraits and candid shots depicting her with her art her treasured pets and close friends They also depict Carr family members studio interiors her various homes and colleagues
Carrrsquos published writings in various editions total 59 items and in 167 other publications Carr is the principle subject discussed
The Archives has constructed 16 linear centimetres of artist files pertaining to Emily Carr and artcraft works of Carrrsquos sisters The files include exhibit programmes auction information articles correspondence lists and images The Royal BC Museum holds extensive records pertaining to the Emily Carr Gallery that used to be on Wharf Street in Victoria its facility and program and Carr family home as a heritage building and site
Artifacts include Emilyrsquos Governorrsquos General Medal First Peoplesrsquo works purchased by the Carr sisters in Alaska in 1907 ndash and of course the trunk
View online exhibition royalbcmuseumbccaexhibitionsonline
Haida Totems Cha-atl Queen Charlotte IslandEmily Carr 1912
royalbcmuseumbcca 11
Archives Boot Camp Round Threeby Ann ten cate Archives gallery amp theatre learning team lead
After two successful and sold-out boot camps bc Archives staff
will be offering a third boot camp on saturday september 27 2014
our boot camps are designed to give people a crash course on how to do research at the bc Archives An overview of the collections is given ndash and whether you are a beginner or an expert yoursquoll be inspired
Prior to attending wersquoll assign you to a team with similar interests on the day of the boot camp you will rotate through various stations in our reference room receiving coaching from our expert staff our last camp included the History Hounds bouncing biographers colonial canterers the bobrsquos My uncle team the Family tree crew and the community crew by the end of the day yoursquoll have received some
tips about developing a research strategy know how to find material in our collection and you will have seen some of our most fascinating records Yoursquoll also get a tour of our behind-the-scenes storage areas the day finishes with a chance to get ldquostuck-inrdquo and do some individual research with our experts on-hand
our staff really enjoy helping people get started with their research or head out on new tangents itrsquos a day of immersion and discovery there is definitely a real buzz in our reference room as staff and researchers share information You can hear some of what went on at the last boot camp by listening to cbc radiorsquos north by northwest podcast cbccaplayerradiolocal+showsbritish+columbianorth+by+northwestiD2441594449
if yoursquove already attended our boot camp keep your eye on our calendar as later in the year we will start offering specialized workshops
ldquoGreat So glad I could comerdquo
ldquoThis was an excellent experience It gives me the confidence to return to the archives prepared to ask for assistance and feeling that there is a good starting placerdquo
ldquoLoved this Itrsquos the type of program Irsquod take again because there was so much info I think I missed a lot [before]rdquo
register online royalbcmuseumbccaevents
12 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
Supporting the Museum and Archives Through Local Artby christine roome owner sweet Memory Art
sweet Memory Art was born out of love for people and relationships
ndash the humour and the warmth of human connection My jewellery and art are about commemorating and celebrating the human connection and the relationships that carry us through and make us who we are
Museums are a home for preservation and curation and the birthplace of curiosity question connection history and education for people aged twondash92 i believe
that museums need to surface their collections and celebrate their exhibits through connecting with the local and international community
the sweet Memory Art viking jewellery line invites people to take a piece of the museum experience home 50 percent of the retail sale of the royal bc Museum collection on my website will go back to the royal bc Museum Foundation so that we can continue to learn from the past
You can find sweet Memory Art jewellery in the bc Museum gift shop or purchase pieces on christinersquos website at sweetmemoryartcom
FeAture PArtner
As a values-based financial co-operative vancity is committed
to transforming how banking is done so we can help our members and their local communities thrive financially socially and environmentally
We arenrsquot doing this alone on behalf of our members and community partners we are working to place the right tools in the hands of individuals and organizations working to make our world a better place
We seek to invest in and work closely with organizations and sectors that
Wersquore pleased the royal bc Museum has partnered with the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council on the Our Living Languages exhibition and Aboriginal tourism bc on the Aboriginal cultural Festival 2014 We can accomplish more when we work together
check out vancityrsquos online Annual report at vancitycom2013Annual report for more information on how we are working to build healthy communities
visit vancitycomaboriginalcommunities to learn more about how we are investing in Aboriginal communities to achieve economic strength and independence
we feel have the potential for high positive community impact aligned with our three guiding principles ndash social justice and financial inclusion environmental sustainability and co-operative principles and practices
our partnership with the royal bc Museum is an example of this approach in our work with Aboriginal communities in the coast salish territories where we do business and through our partnership with reconciliation canada we better understand the importance of dialogue and the need for all of us to gain more knowledge about the First Peoples We have much to learn about the history of our land and its people and the importance of language and culture as roots of identity pride and self awareness
royalbcmuseumbcca 13
it wasnrsquot designed to be an emotional touchpoint but sometimes people
respond in surprising ways to details in the royal bc Museum Well before the Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC exhibition was due to open when patches of carpet were tagged with green painterrsquos tape and the drywall mud was still damp bobbilee copeland walked through the exhibition space
it wasnrsquot completely empty one of the exhibitionrsquos first elements to be erected were 17 towering double-sided pylons clad in colourful paint and bearing the names of the 34 First nations languages that are indigenous to british columbia ndash what will become known as the ldquolanguage Forestrdquo
copeland ndash coordinator of the language revitalization program at the university of victoria ndash was visiting the royal bc Museum to discuss potential partnerships aligned with indigenous languages
and the museum and archivesrsquo learning programs and was touring the unfinished exhibition space she stopped in mid-stride when she saw her own language written on one of the pylons then walked over and gave the metal ldquotreerdquo a long hug
For staff at the royal bc Museum this was an unanticipated sight but also a welcome affirmation that the exhibition was going to have deep meaning for many visitors
ldquoBobbileersquos spontaneous gesture was overwhelmingly powerful In that instant I realized how important this exhibition was to her and all the champions of language revitalization the lsquotreersquo such a tangible representation of the intangible fragility of languagerdquo
Janet MacDonald the royal bc Museumrsquos Head of learning
and visitor engagement experience
it was a gratifying moment for all involved in the planning and design of the exhibition language is a powerful potent marker of identity and culture think about the emotional resonance of the term ldquomother tonguerdquo ndash the languages we grow up with are our kin nourishment and birthright
so the revitalization of languages in bcrsquos First nations communities is bound to stir up feelings of pride loss pain and joy the Our Living Languages exhibition aims to tell the stories of how languages have been nearly-lost and newly awakened and illustrate the success stories of language diversity and revitalization throughout bc
telling these stories has been a deeply collaborative project the royal bc Museum has relied upon the expertise of its partner the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council to shape the narrative provide content and advice on cultural matters
Our Living Languages A Beautiful Collaborationby erik lamberston corporate communications officer
transmission of traditional knowledge at Kaska language camp
14 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
the royal bc Museumrsquos job has been to find the compelling way to communicate the messages through design the two organizations chose to partner closely as they fine-tune details about design development orthography marketing ndash virtually every aspect of the exhibition
ldquoWe are honoured to be part of creation this important exhibition First Nations language speakers are the true experts when it comes to describing and sharing information about their languages By involving them in the development process we hope to create an experience that is both authentic and meaningful for visitors to the museumrdquo
lorna Williams chair of the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council
in fact the theme of co-mingled multiple perspectives has become
a sub-theme of the exhibition itself For example one of the successes of the exhibition is how well it integrates oral and aural experiences with our other senses visitors often expect museum-going to be a primarily visual experience but Our Living Languages is about language transmission a fundamentally spoken activity
And the truth is that contemporary innovative places like the royal bc Museum are increasingly interactive and multi-sensory so Our Living Language rsquos audio messages are supported through visually-interesting video content and tactile details that are rooted in First nations culture
take the cradleboard theatre ndash a small and intimate space that will replicate a cedar root basket inside visitors will be cocooned in soothing First nations languages and lullabies for an immersive experience the idea came from cultural advisors and the medium was designed and fabricated by the royal bc Museumrsquos exhibition arts team
the cradleboard theatre is just one element of the innovative multi-sensory exhibition the
language forest will ldquospeakrdquo as visitors approach each ldquotreerdquo wired with motion sensors A theatre space a rounded counterpoint to the forest spires will be animated by presenters who will add a live dimension to this human story
Our Living Languages will open on saturday June 21 ndash national Aboriginal Day the royal bc Museum will be a celebratory space that weekend with Aboriginal tourism bc hosting the Aboriginal cultural Festival June 19-21 enlivening the campus outside (see page 16 for details) and this collaborative exhibition drawing new eyes ndash and ears ndash to the fascinating and moving story of language diversity and revitalization in bcrsquos First nations communities
royalbcmuseumbcca 15
From June 19 to 21 victoria will host the 2014 Aboriginal cultural
Festival highlighting and celebrating the regionrsquos rich indigenous culture through storytelling artisans dance song and food
created in partnership with Aboriginal tourism bc (Atbc) the esquimalt and songhees nations the royal bc Museum tourism victoria robert bateman centre greater victoria Harbour Authority and First Peoplesrsquo cultural council the festival will take place on the outdoor campus of the royal bc Museum and around victoriarsquos inner Harbour
the three-day festival will feature main stage performances including three-time world champion hoop dancer Alex Wells an artisan area where people may watch demonstrations meet the artists and also learn about the new Authentic Aboriginal program that helps consumers identify products designed created and sold by bc Aboriginal artists a childrenrsquos storytelling area food vendors and an Aboriginal tourism bc information booth
the festival is also an opportunity to celebrate share and learn more
about the history of the First nations people in bc and the capital before the city became victoria esquimalt and songhees nations were one of the first nations to sign a treaty in bc ndash known as the vancouver island treaties which were signed between 1850ndash1854
this festival also coincides with national Aboriginal Day and the launch of the royal bc Museumrsquos new exhibit Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC opening June 21 2014
learn more onlineaboriginalbccom
Aboriginal Cultural Festival
16 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
gerry truscott earned his degree in creative Writing
from the university of victoria in 1982 and since then he has spent his professional life editing and publishing books He joined the royal bc Museum in 1989 as publisher He has edited and produced more than 100 books for the institution and has written or edited much of the
text that appears in the exhibition galleries in 2008 he wrote the exhibition text and book for the museumrsquos project celebrating british columbiarsquos 150th anniversary entitled Free Spirit Stories of You Me and BC
on his own time gerry writes fiction and has had several short stories published in magazines and anthologies Hersquos also very much
interested in soccer and hockey (playing and watching) jazz and progressive rock hiking cycling and walking his dogs
royal bc Museum publications are available at your local book store the royal bc Museum shop and royalbcmuseumbccapublications
FeAture PArtner
Canadian Geographic canadian geographic magazine
is a proud partner of the royal bc Museum one of canadarsquos most award-winning magazines canadian geographic is unapologetic about celebrating canada Wersquore dedicated to uncovering and communicating the stories about canadian people places frontiers and issues (past and present) that canadian magazine readers want Published by the royal canadian geographical society canadian geographic magazine is more than a geography publication each issue of canadian geographic is a voyage of discovery and exploration that features the latest
science environment travel human and cultural stories from across canada
canadian geographic connects with more than 38 million readers per issue in canada and abroad who share our fascination for canada Filled with stunning colour photography fascinating articles and specially commissioned maps each issue of canadian geographic magazine lets you travel the country without leaving home Yoursquoll discover canadarsquos people and cities our wildlife and wilderness our history and the beauty of our land subscriptions include six regular
issues of canadian geographic plus four issues of canadian geographic travel per year
For a special subscription offer exclusive to rbcM members please go to canadiangeographiccarbcm
stAFF ProFile
Gerry TruscottPublisHer
royalbcmuseumbcca 17
$100000 - $499999
$25000 - $99999
$5000 - $24999
the royal bc Museum appreciates and acknowledges the vital and
ongoing financial support of the Province of British Columbia the Ministry of Community Sport and Cultural Development and the Royal BC Museum Foundation their core support makes our work possible
While approximately 63 percent of our annual operating budget
comes from the Province and another 21 percent comes from memberships and admissions we need to raise the remaining 16 percent ndash three million dollars ndash each year from other sources including donations sponsorships and grants contributions from those who value the work of the royal bc Museum help us to meet our most pressing needs such as
Acquiring items for our collection conserving rare and
precious objects Furthering our world-class
research Developing our learning programs supporting our archives Presenting engaging exhibitions Publishing critically-
acclaimed books
Royal BC Museum Supporters(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Please join us in thanking the following individuals corporations and foundations for their support their demonstrated commitment and their inspiration during the past fiscal year
$500000+
bell Media
royal bc Museum Foundation teck resources limited tourism victoria
bc Hydro
black Press
clipper vacations
Hsbc bank of canada
the estate of Akiko Kamitakahara
lamar Advertising company
Pattison outdoor Advertising
the Jim Pattison broadcast group
Quark expeditions
times colonist
John and Joan Walton innovators Fund
Anonymous (1)
the bay centre
bc transit
black ball Ferry line
canadian Museums Association
cibc
cineplex Media
ctv vancouver island
Fannyrsquos cultured cow Products ltd
garth evans
Friends of the bc Archives
iMAX victoria
elizabeth Kennedy
gwendolyn Page
save on Foods Memorial centre
silk road tea
sunset Magazine
rosita Anna tovell
vancity savings credit union
viking Air
Jack and bev Wallace
Westerkirk capital
if you would like to support the work of the royal bc Museum please contact Jillian Appelman Philanthropy Manager at 250-387-3102 or jappelmanroyalbcmuseumbcca
18 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
$1000 - $4999
$500 - $999
$250 - $499
Collections
Education
Conservation
Research
every effort has been made to ensure our supporters are recognized accurately if you notice an error or omission please call the royal bc Museum Development Department at 250-387-7222
eric and leonda Adler
Patrick and Anne Anderson
Anonymous (1)
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
Joyce clearihue
Daphne corbett in memory of Joan corbett
Karen A Duddlesten
robert and Marianne eng
Flight centre
rupert and robin Hambro
bob and Marjorie Johns
lynne Kennedy
lyall and susan Knott
Professor Jack lohman cbe
ron and May lou-Poy
Kenneth and ellen Mahon
tommy Mayne
stefan and Magdalena opalski
Provincial employees community services Fund
Pauline rafferty and bob Plecas
suromitra sanatani and David turpin
sharon smith
Pauline and robert van Den Driessche
rene and Allison Weir
Angela Williams
Anonymous in memory of Joan corbett
robert Appleton in memory of Joan corbett
robert and birgit bateman
ian beauprie
gary and susan braley
Jeff bray
William and Jean cave
Kelly and rose chu
James and Jean cosgrove
carol cullimore
Jon Declan and bridget Dallison
Joe and linda Harvey
Mark Holford in memory of Joan corbett
erik lythgoe
ian and Margaret Mair
David Mattison
susan K McMillan
Jim and isabel Merston
charles and Marjorie Moser
Pauline and John Mustard Foundation
northwest Magazine
shelley reid
Anne and Don russell
Pete seward
John and Fern spring
W Anthony and Darlene southwell
Mark and elizabeth taylor
Anonymous (2)
robin Ashforth and gerald thompson
Patrick D crofton
Jean e Field and roy A richford
barbara Fields
Joyce Folbigg
Hotel grand Pacific
barbara longworth
Dennis Mccann and Diane Darch
Doreen Mitchell
gary Mitchell
greg and susan McKelvie
Helen Parker
barbara Potash
sandy Pratt
barbara rae and george suart
ernest and Adele roberts
robert rothwell
royal scot Hotel and suites
team telus cares
betty thacker
Alan tompson
victoria international buskers Festival
Maryla and Donovan Waters
Angela Wesley
chuck Wilson
royalbcmuseumbcca 19
1 british columbia MlA lana Popham and royal bc Museum ceo Prof Jack lohman discussing an artifact from the exhibition Vikings Lives Beyond the Legends
2 His excellency teppo tauriainen swedish Ambassador to canada and the Honourable linda reid MlA for richmond east and the speaker of the legislative Assembly at the Annual Kermode gala
3 Prof Jack lohman ceo royal bc Museum with seiji okada consul general of Japan and his wife Yasuko okada
4 sharon smith Francis Kermode group patron and 10-year volunteer
sharon smith is a dedicated 10-year volunteer who now
financially supports the royal bc Museum as a member of the Francis Kermode group ldquoexciting things are coming with the redevelopment plans for the royal bc Museum so it has been a very interesting time for me to get more involvedrdquo she says ldquoi have really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes tours and getting to know the other members of the grouprdquo
Having travelled to museums and historical sites around the world what strikes sharon is our uniqueness ldquoYou just cannot see what is in this collection anywhere else this is the only place that does
what it does it is hugely important to get behind it and i highly recommend that supporters consider joining the Francis Kermode group the activities are very enjoyable and our financial support makes a difference to the core work of the museum and archivesrdquo
she adds ldquoi have learned so much during my time with the group that i have decided to include a gift to the royal bc Museum in my will i feel it is an opportunity to extend my values and my dedication to the museum and archives beyond my lifetime the support is needed and the cause is very important to future generationsrdquo
Donor ProFile
Sharon Smith
The Francis Kermode Groupnamed after the royal bc
Museumrsquos first director the Francis Kermode group is a visionary group of patrons who enjoy a special relationship with the royal bc Museum and our world-class team of curators conservators researchers collections managers and archivists Members of the group deepen their
engagement throughout the year with an exclusive series of customized learning opportunities special privileges and social events created to enlighten stimulate and inspire as they explore the treasures of the royal bc Museum and our wonderful province
1
2
3
4
to join the Francis Kermode group or for more information contact Jon Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
20 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
As sharon smith noted (on the previous page) a will presents
a wonderful opportunity for you to extend your values beyond your lifetime and a meaningful way to connect past present and future generations once you have made
arrangements for your loved ones please consider the merits of making a bequest to the royal bc Museum gifts such as these are incredibly helpful in ensuring the long-term financial health of the museum and archives
For more information or to let us know that you have included us in your will please contact Jonathan Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
Have you considered leaving a gift in your will
there are over seven million artifacts and objects in the royal
bc Museumrsquos permanent collections making it one of the largest and most impressive museum collections in the country these objects bring life to the story of british columbia in ways that enlighten stimulate and inspire Many of these items are accessioned as gifts from generous museum and archives supporters who want to
see a favourite piece often a family heirloom live on forever and impact future generations the royal bc Museum is grateful for objects that help us further our provincial mandate to advance new knowledge and understanding of british columbiarsquos natural history and human history
Acquiring a new object is just the beginning of the story through
professional conservation protection measures and display consultations our highly-skilled conservation staff ensure that each piece is properly cared for and preserved conservation efforts are at the core of the important work we do and the end result is that another integral piece of british columbiarsquos history is shared with the world
Gifts to the Collections(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Mary Andrews
Anonymous (35)
bruce Archibald
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
gary bell
Peter bock
James burgess
Delphine castles
tom cockburn
Michael cooper
carole cullimore
carole Davidson
Howard Dirks
raymond graham
george guy
Hanson Materials limited
edward Harvey
James Douglas Helmcken
Dave Henly
Michael Holmes
richard Holmes
gord Hutchings
carl Jonsson
Milan and sharon lacika
Frank lomer
sandy Mclachlan
H edward Mclean
Mona Mosher
brett nelson
Margaret nelson
Dean nicholson
Frank ogden
Margaret ogilvie
out of the Mist gallery
nettie Pasieczka
tom Perry
bernie simpson
David starr
steve suntok
rosita Anna tovell in Memory of Freeman M tovell
south coast british columbia transportation Authority Police service
John veillette
rick Watson and Mike Watson
robert D Watt and Alison Watt
David Yuen
steve suntok fossil donor and volunteer
We wholeheartedly thank our generous donors to the collection during the past fiscal year
royalbcmuseumbcca 21
going DigitAl
Global Plants Initiativeby Dr erica Wheeler botany collections Manager collections care amp conservation
tYPe sPeciMen = the particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached
The Global Plants Initiativethe royal bc Museum has recently become a partner in the global Plants initiative (gPi) gPi is a collaborative effort among herbaria to make digital images of all botany tYPe sPeciMens available to researchers via access to a centralized repository this repository currently holds over 18 million high resolution images of tYPe sPeciMens contributed by over 270 herbaria from more than 70 countries gPi is funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation the image repository is housed and accessed electronically through (Journal storage) Jstor
the royal bc Museum herbarium houses over 80 tYPe sPeciMens that will be included in this important digitization effort
Describing and naming new species of plantsover 400000 species of plants are known to science that is to say more than 400000 species have been formally described and named by taxonomic experts Describing and naming new species is often slow and can be a complicated process A recent study reported that it takes an
average of 21 years from the date a taxonomist spots something new to science to the date the new name is officially recognized two things are required
the new name and a formal latin description must be validly published and
tYPe sPeciMens must be designated and deposited in a publicly accessible herbarium
During the time that a plant taxonomist is doing the work required to describe a new species they collect and preserve specimens for study the main goal of their study is to describe it in very precise terms in particular how does this new species differ from other related species Are the petals a different colour Are the tiny hairs on the underside of the leaves a different shape is this new species found in markedly different habitats than other closely related species
After the author has described and chosen a name for the new species tYPe sPeciMens are designated from the study material tYPe sPeciMens are the particular specimens to which the scientific name of the new species is formally attached because these are of great importance to the science of documenting biodiversity more
than one tYPe sPeciMen is often designated and these are distributed among different herbaria for safe-keeping in the event that one tYPe sPeciMen is destroyed or lost the others will still be available for study
there are at least seven categories of tYPe sPeciMens but HolotYPes and isotYPes are the most important
HolotYPe the single specimen designated by the author at the time of publication as the specimen upon which the description and name is based
isotYPe any specimen collected on the same date and from the same location as the specimen that is designated as the HolotYPe
Roemerrsquos fescuein 1983 royal bc Museum botany curator Dr leon Pavlick described and published the name of a new variety of grass commonly known as `roemerrsquos fescuersquo the scientific name for this grass is Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick names often describe a notable characteristic of a species or sometimes recognize the person who first discovered the new species roemerrsquos fescue was named after Dr Hans roemer a well-known bc botanist who made some of the early collections of this grass
22 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
in the royal bc Museum herbarium we store the HolotYPe of Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick in a special cabinet reserved for such important specimens High resolution images of this specimen and images of other tYPe sPeciMens in the botany collection will soon be available to researchers around the world via the Jstor repository Access to these images will facilitate global biodiversity research the royal bc Museum herbarium is thrilled to contribute to this effort
royalbcmuseumbcca 23
the Artists in Residence program began in september
of 2013 three artists ndash Aimee van Drimmelen lindsay Delaronde and garth gaudin ndash were selected to take part in the inaugural season of this project in addition to their involvement in events throughout the programming year every two weeks they visit different collections areas of the museum and archives the work they create chronicles both the extraordinary collections and the important work being done by staff and volunteers to maintain collections
Artists Get Inspired by the Collectionby chris orsquoconnor schools amp Family learning team lead
the artists are allowed to go behind the scenes and explore the collections Aimee dived into the botany collection which houses over 215000 specimens made up primarily of native and introduced plant species found in british columbia Most specimens are gathered pressed and affixed to cardstock that is marked with collection data for future reference the specimens are then stacked in folders bagged and stored in lockers the earliest specimen in botany is currently lichen collected in 1889
royal bc Museum volunteer Daniela toriola was helping prepare some new specimen sheets on the day the artists visited she carefully arranged the pressed plants gluing them onto the page with assorted metal weights to hold them down until they dried Daniela noted that she always tries to make the presentation as beautiful as possible it takes a lot of creativity to prepare specimens Whether itrsquos taxidermy
scientific drawings or the placement of sea creatures in a jar a lot of care is taken to make things visually appealing the preservation team takes pride in their work knowing that the collections will be looked upon for years to come
on her visit Aimee used a ldquospill saferdquo ink jar the ink mixed with water was perfect for capturing the transparency of leaves and petals and the dark curly roots she used a couple drops of water to wet her brush and introduced ink with a brush pen
Follow along with our artists and their creations on the royal bc Museum blog royalbcmuseumbccakids artists-in-residence
check out Aimeersquos personal blog featuring more entries and animations from different collection areas aimeesketchblogwordpresscom
ink drawing of liliaceae zigaderiusAimee van Drimmelenfrom the botany collection
royalbcmuseumbcca 25
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
Cool New Fossil Techour ability to properly prepare
fossil material for the collection has increased our collection Manager in Palaeontology Marji Johns has been busy outfitting a portion of the vertebrate lab on the main floor of the Fannin building to accommodate some heavy duty fossil prepping equipment Fossil material is often collected in the form of a matrix of rock containing one or many fossil representations Preparation of a macrofossil allows details to be revealed which are needed for identification and research some of the removed matrix can be chemically treated to recover microscopic fossils study and research on both macro- and microfossils can lead to a better understanding of past environments climates and the geologic history of an area removal of the matrix can reveal an exquisite fossil that may be exhibit quality Plus the reduction in matrix can allow for more efficient storage in the collection for both space and weight
now donrsquot take Jackrsquos analogy of the textbook literally We do not mean to put a book on the wall However there were important re-scripting considerations to keep in mind so many in fact that a text strategy was implemented We committed to acknowledging the myriad of visitor learning styles with an intention to accommodate as many of you as possible the text would be concise accessible and layered ndash the first layer being the most accessible and carrying the main message and subsequent layers providing progressively detailed information for those who want it Most importantly style is everything the writing would be engaging direct and conversational in a tone encouraging questioning and reflection
Getting it Writeto make a long story short we arrived at a stage in the process where the team felt comfortable with the content intent and the conversational aspects of the written words but ultimately true success would rely on whether the text resonated with you our visiting public And so we asked on sunday afternoon April 27 we orchestrated a testing session our seven lsquochapter headingsrsquo were produced in the form of text on paper mock-ups positioned strategically throughout the gallery each headline panel introduced a particular exhibit to visitors as they entered the environment
With the help of a team of volunteers we were able to assess our ability to communicate and engage people the results were fascinating and instructive comments ranged from an appreciation for the larger print type to questions regarding grammatical composition and use of analogies People of all ages time and again expressed their appreciation for being asked their opinion and many more felt that the signs made them think more deeply about what they were looking at
As i write this article the revised script is now in the hands of our trusted design team ndash who will turn our collaborative work into reality We will hang the script for your reading pleasure in June i encourage you to let us know what you think letrsquos not have another 50 years pass before the next revision
25 million year old whale vertebrae found on the west coast of vancouver island by steve suntok
royalbcmuseumbcca 7
treasures come to us in many different artifacts and specimens
today i introduce to you a human treasure victoria lawyer fossil enthusiast and royal bc Museum volunteer steve suntok steve came to us in the late summer of 2013 with an amazing fossil discovery He had found a rare bird bone from the west coast of vancouver island it is only the second fossil of its kind found in these rocks ndash the first find was over 120 years ago bird bones do not preserve well because they are thin and hollow an adaptation for flight
steve had heard from his fossil enthusiast friends that bird expert gary Kaiser was volunteering at the museum and archives gary identified this fossil as a tibiotarsus leg bone from a cormorant-like bird to make the identification he had carefully inspected the royal bc Museumrsquos modern bird research collections
volunteer ProFile
Steve Suntok by Marji Johns collections Manager Palaeontology
due to weathering damage and disintegration He selects specimens that are scientifically significant or recently exposed by erosion but are well preserved Fossils that are discerned as important but too large to transport are photographed and brought to the attention of experts collected specimens include location labels that are also numbered and recorded in a book For important specimens steve learns about them through readings by collaborating with experts and research through local palaeontology societies or volunteering at a museum
After documenting and donating many important specimens to the royal bc Museum such as whale vertebrae ribs teeth rare ammonites nautiloids crustaceans (crabs and lobsters) and unusual plant fossils steve also has helped unwrap document label and enter data for hundreds of other fossil specimens that were recently donated He has assisted with collections moves and the set up of palaeo lab equipment
there are many other volunteers participating in projects matched to their skills and interests they are all indispensable to the advancements of the palaeo collections at the museum and archives For them making contributions and learning are valued and we all enjoy developing friendships and gaining new experiences
other museum collections and scrutinized palaeontology research literature
gary and i were joking and with twinkles in our eyes said to steve ldquoHow about finding us anotherrdquo steve and his family (daughter leah and son graham) not only found another fossil tibiotarsus but also came back with an even rarer and new fossil bird bone from the site the last was in a 45 kg slab talus block that had fallen from the cliff and into the tidal zone it had been found by leah the block could not be easily downsized at the beach so steve carried it 5 kilometers out this rare bone will probably be a new species We know from previous research at the site that the fossil is about 25 million years old When gary Kaiserrsquos research is published you will be hearing more about this exciting find
steve has become an inspiring steward for bc palaeontology He has gained new knowledge about fossils and collections and this has led to important donations of other rare fossils for research and learning He did keep a few less important specimens for his familyrsquos enjoyment including fossils that connect them with memorable experiences of the day
steve collects responsibly meaning his discoveries mostly come from surface collection of fossils that are at greatest risk for being lost
8 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
A Fossil Hunting Adventure
After gazing-up and eyeing a prize eroding out of a waterfall
cliff i knew i had to have this fossil before mother nature swept it away i found myself 20 feet up a steep cliff under an overhang with a water pool below i tried climbing up but instead went for a dive and unexpected swim in January
on the next trip i tried climbing down with ropes got stuck cut myself loose to get down went for a second swim once again during a season best reserved for skiing and snowshoeing
Determined (my wife says obsessed) i welded a fire poker to a steel pipe but the poker broke off and it went
by steve suntok royal bc Museum volunteer amp donor
for a swim the next time i built a rope ladder and climbed to the top to hang it As i started to climb down the boards i was using for rungs broke ndash my third swim
next i went all out and bought a telescoping ladder i chose a 25 pound version because it was a long steep hike through the bush to get to the site the ladder was too short i went home empty-handed
i went and purchased a taller ladder on the plus side it was 22 feet high on the negative side it weighed 40 pounds and was difficult to haul A friend held the ladder steady and after an hour of carefully chipping away at rock the fossil was free i
caught it with my one free hand and now it sits proudly in my office it is a great ammonite but the memories make it all the better
i love fossil hunting in british columbia itrsquos cool that we can hold in our hands the remains of ancient life from millions of years ago i find that vancouver island is one of the most beautiful places on earth the scenery irsquove seen is by itself worth the effort and that you can find fossils while you are out there ndash that is a great bonus i love adventure and learning and i have met many awesome diverse interesting and kind people during these outings
gary Kaiser amp steve suntok
royalbcmuseumbcca 9
towards the end of her life artist and writer emily carr (1871-1945)
reduced the volume of her writings letters and sketchbooks to what would fit in a battered old steamer trunk in her unmistakable block printing carr expressed her wishes on a card and tacked it under the trunkrsquos lid ldquoAt MY DeAtH PleAse senD tHis boX AnD contents intAct to Mr irA DilWortH cAnADiAn broAD-cAsting corP vAncouver bc [signed] emily carrrdquo Dilworth was carrrsquos confidante and literary executor entrusted with the responsibility of managing her writings and posthumously publishing a number
of her manuscripts Many years after Dilworthrsquos death this distillation of a lifersquos work became one of several nuclei of the carr collections entrusted to the care of the bc Archives
the other groups of royal bc Museum carr collections centre around a large body of her artworks (mainly from the period preceding 1927 but including some important mature works) carr-related artifacts and archival and library records created by her peers and scholars the carr collections hold a number of surprises some of carrrsquos pottery pieces several of her hooked rugs and artifacts including First
Peoplersquos-crafted souvenir items purchased in 1907 and an articulated wooden doll that pops up in various carr sketches cartoons and in a documentary photograph of carrrsquos studio taken shortly after her death
While carrrsquos works are cared for and exhibited in over 35 public galleries museums and institutions and treasured in countless private collections world-wide the largest collection of carrrsquos career output is stewarded by the royal bc Museum Much of it can be consulted on a daily basis in the archives or by appointment this year the royal bc Museum is enhancing understanding of this rich legacy through a web
A ricH resource
Carr Collectionsby Don bourdon curator images amp Paintings
tanoo Qci emily carr 1913
10 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
exhibition featuring a timeline stubbed with Carrrsquos paintings drawings writings photographs and artifacts A ldquotreasure boxrdquo Emily Carr Gallery figures prominently in the Royal BC Museumrsquos redevelopment vision
Upon her death in 1945 the Province of BC purchased seven major Carr paintings including Tanoo (see accompanying figure) Artistic executor Lawren Harris selected 170 works from hundreds remaining in Carrrsquos home for the Emily Carr Trust Collection (now housed in the Vancouver Art Gallery and the National Gallery) Many works from her ldquoFrench Periodrdquo and watercolours were identified for sale to support this Trust Still others were set aside for destruction though many were salvaged and eventually made their way to the BC Archives Like so many prolific artists Carr had already given many works away and destroyed many more considered by her unworthy of retention
Today the Royal BC Museum holds the majority of Carrrsquos artistic literary and personal output Carrrsquos personal and professional archives over 1100 works of art Carrrsquos publications and publications about her and her art key photographs interviews and documentaries The works of art total 1112 items Approximately 900 of these are on paper primarily images in sketch books Approximately 200 are major paintings - oil on canvas oil on board or paper and watercolour on paper Also included are 24
representative pieces of pottery that Carr produced in large numbers for sale and several examples of the hooked rugs she used throughout her home and bestowed as gifts
The Emily Carr fonds (the unpublished archival records created and accumulated by Carr between 1879 and 1945) occupy 23 linear metres of shelf space and consist of correspondence journals manuscripts notebooks scrapbooks publications annotated by the artist financial records photographs and paintings
Records pertaining to Carr in other fonds occupy a further 16 linear metres of textual records In particular the records of the following are rich in detail about Carr Edythe Hembroff-Schleicher Flora Burns Humphrey Toms the Newcombe family and Richard Carr 55 sound recordings contain interviews and radio programs about Carr and 14 moving image records contain documentaries interviews and TV programs Our holdings include 10 works of art by other artists pertaining to Carr Of particular interest are 60 photographs of or pertaining to the artistwriter mainly formal portraits and candid shots depicting her with her art her treasured pets and close friends They also depict Carr family members studio interiors her various homes and colleagues
Carrrsquos published writings in various editions total 59 items and in 167 other publications Carr is the principle subject discussed
The Archives has constructed 16 linear centimetres of artist files pertaining to Emily Carr and artcraft works of Carrrsquos sisters The files include exhibit programmes auction information articles correspondence lists and images The Royal BC Museum holds extensive records pertaining to the Emily Carr Gallery that used to be on Wharf Street in Victoria its facility and program and Carr family home as a heritage building and site
Artifacts include Emilyrsquos Governorrsquos General Medal First Peoplesrsquo works purchased by the Carr sisters in Alaska in 1907 ndash and of course the trunk
View online exhibition royalbcmuseumbccaexhibitionsonline
Haida Totems Cha-atl Queen Charlotte IslandEmily Carr 1912
royalbcmuseumbcca 11
Archives Boot Camp Round Threeby Ann ten cate Archives gallery amp theatre learning team lead
After two successful and sold-out boot camps bc Archives staff
will be offering a third boot camp on saturday september 27 2014
our boot camps are designed to give people a crash course on how to do research at the bc Archives An overview of the collections is given ndash and whether you are a beginner or an expert yoursquoll be inspired
Prior to attending wersquoll assign you to a team with similar interests on the day of the boot camp you will rotate through various stations in our reference room receiving coaching from our expert staff our last camp included the History Hounds bouncing biographers colonial canterers the bobrsquos My uncle team the Family tree crew and the community crew by the end of the day yoursquoll have received some
tips about developing a research strategy know how to find material in our collection and you will have seen some of our most fascinating records Yoursquoll also get a tour of our behind-the-scenes storage areas the day finishes with a chance to get ldquostuck-inrdquo and do some individual research with our experts on-hand
our staff really enjoy helping people get started with their research or head out on new tangents itrsquos a day of immersion and discovery there is definitely a real buzz in our reference room as staff and researchers share information You can hear some of what went on at the last boot camp by listening to cbc radiorsquos north by northwest podcast cbccaplayerradiolocal+showsbritish+columbianorth+by+northwestiD2441594449
if yoursquove already attended our boot camp keep your eye on our calendar as later in the year we will start offering specialized workshops
ldquoGreat So glad I could comerdquo
ldquoThis was an excellent experience It gives me the confidence to return to the archives prepared to ask for assistance and feeling that there is a good starting placerdquo
ldquoLoved this Itrsquos the type of program Irsquod take again because there was so much info I think I missed a lot [before]rdquo
register online royalbcmuseumbccaevents
12 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
Supporting the Museum and Archives Through Local Artby christine roome owner sweet Memory Art
sweet Memory Art was born out of love for people and relationships
ndash the humour and the warmth of human connection My jewellery and art are about commemorating and celebrating the human connection and the relationships that carry us through and make us who we are
Museums are a home for preservation and curation and the birthplace of curiosity question connection history and education for people aged twondash92 i believe
that museums need to surface their collections and celebrate their exhibits through connecting with the local and international community
the sweet Memory Art viking jewellery line invites people to take a piece of the museum experience home 50 percent of the retail sale of the royal bc Museum collection on my website will go back to the royal bc Museum Foundation so that we can continue to learn from the past
You can find sweet Memory Art jewellery in the bc Museum gift shop or purchase pieces on christinersquos website at sweetmemoryartcom
FeAture PArtner
As a values-based financial co-operative vancity is committed
to transforming how banking is done so we can help our members and their local communities thrive financially socially and environmentally
We arenrsquot doing this alone on behalf of our members and community partners we are working to place the right tools in the hands of individuals and organizations working to make our world a better place
We seek to invest in and work closely with organizations and sectors that
Wersquore pleased the royal bc Museum has partnered with the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council on the Our Living Languages exhibition and Aboriginal tourism bc on the Aboriginal cultural Festival 2014 We can accomplish more when we work together
check out vancityrsquos online Annual report at vancitycom2013Annual report for more information on how we are working to build healthy communities
visit vancitycomaboriginalcommunities to learn more about how we are investing in Aboriginal communities to achieve economic strength and independence
we feel have the potential for high positive community impact aligned with our three guiding principles ndash social justice and financial inclusion environmental sustainability and co-operative principles and practices
our partnership with the royal bc Museum is an example of this approach in our work with Aboriginal communities in the coast salish territories where we do business and through our partnership with reconciliation canada we better understand the importance of dialogue and the need for all of us to gain more knowledge about the First Peoples We have much to learn about the history of our land and its people and the importance of language and culture as roots of identity pride and self awareness
royalbcmuseumbcca 13
it wasnrsquot designed to be an emotional touchpoint but sometimes people
respond in surprising ways to details in the royal bc Museum Well before the Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC exhibition was due to open when patches of carpet were tagged with green painterrsquos tape and the drywall mud was still damp bobbilee copeland walked through the exhibition space
it wasnrsquot completely empty one of the exhibitionrsquos first elements to be erected were 17 towering double-sided pylons clad in colourful paint and bearing the names of the 34 First nations languages that are indigenous to british columbia ndash what will become known as the ldquolanguage Forestrdquo
copeland ndash coordinator of the language revitalization program at the university of victoria ndash was visiting the royal bc Museum to discuss potential partnerships aligned with indigenous languages
and the museum and archivesrsquo learning programs and was touring the unfinished exhibition space she stopped in mid-stride when she saw her own language written on one of the pylons then walked over and gave the metal ldquotreerdquo a long hug
For staff at the royal bc Museum this was an unanticipated sight but also a welcome affirmation that the exhibition was going to have deep meaning for many visitors
ldquoBobbileersquos spontaneous gesture was overwhelmingly powerful In that instant I realized how important this exhibition was to her and all the champions of language revitalization the lsquotreersquo such a tangible representation of the intangible fragility of languagerdquo
Janet MacDonald the royal bc Museumrsquos Head of learning
and visitor engagement experience
it was a gratifying moment for all involved in the planning and design of the exhibition language is a powerful potent marker of identity and culture think about the emotional resonance of the term ldquomother tonguerdquo ndash the languages we grow up with are our kin nourishment and birthright
so the revitalization of languages in bcrsquos First nations communities is bound to stir up feelings of pride loss pain and joy the Our Living Languages exhibition aims to tell the stories of how languages have been nearly-lost and newly awakened and illustrate the success stories of language diversity and revitalization throughout bc
telling these stories has been a deeply collaborative project the royal bc Museum has relied upon the expertise of its partner the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council to shape the narrative provide content and advice on cultural matters
Our Living Languages A Beautiful Collaborationby erik lamberston corporate communications officer
transmission of traditional knowledge at Kaska language camp
14 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
the royal bc Museumrsquos job has been to find the compelling way to communicate the messages through design the two organizations chose to partner closely as they fine-tune details about design development orthography marketing ndash virtually every aspect of the exhibition
ldquoWe are honoured to be part of creation this important exhibition First Nations language speakers are the true experts when it comes to describing and sharing information about their languages By involving them in the development process we hope to create an experience that is both authentic and meaningful for visitors to the museumrdquo
lorna Williams chair of the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council
in fact the theme of co-mingled multiple perspectives has become
a sub-theme of the exhibition itself For example one of the successes of the exhibition is how well it integrates oral and aural experiences with our other senses visitors often expect museum-going to be a primarily visual experience but Our Living Languages is about language transmission a fundamentally spoken activity
And the truth is that contemporary innovative places like the royal bc Museum are increasingly interactive and multi-sensory so Our Living Language rsquos audio messages are supported through visually-interesting video content and tactile details that are rooted in First nations culture
take the cradleboard theatre ndash a small and intimate space that will replicate a cedar root basket inside visitors will be cocooned in soothing First nations languages and lullabies for an immersive experience the idea came from cultural advisors and the medium was designed and fabricated by the royal bc Museumrsquos exhibition arts team
the cradleboard theatre is just one element of the innovative multi-sensory exhibition the
language forest will ldquospeakrdquo as visitors approach each ldquotreerdquo wired with motion sensors A theatre space a rounded counterpoint to the forest spires will be animated by presenters who will add a live dimension to this human story
Our Living Languages will open on saturday June 21 ndash national Aboriginal Day the royal bc Museum will be a celebratory space that weekend with Aboriginal tourism bc hosting the Aboriginal cultural Festival June 19-21 enlivening the campus outside (see page 16 for details) and this collaborative exhibition drawing new eyes ndash and ears ndash to the fascinating and moving story of language diversity and revitalization in bcrsquos First nations communities
royalbcmuseumbcca 15
From June 19 to 21 victoria will host the 2014 Aboriginal cultural
Festival highlighting and celebrating the regionrsquos rich indigenous culture through storytelling artisans dance song and food
created in partnership with Aboriginal tourism bc (Atbc) the esquimalt and songhees nations the royal bc Museum tourism victoria robert bateman centre greater victoria Harbour Authority and First Peoplesrsquo cultural council the festival will take place on the outdoor campus of the royal bc Museum and around victoriarsquos inner Harbour
the three-day festival will feature main stage performances including three-time world champion hoop dancer Alex Wells an artisan area where people may watch demonstrations meet the artists and also learn about the new Authentic Aboriginal program that helps consumers identify products designed created and sold by bc Aboriginal artists a childrenrsquos storytelling area food vendors and an Aboriginal tourism bc information booth
the festival is also an opportunity to celebrate share and learn more
about the history of the First nations people in bc and the capital before the city became victoria esquimalt and songhees nations were one of the first nations to sign a treaty in bc ndash known as the vancouver island treaties which were signed between 1850ndash1854
this festival also coincides with national Aboriginal Day and the launch of the royal bc Museumrsquos new exhibit Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC opening June 21 2014
learn more onlineaboriginalbccom
Aboriginal Cultural Festival
16 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
gerry truscott earned his degree in creative Writing
from the university of victoria in 1982 and since then he has spent his professional life editing and publishing books He joined the royal bc Museum in 1989 as publisher He has edited and produced more than 100 books for the institution and has written or edited much of the
text that appears in the exhibition galleries in 2008 he wrote the exhibition text and book for the museumrsquos project celebrating british columbiarsquos 150th anniversary entitled Free Spirit Stories of You Me and BC
on his own time gerry writes fiction and has had several short stories published in magazines and anthologies Hersquos also very much
interested in soccer and hockey (playing and watching) jazz and progressive rock hiking cycling and walking his dogs
royal bc Museum publications are available at your local book store the royal bc Museum shop and royalbcmuseumbccapublications
FeAture PArtner
Canadian Geographic canadian geographic magazine
is a proud partner of the royal bc Museum one of canadarsquos most award-winning magazines canadian geographic is unapologetic about celebrating canada Wersquore dedicated to uncovering and communicating the stories about canadian people places frontiers and issues (past and present) that canadian magazine readers want Published by the royal canadian geographical society canadian geographic magazine is more than a geography publication each issue of canadian geographic is a voyage of discovery and exploration that features the latest
science environment travel human and cultural stories from across canada
canadian geographic connects with more than 38 million readers per issue in canada and abroad who share our fascination for canada Filled with stunning colour photography fascinating articles and specially commissioned maps each issue of canadian geographic magazine lets you travel the country without leaving home Yoursquoll discover canadarsquos people and cities our wildlife and wilderness our history and the beauty of our land subscriptions include six regular
issues of canadian geographic plus four issues of canadian geographic travel per year
For a special subscription offer exclusive to rbcM members please go to canadiangeographiccarbcm
stAFF ProFile
Gerry TruscottPublisHer
royalbcmuseumbcca 17
$100000 - $499999
$25000 - $99999
$5000 - $24999
the royal bc Museum appreciates and acknowledges the vital and
ongoing financial support of the Province of British Columbia the Ministry of Community Sport and Cultural Development and the Royal BC Museum Foundation their core support makes our work possible
While approximately 63 percent of our annual operating budget
comes from the Province and another 21 percent comes from memberships and admissions we need to raise the remaining 16 percent ndash three million dollars ndash each year from other sources including donations sponsorships and grants contributions from those who value the work of the royal bc Museum help us to meet our most pressing needs such as
Acquiring items for our collection conserving rare and
precious objects Furthering our world-class
research Developing our learning programs supporting our archives Presenting engaging exhibitions Publishing critically-
acclaimed books
Royal BC Museum Supporters(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Please join us in thanking the following individuals corporations and foundations for their support their demonstrated commitment and their inspiration during the past fiscal year
$500000+
bell Media
royal bc Museum Foundation teck resources limited tourism victoria
bc Hydro
black Press
clipper vacations
Hsbc bank of canada
the estate of Akiko Kamitakahara
lamar Advertising company
Pattison outdoor Advertising
the Jim Pattison broadcast group
Quark expeditions
times colonist
John and Joan Walton innovators Fund
Anonymous (1)
the bay centre
bc transit
black ball Ferry line
canadian Museums Association
cibc
cineplex Media
ctv vancouver island
Fannyrsquos cultured cow Products ltd
garth evans
Friends of the bc Archives
iMAX victoria
elizabeth Kennedy
gwendolyn Page
save on Foods Memorial centre
silk road tea
sunset Magazine
rosita Anna tovell
vancity savings credit union
viking Air
Jack and bev Wallace
Westerkirk capital
if you would like to support the work of the royal bc Museum please contact Jillian Appelman Philanthropy Manager at 250-387-3102 or jappelmanroyalbcmuseumbcca
18 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
$1000 - $4999
$500 - $999
$250 - $499
Collections
Education
Conservation
Research
every effort has been made to ensure our supporters are recognized accurately if you notice an error or omission please call the royal bc Museum Development Department at 250-387-7222
eric and leonda Adler
Patrick and Anne Anderson
Anonymous (1)
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
Joyce clearihue
Daphne corbett in memory of Joan corbett
Karen A Duddlesten
robert and Marianne eng
Flight centre
rupert and robin Hambro
bob and Marjorie Johns
lynne Kennedy
lyall and susan Knott
Professor Jack lohman cbe
ron and May lou-Poy
Kenneth and ellen Mahon
tommy Mayne
stefan and Magdalena opalski
Provincial employees community services Fund
Pauline rafferty and bob Plecas
suromitra sanatani and David turpin
sharon smith
Pauline and robert van Den Driessche
rene and Allison Weir
Angela Williams
Anonymous in memory of Joan corbett
robert Appleton in memory of Joan corbett
robert and birgit bateman
ian beauprie
gary and susan braley
Jeff bray
William and Jean cave
Kelly and rose chu
James and Jean cosgrove
carol cullimore
Jon Declan and bridget Dallison
Joe and linda Harvey
Mark Holford in memory of Joan corbett
erik lythgoe
ian and Margaret Mair
David Mattison
susan K McMillan
Jim and isabel Merston
charles and Marjorie Moser
Pauline and John Mustard Foundation
northwest Magazine
shelley reid
Anne and Don russell
Pete seward
John and Fern spring
W Anthony and Darlene southwell
Mark and elizabeth taylor
Anonymous (2)
robin Ashforth and gerald thompson
Patrick D crofton
Jean e Field and roy A richford
barbara Fields
Joyce Folbigg
Hotel grand Pacific
barbara longworth
Dennis Mccann and Diane Darch
Doreen Mitchell
gary Mitchell
greg and susan McKelvie
Helen Parker
barbara Potash
sandy Pratt
barbara rae and george suart
ernest and Adele roberts
robert rothwell
royal scot Hotel and suites
team telus cares
betty thacker
Alan tompson
victoria international buskers Festival
Maryla and Donovan Waters
Angela Wesley
chuck Wilson
royalbcmuseumbcca 19
1 british columbia MlA lana Popham and royal bc Museum ceo Prof Jack lohman discussing an artifact from the exhibition Vikings Lives Beyond the Legends
2 His excellency teppo tauriainen swedish Ambassador to canada and the Honourable linda reid MlA for richmond east and the speaker of the legislative Assembly at the Annual Kermode gala
3 Prof Jack lohman ceo royal bc Museum with seiji okada consul general of Japan and his wife Yasuko okada
4 sharon smith Francis Kermode group patron and 10-year volunteer
sharon smith is a dedicated 10-year volunteer who now
financially supports the royal bc Museum as a member of the Francis Kermode group ldquoexciting things are coming with the redevelopment plans for the royal bc Museum so it has been a very interesting time for me to get more involvedrdquo she says ldquoi have really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes tours and getting to know the other members of the grouprdquo
Having travelled to museums and historical sites around the world what strikes sharon is our uniqueness ldquoYou just cannot see what is in this collection anywhere else this is the only place that does
what it does it is hugely important to get behind it and i highly recommend that supporters consider joining the Francis Kermode group the activities are very enjoyable and our financial support makes a difference to the core work of the museum and archivesrdquo
she adds ldquoi have learned so much during my time with the group that i have decided to include a gift to the royal bc Museum in my will i feel it is an opportunity to extend my values and my dedication to the museum and archives beyond my lifetime the support is needed and the cause is very important to future generationsrdquo
Donor ProFile
Sharon Smith
The Francis Kermode Groupnamed after the royal bc
Museumrsquos first director the Francis Kermode group is a visionary group of patrons who enjoy a special relationship with the royal bc Museum and our world-class team of curators conservators researchers collections managers and archivists Members of the group deepen their
engagement throughout the year with an exclusive series of customized learning opportunities special privileges and social events created to enlighten stimulate and inspire as they explore the treasures of the royal bc Museum and our wonderful province
1
2
3
4
to join the Francis Kermode group or for more information contact Jon Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
20 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
As sharon smith noted (on the previous page) a will presents
a wonderful opportunity for you to extend your values beyond your lifetime and a meaningful way to connect past present and future generations once you have made
arrangements for your loved ones please consider the merits of making a bequest to the royal bc Museum gifts such as these are incredibly helpful in ensuring the long-term financial health of the museum and archives
For more information or to let us know that you have included us in your will please contact Jonathan Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
Have you considered leaving a gift in your will
there are over seven million artifacts and objects in the royal
bc Museumrsquos permanent collections making it one of the largest and most impressive museum collections in the country these objects bring life to the story of british columbia in ways that enlighten stimulate and inspire Many of these items are accessioned as gifts from generous museum and archives supporters who want to
see a favourite piece often a family heirloom live on forever and impact future generations the royal bc Museum is grateful for objects that help us further our provincial mandate to advance new knowledge and understanding of british columbiarsquos natural history and human history
Acquiring a new object is just the beginning of the story through
professional conservation protection measures and display consultations our highly-skilled conservation staff ensure that each piece is properly cared for and preserved conservation efforts are at the core of the important work we do and the end result is that another integral piece of british columbiarsquos history is shared with the world
Gifts to the Collections(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Mary Andrews
Anonymous (35)
bruce Archibald
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
gary bell
Peter bock
James burgess
Delphine castles
tom cockburn
Michael cooper
carole cullimore
carole Davidson
Howard Dirks
raymond graham
george guy
Hanson Materials limited
edward Harvey
James Douglas Helmcken
Dave Henly
Michael Holmes
richard Holmes
gord Hutchings
carl Jonsson
Milan and sharon lacika
Frank lomer
sandy Mclachlan
H edward Mclean
Mona Mosher
brett nelson
Margaret nelson
Dean nicholson
Frank ogden
Margaret ogilvie
out of the Mist gallery
nettie Pasieczka
tom Perry
bernie simpson
David starr
steve suntok
rosita Anna tovell in Memory of Freeman M tovell
south coast british columbia transportation Authority Police service
John veillette
rick Watson and Mike Watson
robert D Watt and Alison Watt
David Yuen
steve suntok fossil donor and volunteer
We wholeheartedly thank our generous donors to the collection during the past fiscal year
royalbcmuseumbcca 21
going DigitAl
Global Plants Initiativeby Dr erica Wheeler botany collections Manager collections care amp conservation
tYPe sPeciMen = the particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached
The Global Plants Initiativethe royal bc Museum has recently become a partner in the global Plants initiative (gPi) gPi is a collaborative effort among herbaria to make digital images of all botany tYPe sPeciMens available to researchers via access to a centralized repository this repository currently holds over 18 million high resolution images of tYPe sPeciMens contributed by over 270 herbaria from more than 70 countries gPi is funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation the image repository is housed and accessed electronically through (Journal storage) Jstor
the royal bc Museum herbarium houses over 80 tYPe sPeciMens that will be included in this important digitization effort
Describing and naming new species of plantsover 400000 species of plants are known to science that is to say more than 400000 species have been formally described and named by taxonomic experts Describing and naming new species is often slow and can be a complicated process A recent study reported that it takes an
average of 21 years from the date a taxonomist spots something new to science to the date the new name is officially recognized two things are required
the new name and a formal latin description must be validly published and
tYPe sPeciMens must be designated and deposited in a publicly accessible herbarium
During the time that a plant taxonomist is doing the work required to describe a new species they collect and preserve specimens for study the main goal of their study is to describe it in very precise terms in particular how does this new species differ from other related species Are the petals a different colour Are the tiny hairs on the underside of the leaves a different shape is this new species found in markedly different habitats than other closely related species
After the author has described and chosen a name for the new species tYPe sPeciMens are designated from the study material tYPe sPeciMens are the particular specimens to which the scientific name of the new species is formally attached because these are of great importance to the science of documenting biodiversity more
than one tYPe sPeciMen is often designated and these are distributed among different herbaria for safe-keeping in the event that one tYPe sPeciMen is destroyed or lost the others will still be available for study
there are at least seven categories of tYPe sPeciMens but HolotYPes and isotYPes are the most important
HolotYPe the single specimen designated by the author at the time of publication as the specimen upon which the description and name is based
isotYPe any specimen collected on the same date and from the same location as the specimen that is designated as the HolotYPe
Roemerrsquos fescuein 1983 royal bc Museum botany curator Dr leon Pavlick described and published the name of a new variety of grass commonly known as `roemerrsquos fescuersquo the scientific name for this grass is Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick names often describe a notable characteristic of a species or sometimes recognize the person who first discovered the new species roemerrsquos fescue was named after Dr Hans roemer a well-known bc botanist who made some of the early collections of this grass
22 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
in the royal bc Museum herbarium we store the HolotYPe of Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick in a special cabinet reserved for such important specimens High resolution images of this specimen and images of other tYPe sPeciMens in the botany collection will soon be available to researchers around the world via the Jstor repository Access to these images will facilitate global biodiversity research the royal bc Museum herbarium is thrilled to contribute to this effort
royalbcmuseumbcca 23
the Artists in Residence program began in september
of 2013 three artists ndash Aimee van Drimmelen lindsay Delaronde and garth gaudin ndash were selected to take part in the inaugural season of this project in addition to their involvement in events throughout the programming year every two weeks they visit different collections areas of the museum and archives the work they create chronicles both the extraordinary collections and the important work being done by staff and volunteers to maintain collections
Artists Get Inspired by the Collectionby chris orsquoconnor schools amp Family learning team lead
the artists are allowed to go behind the scenes and explore the collections Aimee dived into the botany collection which houses over 215000 specimens made up primarily of native and introduced plant species found in british columbia Most specimens are gathered pressed and affixed to cardstock that is marked with collection data for future reference the specimens are then stacked in folders bagged and stored in lockers the earliest specimen in botany is currently lichen collected in 1889
royal bc Museum volunteer Daniela toriola was helping prepare some new specimen sheets on the day the artists visited she carefully arranged the pressed plants gluing them onto the page with assorted metal weights to hold them down until they dried Daniela noted that she always tries to make the presentation as beautiful as possible it takes a lot of creativity to prepare specimens Whether itrsquos taxidermy
scientific drawings or the placement of sea creatures in a jar a lot of care is taken to make things visually appealing the preservation team takes pride in their work knowing that the collections will be looked upon for years to come
on her visit Aimee used a ldquospill saferdquo ink jar the ink mixed with water was perfect for capturing the transparency of leaves and petals and the dark curly roots she used a couple drops of water to wet her brush and introduced ink with a brush pen
Follow along with our artists and their creations on the royal bc Museum blog royalbcmuseumbccakids artists-in-residence
check out Aimeersquos personal blog featuring more entries and animations from different collection areas aimeesketchblogwordpresscom
ink drawing of liliaceae zigaderiusAimee van Drimmelenfrom the botany collection
royalbcmuseumbcca 25
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
treasures come to us in many different artifacts and specimens
today i introduce to you a human treasure victoria lawyer fossil enthusiast and royal bc Museum volunteer steve suntok steve came to us in the late summer of 2013 with an amazing fossil discovery He had found a rare bird bone from the west coast of vancouver island it is only the second fossil of its kind found in these rocks ndash the first find was over 120 years ago bird bones do not preserve well because they are thin and hollow an adaptation for flight
steve had heard from his fossil enthusiast friends that bird expert gary Kaiser was volunteering at the museum and archives gary identified this fossil as a tibiotarsus leg bone from a cormorant-like bird to make the identification he had carefully inspected the royal bc Museumrsquos modern bird research collections
volunteer ProFile
Steve Suntok by Marji Johns collections Manager Palaeontology
due to weathering damage and disintegration He selects specimens that are scientifically significant or recently exposed by erosion but are well preserved Fossils that are discerned as important but too large to transport are photographed and brought to the attention of experts collected specimens include location labels that are also numbered and recorded in a book For important specimens steve learns about them through readings by collaborating with experts and research through local palaeontology societies or volunteering at a museum
After documenting and donating many important specimens to the royal bc Museum such as whale vertebrae ribs teeth rare ammonites nautiloids crustaceans (crabs and lobsters) and unusual plant fossils steve also has helped unwrap document label and enter data for hundreds of other fossil specimens that were recently donated He has assisted with collections moves and the set up of palaeo lab equipment
there are many other volunteers participating in projects matched to their skills and interests they are all indispensable to the advancements of the palaeo collections at the museum and archives For them making contributions and learning are valued and we all enjoy developing friendships and gaining new experiences
other museum collections and scrutinized palaeontology research literature
gary and i were joking and with twinkles in our eyes said to steve ldquoHow about finding us anotherrdquo steve and his family (daughter leah and son graham) not only found another fossil tibiotarsus but also came back with an even rarer and new fossil bird bone from the site the last was in a 45 kg slab talus block that had fallen from the cliff and into the tidal zone it had been found by leah the block could not be easily downsized at the beach so steve carried it 5 kilometers out this rare bone will probably be a new species We know from previous research at the site that the fossil is about 25 million years old When gary Kaiserrsquos research is published you will be hearing more about this exciting find
steve has become an inspiring steward for bc palaeontology He has gained new knowledge about fossils and collections and this has led to important donations of other rare fossils for research and learning He did keep a few less important specimens for his familyrsquos enjoyment including fossils that connect them with memorable experiences of the day
steve collects responsibly meaning his discoveries mostly come from surface collection of fossils that are at greatest risk for being lost
8 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
A Fossil Hunting Adventure
After gazing-up and eyeing a prize eroding out of a waterfall
cliff i knew i had to have this fossil before mother nature swept it away i found myself 20 feet up a steep cliff under an overhang with a water pool below i tried climbing up but instead went for a dive and unexpected swim in January
on the next trip i tried climbing down with ropes got stuck cut myself loose to get down went for a second swim once again during a season best reserved for skiing and snowshoeing
Determined (my wife says obsessed) i welded a fire poker to a steel pipe but the poker broke off and it went
by steve suntok royal bc Museum volunteer amp donor
for a swim the next time i built a rope ladder and climbed to the top to hang it As i started to climb down the boards i was using for rungs broke ndash my third swim
next i went all out and bought a telescoping ladder i chose a 25 pound version because it was a long steep hike through the bush to get to the site the ladder was too short i went home empty-handed
i went and purchased a taller ladder on the plus side it was 22 feet high on the negative side it weighed 40 pounds and was difficult to haul A friend held the ladder steady and after an hour of carefully chipping away at rock the fossil was free i
caught it with my one free hand and now it sits proudly in my office it is a great ammonite but the memories make it all the better
i love fossil hunting in british columbia itrsquos cool that we can hold in our hands the remains of ancient life from millions of years ago i find that vancouver island is one of the most beautiful places on earth the scenery irsquove seen is by itself worth the effort and that you can find fossils while you are out there ndash that is a great bonus i love adventure and learning and i have met many awesome diverse interesting and kind people during these outings
gary Kaiser amp steve suntok
royalbcmuseumbcca 9
towards the end of her life artist and writer emily carr (1871-1945)
reduced the volume of her writings letters and sketchbooks to what would fit in a battered old steamer trunk in her unmistakable block printing carr expressed her wishes on a card and tacked it under the trunkrsquos lid ldquoAt MY DeAtH PleAse senD tHis boX AnD contents intAct to Mr irA DilWortH cAnADiAn broAD-cAsting corP vAncouver bc [signed] emily carrrdquo Dilworth was carrrsquos confidante and literary executor entrusted with the responsibility of managing her writings and posthumously publishing a number
of her manuscripts Many years after Dilworthrsquos death this distillation of a lifersquos work became one of several nuclei of the carr collections entrusted to the care of the bc Archives
the other groups of royal bc Museum carr collections centre around a large body of her artworks (mainly from the period preceding 1927 but including some important mature works) carr-related artifacts and archival and library records created by her peers and scholars the carr collections hold a number of surprises some of carrrsquos pottery pieces several of her hooked rugs and artifacts including First
Peoplersquos-crafted souvenir items purchased in 1907 and an articulated wooden doll that pops up in various carr sketches cartoons and in a documentary photograph of carrrsquos studio taken shortly after her death
While carrrsquos works are cared for and exhibited in over 35 public galleries museums and institutions and treasured in countless private collections world-wide the largest collection of carrrsquos career output is stewarded by the royal bc Museum Much of it can be consulted on a daily basis in the archives or by appointment this year the royal bc Museum is enhancing understanding of this rich legacy through a web
A ricH resource
Carr Collectionsby Don bourdon curator images amp Paintings
tanoo Qci emily carr 1913
10 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
exhibition featuring a timeline stubbed with Carrrsquos paintings drawings writings photographs and artifacts A ldquotreasure boxrdquo Emily Carr Gallery figures prominently in the Royal BC Museumrsquos redevelopment vision
Upon her death in 1945 the Province of BC purchased seven major Carr paintings including Tanoo (see accompanying figure) Artistic executor Lawren Harris selected 170 works from hundreds remaining in Carrrsquos home for the Emily Carr Trust Collection (now housed in the Vancouver Art Gallery and the National Gallery) Many works from her ldquoFrench Periodrdquo and watercolours were identified for sale to support this Trust Still others were set aside for destruction though many were salvaged and eventually made their way to the BC Archives Like so many prolific artists Carr had already given many works away and destroyed many more considered by her unworthy of retention
Today the Royal BC Museum holds the majority of Carrrsquos artistic literary and personal output Carrrsquos personal and professional archives over 1100 works of art Carrrsquos publications and publications about her and her art key photographs interviews and documentaries The works of art total 1112 items Approximately 900 of these are on paper primarily images in sketch books Approximately 200 are major paintings - oil on canvas oil on board or paper and watercolour on paper Also included are 24
representative pieces of pottery that Carr produced in large numbers for sale and several examples of the hooked rugs she used throughout her home and bestowed as gifts
The Emily Carr fonds (the unpublished archival records created and accumulated by Carr between 1879 and 1945) occupy 23 linear metres of shelf space and consist of correspondence journals manuscripts notebooks scrapbooks publications annotated by the artist financial records photographs and paintings
Records pertaining to Carr in other fonds occupy a further 16 linear metres of textual records In particular the records of the following are rich in detail about Carr Edythe Hembroff-Schleicher Flora Burns Humphrey Toms the Newcombe family and Richard Carr 55 sound recordings contain interviews and radio programs about Carr and 14 moving image records contain documentaries interviews and TV programs Our holdings include 10 works of art by other artists pertaining to Carr Of particular interest are 60 photographs of or pertaining to the artistwriter mainly formal portraits and candid shots depicting her with her art her treasured pets and close friends They also depict Carr family members studio interiors her various homes and colleagues
Carrrsquos published writings in various editions total 59 items and in 167 other publications Carr is the principle subject discussed
The Archives has constructed 16 linear centimetres of artist files pertaining to Emily Carr and artcraft works of Carrrsquos sisters The files include exhibit programmes auction information articles correspondence lists and images The Royal BC Museum holds extensive records pertaining to the Emily Carr Gallery that used to be on Wharf Street in Victoria its facility and program and Carr family home as a heritage building and site
Artifacts include Emilyrsquos Governorrsquos General Medal First Peoplesrsquo works purchased by the Carr sisters in Alaska in 1907 ndash and of course the trunk
View online exhibition royalbcmuseumbccaexhibitionsonline
Haida Totems Cha-atl Queen Charlotte IslandEmily Carr 1912
royalbcmuseumbcca 11
Archives Boot Camp Round Threeby Ann ten cate Archives gallery amp theatre learning team lead
After two successful and sold-out boot camps bc Archives staff
will be offering a third boot camp on saturday september 27 2014
our boot camps are designed to give people a crash course on how to do research at the bc Archives An overview of the collections is given ndash and whether you are a beginner or an expert yoursquoll be inspired
Prior to attending wersquoll assign you to a team with similar interests on the day of the boot camp you will rotate through various stations in our reference room receiving coaching from our expert staff our last camp included the History Hounds bouncing biographers colonial canterers the bobrsquos My uncle team the Family tree crew and the community crew by the end of the day yoursquoll have received some
tips about developing a research strategy know how to find material in our collection and you will have seen some of our most fascinating records Yoursquoll also get a tour of our behind-the-scenes storage areas the day finishes with a chance to get ldquostuck-inrdquo and do some individual research with our experts on-hand
our staff really enjoy helping people get started with their research or head out on new tangents itrsquos a day of immersion and discovery there is definitely a real buzz in our reference room as staff and researchers share information You can hear some of what went on at the last boot camp by listening to cbc radiorsquos north by northwest podcast cbccaplayerradiolocal+showsbritish+columbianorth+by+northwestiD2441594449
if yoursquove already attended our boot camp keep your eye on our calendar as later in the year we will start offering specialized workshops
ldquoGreat So glad I could comerdquo
ldquoThis was an excellent experience It gives me the confidence to return to the archives prepared to ask for assistance and feeling that there is a good starting placerdquo
ldquoLoved this Itrsquos the type of program Irsquod take again because there was so much info I think I missed a lot [before]rdquo
register online royalbcmuseumbccaevents
12 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
Supporting the Museum and Archives Through Local Artby christine roome owner sweet Memory Art
sweet Memory Art was born out of love for people and relationships
ndash the humour and the warmth of human connection My jewellery and art are about commemorating and celebrating the human connection and the relationships that carry us through and make us who we are
Museums are a home for preservation and curation and the birthplace of curiosity question connection history and education for people aged twondash92 i believe
that museums need to surface their collections and celebrate their exhibits through connecting with the local and international community
the sweet Memory Art viking jewellery line invites people to take a piece of the museum experience home 50 percent of the retail sale of the royal bc Museum collection on my website will go back to the royal bc Museum Foundation so that we can continue to learn from the past
You can find sweet Memory Art jewellery in the bc Museum gift shop or purchase pieces on christinersquos website at sweetmemoryartcom
FeAture PArtner
As a values-based financial co-operative vancity is committed
to transforming how banking is done so we can help our members and their local communities thrive financially socially and environmentally
We arenrsquot doing this alone on behalf of our members and community partners we are working to place the right tools in the hands of individuals and organizations working to make our world a better place
We seek to invest in and work closely with organizations and sectors that
Wersquore pleased the royal bc Museum has partnered with the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council on the Our Living Languages exhibition and Aboriginal tourism bc on the Aboriginal cultural Festival 2014 We can accomplish more when we work together
check out vancityrsquos online Annual report at vancitycom2013Annual report for more information on how we are working to build healthy communities
visit vancitycomaboriginalcommunities to learn more about how we are investing in Aboriginal communities to achieve economic strength and independence
we feel have the potential for high positive community impact aligned with our three guiding principles ndash social justice and financial inclusion environmental sustainability and co-operative principles and practices
our partnership with the royal bc Museum is an example of this approach in our work with Aboriginal communities in the coast salish territories where we do business and through our partnership with reconciliation canada we better understand the importance of dialogue and the need for all of us to gain more knowledge about the First Peoples We have much to learn about the history of our land and its people and the importance of language and culture as roots of identity pride and self awareness
royalbcmuseumbcca 13
it wasnrsquot designed to be an emotional touchpoint but sometimes people
respond in surprising ways to details in the royal bc Museum Well before the Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC exhibition was due to open when patches of carpet were tagged with green painterrsquos tape and the drywall mud was still damp bobbilee copeland walked through the exhibition space
it wasnrsquot completely empty one of the exhibitionrsquos first elements to be erected were 17 towering double-sided pylons clad in colourful paint and bearing the names of the 34 First nations languages that are indigenous to british columbia ndash what will become known as the ldquolanguage Forestrdquo
copeland ndash coordinator of the language revitalization program at the university of victoria ndash was visiting the royal bc Museum to discuss potential partnerships aligned with indigenous languages
and the museum and archivesrsquo learning programs and was touring the unfinished exhibition space she stopped in mid-stride when she saw her own language written on one of the pylons then walked over and gave the metal ldquotreerdquo a long hug
For staff at the royal bc Museum this was an unanticipated sight but also a welcome affirmation that the exhibition was going to have deep meaning for many visitors
ldquoBobbileersquos spontaneous gesture was overwhelmingly powerful In that instant I realized how important this exhibition was to her and all the champions of language revitalization the lsquotreersquo such a tangible representation of the intangible fragility of languagerdquo
Janet MacDonald the royal bc Museumrsquos Head of learning
and visitor engagement experience
it was a gratifying moment for all involved in the planning and design of the exhibition language is a powerful potent marker of identity and culture think about the emotional resonance of the term ldquomother tonguerdquo ndash the languages we grow up with are our kin nourishment and birthright
so the revitalization of languages in bcrsquos First nations communities is bound to stir up feelings of pride loss pain and joy the Our Living Languages exhibition aims to tell the stories of how languages have been nearly-lost and newly awakened and illustrate the success stories of language diversity and revitalization throughout bc
telling these stories has been a deeply collaborative project the royal bc Museum has relied upon the expertise of its partner the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council to shape the narrative provide content and advice on cultural matters
Our Living Languages A Beautiful Collaborationby erik lamberston corporate communications officer
transmission of traditional knowledge at Kaska language camp
14 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
the royal bc Museumrsquos job has been to find the compelling way to communicate the messages through design the two organizations chose to partner closely as they fine-tune details about design development orthography marketing ndash virtually every aspect of the exhibition
ldquoWe are honoured to be part of creation this important exhibition First Nations language speakers are the true experts when it comes to describing and sharing information about their languages By involving them in the development process we hope to create an experience that is both authentic and meaningful for visitors to the museumrdquo
lorna Williams chair of the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council
in fact the theme of co-mingled multiple perspectives has become
a sub-theme of the exhibition itself For example one of the successes of the exhibition is how well it integrates oral and aural experiences with our other senses visitors often expect museum-going to be a primarily visual experience but Our Living Languages is about language transmission a fundamentally spoken activity
And the truth is that contemporary innovative places like the royal bc Museum are increasingly interactive and multi-sensory so Our Living Language rsquos audio messages are supported through visually-interesting video content and tactile details that are rooted in First nations culture
take the cradleboard theatre ndash a small and intimate space that will replicate a cedar root basket inside visitors will be cocooned in soothing First nations languages and lullabies for an immersive experience the idea came from cultural advisors and the medium was designed and fabricated by the royal bc Museumrsquos exhibition arts team
the cradleboard theatre is just one element of the innovative multi-sensory exhibition the
language forest will ldquospeakrdquo as visitors approach each ldquotreerdquo wired with motion sensors A theatre space a rounded counterpoint to the forest spires will be animated by presenters who will add a live dimension to this human story
Our Living Languages will open on saturday June 21 ndash national Aboriginal Day the royal bc Museum will be a celebratory space that weekend with Aboriginal tourism bc hosting the Aboriginal cultural Festival June 19-21 enlivening the campus outside (see page 16 for details) and this collaborative exhibition drawing new eyes ndash and ears ndash to the fascinating and moving story of language diversity and revitalization in bcrsquos First nations communities
royalbcmuseumbcca 15
From June 19 to 21 victoria will host the 2014 Aboriginal cultural
Festival highlighting and celebrating the regionrsquos rich indigenous culture through storytelling artisans dance song and food
created in partnership with Aboriginal tourism bc (Atbc) the esquimalt and songhees nations the royal bc Museum tourism victoria robert bateman centre greater victoria Harbour Authority and First Peoplesrsquo cultural council the festival will take place on the outdoor campus of the royal bc Museum and around victoriarsquos inner Harbour
the three-day festival will feature main stage performances including three-time world champion hoop dancer Alex Wells an artisan area where people may watch demonstrations meet the artists and also learn about the new Authentic Aboriginal program that helps consumers identify products designed created and sold by bc Aboriginal artists a childrenrsquos storytelling area food vendors and an Aboriginal tourism bc information booth
the festival is also an opportunity to celebrate share and learn more
about the history of the First nations people in bc and the capital before the city became victoria esquimalt and songhees nations were one of the first nations to sign a treaty in bc ndash known as the vancouver island treaties which were signed between 1850ndash1854
this festival also coincides with national Aboriginal Day and the launch of the royal bc Museumrsquos new exhibit Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC opening June 21 2014
learn more onlineaboriginalbccom
Aboriginal Cultural Festival
16 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
gerry truscott earned his degree in creative Writing
from the university of victoria in 1982 and since then he has spent his professional life editing and publishing books He joined the royal bc Museum in 1989 as publisher He has edited and produced more than 100 books for the institution and has written or edited much of the
text that appears in the exhibition galleries in 2008 he wrote the exhibition text and book for the museumrsquos project celebrating british columbiarsquos 150th anniversary entitled Free Spirit Stories of You Me and BC
on his own time gerry writes fiction and has had several short stories published in magazines and anthologies Hersquos also very much
interested in soccer and hockey (playing and watching) jazz and progressive rock hiking cycling and walking his dogs
royal bc Museum publications are available at your local book store the royal bc Museum shop and royalbcmuseumbccapublications
FeAture PArtner
Canadian Geographic canadian geographic magazine
is a proud partner of the royal bc Museum one of canadarsquos most award-winning magazines canadian geographic is unapologetic about celebrating canada Wersquore dedicated to uncovering and communicating the stories about canadian people places frontiers and issues (past and present) that canadian magazine readers want Published by the royal canadian geographical society canadian geographic magazine is more than a geography publication each issue of canadian geographic is a voyage of discovery and exploration that features the latest
science environment travel human and cultural stories from across canada
canadian geographic connects with more than 38 million readers per issue in canada and abroad who share our fascination for canada Filled with stunning colour photography fascinating articles and specially commissioned maps each issue of canadian geographic magazine lets you travel the country without leaving home Yoursquoll discover canadarsquos people and cities our wildlife and wilderness our history and the beauty of our land subscriptions include six regular
issues of canadian geographic plus four issues of canadian geographic travel per year
For a special subscription offer exclusive to rbcM members please go to canadiangeographiccarbcm
stAFF ProFile
Gerry TruscottPublisHer
royalbcmuseumbcca 17
$100000 - $499999
$25000 - $99999
$5000 - $24999
the royal bc Museum appreciates and acknowledges the vital and
ongoing financial support of the Province of British Columbia the Ministry of Community Sport and Cultural Development and the Royal BC Museum Foundation their core support makes our work possible
While approximately 63 percent of our annual operating budget
comes from the Province and another 21 percent comes from memberships and admissions we need to raise the remaining 16 percent ndash three million dollars ndash each year from other sources including donations sponsorships and grants contributions from those who value the work of the royal bc Museum help us to meet our most pressing needs such as
Acquiring items for our collection conserving rare and
precious objects Furthering our world-class
research Developing our learning programs supporting our archives Presenting engaging exhibitions Publishing critically-
acclaimed books
Royal BC Museum Supporters(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Please join us in thanking the following individuals corporations and foundations for their support their demonstrated commitment and their inspiration during the past fiscal year
$500000+
bell Media
royal bc Museum Foundation teck resources limited tourism victoria
bc Hydro
black Press
clipper vacations
Hsbc bank of canada
the estate of Akiko Kamitakahara
lamar Advertising company
Pattison outdoor Advertising
the Jim Pattison broadcast group
Quark expeditions
times colonist
John and Joan Walton innovators Fund
Anonymous (1)
the bay centre
bc transit
black ball Ferry line
canadian Museums Association
cibc
cineplex Media
ctv vancouver island
Fannyrsquos cultured cow Products ltd
garth evans
Friends of the bc Archives
iMAX victoria
elizabeth Kennedy
gwendolyn Page
save on Foods Memorial centre
silk road tea
sunset Magazine
rosita Anna tovell
vancity savings credit union
viking Air
Jack and bev Wallace
Westerkirk capital
if you would like to support the work of the royal bc Museum please contact Jillian Appelman Philanthropy Manager at 250-387-3102 or jappelmanroyalbcmuseumbcca
18 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
$1000 - $4999
$500 - $999
$250 - $499
Collections
Education
Conservation
Research
every effort has been made to ensure our supporters are recognized accurately if you notice an error or omission please call the royal bc Museum Development Department at 250-387-7222
eric and leonda Adler
Patrick and Anne Anderson
Anonymous (1)
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
Joyce clearihue
Daphne corbett in memory of Joan corbett
Karen A Duddlesten
robert and Marianne eng
Flight centre
rupert and robin Hambro
bob and Marjorie Johns
lynne Kennedy
lyall and susan Knott
Professor Jack lohman cbe
ron and May lou-Poy
Kenneth and ellen Mahon
tommy Mayne
stefan and Magdalena opalski
Provincial employees community services Fund
Pauline rafferty and bob Plecas
suromitra sanatani and David turpin
sharon smith
Pauline and robert van Den Driessche
rene and Allison Weir
Angela Williams
Anonymous in memory of Joan corbett
robert Appleton in memory of Joan corbett
robert and birgit bateman
ian beauprie
gary and susan braley
Jeff bray
William and Jean cave
Kelly and rose chu
James and Jean cosgrove
carol cullimore
Jon Declan and bridget Dallison
Joe and linda Harvey
Mark Holford in memory of Joan corbett
erik lythgoe
ian and Margaret Mair
David Mattison
susan K McMillan
Jim and isabel Merston
charles and Marjorie Moser
Pauline and John Mustard Foundation
northwest Magazine
shelley reid
Anne and Don russell
Pete seward
John and Fern spring
W Anthony and Darlene southwell
Mark and elizabeth taylor
Anonymous (2)
robin Ashforth and gerald thompson
Patrick D crofton
Jean e Field and roy A richford
barbara Fields
Joyce Folbigg
Hotel grand Pacific
barbara longworth
Dennis Mccann and Diane Darch
Doreen Mitchell
gary Mitchell
greg and susan McKelvie
Helen Parker
barbara Potash
sandy Pratt
barbara rae and george suart
ernest and Adele roberts
robert rothwell
royal scot Hotel and suites
team telus cares
betty thacker
Alan tompson
victoria international buskers Festival
Maryla and Donovan Waters
Angela Wesley
chuck Wilson
royalbcmuseumbcca 19
1 british columbia MlA lana Popham and royal bc Museum ceo Prof Jack lohman discussing an artifact from the exhibition Vikings Lives Beyond the Legends
2 His excellency teppo tauriainen swedish Ambassador to canada and the Honourable linda reid MlA for richmond east and the speaker of the legislative Assembly at the Annual Kermode gala
3 Prof Jack lohman ceo royal bc Museum with seiji okada consul general of Japan and his wife Yasuko okada
4 sharon smith Francis Kermode group patron and 10-year volunteer
sharon smith is a dedicated 10-year volunteer who now
financially supports the royal bc Museum as a member of the Francis Kermode group ldquoexciting things are coming with the redevelopment plans for the royal bc Museum so it has been a very interesting time for me to get more involvedrdquo she says ldquoi have really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes tours and getting to know the other members of the grouprdquo
Having travelled to museums and historical sites around the world what strikes sharon is our uniqueness ldquoYou just cannot see what is in this collection anywhere else this is the only place that does
what it does it is hugely important to get behind it and i highly recommend that supporters consider joining the Francis Kermode group the activities are very enjoyable and our financial support makes a difference to the core work of the museum and archivesrdquo
she adds ldquoi have learned so much during my time with the group that i have decided to include a gift to the royal bc Museum in my will i feel it is an opportunity to extend my values and my dedication to the museum and archives beyond my lifetime the support is needed and the cause is very important to future generationsrdquo
Donor ProFile
Sharon Smith
The Francis Kermode Groupnamed after the royal bc
Museumrsquos first director the Francis Kermode group is a visionary group of patrons who enjoy a special relationship with the royal bc Museum and our world-class team of curators conservators researchers collections managers and archivists Members of the group deepen their
engagement throughout the year with an exclusive series of customized learning opportunities special privileges and social events created to enlighten stimulate and inspire as they explore the treasures of the royal bc Museum and our wonderful province
1
2
3
4
to join the Francis Kermode group or for more information contact Jon Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
20 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
As sharon smith noted (on the previous page) a will presents
a wonderful opportunity for you to extend your values beyond your lifetime and a meaningful way to connect past present and future generations once you have made
arrangements for your loved ones please consider the merits of making a bequest to the royal bc Museum gifts such as these are incredibly helpful in ensuring the long-term financial health of the museum and archives
For more information or to let us know that you have included us in your will please contact Jonathan Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
Have you considered leaving a gift in your will
there are over seven million artifacts and objects in the royal
bc Museumrsquos permanent collections making it one of the largest and most impressive museum collections in the country these objects bring life to the story of british columbia in ways that enlighten stimulate and inspire Many of these items are accessioned as gifts from generous museum and archives supporters who want to
see a favourite piece often a family heirloom live on forever and impact future generations the royal bc Museum is grateful for objects that help us further our provincial mandate to advance new knowledge and understanding of british columbiarsquos natural history and human history
Acquiring a new object is just the beginning of the story through
professional conservation protection measures and display consultations our highly-skilled conservation staff ensure that each piece is properly cared for and preserved conservation efforts are at the core of the important work we do and the end result is that another integral piece of british columbiarsquos history is shared with the world
Gifts to the Collections(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Mary Andrews
Anonymous (35)
bruce Archibald
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
gary bell
Peter bock
James burgess
Delphine castles
tom cockburn
Michael cooper
carole cullimore
carole Davidson
Howard Dirks
raymond graham
george guy
Hanson Materials limited
edward Harvey
James Douglas Helmcken
Dave Henly
Michael Holmes
richard Holmes
gord Hutchings
carl Jonsson
Milan and sharon lacika
Frank lomer
sandy Mclachlan
H edward Mclean
Mona Mosher
brett nelson
Margaret nelson
Dean nicholson
Frank ogden
Margaret ogilvie
out of the Mist gallery
nettie Pasieczka
tom Perry
bernie simpson
David starr
steve suntok
rosita Anna tovell in Memory of Freeman M tovell
south coast british columbia transportation Authority Police service
John veillette
rick Watson and Mike Watson
robert D Watt and Alison Watt
David Yuen
steve suntok fossil donor and volunteer
We wholeheartedly thank our generous donors to the collection during the past fiscal year
royalbcmuseumbcca 21
going DigitAl
Global Plants Initiativeby Dr erica Wheeler botany collections Manager collections care amp conservation
tYPe sPeciMen = the particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached
The Global Plants Initiativethe royal bc Museum has recently become a partner in the global Plants initiative (gPi) gPi is a collaborative effort among herbaria to make digital images of all botany tYPe sPeciMens available to researchers via access to a centralized repository this repository currently holds over 18 million high resolution images of tYPe sPeciMens contributed by over 270 herbaria from more than 70 countries gPi is funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation the image repository is housed and accessed electronically through (Journal storage) Jstor
the royal bc Museum herbarium houses over 80 tYPe sPeciMens that will be included in this important digitization effort
Describing and naming new species of plantsover 400000 species of plants are known to science that is to say more than 400000 species have been formally described and named by taxonomic experts Describing and naming new species is often slow and can be a complicated process A recent study reported that it takes an
average of 21 years from the date a taxonomist spots something new to science to the date the new name is officially recognized two things are required
the new name and a formal latin description must be validly published and
tYPe sPeciMens must be designated and deposited in a publicly accessible herbarium
During the time that a plant taxonomist is doing the work required to describe a new species they collect and preserve specimens for study the main goal of their study is to describe it in very precise terms in particular how does this new species differ from other related species Are the petals a different colour Are the tiny hairs on the underside of the leaves a different shape is this new species found in markedly different habitats than other closely related species
After the author has described and chosen a name for the new species tYPe sPeciMens are designated from the study material tYPe sPeciMens are the particular specimens to which the scientific name of the new species is formally attached because these are of great importance to the science of documenting biodiversity more
than one tYPe sPeciMen is often designated and these are distributed among different herbaria for safe-keeping in the event that one tYPe sPeciMen is destroyed or lost the others will still be available for study
there are at least seven categories of tYPe sPeciMens but HolotYPes and isotYPes are the most important
HolotYPe the single specimen designated by the author at the time of publication as the specimen upon which the description and name is based
isotYPe any specimen collected on the same date and from the same location as the specimen that is designated as the HolotYPe
Roemerrsquos fescuein 1983 royal bc Museum botany curator Dr leon Pavlick described and published the name of a new variety of grass commonly known as `roemerrsquos fescuersquo the scientific name for this grass is Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick names often describe a notable characteristic of a species or sometimes recognize the person who first discovered the new species roemerrsquos fescue was named after Dr Hans roemer a well-known bc botanist who made some of the early collections of this grass
22 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
in the royal bc Museum herbarium we store the HolotYPe of Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick in a special cabinet reserved for such important specimens High resolution images of this specimen and images of other tYPe sPeciMens in the botany collection will soon be available to researchers around the world via the Jstor repository Access to these images will facilitate global biodiversity research the royal bc Museum herbarium is thrilled to contribute to this effort
royalbcmuseumbcca 23
the Artists in Residence program began in september
of 2013 three artists ndash Aimee van Drimmelen lindsay Delaronde and garth gaudin ndash were selected to take part in the inaugural season of this project in addition to their involvement in events throughout the programming year every two weeks they visit different collections areas of the museum and archives the work they create chronicles both the extraordinary collections and the important work being done by staff and volunteers to maintain collections
Artists Get Inspired by the Collectionby chris orsquoconnor schools amp Family learning team lead
the artists are allowed to go behind the scenes and explore the collections Aimee dived into the botany collection which houses over 215000 specimens made up primarily of native and introduced plant species found in british columbia Most specimens are gathered pressed and affixed to cardstock that is marked with collection data for future reference the specimens are then stacked in folders bagged and stored in lockers the earliest specimen in botany is currently lichen collected in 1889
royal bc Museum volunteer Daniela toriola was helping prepare some new specimen sheets on the day the artists visited she carefully arranged the pressed plants gluing them onto the page with assorted metal weights to hold them down until they dried Daniela noted that she always tries to make the presentation as beautiful as possible it takes a lot of creativity to prepare specimens Whether itrsquos taxidermy
scientific drawings or the placement of sea creatures in a jar a lot of care is taken to make things visually appealing the preservation team takes pride in their work knowing that the collections will be looked upon for years to come
on her visit Aimee used a ldquospill saferdquo ink jar the ink mixed with water was perfect for capturing the transparency of leaves and petals and the dark curly roots she used a couple drops of water to wet her brush and introduced ink with a brush pen
Follow along with our artists and their creations on the royal bc Museum blog royalbcmuseumbccakids artists-in-residence
check out Aimeersquos personal blog featuring more entries and animations from different collection areas aimeesketchblogwordpresscom
ink drawing of liliaceae zigaderiusAimee van Drimmelenfrom the botany collection
royalbcmuseumbcca 25
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
A Fossil Hunting Adventure
After gazing-up and eyeing a prize eroding out of a waterfall
cliff i knew i had to have this fossil before mother nature swept it away i found myself 20 feet up a steep cliff under an overhang with a water pool below i tried climbing up but instead went for a dive and unexpected swim in January
on the next trip i tried climbing down with ropes got stuck cut myself loose to get down went for a second swim once again during a season best reserved for skiing and snowshoeing
Determined (my wife says obsessed) i welded a fire poker to a steel pipe but the poker broke off and it went
by steve suntok royal bc Museum volunteer amp donor
for a swim the next time i built a rope ladder and climbed to the top to hang it As i started to climb down the boards i was using for rungs broke ndash my third swim
next i went all out and bought a telescoping ladder i chose a 25 pound version because it was a long steep hike through the bush to get to the site the ladder was too short i went home empty-handed
i went and purchased a taller ladder on the plus side it was 22 feet high on the negative side it weighed 40 pounds and was difficult to haul A friend held the ladder steady and after an hour of carefully chipping away at rock the fossil was free i
caught it with my one free hand and now it sits proudly in my office it is a great ammonite but the memories make it all the better
i love fossil hunting in british columbia itrsquos cool that we can hold in our hands the remains of ancient life from millions of years ago i find that vancouver island is one of the most beautiful places on earth the scenery irsquove seen is by itself worth the effort and that you can find fossils while you are out there ndash that is a great bonus i love adventure and learning and i have met many awesome diverse interesting and kind people during these outings
gary Kaiser amp steve suntok
royalbcmuseumbcca 9
towards the end of her life artist and writer emily carr (1871-1945)
reduced the volume of her writings letters and sketchbooks to what would fit in a battered old steamer trunk in her unmistakable block printing carr expressed her wishes on a card and tacked it under the trunkrsquos lid ldquoAt MY DeAtH PleAse senD tHis boX AnD contents intAct to Mr irA DilWortH cAnADiAn broAD-cAsting corP vAncouver bc [signed] emily carrrdquo Dilworth was carrrsquos confidante and literary executor entrusted with the responsibility of managing her writings and posthumously publishing a number
of her manuscripts Many years after Dilworthrsquos death this distillation of a lifersquos work became one of several nuclei of the carr collections entrusted to the care of the bc Archives
the other groups of royal bc Museum carr collections centre around a large body of her artworks (mainly from the period preceding 1927 but including some important mature works) carr-related artifacts and archival and library records created by her peers and scholars the carr collections hold a number of surprises some of carrrsquos pottery pieces several of her hooked rugs and artifacts including First
Peoplersquos-crafted souvenir items purchased in 1907 and an articulated wooden doll that pops up in various carr sketches cartoons and in a documentary photograph of carrrsquos studio taken shortly after her death
While carrrsquos works are cared for and exhibited in over 35 public galleries museums and institutions and treasured in countless private collections world-wide the largest collection of carrrsquos career output is stewarded by the royal bc Museum Much of it can be consulted on a daily basis in the archives or by appointment this year the royal bc Museum is enhancing understanding of this rich legacy through a web
A ricH resource
Carr Collectionsby Don bourdon curator images amp Paintings
tanoo Qci emily carr 1913
10 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
exhibition featuring a timeline stubbed with Carrrsquos paintings drawings writings photographs and artifacts A ldquotreasure boxrdquo Emily Carr Gallery figures prominently in the Royal BC Museumrsquos redevelopment vision
Upon her death in 1945 the Province of BC purchased seven major Carr paintings including Tanoo (see accompanying figure) Artistic executor Lawren Harris selected 170 works from hundreds remaining in Carrrsquos home for the Emily Carr Trust Collection (now housed in the Vancouver Art Gallery and the National Gallery) Many works from her ldquoFrench Periodrdquo and watercolours were identified for sale to support this Trust Still others were set aside for destruction though many were salvaged and eventually made their way to the BC Archives Like so many prolific artists Carr had already given many works away and destroyed many more considered by her unworthy of retention
Today the Royal BC Museum holds the majority of Carrrsquos artistic literary and personal output Carrrsquos personal and professional archives over 1100 works of art Carrrsquos publications and publications about her and her art key photographs interviews and documentaries The works of art total 1112 items Approximately 900 of these are on paper primarily images in sketch books Approximately 200 are major paintings - oil on canvas oil on board or paper and watercolour on paper Also included are 24
representative pieces of pottery that Carr produced in large numbers for sale and several examples of the hooked rugs she used throughout her home and bestowed as gifts
The Emily Carr fonds (the unpublished archival records created and accumulated by Carr between 1879 and 1945) occupy 23 linear metres of shelf space and consist of correspondence journals manuscripts notebooks scrapbooks publications annotated by the artist financial records photographs and paintings
Records pertaining to Carr in other fonds occupy a further 16 linear metres of textual records In particular the records of the following are rich in detail about Carr Edythe Hembroff-Schleicher Flora Burns Humphrey Toms the Newcombe family and Richard Carr 55 sound recordings contain interviews and radio programs about Carr and 14 moving image records contain documentaries interviews and TV programs Our holdings include 10 works of art by other artists pertaining to Carr Of particular interest are 60 photographs of or pertaining to the artistwriter mainly formal portraits and candid shots depicting her with her art her treasured pets and close friends They also depict Carr family members studio interiors her various homes and colleagues
Carrrsquos published writings in various editions total 59 items and in 167 other publications Carr is the principle subject discussed
The Archives has constructed 16 linear centimetres of artist files pertaining to Emily Carr and artcraft works of Carrrsquos sisters The files include exhibit programmes auction information articles correspondence lists and images The Royal BC Museum holds extensive records pertaining to the Emily Carr Gallery that used to be on Wharf Street in Victoria its facility and program and Carr family home as a heritage building and site
Artifacts include Emilyrsquos Governorrsquos General Medal First Peoplesrsquo works purchased by the Carr sisters in Alaska in 1907 ndash and of course the trunk
View online exhibition royalbcmuseumbccaexhibitionsonline
Haida Totems Cha-atl Queen Charlotte IslandEmily Carr 1912
royalbcmuseumbcca 11
Archives Boot Camp Round Threeby Ann ten cate Archives gallery amp theatre learning team lead
After two successful and sold-out boot camps bc Archives staff
will be offering a third boot camp on saturday september 27 2014
our boot camps are designed to give people a crash course on how to do research at the bc Archives An overview of the collections is given ndash and whether you are a beginner or an expert yoursquoll be inspired
Prior to attending wersquoll assign you to a team with similar interests on the day of the boot camp you will rotate through various stations in our reference room receiving coaching from our expert staff our last camp included the History Hounds bouncing biographers colonial canterers the bobrsquos My uncle team the Family tree crew and the community crew by the end of the day yoursquoll have received some
tips about developing a research strategy know how to find material in our collection and you will have seen some of our most fascinating records Yoursquoll also get a tour of our behind-the-scenes storage areas the day finishes with a chance to get ldquostuck-inrdquo and do some individual research with our experts on-hand
our staff really enjoy helping people get started with their research or head out on new tangents itrsquos a day of immersion and discovery there is definitely a real buzz in our reference room as staff and researchers share information You can hear some of what went on at the last boot camp by listening to cbc radiorsquos north by northwest podcast cbccaplayerradiolocal+showsbritish+columbianorth+by+northwestiD2441594449
if yoursquove already attended our boot camp keep your eye on our calendar as later in the year we will start offering specialized workshops
ldquoGreat So glad I could comerdquo
ldquoThis was an excellent experience It gives me the confidence to return to the archives prepared to ask for assistance and feeling that there is a good starting placerdquo
ldquoLoved this Itrsquos the type of program Irsquod take again because there was so much info I think I missed a lot [before]rdquo
register online royalbcmuseumbccaevents
12 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
Supporting the Museum and Archives Through Local Artby christine roome owner sweet Memory Art
sweet Memory Art was born out of love for people and relationships
ndash the humour and the warmth of human connection My jewellery and art are about commemorating and celebrating the human connection and the relationships that carry us through and make us who we are
Museums are a home for preservation and curation and the birthplace of curiosity question connection history and education for people aged twondash92 i believe
that museums need to surface their collections and celebrate their exhibits through connecting with the local and international community
the sweet Memory Art viking jewellery line invites people to take a piece of the museum experience home 50 percent of the retail sale of the royal bc Museum collection on my website will go back to the royal bc Museum Foundation so that we can continue to learn from the past
You can find sweet Memory Art jewellery in the bc Museum gift shop or purchase pieces on christinersquos website at sweetmemoryartcom
FeAture PArtner
As a values-based financial co-operative vancity is committed
to transforming how banking is done so we can help our members and their local communities thrive financially socially and environmentally
We arenrsquot doing this alone on behalf of our members and community partners we are working to place the right tools in the hands of individuals and organizations working to make our world a better place
We seek to invest in and work closely with organizations and sectors that
Wersquore pleased the royal bc Museum has partnered with the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council on the Our Living Languages exhibition and Aboriginal tourism bc on the Aboriginal cultural Festival 2014 We can accomplish more when we work together
check out vancityrsquos online Annual report at vancitycom2013Annual report for more information on how we are working to build healthy communities
visit vancitycomaboriginalcommunities to learn more about how we are investing in Aboriginal communities to achieve economic strength and independence
we feel have the potential for high positive community impact aligned with our three guiding principles ndash social justice and financial inclusion environmental sustainability and co-operative principles and practices
our partnership with the royal bc Museum is an example of this approach in our work with Aboriginal communities in the coast salish territories where we do business and through our partnership with reconciliation canada we better understand the importance of dialogue and the need for all of us to gain more knowledge about the First Peoples We have much to learn about the history of our land and its people and the importance of language and culture as roots of identity pride and self awareness
royalbcmuseumbcca 13
it wasnrsquot designed to be an emotional touchpoint but sometimes people
respond in surprising ways to details in the royal bc Museum Well before the Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC exhibition was due to open when patches of carpet were tagged with green painterrsquos tape and the drywall mud was still damp bobbilee copeland walked through the exhibition space
it wasnrsquot completely empty one of the exhibitionrsquos first elements to be erected were 17 towering double-sided pylons clad in colourful paint and bearing the names of the 34 First nations languages that are indigenous to british columbia ndash what will become known as the ldquolanguage Forestrdquo
copeland ndash coordinator of the language revitalization program at the university of victoria ndash was visiting the royal bc Museum to discuss potential partnerships aligned with indigenous languages
and the museum and archivesrsquo learning programs and was touring the unfinished exhibition space she stopped in mid-stride when she saw her own language written on one of the pylons then walked over and gave the metal ldquotreerdquo a long hug
For staff at the royal bc Museum this was an unanticipated sight but also a welcome affirmation that the exhibition was going to have deep meaning for many visitors
ldquoBobbileersquos spontaneous gesture was overwhelmingly powerful In that instant I realized how important this exhibition was to her and all the champions of language revitalization the lsquotreersquo such a tangible representation of the intangible fragility of languagerdquo
Janet MacDonald the royal bc Museumrsquos Head of learning
and visitor engagement experience
it was a gratifying moment for all involved in the planning and design of the exhibition language is a powerful potent marker of identity and culture think about the emotional resonance of the term ldquomother tonguerdquo ndash the languages we grow up with are our kin nourishment and birthright
so the revitalization of languages in bcrsquos First nations communities is bound to stir up feelings of pride loss pain and joy the Our Living Languages exhibition aims to tell the stories of how languages have been nearly-lost and newly awakened and illustrate the success stories of language diversity and revitalization throughout bc
telling these stories has been a deeply collaborative project the royal bc Museum has relied upon the expertise of its partner the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council to shape the narrative provide content and advice on cultural matters
Our Living Languages A Beautiful Collaborationby erik lamberston corporate communications officer
transmission of traditional knowledge at Kaska language camp
14 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
the royal bc Museumrsquos job has been to find the compelling way to communicate the messages through design the two organizations chose to partner closely as they fine-tune details about design development orthography marketing ndash virtually every aspect of the exhibition
ldquoWe are honoured to be part of creation this important exhibition First Nations language speakers are the true experts when it comes to describing and sharing information about their languages By involving them in the development process we hope to create an experience that is both authentic and meaningful for visitors to the museumrdquo
lorna Williams chair of the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council
in fact the theme of co-mingled multiple perspectives has become
a sub-theme of the exhibition itself For example one of the successes of the exhibition is how well it integrates oral and aural experiences with our other senses visitors often expect museum-going to be a primarily visual experience but Our Living Languages is about language transmission a fundamentally spoken activity
And the truth is that contemporary innovative places like the royal bc Museum are increasingly interactive and multi-sensory so Our Living Language rsquos audio messages are supported through visually-interesting video content and tactile details that are rooted in First nations culture
take the cradleboard theatre ndash a small and intimate space that will replicate a cedar root basket inside visitors will be cocooned in soothing First nations languages and lullabies for an immersive experience the idea came from cultural advisors and the medium was designed and fabricated by the royal bc Museumrsquos exhibition arts team
the cradleboard theatre is just one element of the innovative multi-sensory exhibition the
language forest will ldquospeakrdquo as visitors approach each ldquotreerdquo wired with motion sensors A theatre space a rounded counterpoint to the forest spires will be animated by presenters who will add a live dimension to this human story
Our Living Languages will open on saturday June 21 ndash national Aboriginal Day the royal bc Museum will be a celebratory space that weekend with Aboriginal tourism bc hosting the Aboriginal cultural Festival June 19-21 enlivening the campus outside (see page 16 for details) and this collaborative exhibition drawing new eyes ndash and ears ndash to the fascinating and moving story of language diversity and revitalization in bcrsquos First nations communities
royalbcmuseumbcca 15
From June 19 to 21 victoria will host the 2014 Aboriginal cultural
Festival highlighting and celebrating the regionrsquos rich indigenous culture through storytelling artisans dance song and food
created in partnership with Aboriginal tourism bc (Atbc) the esquimalt and songhees nations the royal bc Museum tourism victoria robert bateman centre greater victoria Harbour Authority and First Peoplesrsquo cultural council the festival will take place on the outdoor campus of the royal bc Museum and around victoriarsquos inner Harbour
the three-day festival will feature main stage performances including three-time world champion hoop dancer Alex Wells an artisan area where people may watch demonstrations meet the artists and also learn about the new Authentic Aboriginal program that helps consumers identify products designed created and sold by bc Aboriginal artists a childrenrsquos storytelling area food vendors and an Aboriginal tourism bc information booth
the festival is also an opportunity to celebrate share and learn more
about the history of the First nations people in bc and the capital before the city became victoria esquimalt and songhees nations were one of the first nations to sign a treaty in bc ndash known as the vancouver island treaties which were signed between 1850ndash1854
this festival also coincides with national Aboriginal Day and the launch of the royal bc Museumrsquos new exhibit Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC opening June 21 2014
learn more onlineaboriginalbccom
Aboriginal Cultural Festival
16 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
gerry truscott earned his degree in creative Writing
from the university of victoria in 1982 and since then he has spent his professional life editing and publishing books He joined the royal bc Museum in 1989 as publisher He has edited and produced more than 100 books for the institution and has written or edited much of the
text that appears in the exhibition galleries in 2008 he wrote the exhibition text and book for the museumrsquos project celebrating british columbiarsquos 150th anniversary entitled Free Spirit Stories of You Me and BC
on his own time gerry writes fiction and has had several short stories published in magazines and anthologies Hersquos also very much
interested in soccer and hockey (playing and watching) jazz and progressive rock hiking cycling and walking his dogs
royal bc Museum publications are available at your local book store the royal bc Museum shop and royalbcmuseumbccapublications
FeAture PArtner
Canadian Geographic canadian geographic magazine
is a proud partner of the royal bc Museum one of canadarsquos most award-winning magazines canadian geographic is unapologetic about celebrating canada Wersquore dedicated to uncovering and communicating the stories about canadian people places frontiers and issues (past and present) that canadian magazine readers want Published by the royal canadian geographical society canadian geographic magazine is more than a geography publication each issue of canadian geographic is a voyage of discovery and exploration that features the latest
science environment travel human and cultural stories from across canada
canadian geographic connects with more than 38 million readers per issue in canada and abroad who share our fascination for canada Filled with stunning colour photography fascinating articles and specially commissioned maps each issue of canadian geographic magazine lets you travel the country without leaving home Yoursquoll discover canadarsquos people and cities our wildlife and wilderness our history and the beauty of our land subscriptions include six regular
issues of canadian geographic plus four issues of canadian geographic travel per year
For a special subscription offer exclusive to rbcM members please go to canadiangeographiccarbcm
stAFF ProFile
Gerry TruscottPublisHer
royalbcmuseumbcca 17
$100000 - $499999
$25000 - $99999
$5000 - $24999
the royal bc Museum appreciates and acknowledges the vital and
ongoing financial support of the Province of British Columbia the Ministry of Community Sport and Cultural Development and the Royal BC Museum Foundation their core support makes our work possible
While approximately 63 percent of our annual operating budget
comes from the Province and another 21 percent comes from memberships and admissions we need to raise the remaining 16 percent ndash three million dollars ndash each year from other sources including donations sponsorships and grants contributions from those who value the work of the royal bc Museum help us to meet our most pressing needs such as
Acquiring items for our collection conserving rare and
precious objects Furthering our world-class
research Developing our learning programs supporting our archives Presenting engaging exhibitions Publishing critically-
acclaimed books
Royal BC Museum Supporters(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Please join us in thanking the following individuals corporations and foundations for their support their demonstrated commitment and their inspiration during the past fiscal year
$500000+
bell Media
royal bc Museum Foundation teck resources limited tourism victoria
bc Hydro
black Press
clipper vacations
Hsbc bank of canada
the estate of Akiko Kamitakahara
lamar Advertising company
Pattison outdoor Advertising
the Jim Pattison broadcast group
Quark expeditions
times colonist
John and Joan Walton innovators Fund
Anonymous (1)
the bay centre
bc transit
black ball Ferry line
canadian Museums Association
cibc
cineplex Media
ctv vancouver island
Fannyrsquos cultured cow Products ltd
garth evans
Friends of the bc Archives
iMAX victoria
elizabeth Kennedy
gwendolyn Page
save on Foods Memorial centre
silk road tea
sunset Magazine
rosita Anna tovell
vancity savings credit union
viking Air
Jack and bev Wallace
Westerkirk capital
if you would like to support the work of the royal bc Museum please contact Jillian Appelman Philanthropy Manager at 250-387-3102 or jappelmanroyalbcmuseumbcca
18 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
$1000 - $4999
$500 - $999
$250 - $499
Collections
Education
Conservation
Research
every effort has been made to ensure our supporters are recognized accurately if you notice an error or omission please call the royal bc Museum Development Department at 250-387-7222
eric and leonda Adler
Patrick and Anne Anderson
Anonymous (1)
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
Joyce clearihue
Daphne corbett in memory of Joan corbett
Karen A Duddlesten
robert and Marianne eng
Flight centre
rupert and robin Hambro
bob and Marjorie Johns
lynne Kennedy
lyall and susan Knott
Professor Jack lohman cbe
ron and May lou-Poy
Kenneth and ellen Mahon
tommy Mayne
stefan and Magdalena opalski
Provincial employees community services Fund
Pauline rafferty and bob Plecas
suromitra sanatani and David turpin
sharon smith
Pauline and robert van Den Driessche
rene and Allison Weir
Angela Williams
Anonymous in memory of Joan corbett
robert Appleton in memory of Joan corbett
robert and birgit bateman
ian beauprie
gary and susan braley
Jeff bray
William and Jean cave
Kelly and rose chu
James and Jean cosgrove
carol cullimore
Jon Declan and bridget Dallison
Joe and linda Harvey
Mark Holford in memory of Joan corbett
erik lythgoe
ian and Margaret Mair
David Mattison
susan K McMillan
Jim and isabel Merston
charles and Marjorie Moser
Pauline and John Mustard Foundation
northwest Magazine
shelley reid
Anne and Don russell
Pete seward
John and Fern spring
W Anthony and Darlene southwell
Mark and elizabeth taylor
Anonymous (2)
robin Ashforth and gerald thompson
Patrick D crofton
Jean e Field and roy A richford
barbara Fields
Joyce Folbigg
Hotel grand Pacific
barbara longworth
Dennis Mccann and Diane Darch
Doreen Mitchell
gary Mitchell
greg and susan McKelvie
Helen Parker
barbara Potash
sandy Pratt
barbara rae and george suart
ernest and Adele roberts
robert rothwell
royal scot Hotel and suites
team telus cares
betty thacker
Alan tompson
victoria international buskers Festival
Maryla and Donovan Waters
Angela Wesley
chuck Wilson
royalbcmuseumbcca 19
1 british columbia MlA lana Popham and royal bc Museum ceo Prof Jack lohman discussing an artifact from the exhibition Vikings Lives Beyond the Legends
2 His excellency teppo tauriainen swedish Ambassador to canada and the Honourable linda reid MlA for richmond east and the speaker of the legislative Assembly at the Annual Kermode gala
3 Prof Jack lohman ceo royal bc Museum with seiji okada consul general of Japan and his wife Yasuko okada
4 sharon smith Francis Kermode group patron and 10-year volunteer
sharon smith is a dedicated 10-year volunteer who now
financially supports the royal bc Museum as a member of the Francis Kermode group ldquoexciting things are coming with the redevelopment plans for the royal bc Museum so it has been a very interesting time for me to get more involvedrdquo she says ldquoi have really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes tours and getting to know the other members of the grouprdquo
Having travelled to museums and historical sites around the world what strikes sharon is our uniqueness ldquoYou just cannot see what is in this collection anywhere else this is the only place that does
what it does it is hugely important to get behind it and i highly recommend that supporters consider joining the Francis Kermode group the activities are very enjoyable and our financial support makes a difference to the core work of the museum and archivesrdquo
she adds ldquoi have learned so much during my time with the group that i have decided to include a gift to the royal bc Museum in my will i feel it is an opportunity to extend my values and my dedication to the museum and archives beyond my lifetime the support is needed and the cause is very important to future generationsrdquo
Donor ProFile
Sharon Smith
The Francis Kermode Groupnamed after the royal bc
Museumrsquos first director the Francis Kermode group is a visionary group of patrons who enjoy a special relationship with the royal bc Museum and our world-class team of curators conservators researchers collections managers and archivists Members of the group deepen their
engagement throughout the year with an exclusive series of customized learning opportunities special privileges and social events created to enlighten stimulate and inspire as they explore the treasures of the royal bc Museum and our wonderful province
1
2
3
4
to join the Francis Kermode group or for more information contact Jon Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
20 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
As sharon smith noted (on the previous page) a will presents
a wonderful opportunity for you to extend your values beyond your lifetime and a meaningful way to connect past present and future generations once you have made
arrangements for your loved ones please consider the merits of making a bequest to the royal bc Museum gifts such as these are incredibly helpful in ensuring the long-term financial health of the museum and archives
For more information or to let us know that you have included us in your will please contact Jonathan Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
Have you considered leaving a gift in your will
there are over seven million artifacts and objects in the royal
bc Museumrsquos permanent collections making it one of the largest and most impressive museum collections in the country these objects bring life to the story of british columbia in ways that enlighten stimulate and inspire Many of these items are accessioned as gifts from generous museum and archives supporters who want to
see a favourite piece often a family heirloom live on forever and impact future generations the royal bc Museum is grateful for objects that help us further our provincial mandate to advance new knowledge and understanding of british columbiarsquos natural history and human history
Acquiring a new object is just the beginning of the story through
professional conservation protection measures and display consultations our highly-skilled conservation staff ensure that each piece is properly cared for and preserved conservation efforts are at the core of the important work we do and the end result is that another integral piece of british columbiarsquos history is shared with the world
Gifts to the Collections(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Mary Andrews
Anonymous (35)
bruce Archibald
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
gary bell
Peter bock
James burgess
Delphine castles
tom cockburn
Michael cooper
carole cullimore
carole Davidson
Howard Dirks
raymond graham
george guy
Hanson Materials limited
edward Harvey
James Douglas Helmcken
Dave Henly
Michael Holmes
richard Holmes
gord Hutchings
carl Jonsson
Milan and sharon lacika
Frank lomer
sandy Mclachlan
H edward Mclean
Mona Mosher
brett nelson
Margaret nelson
Dean nicholson
Frank ogden
Margaret ogilvie
out of the Mist gallery
nettie Pasieczka
tom Perry
bernie simpson
David starr
steve suntok
rosita Anna tovell in Memory of Freeman M tovell
south coast british columbia transportation Authority Police service
John veillette
rick Watson and Mike Watson
robert D Watt and Alison Watt
David Yuen
steve suntok fossil donor and volunteer
We wholeheartedly thank our generous donors to the collection during the past fiscal year
royalbcmuseumbcca 21
going DigitAl
Global Plants Initiativeby Dr erica Wheeler botany collections Manager collections care amp conservation
tYPe sPeciMen = the particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached
The Global Plants Initiativethe royal bc Museum has recently become a partner in the global Plants initiative (gPi) gPi is a collaborative effort among herbaria to make digital images of all botany tYPe sPeciMens available to researchers via access to a centralized repository this repository currently holds over 18 million high resolution images of tYPe sPeciMens contributed by over 270 herbaria from more than 70 countries gPi is funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation the image repository is housed and accessed electronically through (Journal storage) Jstor
the royal bc Museum herbarium houses over 80 tYPe sPeciMens that will be included in this important digitization effort
Describing and naming new species of plantsover 400000 species of plants are known to science that is to say more than 400000 species have been formally described and named by taxonomic experts Describing and naming new species is often slow and can be a complicated process A recent study reported that it takes an
average of 21 years from the date a taxonomist spots something new to science to the date the new name is officially recognized two things are required
the new name and a formal latin description must be validly published and
tYPe sPeciMens must be designated and deposited in a publicly accessible herbarium
During the time that a plant taxonomist is doing the work required to describe a new species they collect and preserve specimens for study the main goal of their study is to describe it in very precise terms in particular how does this new species differ from other related species Are the petals a different colour Are the tiny hairs on the underside of the leaves a different shape is this new species found in markedly different habitats than other closely related species
After the author has described and chosen a name for the new species tYPe sPeciMens are designated from the study material tYPe sPeciMens are the particular specimens to which the scientific name of the new species is formally attached because these are of great importance to the science of documenting biodiversity more
than one tYPe sPeciMen is often designated and these are distributed among different herbaria for safe-keeping in the event that one tYPe sPeciMen is destroyed or lost the others will still be available for study
there are at least seven categories of tYPe sPeciMens but HolotYPes and isotYPes are the most important
HolotYPe the single specimen designated by the author at the time of publication as the specimen upon which the description and name is based
isotYPe any specimen collected on the same date and from the same location as the specimen that is designated as the HolotYPe
Roemerrsquos fescuein 1983 royal bc Museum botany curator Dr leon Pavlick described and published the name of a new variety of grass commonly known as `roemerrsquos fescuersquo the scientific name for this grass is Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick names often describe a notable characteristic of a species or sometimes recognize the person who first discovered the new species roemerrsquos fescue was named after Dr Hans roemer a well-known bc botanist who made some of the early collections of this grass
22 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
in the royal bc Museum herbarium we store the HolotYPe of Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick in a special cabinet reserved for such important specimens High resolution images of this specimen and images of other tYPe sPeciMens in the botany collection will soon be available to researchers around the world via the Jstor repository Access to these images will facilitate global biodiversity research the royal bc Museum herbarium is thrilled to contribute to this effort
royalbcmuseumbcca 23
the Artists in Residence program began in september
of 2013 three artists ndash Aimee van Drimmelen lindsay Delaronde and garth gaudin ndash were selected to take part in the inaugural season of this project in addition to their involvement in events throughout the programming year every two weeks they visit different collections areas of the museum and archives the work they create chronicles both the extraordinary collections and the important work being done by staff and volunteers to maintain collections
Artists Get Inspired by the Collectionby chris orsquoconnor schools amp Family learning team lead
the artists are allowed to go behind the scenes and explore the collections Aimee dived into the botany collection which houses over 215000 specimens made up primarily of native and introduced plant species found in british columbia Most specimens are gathered pressed and affixed to cardstock that is marked with collection data for future reference the specimens are then stacked in folders bagged and stored in lockers the earliest specimen in botany is currently lichen collected in 1889
royal bc Museum volunteer Daniela toriola was helping prepare some new specimen sheets on the day the artists visited she carefully arranged the pressed plants gluing them onto the page with assorted metal weights to hold them down until they dried Daniela noted that she always tries to make the presentation as beautiful as possible it takes a lot of creativity to prepare specimens Whether itrsquos taxidermy
scientific drawings or the placement of sea creatures in a jar a lot of care is taken to make things visually appealing the preservation team takes pride in their work knowing that the collections will be looked upon for years to come
on her visit Aimee used a ldquospill saferdquo ink jar the ink mixed with water was perfect for capturing the transparency of leaves and petals and the dark curly roots she used a couple drops of water to wet her brush and introduced ink with a brush pen
Follow along with our artists and their creations on the royal bc Museum blog royalbcmuseumbccakids artists-in-residence
check out Aimeersquos personal blog featuring more entries and animations from different collection areas aimeesketchblogwordpresscom
ink drawing of liliaceae zigaderiusAimee van Drimmelenfrom the botany collection
royalbcmuseumbcca 25
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
towards the end of her life artist and writer emily carr (1871-1945)
reduced the volume of her writings letters and sketchbooks to what would fit in a battered old steamer trunk in her unmistakable block printing carr expressed her wishes on a card and tacked it under the trunkrsquos lid ldquoAt MY DeAtH PleAse senD tHis boX AnD contents intAct to Mr irA DilWortH cAnADiAn broAD-cAsting corP vAncouver bc [signed] emily carrrdquo Dilworth was carrrsquos confidante and literary executor entrusted with the responsibility of managing her writings and posthumously publishing a number
of her manuscripts Many years after Dilworthrsquos death this distillation of a lifersquos work became one of several nuclei of the carr collections entrusted to the care of the bc Archives
the other groups of royal bc Museum carr collections centre around a large body of her artworks (mainly from the period preceding 1927 but including some important mature works) carr-related artifacts and archival and library records created by her peers and scholars the carr collections hold a number of surprises some of carrrsquos pottery pieces several of her hooked rugs and artifacts including First
Peoplersquos-crafted souvenir items purchased in 1907 and an articulated wooden doll that pops up in various carr sketches cartoons and in a documentary photograph of carrrsquos studio taken shortly after her death
While carrrsquos works are cared for and exhibited in over 35 public galleries museums and institutions and treasured in countless private collections world-wide the largest collection of carrrsquos career output is stewarded by the royal bc Museum Much of it can be consulted on a daily basis in the archives or by appointment this year the royal bc Museum is enhancing understanding of this rich legacy through a web
A ricH resource
Carr Collectionsby Don bourdon curator images amp Paintings
tanoo Qci emily carr 1913
10 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
exhibition featuring a timeline stubbed with Carrrsquos paintings drawings writings photographs and artifacts A ldquotreasure boxrdquo Emily Carr Gallery figures prominently in the Royal BC Museumrsquos redevelopment vision
Upon her death in 1945 the Province of BC purchased seven major Carr paintings including Tanoo (see accompanying figure) Artistic executor Lawren Harris selected 170 works from hundreds remaining in Carrrsquos home for the Emily Carr Trust Collection (now housed in the Vancouver Art Gallery and the National Gallery) Many works from her ldquoFrench Periodrdquo and watercolours were identified for sale to support this Trust Still others were set aside for destruction though many were salvaged and eventually made their way to the BC Archives Like so many prolific artists Carr had already given many works away and destroyed many more considered by her unworthy of retention
Today the Royal BC Museum holds the majority of Carrrsquos artistic literary and personal output Carrrsquos personal and professional archives over 1100 works of art Carrrsquos publications and publications about her and her art key photographs interviews and documentaries The works of art total 1112 items Approximately 900 of these are on paper primarily images in sketch books Approximately 200 are major paintings - oil on canvas oil on board or paper and watercolour on paper Also included are 24
representative pieces of pottery that Carr produced in large numbers for sale and several examples of the hooked rugs she used throughout her home and bestowed as gifts
The Emily Carr fonds (the unpublished archival records created and accumulated by Carr between 1879 and 1945) occupy 23 linear metres of shelf space and consist of correspondence journals manuscripts notebooks scrapbooks publications annotated by the artist financial records photographs and paintings
Records pertaining to Carr in other fonds occupy a further 16 linear metres of textual records In particular the records of the following are rich in detail about Carr Edythe Hembroff-Schleicher Flora Burns Humphrey Toms the Newcombe family and Richard Carr 55 sound recordings contain interviews and radio programs about Carr and 14 moving image records contain documentaries interviews and TV programs Our holdings include 10 works of art by other artists pertaining to Carr Of particular interest are 60 photographs of or pertaining to the artistwriter mainly formal portraits and candid shots depicting her with her art her treasured pets and close friends They also depict Carr family members studio interiors her various homes and colleagues
Carrrsquos published writings in various editions total 59 items and in 167 other publications Carr is the principle subject discussed
The Archives has constructed 16 linear centimetres of artist files pertaining to Emily Carr and artcraft works of Carrrsquos sisters The files include exhibit programmes auction information articles correspondence lists and images The Royal BC Museum holds extensive records pertaining to the Emily Carr Gallery that used to be on Wharf Street in Victoria its facility and program and Carr family home as a heritage building and site
Artifacts include Emilyrsquos Governorrsquos General Medal First Peoplesrsquo works purchased by the Carr sisters in Alaska in 1907 ndash and of course the trunk
View online exhibition royalbcmuseumbccaexhibitionsonline
Haida Totems Cha-atl Queen Charlotte IslandEmily Carr 1912
royalbcmuseumbcca 11
Archives Boot Camp Round Threeby Ann ten cate Archives gallery amp theatre learning team lead
After two successful and sold-out boot camps bc Archives staff
will be offering a third boot camp on saturday september 27 2014
our boot camps are designed to give people a crash course on how to do research at the bc Archives An overview of the collections is given ndash and whether you are a beginner or an expert yoursquoll be inspired
Prior to attending wersquoll assign you to a team with similar interests on the day of the boot camp you will rotate through various stations in our reference room receiving coaching from our expert staff our last camp included the History Hounds bouncing biographers colonial canterers the bobrsquos My uncle team the Family tree crew and the community crew by the end of the day yoursquoll have received some
tips about developing a research strategy know how to find material in our collection and you will have seen some of our most fascinating records Yoursquoll also get a tour of our behind-the-scenes storage areas the day finishes with a chance to get ldquostuck-inrdquo and do some individual research with our experts on-hand
our staff really enjoy helping people get started with their research or head out on new tangents itrsquos a day of immersion and discovery there is definitely a real buzz in our reference room as staff and researchers share information You can hear some of what went on at the last boot camp by listening to cbc radiorsquos north by northwest podcast cbccaplayerradiolocal+showsbritish+columbianorth+by+northwestiD2441594449
if yoursquove already attended our boot camp keep your eye on our calendar as later in the year we will start offering specialized workshops
ldquoGreat So glad I could comerdquo
ldquoThis was an excellent experience It gives me the confidence to return to the archives prepared to ask for assistance and feeling that there is a good starting placerdquo
ldquoLoved this Itrsquos the type of program Irsquod take again because there was so much info I think I missed a lot [before]rdquo
register online royalbcmuseumbccaevents
12 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
Supporting the Museum and Archives Through Local Artby christine roome owner sweet Memory Art
sweet Memory Art was born out of love for people and relationships
ndash the humour and the warmth of human connection My jewellery and art are about commemorating and celebrating the human connection and the relationships that carry us through and make us who we are
Museums are a home for preservation and curation and the birthplace of curiosity question connection history and education for people aged twondash92 i believe
that museums need to surface their collections and celebrate their exhibits through connecting with the local and international community
the sweet Memory Art viking jewellery line invites people to take a piece of the museum experience home 50 percent of the retail sale of the royal bc Museum collection on my website will go back to the royal bc Museum Foundation so that we can continue to learn from the past
You can find sweet Memory Art jewellery in the bc Museum gift shop or purchase pieces on christinersquos website at sweetmemoryartcom
FeAture PArtner
As a values-based financial co-operative vancity is committed
to transforming how banking is done so we can help our members and their local communities thrive financially socially and environmentally
We arenrsquot doing this alone on behalf of our members and community partners we are working to place the right tools in the hands of individuals and organizations working to make our world a better place
We seek to invest in and work closely with organizations and sectors that
Wersquore pleased the royal bc Museum has partnered with the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council on the Our Living Languages exhibition and Aboriginal tourism bc on the Aboriginal cultural Festival 2014 We can accomplish more when we work together
check out vancityrsquos online Annual report at vancitycom2013Annual report for more information on how we are working to build healthy communities
visit vancitycomaboriginalcommunities to learn more about how we are investing in Aboriginal communities to achieve economic strength and independence
we feel have the potential for high positive community impact aligned with our three guiding principles ndash social justice and financial inclusion environmental sustainability and co-operative principles and practices
our partnership with the royal bc Museum is an example of this approach in our work with Aboriginal communities in the coast salish territories where we do business and through our partnership with reconciliation canada we better understand the importance of dialogue and the need for all of us to gain more knowledge about the First Peoples We have much to learn about the history of our land and its people and the importance of language and culture as roots of identity pride and self awareness
royalbcmuseumbcca 13
it wasnrsquot designed to be an emotional touchpoint but sometimes people
respond in surprising ways to details in the royal bc Museum Well before the Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC exhibition was due to open when patches of carpet were tagged with green painterrsquos tape and the drywall mud was still damp bobbilee copeland walked through the exhibition space
it wasnrsquot completely empty one of the exhibitionrsquos first elements to be erected were 17 towering double-sided pylons clad in colourful paint and bearing the names of the 34 First nations languages that are indigenous to british columbia ndash what will become known as the ldquolanguage Forestrdquo
copeland ndash coordinator of the language revitalization program at the university of victoria ndash was visiting the royal bc Museum to discuss potential partnerships aligned with indigenous languages
and the museum and archivesrsquo learning programs and was touring the unfinished exhibition space she stopped in mid-stride when she saw her own language written on one of the pylons then walked over and gave the metal ldquotreerdquo a long hug
For staff at the royal bc Museum this was an unanticipated sight but also a welcome affirmation that the exhibition was going to have deep meaning for many visitors
ldquoBobbileersquos spontaneous gesture was overwhelmingly powerful In that instant I realized how important this exhibition was to her and all the champions of language revitalization the lsquotreersquo such a tangible representation of the intangible fragility of languagerdquo
Janet MacDonald the royal bc Museumrsquos Head of learning
and visitor engagement experience
it was a gratifying moment for all involved in the planning and design of the exhibition language is a powerful potent marker of identity and culture think about the emotional resonance of the term ldquomother tonguerdquo ndash the languages we grow up with are our kin nourishment and birthright
so the revitalization of languages in bcrsquos First nations communities is bound to stir up feelings of pride loss pain and joy the Our Living Languages exhibition aims to tell the stories of how languages have been nearly-lost and newly awakened and illustrate the success stories of language diversity and revitalization throughout bc
telling these stories has been a deeply collaborative project the royal bc Museum has relied upon the expertise of its partner the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council to shape the narrative provide content and advice on cultural matters
Our Living Languages A Beautiful Collaborationby erik lamberston corporate communications officer
transmission of traditional knowledge at Kaska language camp
14 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
the royal bc Museumrsquos job has been to find the compelling way to communicate the messages through design the two organizations chose to partner closely as they fine-tune details about design development orthography marketing ndash virtually every aspect of the exhibition
ldquoWe are honoured to be part of creation this important exhibition First Nations language speakers are the true experts when it comes to describing and sharing information about their languages By involving them in the development process we hope to create an experience that is both authentic and meaningful for visitors to the museumrdquo
lorna Williams chair of the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council
in fact the theme of co-mingled multiple perspectives has become
a sub-theme of the exhibition itself For example one of the successes of the exhibition is how well it integrates oral and aural experiences with our other senses visitors often expect museum-going to be a primarily visual experience but Our Living Languages is about language transmission a fundamentally spoken activity
And the truth is that contemporary innovative places like the royal bc Museum are increasingly interactive and multi-sensory so Our Living Language rsquos audio messages are supported through visually-interesting video content and tactile details that are rooted in First nations culture
take the cradleboard theatre ndash a small and intimate space that will replicate a cedar root basket inside visitors will be cocooned in soothing First nations languages and lullabies for an immersive experience the idea came from cultural advisors and the medium was designed and fabricated by the royal bc Museumrsquos exhibition arts team
the cradleboard theatre is just one element of the innovative multi-sensory exhibition the
language forest will ldquospeakrdquo as visitors approach each ldquotreerdquo wired with motion sensors A theatre space a rounded counterpoint to the forest spires will be animated by presenters who will add a live dimension to this human story
Our Living Languages will open on saturday June 21 ndash national Aboriginal Day the royal bc Museum will be a celebratory space that weekend with Aboriginal tourism bc hosting the Aboriginal cultural Festival June 19-21 enlivening the campus outside (see page 16 for details) and this collaborative exhibition drawing new eyes ndash and ears ndash to the fascinating and moving story of language diversity and revitalization in bcrsquos First nations communities
royalbcmuseumbcca 15
From June 19 to 21 victoria will host the 2014 Aboriginal cultural
Festival highlighting and celebrating the regionrsquos rich indigenous culture through storytelling artisans dance song and food
created in partnership with Aboriginal tourism bc (Atbc) the esquimalt and songhees nations the royal bc Museum tourism victoria robert bateman centre greater victoria Harbour Authority and First Peoplesrsquo cultural council the festival will take place on the outdoor campus of the royal bc Museum and around victoriarsquos inner Harbour
the three-day festival will feature main stage performances including three-time world champion hoop dancer Alex Wells an artisan area where people may watch demonstrations meet the artists and also learn about the new Authentic Aboriginal program that helps consumers identify products designed created and sold by bc Aboriginal artists a childrenrsquos storytelling area food vendors and an Aboriginal tourism bc information booth
the festival is also an opportunity to celebrate share and learn more
about the history of the First nations people in bc and the capital before the city became victoria esquimalt and songhees nations were one of the first nations to sign a treaty in bc ndash known as the vancouver island treaties which were signed between 1850ndash1854
this festival also coincides with national Aboriginal Day and the launch of the royal bc Museumrsquos new exhibit Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC opening June 21 2014
learn more onlineaboriginalbccom
Aboriginal Cultural Festival
16 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
gerry truscott earned his degree in creative Writing
from the university of victoria in 1982 and since then he has spent his professional life editing and publishing books He joined the royal bc Museum in 1989 as publisher He has edited and produced more than 100 books for the institution and has written or edited much of the
text that appears in the exhibition galleries in 2008 he wrote the exhibition text and book for the museumrsquos project celebrating british columbiarsquos 150th anniversary entitled Free Spirit Stories of You Me and BC
on his own time gerry writes fiction and has had several short stories published in magazines and anthologies Hersquos also very much
interested in soccer and hockey (playing and watching) jazz and progressive rock hiking cycling and walking his dogs
royal bc Museum publications are available at your local book store the royal bc Museum shop and royalbcmuseumbccapublications
FeAture PArtner
Canadian Geographic canadian geographic magazine
is a proud partner of the royal bc Museum one of canadarsquos most award-winning magazines canadian geographic is unapologetic about celebrating canada Wersquore dedicated to uncovering and communicating the stories about canadian people places frontiers and issues (past and present) that canadian magazine readers want Published by the royal canadian geographical society canadian geographic magazine is more than a geography publication each issue of canadian geographic is a voyage of discovery and exploration that features the latest
science environment travel human and cultural stories from across canada
canadian geographic connects with more than 38 million readers per issue in canada and abroad who share our fascination for canada Filled with stunning colour photography fascinating articles and specially commissioned maps each issue of canadian geographic magazine lets you travel the country without leaving home Yoursquoll discover canadarsquos people and cities our wildlife and wilderness our history and the beauty of our land subscriptions include six regular
issues of canadian geographic plus four issues of canadian geographic travel per year
For a special subscription offer exclusive to rbcM members please go to canadiangeographiccarbcm
stAFF ProFile
Gerry TruscottPublisHer
royalbcmuseumbcca 17
$100000 - $499999
$25000 - $99999
$5000 - $24999
the royal bc Museum appreciates and acknowledges the vital and
ongoing financial support of the Province of British Columbia the Ministry of Community Sport and Cultural Development and the Royal BC Museum Foundation their core support makes our work possible
While approximately 63 percent of our annual operating budget
comes from the Province and another 21 percent comes from memberships and admissions we need to raise the remaining 16 percent ndash three million dollars ndash each year from other sources including donations sponsorships and grants contributions from those who value the work of the royal bc Museum help us to meet our most pressing needs such as
Acquiring items for our collection conserving rare and
precious objects Furthering our world-class
research Developing our learning programs supporting our archives Presenting engaging exhibitions Publishing critically-
acclaimed books
Royal BC Museum Supporters(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Please join us in thanking the following individuals corporations and foundations for their support their demonstrated commitment and their inspiration during the past fiscal year
$500000+
bell Media
royal bc Museum Foundation teck resources limited tourism victoria
bc Hydro
black Press
clipper vacations
Hsbc bank of canada
the estate of Akiko Kamitakahara
lamar Advertising company
Pattison outdoor Advertising
the Jim Pattison broadcast group
Quark expeditions
times colonist
John and Joan Walton innovators Fund
Anonymous (1)
the bay centre
bc transit
black ball Ferry line
canadian Museums Association
cibc
cineplex Media
ctv vancouver island
Fannyrsquos cultured cow Products ltd
garth evans
Friends of the bc Archives
iMAX victoria
elizabeth Kennedy
gwendolyn Page
save on Foods Memorial centre
silk road tea
sunset Magazine
rosita Anna tovell
vancity savings credit union
viking Air
Jack and bev Wallace
Westerkirk capital
if you would like to support the work of the royal bc Museum please contact Jillian Appelman Philanthropy Manager at 250-387-3102 or jappelmanroyalbcmuseumbcca
18 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
$1000 - $4999
$500 - $999
$250 - $499
Collections
Education
Conservation
Research
every effort has been made to ensure our supporters are recognized accurately if you notice an error or omission please call the royal bc Museum Development Department at 250-387-7222
eric and leonda Adler
Patrick and Anne Anderson
Anonymous (1)
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
Joyce clearihue
Daphne corbett in memory of Joan corbett
Karen A Duddlesten
robert and Marianne eng
Flight centre
rupert and robin Hambro
bob and Marjorie Johns
lynne Kennedy
lyall and susan Knott
Professor Jack lohman cbe
ron and May lou-Poy
Kenneth and ellen Mahon
tommy Mayne
stefan and Magdalena opalski
Provincial employees community services Fund
Pauline rafferty and bob Plecas
suromitra sanatani and David turpin
sharon smith
Pauline and robert van Den Driessche
rene and Allison Weir
Angela Williams
Anonymous in memory of Joan corbett
robert Appleton in memory of Joan corbett
robert and birgit bateman
ian beauprie
gary and susan braley
Jeff bray
William and Jean cave
Kelly and rose chu
James and Jean cosgrove
carol cullimore
Jon Declan and bridget Dallison
Joe and linda Harvey
Mark Holford in memory of Joan corbett
erik lythgoe
ian and Margaret Mair
David Mattison
susan K McMillan
Jim and isabel Merston
charles and Marjorie Moser
Pauline and John Mustard Foundation
northwest Magazine
shelley reid
Anne and Don russell
Pete seward
John and Fern spring
W Anthony and Darlene southwell
Mark and elizabeth taylor
Anonymous (2)
robin Ashforth and gerald thompson
Patrick D crofton
Jean e Field and roy A richford
barbara Fields
Joyce Folbigg
Hotel grand Pacific
barbara longworth
Dennis Mccann and Diane Darch
Doreen Mitchell
gary Mitchell
greg and susan McKelvie
Helen Parker
barbara Potash
sandy Pratt
barbara rae and george suart
ernest and Adele roberts
robert rothwell
royal scot Hotel and suites
team telus cares
betty thacker
Alan tompson
victoria international buskers Festival
Maryla and Donovan Waters
Angela Wesley
chuck Wilson
royalbcmuseumbcca 19
1 british columbia MlA lana Popham and royal bc Museum ceo Prof Jack lohman discussing an artifact from the exhibition Vikings Lives Beyond the Legends
2 His excellency teppo tauriainen swedish Ambassador to canada and the Honourable linda reid MlA for richmond east and the speaker of the legislative Assembly at the Annual Kermode gala
3 Prof Jack lohman ceo royal bc Museum with seiji okada consul general of Japan and his wife Yasuko okada
4 sharon smith Francis Kermode group patron and 10-year volunteer
sharon smith is a dedicated 10-year volunteer who now
financially supports the royal bc Museum as a member of the Francis Kermode group ldquoexciting things are coming with the redevelopment plans for the royal bc Museum so it has been a very interesting time for me to get more involvedrdquo she says ldquoi have really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes tours and getting to know the other members of the grouprdquo
Having travelled to museums and historical sites around the world what strikes sharon is our uniqueness ldquoYou just cannot see what is in this collection anywhere else this is the only place that does
what it does it is hugely important to get behind it and i highly recommend that supporters consider joining the Francis Kermode group the activities are very enjoyable and our financial support makes a difference to the core work of the museum and archivesrdquo
she adds ldquoi have learned so much during my time with the group that i have decided to include a gift to the royal bc Museum in my will i feel it is an opportunity to extend my values and my dedication to the museum and archives beyond my lifetime the support is needed and the cause is very important to future generationsrdquo
Donor ProFile
Sharon Smith
The Francis Kermode Groupnamed after the royal bc
Museumrsquos first director the Francis Kermode group is a visionary group of patrons who enjoy a special relationship with the royal bc Museum and our world-class team of curators conservators researchers collections managers and archivists Members of the group deepen their
engagement throughout the year with an exclusive series of customized learning opportunities special privileges and social events created to enlighten stimulate and inspire as they explore the treasures of the royal bc Museum and our wonderful province
1
2
3
4
to join the Francis Kermode group or for more information contact Jon Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
20 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
As sharon smith noted (on the previous page) a will presents
a wonderful opportunity for you to extend your values beyond your lifetime and a meaningful way to connect past present and future generations once you have made
arrangements for your loved ones please consider the merits of making a bequest to the royal bc Museum gifts such as these are incredibly helpful in ensuring the long-term financial health of the museum and archives
For more information or to let us know that you have included us in your will please contact Jonathan Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
Have you considered leaving a gift in your will
there are over seven million artifacts and objects in the royal
bc Museumrsquos permanent collections making it one of the largest and most impressive museum collections in the country these objects bring life to the story of british columbia in ways that enlighten stimulate and inspire Many of these items are accessioned as gifts from generous museum and archives supporters who want to
see a favourite piece often a family heirloom live on forever and impact future generations the royal bc Museum is grateful for objects that help us further our provincial mandate to advance new knowledge and understanding of british columbiarsquos natural history and human history
Acquiring a new object is just the beginning of the story through
professional conservation protection measures and display consultations our highly-skilled conservation staff ensure that each piece is properly cared for and preserved conservation efforts are at the core of the important work we do and the end result is that another integral piece of british columbiarsquos history is shared with the world
Gifts to the Collections(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Mary Andrews
Anonymous (35)
bruce Archibald
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
gary bell
Peter bock
James burgess
Delphine castles
tom cockburn
Michael cooper
carole cullimore
carole Davidson
Howard Dirks
raymond graham
george guy
Hanson Materials limited
edward Harvey
James Douglas Helmcken
Dave Henly
Michael Holmes
richard Holmes
gord Hutchings
carl Jonsson
Milan and sharon lacika
Frank lomer
sandy Mclachlan
H edward Mclean
Mona Mosher
brett nelson
Margaret nelson
Dean nicholson
Frank ogden
Margaret ogilvie
out of the Mist gallery
nettie Pasieczka
tom Perry
bernie simpson
David starr
steve suntok
rosita Anna tovell in Memory of Freeman M tovell
south coast british columbia transportation Authority Police service
John veillette
rick Watson and Mike Watson
robert D Watt and Alison Watt
David Yuen
steve suntok fossil donor and volunteer
We wholeheartedly thank our generous donors to the collection during the past fiscal year
royalbcmuseumbcca 21
going DigitAl
Global Plants Initiativeby Dr erica Wheeler botany collections Manager collections care amp conservation
tYPe sPeciMen = the particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached
The Global Plants Initiativethe royal bc Museum has recently become a partner in the global Plants initiative (gPi) gPi is a collaborative effort among herbaria to make digital images of all botany tYPe sPeciMens available to researchers via access to a centralized repository this repository currently holds over 18 million high resolution images of tYPe sPeciMens contributed by over 270 herbaria from more than 70 countries gPi is funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation the image repository is housed and accessed electronically through (Journal storage) Jstor
the royal bc Museum herbarium houses over 80 tYPe sPeciMens that will be included in this important digitization effort
Describing and naming new species of plantsover 400000 species of plants are known to science that is to say more than 400000 species have been formally described and named by taxonomic experts Describing and naming new species is often slow and can be a complicated process A recent study reported that it takes an
average of 21 years from the date a taxonomist spots something new to science to the date the new name is officially recognized two things are required
the new name and a formal latin description must be validly published and
tYPe sPeciMens must be designated and deposited in a publicly accessible herbarium
During the time that a plant taxonomist is doing the work required to describe a new species they collect and preserve specimens for study the main goal of their study is to describe it in very precise terms in particular how does this new species differ from other related species Are the petals a different colour Are the tiny hairs on the underside of the leaves a different shape is this new species found in markedly different habitats than other closely related species
After the author has described and chosen a name for the new species tYPe sPeciMens are designated from the study material tYPe sPeciMens are the particular specimens to which the scientific name of the new species is formally attached because these are of great importance to the science of documenting biodiversity more
than one tYPe sPeciMen is often designated and these are distributed among different herbaria for safe-keeping in the event that one tYPe sPeciMen is destroyed or lost the others will still be available for study
there are at least seven categories of tYPe sPeciMens but HolotYPes and isotYPes are the most important
HolotYPe the single specimen designated by the author at the time of publication as the specimen upon which the description and name is based
isotYPe any specimen collected on the same date and from the same location as the specimen that is designated as the HolotYPe
Roemerrsquos fescuein 1983 royal bc Museum botany curator Dr leon Pavlick described and published the name of a new variety of grass commonly known as `roemerrsquos fescuersquo the scientific name for this grass is Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick names often describe a notable characteristic of a species or sometimes recognize the person who first discovered the new species roemerrsquos fescue was named after Dr Hans roemer a well-known bc botanist who made some of the early collections of this grass
22 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
in the royal bc Museum herbarium we store the HolotYPe of Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick in a special cabinet reserved for such important specimens High resolution images of this specimen and images of other tYPe sPeciMens in the botany collection will soon be available to researchers around the world via the Jstor repository Access to these images will facilitate global biodiversity research the royal bc Museum herbarium is thrilled to contribute to this effort
royalbcmuseumbcca 23
the Artists in Residence program began in september
of 2013 three artists ndash Aimee van Drimmelen lindsay Delaronde and garth gaudin ndash were selected to take part in the inaugural season of this project in addition to their involvement in events throughout the programming year every two weeks they visit different collections areas of the museum and archives the work they create chronicles both the extraordinary collections and the important work being done by staff and volunteers to maintain collections
Artists Get Inspired by the Collectionby chris orsquoconnor schools amp Family learning team lead
the artists are allowed to go behind the scenes and explore the collections Aimee dived into the botany collection which houses over 215000 specimens made up primarily of native and introduced plant species found in british columbia Most specimens are gathered pressed and affixed to cardstock that is marked with collection data for future reference the specimens are then stacked in folders bagged and stored in lockers the earliest specimen in botany is currently lichen collected in 1889
royal bc Museum volunteer Daniela toriola was helping prepare some new specimen sheets on the day the artists visited she carefully arranged the pressed plants gluing them onto the page with assorted metal weights to hold them down until they dried Daniela noted that she always tries to make the presentation as beautiful as possible it takes a lot of creativity to prepare specimens Whether itrsquos taxidermy
scientific drawings or the placement of sea creatures in a jar a lot of care is taken to make things visually appealing the preservation team takes pride in their work knowing that the collections will be looked upon for years to come
on her visit Aimee used a ldquospill saferdquo ink jar the ink mixed with water was perfect for capturing the transparency of leaves and petals and the dark curly roots she used a couple drops of water to wet her brush and introduced ink with a brush pen
Follow along with our artists and their creations on the royal bc Museum blog royalbcmuseumbccakids artists-in-residence
check out Aimeersquos personal blog featuring more entries and animations from different collection areas aimeesketchblogwordpresscom
ink drawing of liliaceae zigaderiusAimee van Drimmelenfrom the botany collection
royalbcmuseumbcca 25
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
exhibition featuring a timeline stubbed with Carrrsquos paintings drawings writings photographs and artifacts A ldquotreasure boxrdquo Emily Carr Gallery figures prominently in the Royal BC Museumrsquos redevelopment vision
Upon her death in 1945 the Province of BC purchased seven major Carr paintings including Tanoo (see accompanying figure) Artistic executor Lawren Harris selected 170 works from hundreds remaining in Carrrsquos home for the Emily Carr Trust Collection (now housed in the Vancouver Art Gallery and the National Gallery) Many works from her ldquoFrench Periodrdquo and watercolours were identified for sale to support this Trust Still others were set aside for destruction though many were salvaged and eventually made their way to the BC Archives Like so many prolific artists Carr had already given many works away and destroyed many more considered by her unworthy of retention
Today the Royal BC Museum holds the majority of Carrrsquos artistic literary and personal output Carrrsquos personal and professional archives over 1100 works of art Carrrsquos publications and publications about her and her art key photographs interviews and documentaries The works of art total 1112 items Approximately 900 of these are on paper primarily images in sketch books Approximately 200 are major paintings - oil on canvas oil on board or paper and watercolour on paper Also included are 24
representative pieces of pottery that Carr produced in large numbers for sale and several examples of the hooked rugs she used throughout her home and bestowed as gifts
The Emily Carr fonds (the unpublished archival records created and accumulated by Carr between 1879 and 1945) occupy 23 linear metres of shelf space and consist of correspondence journals manuscripts notebooks scrapbooks publications annotated by the artist financial records photographs and paintings
Records pertaining to Carr in other fonds occupy a further 16 linear metres of textual records In particular the records of the following are rich in detail about Carr Edythe Hembroff-Schleicher Flora Burns Humphrey Toms the Newcombe family and Richard Carr 55 sound recordings contain interviews and radio programs about Carr and 14 moving image records contain documentaries interviews and TV programs Our holdings include 10 works of art by other artists pertaining to Carr Of particular interest are 60 photographs of or pertaining to the artistwriter mainly formal portraits and candid shots depicting her with her art her treasured pets and close friends They also depict Carr family members studio interiors her various homes and colleagues
Carrrsquos published writings in various editions total 59 items and in 167 other publications Carr is the principle subject discussed
The Archives has constructed 16 linear centimetres of artist files pertaining to Emily Carr and artcraft works of Carrrsquos sisters The files include exhibit programmes auction information articles correspondence lists and images The Royal BC Museum holds extensive records pertaining to the Emily Carr Gallery that used to be on Wharf Street in Victoria its facility and program and Carr family home as a heritage building and site
Artifacts include Emilyrsquos Governorrsquos General Medal First Peoplesrsquo works purchased by the Carr sisters in Alaska in 1907 ndash and of course the trunk
View online exhibition royalbcmuseumbccaexhibitionsonline
Haida Totems Cha-atl Queen Charlotte IslandEmily Carr 1912
royalbcmuseumbcca 11
Archives Boot Camp Round Threeby Ann ten cate Archives gallery amp theatre learning team lead
After two successful and sold-out boot camps bc Archives staff
will be offering a third boot camp on saturday september 27 2014
our boot camps are designed to give people a crash course on how to do research at the bc Archives An overview of the collections is given ndash and whether you are a beginner or an expert yoursquoll be inspired
Prior to attending wersquoll assign you to a team with similar interests on the day of the boot camp you will rotate through various stations in our reference room receiving coaching from our expert staff our last camp included the History Hounds bouncing biographers colonial canterers the bobrsquos My uncle team the Family tree crew and the community crew by the end of the day yoursquoll have received some
tips about developing a research strategy know how to find material in our collection and you will have seen some of our most fascinating records Yoursquoll also get a tour of our behind-the-scenes storage areas the day finishes with a chance to get ldquostuck-inrdquo and do some individual research with our experts on-hand
our staff really enjoy helping people get started with their research or head out on new tangents itrsquos a day of immersion and discovery there is definitely a real buzz in our reference room as staff and researchers share information You can hear some of what went on at the last boot camp by listening to cbc radiorsquos north by northwest podcast cbccaplayerradiolocal+showsbritish+columbianorth+by+northwestiD2441594449
if yoursquove already attended our boot camp keep your eye on our calendar as later in the year we will start offering specialized workshops
ldquoGreat So glad I could comerdquo
ldquoThis was an excellent experience It gives me the confidence to return to the archives prepared to ask for assistance and feeling that there is a good starting placerdquo
ldquoLoved this Itrsquos the type of program Irsquod take again because there was so much info I think I missed a lot [before]rdquo
register online royalbcmuseumbccaevents
12 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
Supporting the Museum and Archives Through Local Artby christine roome owner sweet Memory Art
sweet Memory Art was born out of love for people and relationships
ndash the humour and the warmth of human connection My jewellery and art are about commemorating and celebrating the human connection and the relationships that carry us through and make us who we are
Museums are a home for preservation and curation and the birthplace of curiosity question connection history and education for people aged twondash92 i believe
that museums need to surface their collections and celebrate their exhibits through connecting with the local and international community
the sweet Memory Art viking jewellery line invites people to take a piece of the museum experience home 50 percent of the retail sale of the royal bc Museum collection on my website will go back to the royal bc Museum Foundation so that we can continue to learn from the past
You can find sweet Memory Art jewellery in the bc Museum gift shop or purchase pieces on christinersquos website at sweetmemoryartcom
FeAture PArtner
As a values-based financial co-operative vancity is committed
to transforming how banking is done so we can help our members and their local communities thrive financially socially and environmentally
We arenrsquot doing this alone on behalf of our members and community partners we are working to place the right tools in the hands of individuals and organizations working to make our world a better place
We seek to invest in and work closely with organizations and sectors that
Wersquore pleased the royal bc Museum has partnered with the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council on the Our Living Languages exhibition and Aboriginal tourism bc on the Aboriginal cultural Festival 2014 We can accomplish more when we work together
check out vancityrsquos online Annual report at vancitycom2013Annual report for more information on how we are working to build healthy communities
visit vancitycomaboriginalcommunities to learn more about how we are investing in Aboriginal communities to achieve economic strength and independence
we feel have the potential for high positive community impact aligned with our three guiding principles ndash social justice and financial inclusion environmental sustainability and co-operative principles and practices
our partnership with the royal bc Museum is an example of this approach in our work with Aboriginal communities in the coast salish territories where we do business and through our partnership with reconciliation canada we better understand the importance of dialogue and the need for all of us to gain more knowledge about the First Peoples We have much to learn about the history of our land and its people and the importance of language and culture as roots of identity pride and self awareness
royalbcmuseumbcca 13
it wasnrsquot designed to be an emotional touchpoint but sometimes people
respond in surprising ways to details in the royal bc Museum Well before the Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC exhibition was due to open when patches of carpet were tagged with green painterrsquos tape and the drywall mud was still damp bobbilee copeland walked through the exhibition space
it wasnrsquot completely empty one of the exhibitionrsquos first elements to be erected were 17 towering double-sided pylons clad in colourful paint and bearing the names of the 34 First nations languages that are indigenous to british columbia ndash what will become known as the ldquolanguage Forestrdquo
copeland ndash coordinator of the language revitalization program at the university of victoria ndash was visiting the royal bc Museum to discuss potential partnerships aligned with indigenous languages
and the museum and archivesrsquo learning programs and was touring the unfinished exhibition space she stopped in mid-stride when she saw her own language written on one of the pylons then walked over and gave the metal ldquotreerdquo a long hug
For staff at the royal bc Museum this was an unanticipated sight but also a welcome affirmation that the exhibition was going to have deep meaning for many visitors
ldquoBobbileersquos spontaneous gesture was overwhelmingly powerful In that instant I realized how important this exhibition was to her and all the champions of language revitalization the lsquotreersquo such a tangible representation of the intangible fragility of languagerdquo
Janet MacDonald the royal bc Museumrsquos Head of learning
and visitor engagement experience
it was a gratifying moment for all involved in the planning and design of the exhibition language is a powerful potent marker of identity and culture think about the emotional resonance of the term ldquomother tonguerdquo ndash the languages we grow up with are our kin nourishment and birthright
so the revitalization of languages in bcrsquos First nations communities is bound to stir up feelings of pride loss pain and joy the Our Living Languages exhibition aims to tell the stories of how languages have been nearly-lost and newly awakened and illustrate the success stories of language diversity and revitalization throughout bc
telling these stories has been a deeply collaborative project the royal bc Museum has relied upon the expertise of its partner the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council to shape the narrative provide content and advice on cultural matters
Our Living Languages A Beautiful Collaborationby erik lamberston corporate communications officer
transmission of traditional knowledge at Kaska language camp
14 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
the royal bc Museumrsquos job has been to find the compelling way to communicate the messages through design the two organizations chose to partner closely as they fine-tune details about design development orthography marketing ndash virtually every aspect of the exhibition
ldquoWe are honoured to be part of creation this important exhibition First Nations language speakers are the true experts when it comes to describing and sharing information about their languages By involving them in the development process we hope to create an experience that is both authentic and meaningful for visitors to the museumrdquo
lorna Williams chair of the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council
in fact the theme of co-mingled multiple perspectives has become
a sub-theme of the exhibition itself For example one of the successes of the exhibition is how well it integrates oral and aural experiences with our other senses visitors often expect museum-going to be a primarily visual experience but Our Living Languages is about language transmission a fundamentally spoken activity
And the truth is that contemporary innovative places like the royal bc Museum are increasingly interactive and multi-sensory so Our Living Language rsquos audio messages are supported through visually-interesting video content and tactile details that are rooted in First nations culture
take the cradleboard theatre ndash a small and intimate space that will replicate a cedar root basket inside visitors will be cocooned in soothing First nations languages and lullabies for an immersive experience the idea came from cultural advisors and the medium was designed and fabricated by the royal bc Museumrsquos exhibition arts team
the cradleboard theatre is just one element of the innovative multi-sensory exhibition the
language forest will ldquospeakrdquo as visitors approach each ldquotreerdquo wired with motion sensors A theatre space a rounded counterpoint to the forest spires will be animated by presenters who will add a live dimension to this human story
Our Living Languages will open on saturday June 21 ndash national Aboriginal Day the royal bc Museum will be a celebratory space that weekend with Aboriginal tourism bc hosting the Aboriginal cultural Festival June 19-21 enlivening the campus outside (see page 16 for details) and this collaborative exhibition drawing new eyes ndash and ears ndash to the fascinating and moving story of language diversity and revitalization in bcrsquos First nations communities
royalbcmuseumbcca 15
From June 19 to 21 victoria will host the 2014 Aboriginal cultural
Festival highlighting and celebrating the regionrsquos rich indigenous culture through storytelling artisans dance song and food
created in partnership with Aboriginal tourism bc (Atbc) the esquimalt and songhees nations the royal bc Museum tourism victoria robert bateman centre greater victoria Harbour Authority and First Peoplesrsquo cultural council the festival will take place on the outdoor campus of the royal bc Museum and around victoriarsquos inner Harbour
the three-day festival will feature main stage performances including three-time world champion hoop dancer Alex Wells an artisan area where people may watch demonstrations meet the artists and also learn about the new Authentic Aboriginal program that helps consumers identify products designed created and sold by bc Aboriginal artists a childrenrsquos storytelling area food vendors and an Aboriginal tourism bc information booth
the festival is also an opportunity to celebrate share and learn more
about the history of the First nations people in bc and the capital before the city became victoria esquimalt and songhees nations were one of the first nations to sign a treaty in bc ndash known as the vancouver island treaties which were signed between 1850ndash1854
this festival also coincides with national Aboriginal Day and the launch of the royal bc Museumrsquos new exhibit Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC opening June 21 2014
learn more onlineaboriginalbccom
Aboriginal Cultural Festival
16 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
gerry truscott earned his degree in creative Writing
from the university of victoria in 1982 and since then he has spent his professional life editing and publishing books He joined the royal bc Museum in 1989 as publisher He has edited and produced more than 100 books for the institution and has written or edited much of the
text that appears in the exhibition galleries in 2008 he wrote the exhibition text and book for the museumrsquos project celebrating british columbiarsquos 150th anniversary entitled Free Spirit Stories of You Me and BC
on his own time gerry writes fiction and has had several short stories published in magazines and anthologies Hersquos also very much
interested in soccer and hockey (playing and watching) jazz and progressive rock hiking cycling and walking his dogs
royal bc Museum publications are available at your local book store the royal bc Museum shop and royalbcmuseumbccapublications
FeAture PArtner
Canadian Geographic canadian geographic magazine
is a proud partner of the royal bc Museum one of canadarsquos most award-winning magazines canadian geographic is unapologetic about celebrating canada Wersquore dedicated to uncovering and communicating the stories about canadian people places frontiers and issues (past and present) that canadian magazine readers want Published by the royal canadian geographical society canadian geographic magazine is more than a geography publication each issue of canadian geographic is a voyage of discovery and exploration that features the latest
science environment travel human and cultural stories from across canada
canadian geographic connects with more than 38 million readers per issue in canada and abroad who share our fascination for canada Filled with stunning colour photography fascinating articles and specially commissioned maps each issue of canadian geographic magazine lets you travel the country without leaving home Yoursquoll discover canadarsquos people and cities our wildlife and wilderness our history and the beauty of our land subscriptions include six regular
issues of canadian geographic plus four issues of canadian geographic travel per year
For a special subscription offer exclusive to rbcM members please go to canadiangeographiccarbcm
stAFF ProFile
Gerry TruscottPublisHer
royalbcmuseumbcca 17
$100000 - $499999
$25000 - $99999
$5000 - $24999
the royal bc Museum appreciates and acknowledges the vital and
ongoing financial support of the Province of British Columbia the Ministry of Community Sport and Cultural Development and the Royal BC Museum Foundation their core support makes our work possible
While approximately 63 percent of our annual operating budget
comes from the Province and another 21 percent comes from memberships and admissions we need to raise the remaining 16 percent ndash three million dollars ndash each year from other sources including donations sponsorships and grants contributions from those who value the work of the royal bc Museum help us to meet our most pressing needs such as
Acquiring items for our collection conserving rare and
precious objects Furthering our world-class
research Developing our learning programs supporting our archives Presenting engaging exhibitions Publishing critically-
acclaimed books
Royal BC Museum Supporters(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Please join us in thanking the following individuals corporations and foundations for their support their demonstrated commitment and their inspiration during the past fiscal year
$500000+
bell Media
royal bc Museum Foundation teck resources limited tourism victoria
bc Hydro
black Press
clipper vacations
Hsbc bank of canada
the estate of Akiko Kamitakahara
lamar Advertising company
Pattison outdoor Advertising
the Jim Pattison broadcast group
Quark expeditions
times colonist
John and Joan Walton innovators Fund
Anonymous (1)
the bay centre
bc transit
black ball Ferry line
canadian Museums Association
cibc
cineplex Media
ctv vancouver island
Fannyrsquos cultured cow Products ltd
garth evans
Friends of the bc Archives
iMAX victoria
elizabeth Kennedy
gwendolyn Page
save on Foods Memorial centre
silk road tea
sunset Magazine
rosita Anna tovell
vancity savings credit union
viking Air
Jack and bev Wallace
Westerkirk capital
if you would like to support the work of the royal bc Museum please contact Jillian Appelman Philanthropy Manager at 250-387-3102 or jappelmanroyalbcmuseumbcca
18 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
$1000 - $4999
$500 - $999
$250 - $499
Collections
Education
Conservation
Research
every effort has been made to ensure our supporters are recognized accurately if you notice an error or omission please call the royal bc Museum Development Department at 250-387-7222
eric and leonda Adler
Patrick and Anne Anderson
Anonymous (1)
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
Joyce clearihue
Daphne corbett in memory of Joan corbett
Karen A Duddlesten
robert and Marianne eng
Flight centre
rupert and robin Hambro
bob and Marjorie Johns
lynne Kennedy
lyall and susan Knott
Professor Jack lohman cbe
ron and May lou-Poy
Kenneth and ellen Mahon
tommy Mayne
stefan and Magdalena opalski
Provincial employees community services Fund
Pauline rafferty and bob Plecas
suromitra sanatani and David turpin
sharon smith
Pauline and robert van Den Driessche
rene and Allison Weir
Angela Williams
Anonymous in memory of Joan corbett
robert Appleton in memory of Joan corbett
robert and birgit bateman
ian beauprie
gary and susan braley
Jeff bray
William and Jean cave
Kelly and rose chu
James and Jean cosgrove
carol cullimore
Jon Declan and bridget Dallison
Joe and linda Harvey
Mark Holford in memory of Joan corbett
erik lythgoe
ian and Margaret Mair
David Mattison
susan K McMillan
Jim and isabel Merston
charles and Marjorie Moser
Pauline and John Mustard Foundation
northwest Magazine
shelley reid
Anne and Don russell
Pete seward
John and Fern spring
W Anthony and Darlene southwell
Mark and elizabeth taylor
Anonymous (2)
robin Ashforth and gerald thompson
Patrick D crofton
Jean e Field and roy A richford
barbara Fields
Joyce Folbigg
Hotel grand Pacific
barbara longworth
Dennis Mccann and Diane Darch
Doreen Mitchell
gary Mitchell
greg and susan McKelvie
Helen Parker
barbara Potash
sandy Pratt
barbara rae and george suart
ernest and Adele roberts
robert rothwell
royal scot Hotel and suites
team telus cares
betty thacker
Alan tompson
victoria international buskers Festival
Maryla and Donovan Waters
Angela Wesley
chuck Wilson
royalbcmuseumbcca 19
1 british columbia MlA lana Popham and royal bc Museum ceo Prof Jack lohman discussing an artifact from the exhibition Vikings Lives Beyond the Legends
2 His excellency teppo tauriainen swedish Ambassador to canada and the Honourable linda reid MlA for richmond east and the speaker of the legislative Assembly at the Annual Kermode gala
3 Prof Jack lohman ceo royal bc Museum with seiji okada consul general of Japan and his wife Yasuko okada
4 sharon smith Francis Kermode group patron and 10-year volunteer
sharon smith is a dedicated 10-year volunteer who now
financially supports the royal bc Museum as a member of the Francis Kermode group ldquoexciting things are coming with the redevelopment plans for the royal bc Museum so it has been a very interesting time for me to get more involvedrdquo she says ldquoi have really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes tours and getting to know the other members of the grouprdquo
Having travelled to museums and historical sites around the world what strikes sharon is our uniqueness ldquoYou just cannot see what is in this collection anywhere else this is the only place that does
what it does it is hugely important to get behind it and i highly recommend that supporters consider joining the Francis Kermode group the activities are very enjoyable and our financial support makes a difference to the core work of the museum and archivesrdquo
she adds ldquoi have learned so much during my time with the group that i have decided to include a gift to the royal bc Museum in my will i feel it is an opportunity to extend my values and my dedication to the museum and archives beyond my lifetime the support is needed and the cause is very important to future generationsrdquo
Donor ProFile
Sharon Smith
The Francis Kermode Groupnamed after the royal bc
Museumrsquos first director the Francis Kermode group is a visionary group of patrons who enjoy a special relationship with the royal bc Museum and our world-class team of curators conservators researchers collections managers and archivists Members of the group deepen their
engagement throughout the year with an exclusive series of customized learning opportunities special privileges and social events created to enlighten stimulate and inspire as they explore the treasures of the royal bc Museum and our wonderful province
1
2
3
4
to join the Francis Kermode group or for more information contact Jon Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
20 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
As sharon smith noted (on the previous page) a will presents
a wonderful opportunity for you to extend your values beyond your lifetime and a meaningful way to connect past present and future generations once you have made
arrangements for your loved ones please consider the merits of making a bequest to the royal bc Museum gifts such as these are incredibly helpful in ensuring the long-term financial health of the museum and archives
For more information or to let us know that you have included us in your will please contact Jonathan Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
Have you considered leaving a gift in your will
there are over seven million artifacts and objects in the royal
bc Museumrsquos permanent collections making it one of the largest and most impressive museum collections in the country these objects bring life to the story of british columbia in ways that enlighten stimulate and inspire Many of these items are accessioned as gifts from generous museum and archives supporters who want to
see a favourite piece often a family heirloom live on forever and impact future generations the royal bc Museum is grateful for objects that help us further our provincial mandate to advance new knowledge and understanding of british columbiarsquos natural history and human history
Acquiring a new object is just the beginning of the story through
professional conservation protection measures and display consultations our highly-skilled conservation staff ensure that each piece is properly cared for and preserved conservation efforts are at the core of the important work we do and the end result is that another integral piece of british columbiarsquos history is shared with the world
Gifts to the Collections(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Mary Andrews
Anonymous (35)
bruce Archibald
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
gary bell
Peter bock
James burgess
Delphine castles
tom cockburn
Michael cooper
carole cullimore
carole Davidson
Howard Dirks
raymond graham
george guy
Hanson Materials limited
edward Harvey
James Douglas Helmcken
Dave Henly
Michael Holmes
richard Holmes
gord Hutchings
carl Jonsson
Milan and sharon lacika
Frank lomer
sandy Mclachlan
H edward Mclean
Mona Mosher
brett nelson
Margaret nelson
Dean nicholson
Frank ogden
Margaret ogilvie
out of the Mist gallery
nettie Pasieczka
tom Perry
bernie simpson
David starr
steve suntok
rosita Anna tovell in Memory of Freeman M tovell
south coast british columbia transportation Authority Police service
John veillette
rick Watson and Mike Watson
robert D Watt and Alison Watt
David Yuen
steve suntok fossil donor and volunteer
We wholeheartedly thank our generous donors to the collection during the past fiscal year
royalbcmuseumbcca 21
going DigitAl
Global Plants Initiativeby Dr erica Wheeler botany collections Manager collections care amp conservation
tYPe sPeciMen = the particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached
The Global Plants Initiativethe royal bc Museum has recently become a partner in the global Plants initiative (gPi) gPi is a collaborative effort among herbaria to make digital images of all botany tYPe sPeciMens available to researchers via access to a centralized repository this repository currently holds over 18 million high resolution images of tYPe sPeciMens contributed by over 270 herbaria from more than 70 countries gPi is funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation the image repository is housed and accessed electronically through (Journal storage) Jstor
the royal bc Museum herbarium houses over 80 tYPe sPeciMens that will be included in this important digitization effort
Describing and naming new species of plantsover 400000 species of plants are known to science that is to say more than 400000 species have been formally described and named by taxonomic experts Describing and naming new species is often slow and can be a complicated process A recent study reported that it takes an
average of 21 years from the date a taxonomist spots something new to science to the date the new name is officially recognized two things are required
the new name and a formal latin description must be validly published and
tYPe sPeciMens must be designated and deposited in a publicly accessible herbarium
During the time that a plant taxonomist is doing the work required to describe a new species they collect and preserve specimens for study the main goal of their study is to describe it in very precise terms in particular how does this new species differ from other related species Are the petals a different colour Are the tiny hairs on the underside of the leaves a different shape is this new species found in markedly different habitats than other closely related species
After the author has described and chosen a name for the new species tYPe sPeciMens are designated from the study material tYPe sPeciMens are the particular specimens to which the scientific name of the new species is formally attached because these are of great importance to the science of documenting biodiversity more
than one tYPe sPeciMen is often designated and these are distributed among different herbaria for safe-keeping in the event that one tYPe sPeciMen is destroyed or lost the others will still be available for study
there are at least seven categories of tYPe sPeciMens but HolotYPes and isotYPes are the most important
HolotYPe the single specimen designated by the author at the time of publication as the specimen upon which the description and name is based
isotYPe any specimen collected on the same date and from the same location as the specimen that is designated as the HolotYPe
Roemerrsquos fescuein 1983 royal bc Museum botany curator Dr leon Pavlick described and published the name of a new variety of grass commonly known as `roemerrsquos fescuersquo the scientific name for this grass is Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick names often describe a notable characteristic of a species or sometimes recognize the person who first discovered the new species roemerrsquos fescue was named after Dr Hans roemer a well-known bc botanist who made some of the early collections of this grass
22 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
in the royal bc Museum herbarium we store the HolotYPe of Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick in a special cabinet reserved for such important specimens High resolution images of this specimen and images of other tYPe sPeciMens in the botany collection will soon be available to researchers around the world via the Jstor repository Access to these images will facilitate global biodiversity research the royal bc Museum herbarium is thrilled to contribute to this effort
royalbcmuseumbcca 23
the Artists in Residence program began in september
of 2013 three artists ndash Aimee van Drimmelen lindsay Delaronde and garth gaudin ndash were selected to take part in the inaugural season of this project in addition to their involvement in events throughout the programming year every two weeks they visit different collections areas of the museum and archives the work they create chronicles both the extraordinary collections and the important work being done by staff and volunteers to maintain collections
Artists Get Inspired by the Collectionby chris orsquoconnor schools amp Family learning team lead
the artists are allowed to go behind the scenes and explore the collections Aimee dived into the botany collection which houses over 215000 specimens made up primarily of native and introduced plant species found in british columbia Most specimens are gathered pressed and affixed to cardstock that is marked with collection data for future reference the specimens are then stacked in folders bagged and stored in lockers the earliest specimen in botany is currently lichen collected in 1889
royal bc Museum volunteer Daniela toriola was helping prepare some new specimen sheets on the day the artists visited she carefully arranged the pressed plants gluing them onto the page with assorted metal weights to hold them down until they dried Daniela noted that she always tries to make the presentation as beautiful as possible it takes a lot of creativity to prepare specimens Whether itrsquos taxidermy
scientific drawings or the placement of sea creatures in a jar a lot of care is taken to make things visually appealing the preservation team takes pride in their work knowing that the collections will be looked upon for years to come
on her visit Aimee used a ldquospill saferdquo ink jar the ink mixed with water was perfect for capturing the transparency of leaves and petals and the dark curly roots she used a couple drops of water to wet her brush and introduced ink with a brush pen
Follow along with our artists and their creations on the royal bc Museum blog royalbcmuseumbccakids artists-in-residence
check out Aimeersquos personal blog featuring more entries and animations from different collection areas aimeesketchblogwordpresscom
ink drawing of liliaceae zigaderiusAimee van Drimmelenfrom the botany collection
royalbcmuseumbcca 25
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
Archives Boot Camp Round Threeby Ann ten cate Archives gallery amp theatre learning team lead
After two successful and sold-out boot camps bc Archives staff
will be offering a third boot camp on saturday september 27 2014
our boot camps are designed to give people a crash course on how to do research at the bc Archives An overview of the collections is given ndash and whether you are a beginner or an expert yoursquoll be inspired
Prior to attending wersquoll assign you to a team with similar interests on the day of the boot camp you will rotate through various stations in our reference room receiving coaching from our expert staff our last camp included the History Hounds bouncing biographers colonial canterers the bobrsquos My uncle team the Family tree crew and the community crew by the end of the day yoursquoll have received some
tips about developing a research strategy know how to find material in our collection and you will have seen some of our most fascinating records Yoursquoll also get a tour of our behind-the-scenes storage areas the day finishes with a chance to get ldquostuck-inrdquo and do some individual research with our experts on-hand
our staff really enjoy helping people get started with their research or head out on new tangents itrsquos a day of immersion and discovery there is definitely a real buzz in our reference room as staff and researchers share information You can hear some of what went on at the last boot camp by listening to cbc radiorsquos north by northwest podcast cbccaplayerradiolocal+showsbritish+columbianorth+by+northwestiD2441594449
if yoursquove already attended our boot camp keep your eye on our calendar as later in the year we will start offering specialized workshops
ldquoGreat So glad I could comerdquo
ldquoThis was an excellent experience It gives me the confidence to return to the archives prepared to ask for assistance and feeling that there is a good starting placerdquo
ldquoLoved this Itrsquos the type of program Irsquod take again because there was so much info I think I missed a lot [before]rdquo
register online royalbcmuseumbccaevents
12 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
Supporting the Museum and Archives Through Local Artby christine roome owner sweet Memory Art
sweet Memory Art was born out of love for people and relationships
ndash the humour and the warmth of human connection My jewellery and art are about commemorating and celebrating the human connection and the relationships that carry us through and make us who we are
Museums are a home for preservation and curation and the birthplace of curiosity question connection history and education for people aged twondash92 i believe
that museums need to surface their collections and celebrate their exhibits through connecting with the local and international community
the sweet Memory Art viking jewellery line invites people to take a piece of the museum experience home 50 percent of the retail sale of the royal bc Museum collection on my website will go back to the royal bc Museum Foundation so that we can continue to learn from the past
You can find sweet Memory Art jewellery in the bc Museum gift shop or purchase pieces on christinersquos website at sweetmemoryartcom
FeAture PArtner
As a values-based financial co-operative vancity is committed
to transforming how banking is done so we can help our members and their local communities thrive financially socially and environmentally
We arenrsquot doing this alone on behalf of our members and community partners we are working to place the right tools in the hands of individuals and organizations working to make our world a better place
We seek to invest in and work closely with organizations and sectors that
Wersquore pleased the royal bc Museum has partnered with the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council on the Our Living Languages exhibition and Aboriginal tourism bc on the Aboriginal cultural Festival 2014 We can accomplish more when we work together
check out vancityrsquos online Annual report at vancitycom2013Annual report for more information on how we are working to build healthy communities
visit vancitycomaboriginalcommunities to learn more about how we are investing in Aboriginal communities to achieve economic strength and independence
we feel have the potential for high positive community impact aligned with our three guiding principles ndash social justice and financial inclusion environmental sustainability and co-operative principles and practices
our partnership with the royal bc Museum is an example of this approach in our work with Aboriginal communities in the coast salish territories where we do business and through our partnership with reconciliation canada we better understand the importance of dialogue and the need for all of us to gain more knowledge about the First Peoples We have much to learn about the history of our land and its people and the importance of language and culture as roots of identity pride and self awareness
royalbcmuseumbcca 13
it wasnrsquot designed to be an emotional touchpoint but sometimes people
respond in surprising ways to details in the royal bc Museum Well before the Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC exhibition was due to open when patches of carpet were tagged with green painterrsquos tape and the drywall mud was still damp bobbilee copeland walked through the exhibition space
it wasnrsquot completely empty one of the exhibitionrsquos first elements to be erected were 17 towering double-sided pylons clad in colourful paint and bearing the names of the 34 First nations languages that are indigenous to british columbia ndash what will become known as the ldquolanguage Forestrdquo
copeland ndash coordinator of the language revitalization program at the university of victoria ndash was visiting the royal bc Museum to discuss potential partnerships aligned with indigenous languages
and the museum and archivesrsquo learning programs and was touring the unfinished exhibition space she stopped in mid-stride when she saw her own language written on one of the pylons then walked over and gave the metal ldquotreerdquo a long hug
For staff at the royal bc Museum this was an unanticipated sight but also a welcome affirmation that the exhibition was going to have deep meaning for many visitors
ldquoBobbileersquos spontaneous gesture was overwhelmingly powerful In that instant I realized how important this exhibition was to her and all the champions of language revitalization the lsquotreersquo such a tangible representation of the intangible fragility of languagerdquo
Janet MacDonald the royal bc Museumrsquos Head of learning
and visitor engagement experience
it was a gratifying moment for all involved in the planning and design of the exhibition language is a powerful potent marker of identity and culture think about the emotional resonance of the term ldquomother tonguerdquo ndash the languages we grow up with are our kin nourishment and birthright
so the revitalization of languages in bcrsquos First nations communities is bound to stir up feelings of pride loss pain and joy the Our Living Languages exhibition aims to tell the stories of how languages have been nearly-lost and newly awakened and illustrate the success stories of language diversity and revitalization throughout bc
telling these stories has been a deeply collaborative project the royal bc Museum has relied upon the expertise of its partner the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council to shape the narrative provide content and advice on cultural matters
Our Living Languages A Beautiful Collaborationby erik lamberston corporate communications officer
transmission of traditional knowledge at Kaska language camp
14 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
the royal bc Museumrsquos job has been to find the compelling way to communicate the messages through design the two organizations chose to partner closely as they fine-tune details about design development orthography marketing ndash virtually every aspect of the exhibition
ldquoWe are honoured to be part of creation this important exhibition First Nations language speakers are the true experts when it comes to describing and sharing information about their languages By involving them in the development process we hope to create an experience that is both authentic and meaningful for visitors to the museumrdquo
lorna Williams chair of the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council
in fact the theme of co-mingled multiple perspectives has become
a sub-theme of the exhibition itself For example one of the successes of the exhibition is how well it integrates oral and aural experiences with our other senses visitors often expect museum-going to be a primarily visual experience but Our Living Languages is about language transmission a fundamentally spoken activity
And the truth is that contemporary innovative places like the royal bc Museum are increasingly interactive and multi-sensory so Our Living Language rsquos audio messages are supported through visually-interesting video content and tactile details that are rooted in First nations culture
take the cradleboard theatre ndash a small and intimate space that will replicate a cedar root basket inside visitors will be cocooned in soothing First nations languages and lullabies for an immersive experience the idea came from cultural advisors and the medium was designed and fabricated by the royal bc Museumrsquos exhibition arts team
the cradleboard theatre is just one element of the innovative multi-sensory exhibition the
language forest will ldquospeakrdquo as visitors approach each ldquotreerdquo wired with motion sensors A theatre space a rounded counterpoint to the forest spires will be animated by presenters who will add a live dimension to this human story
Our Living Languages will open on saturday June 21 ndash national Aboriginal Day the royal bc Museum will be a celebratory space that weekend with Aboriginal tourism bc hosting the Aboriginal cultural Festival June 19-21 enlivening the campus outside (see page 16 for details) and this collaborative exhibition drawing new eyes ndash and ears ndash to the fascinating and moving story of language diversity and revitalization in bcrsquos First nations communities
royalbcmuseumbcca 15
From June 19 to 21 victoria will host the 2014 Aboriginal cultural
Festival highlighting and celebrating the regionrsquos rich indigenous culture through storytelling artisans dance song and food
created in partnership with Aboriginal tourism bc (Atbc) the esquimalt and songhees nations the royal bc Museum tourism victoria robert bateman centre greater victoria Harbour Authority and First Peoplesrsquo cultural council the festival will take place on the outdoor campus of the royal bc Museum and around victoriarsquos inner Harbour
the three-day festival will feature main stage performances including three-time world champion hoop dancer Alex Wells an artisan area where people may watch demonstrations meet the artists and also learn about the new Authentic Aboriginal program that helps consumers identify products designed created and sold by bc Aboriginal artists a childrenrsquos storytelling area food vendors and an Aboriginal tourism bc information booth
the festival is also an opportunity to celebrate share and learn more
about the history of the First nations people in bc and the capital before the city became victoria esquimalt and songhees nations were one of the first nations to sign a treaty in bc ndash known as the vancouver island treaties which were signed between 1850ndash1854
this festival also coincides with national Aboriginal Day and the launch of the royal bc Museumrsquos new exhibit Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC opening June 21 2014
learn more onlineaboriginalbccom
Aboriginal Cultural Festival
16 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
gerry truscott earned his degree in creative Writing
from the university of victoria in 1982 and since then he has spent his professional life editing and publishing books He joined the royal bc Museum in 1989 as publisher He has edited and produced more than 100 books for the institution and has written or edited much of the
text that appears in the exhibition galleries in 2008 he wrote the exhibition text and book for the museumrsquos project celebrating british columbiarsquos 150th anniversary entitled Free Spirit Stories of You Me and BC
on his own time gerry writes fiction and has had several short stories published in magazines and anthologies Hersquos also very much
interested in soccer and hockey (playing and watching) jazz and progressive rock hiking cycling and walking his dogs
royal bc Museum publications are available at your local book store the royal bc Museum shop and royalbcmuseumbccapublications
FeAture PArtner
Canadian Geographic canadian geographic magazine
is a proud partner of the royal bc Museum one of canadarsquos most award-winning magazines canadian geographic is unapologetic about celebrating canada Wersquore dedicated to uncovering and communicating the stories about canadian people places frontiers and issues (past and present) that canadian magazine readers want Published by the royal canadian geographical society canadian geographic magazine is more than a geography publication each issue of canadian geographic is a voyage of discovery and exploration that features the latest
science environment travel human and cultural stories from across canada
canadian geographic connects with more than 38 million readers per issue in canada and abroad who share our fascination for canada Filled with stunning colour photography fascinating articles and specially commissioned maps each issue of canadian geographic magazine lets you travel the country without leaving home Yoursquoll discover canadarsquos people and cities our wildlife and wilderness our history and the beauty of our land subscriptions include six regular
issues of canadian geographic plus four issues of canadian geographic travel per year
For a special subscription offer exclusive to rbcM members please go to canadiangeographiccarbcm
stAFF ProFile
Gerry TruscottPublisHer
royalbcmuseumbcca 17
$100000 - $499999
$25000 - $99999
$5000 - $24999
the royal bc Museum appreciates and acknowledges the vital and
ongoing financial support of the Province of British Columbia the Ministry of Community Sport and Cultural Development and the Royal BC Museum Foundation their core support makes our work possible
While approximately 63 percent of our annual operating budget
comes from the Province and another 21 percent comes from memberships and admissions we need to raise the remaining 16 percent ndash three million dollars ndash each year from other sources including donations sponsorships and grants contributions from those who value the work of the royal bc Museum help us to meet our most pressing needs such as
Acquiring items for our collection conserving rare and
precious objects Furthering our world-class
research Developing our learning programs supporting our archives Presenting engaging exhibitions Publishing critically-
acclaimed books
Royal BC Museum Supporters(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Please join us in thanking the following individuals corporations and foundations for their support their demonstrated commitment and their inspiration during the past fiscal year
$500000+
bell Media
royal bc Museum Foundation teck resources limited tourism victoria
bc Hydro
black Press
clipper vacations
Hsbc bank of canada
the estate of Akiko Kamitakahara
lamar Advertising company
Pattison outdoor Advertising
the Jim Pattison broadcast group
Quark expeditions
times colonist
John and Joan Walton innovators Fund
Anonymous (1)
the bay centre
bc transit
black ball Ferry line
canadian Museums Association
cibc
cineplex Media
ctv vancouver island
Fannyrsquos cultured cow Products ltd
garth evans
Friends of the bc Archives
iMAX victoria
elizabeth Kennedy
gwendolyn Page
save on Foods Memorial centre
silk road tea
sunset Magazine
rosita Anna tovell
vancity savings credit union
viking Air
Jack and bev Wallace
Westerkirk capital
if you would like to support the work of the royal bc Museum please contact Jillian Appelman Philanthropy Manager at 250-387-3102 or jappelmanroyalbcmuseumbcca
18 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
$1000 - $4999
$500 - $999
$250 - $499
Collections
Education
Conservation
Research
every effort has been made to ensure our supporters are recognized accurately if you notice an error or omission please call the royal bc Museum Development Department at 250-387-7222
eric and leonda Adler
Patrick and Anne Anderson
Anonymous (1)
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
Joyce clearihue
Daphne corbett in memory of Joan corbett
Karen A Duddlesten
robert and Marianne eng
Flight centre
rupert and robin Hambro
bob and Marjorie Johns
lynne Kennedy
lyall and susan Knott
Professor Jack lohman cbe
ron and May lou-Poy
Kenneth and ellen Mahon
tommy Mayne
stefan and Magdalena opalski
Provincial employees community services Fund
Pauline rafferty and bob Plecas
suromitra sanatani and David turpin
sharon smith
Pauline and robert van Den Driessche
rene and Allison Weir
Angela Williams
Anonymous in memory of Joan corbett
robert Appleton in memory of Joan corbett
robert and birgit bateman
ian beauprie
gary and susan braley
Jeff bray
William and Jean cave
Kelly and rose chu
James and Jean cosgrove
carol cullimore
Jon Declan and bridget Dallison
Joe and linda Harvey
Mark Holford in memory of Joan corbett
erik lythgoe
ian and Margaret Mair
David Mattison
susan K McMillan
Jim and isabel Merston
charles and Marjorie Moser
Pauline and John Mustard Foundation
northwest Magazine
shelley reid
Anne and Don russell
Pete seward
John and Fern spring
W Anthony and Darlene southwell
Mark and elizabeth taylor
Anonymous (2)
robin Ashforth and gerald thompson
Patrick D crofton
Jean e Field and roy A richford
barbara Fields
Joyce Folbigg
Hotel grand Pacific
barbara longworth
Dennis Mccann and Diane Darch
Doreen Mitchell
gary Mitchell
greg and susan McKelvie
Helen Parker
barbara Potash
sandy Pratt
barbara rae and george suart
ernest and Adele roberts
robert rothwell
royal scot Hotel and suites
team telus cares
betty thacker
Alan tompson
victoria international buskers Festival
Maryla and Donovan Waters
Angela Wesley
chuck Wilson
royalbcmuseumbcca 19
1 british columbia MlA lana Popham and royal bc Museum ceo Prof Jack lohman discussing an artifact from the exhibition Vikings Lives Beyond the Legends
2 His excellency teppo tauriainen swedish Ambassador to canada and the Honourable linda reid MlA for richmond east and the speaker of the legislative Assembly at the Annual Kermode gala
3 Prof Jack lohman ceo royal bc Museum with seiji okada consul general of Japan and his wife Yasuko okada
4 sharon smith Francis Kermode group patron and 10-year volunteer
sharon smith is a dedicated 10-year volunteer who now
financially supports the royal bc Museum as a member of the Francis Kermode group ldquoexciting things are coming with the redevelopment plans for the royal bc Museum so it has been a very interesting time for me to get more involvedrdquo she says ldquoi have really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes tours and getting to know the other members of the grouprdquo
Having travelled to museums and historical sites around the world what strikes sharon is our uniqueness ldquoYou just cannot see what is in this collection anywhere else this is the only place that does
what it does it is hugely important to get behind it and i highly recommend that supporters consider joining the Francis Kermode group the activities are very enjoyable and our financial support makes a difference to the core work of the museum and archivesrdquo
she adds ldquoi have learned so much during my time with the group that i have decided to include a gift to the royal bc Museum in my will i feel it is an opportunity to extend my values and my dedication to the museum and archives beyond my lifetime the support is needed and the cause is very important to future generationsrdquo
Donor ProFile
Sharon Smith
The Francis Kermode Groupnamed after the royal bc
Museumrsquos first director the Francis Kermode group is a visionary group of patrons who enjoy a special relationship with the royal bc Museum and our world-class team of curators conservators researchers collections managers and archivists Members of the group deepen their
engagement throughout the year with an exclusive series of customized learning opportunities special privileges and social events created to enlighten stimulate and inspire as they explore the treasures of the royal bc Museum and our wonderful province
1
2
3
4
to join the Francis Kermode group or for more information contact Jon Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
20 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
As sharon smith noted (on the previous page) a will presents
a wonderful opportunity for you to extend your values beyond your lifetime and a meaningful way to connect past present and future generations once you have made
arrangements for your loved ones please consider the merits of making a bequest to the royal bc Museum gifts such as these are incredibly helpful in ensuring the long-term financial health of the museum and archives
For more information or to let us know that you have included us in your will please contact Jonathan Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
Have you considered leaving a gift in your will
there are over seven million artifacts and objects in the royal
bc Museumrsquos permanent collections making it one of the largest and most impressive museum collections in the country these objects bring life to the story of british columbia in ways that enlighten stimulate and inspire Many of these items are accessioned as gifts from generous museum and archives supporters who want to
see a favourite piece often a family heirloom live on forever and impact future generations the royal bc Museum is grateful for objects that help us further our provincial mandate to advance new knowledge and understanding of british columbiarsquos natural history and human history
Acquiring a new object is just the beginning of the story through
professional conservation protection measures and display consultations our highly-skilled conservation staff ensure that each piece is properly cared for and preserved conservation efforts are at the core of the important work we do and the end result is that another integral piece of british columbiarsquos history is shared with the world
Gifts to the Collections(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Mary Andrews
Anonymous (35)
bruce Archibald
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
gary bell
Peter bock
James burgess
Delphine castles
tom cockburn
Michael cooper
carole cullimore
carole Davidson
Howard Dirks
raymond graham
george guy
Hanson Materials limited
edward Harvey
James Douglas Helmcken
Dave Henly
Michael Holmes
richard Holmes
gord Hutchings
carl Jonsson
Milan and sharon lacika
Frank lomer
sandy Mclachlan
H edward Mclean
Mona Mosher
brett nelson
Margaret nelson
Dean nicholson
Frank ogden
Margaret ogilvie
out of the Mist gallery
nettie Pasieczka
tom Perry
bernie simpson
David starr
steve suntok
rosita Anna tovell in Memory of Freeman M tovell
south coast british columbia transportation Authority Police service
John veillette
rick Watson and Mike Watson
robert D Watt and Alison Watt
David Yuen
steve suntok fossil donor and volunteer
We wholeheartedly thank our generous donors to the collection during the past fiscal year
royalbcmuseumbcca 21
going DigitAl
Global Plants Initiativeby Dr erica Wheeler botany collections Manager collections care amp conservation
tYPe sPeciMen = the particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached
The Global Plants Initiativethe royal bc Museum has recently become a partner in the global Plants initiative (gPi) gPi is a collaborative effort among herbaria to make digital images of all botany tYPe sPeciMens available to researchers via access to a centralized repository this repository currently holds over 18 million high resolution images of tYPe sPeciMens contributed by over 270 herbaria from more than 70 countries gPi is funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation the image repository is housed and accessed electronically through (Journal storage) Jstor
the royal bc Museum herbarium houses over 80 tYPe sPeciMens that will be included in this important digitization effort
Describing and naming new species of plantsover 400000 species of plants are known to science that is to say more than 400000 species have been formally described and named by taxonomic experts Describing and naming new species is often slow and can be a complicated process A recent study reported that it takes an
average of 21 years from the date a taxonomist spots something new to science to the date the new name is officially recognized two things are required
the new name and a formal latin description must be validly published and
tYPe sPeciMens must be designated and deposited in a publicly accessible herbarium
During the time that a plant taxonomist is doing the work required to describe a new species they collect and preserve specimens for study the main goal of their study is to describe it in very precise terms in particular how does this new species differ from other related species Are the petals a different colour Are the tiny hairs on the underside of the leaves a different shape is this new species found in markedly different habitats than other closely related species
After the author has described and chosen a name for the new species tYPe sPeciMens are designated from the study material tYPe sPeciMens are the particular specimens to which the scientific name of the new species is formally attached because these are of great importance to the science of documenting biodiversity more
than one tYPe sPeciMen is often designated and these are distributed among different herbaria for safe-keeping in the event that one tYPe sPeciMen is destroyed or lost the others will still be available for study
there are at least seven categories of tYPe sPeciMens but HolotYPes and isotYPes are the most important
HolotYPe the single specimen designated by the author at the time of publication as the specimen upon which the description and name is based
isotYPe any specimen collected on the same date and from the same location as the specimen that is designated as the HolotYPe
Roemerrsquos fescuein 1983 royal bc Museum botany curator Dr leon Pavlick described and published the name of a new variety of grass commonly known as `roemerrsquos fescuersquo the scientific name for this grass is Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick names often describe a notable characteristic of a species or sometimes recognize the person who first discovered the new species roemerrsquos fescue was named after Dr Hans roemer a well-known bc botanist who made some of the early collections of this grass
22 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
in the royal bc Museum herbarium we store the HolotYPe of Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick in a special cabinet reserved for such important specimens High resolution images of this specimen and images of other tYPe sPeciMens in the botany collection will soon be available to researchers around the world via the Jstor repository Access to these images will facilitate global biodiversity research the royal bc Museum herbarium is thrilled to contribute to this effort
royalbcmuseumbcca 23
the Artists in Residence program began in september
of 2013 three artists ndash Aimee van Drimmelen lindsay Delaronde and garth gaudin ndash were selected to take part in the inaugural season of this project in addition to their involvement in events throughout the programming year every two weeks they visit different collections areas of the museum and archives the work they create chronicles both the extraordinary collections and the important work being done by staff and volunteers to maintain collections
Artists Get Inspired by the Collectionby chris orsquoconnor schools amp Family learning team lead
the artists are allowed to go behind the scenes and explore the collections Aimee dived into the botany collection which houses over 215000 specimens made up primarily of native and introduced plant species found in british columbia Most specimens are gathered pressed and affixed to cardstock that is marked with collection data for future reference the specimens are then stacked in folders bagged and stored in lockers the earliest specimen in botany is currently lichen collected in 1889
royal bc Museum volunteer Daniela toriola was helping prepare some new specimen sheets on the day the artists visited she carefully arranged the pressed plants gluing them onto the page with assorted metal weights to hold them down until they dried Daniela noted that she always tries to make the presentation as beautiful as possible it takes a lot of creativity to prepare specimens Whether itrsquos taxidermy
scientific drawings or the placement of sea creatures in a jar a lot of care is taken to make things visually appealing the preservation team takes pride in their work knowing that the collections will be looked upon for years to come
on her visit Aimee used a ldquospill saferdquo ink jar the ink mixed with water was perfect for capturing the transparency of leaves and petals and the dark curly roots she used a couple drops of water to wet her brush and introduced ink with a brush pen
Follow along with our artists and their creations on the royal bc Museum blog royalbcmuseumbccakids artists-in-residence
check out Aimeersquos personal blog featuring more entries and animations from different collection areas aimeesketchblogwordpresscom
ink drawing of liliaceae zigaderiusAimee van Drimmelenfrom the botany collection
royalbcmuseumbcca 25
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
Supporting the Museum and Archives Through Local Artby christine roome owner sweet Memory Art
sweet Memory Art was born out of love for people and relationships
ndash the humour and the warmth of human connection My jewellery and art are about commemorating and celebrating the human connection and the relationships that carry us through and make us who we are
Museums are a home for preservation and curation and the birthplace of curiosity question connection history and education for people aged twondash92 i believe
that museums need to surface their collections and celebrate their exhibits through connecting with the local and international community
the sweet Memory Art viking jewellery line invites people to take a piece of the museum experience home 50 percent of the retail sale of the royal bc Museum collection on my website will go back to the royal bc Museum Foundation so that we can continue to learn from the past
You can find sweet Memory Art jewellery in the bc Museum gift shop or purchase pieces on christinersquos website at sweetmemoryartcom
FeAture PArtner
As a values-based financial co-operative vancity is committed
to transforming how banking is done so we can help our members and their local communities thrive financially socially and environmentally
We arenrsquot doing this alone on behalf of our members and community partners we are working to place the right tools in the hands of individuals and organizations working to make our world a better place
We seek to invest in and work closely with organizations and sectors that
Wersquore pleased the royal bc Museum has partnered with the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council on the Our Living Languages exhibition and Aboriginal tourism bc on the Aboriginal cultural Festival 2014 We can accomplish more when we work together
check out vancityrsquos online Annual report at vancitycom2013Annual report for more information on how we are working to build healthy communities
visit vancitycomaboriginalcommunities to learn more about how we are investing in Aboriginal communities to achieve economic strength and independence
we feel have the potential for high positive community impact aligned with our three guiding principles ndash social justice and financial inclusion environmental sustainability and co-operative principles and practices
our partnership with the royal bc Museum is an example of this approach in our work with Aboriginal communities in the coast salish territories where we do business and through our partnership with reconciliation canada we better understand the importance of dialogue and the need for all of us to gain more knowledge about the First Peoples We have much to learn about the history of our land and its people and the importance of language and culture as roots of identity pride and self awareness
royalbcmuseumbcca 13
it wasnrsquot designed to be an emotional touchpoint but sometimes people
respond in surprising ways to details in the royal bc Museum Well before the Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC exhibition was due to open when patches of carpet were tagged with green painterrsquos tape and the drywall mud was still damp bobbilee copeland walked through the exhibition space
it wasnrsquot completely empty one of the exhibitionrsquos first elements to be erected were 17 towering double-sided pylons clad in colourful paint and bearing the names of the 34 First nations languages that are indigenous to british columbia ndash what will become known as the ldquolanguage Forestrdquo
copeland ndash coordinator of the language revitalization program at the university of victoria ndash was visiting the royal bc Museum to discuss potential partnerships aligned with indigenous languages
and the museum and archivesrsquo learning programs and was touring the unfinished exhibition space she stopped in mid-stride when she saw her own language written on one of the pylons then walked over and gave the metal ldquotreerdquo a long hug
For staff at the royal bc Museum this was an unanticipated sight but also a welcome affirmation that the exhibition was going to have deep meaning for many visitors
ldquoBobbileersquos spontaneous gesture was overwhelmingly powerful In that instant I realized how important this exhibition was to her and all the champions of language revitalization the lsquotreersquo such a tangible representation of the intangible fragility of languagerdquo
Janet MacDonald the royal bc Museumrsquos Head of learning
and visitor engagement experience
it was a gratifying moment for all involved in the planning and design of the exhibition language is a powerful potent marker of identity and culture think about the emotional resonance of the term ldquomother tonguerdquo ndash the languages we grow up with are our kin nourishment and birthright
so the revitalization of languages in bcrsquos First nations communities is bound to stir up feelings of pride loss pain and joy the Our Living Languages exhibition aims to tell the stories of how languages have been nearly-lost and newly awakened and illustrate the success stories of language diversity and revitalization throughout bc
telling these stories has been a deeply collaborative project the royal bc Museum has relied upon the expertise of its partner the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council to shape the narrative provide content and advice on cultural matters
Our Living Languages A Beautiful Collaborationby erik lamberston corporate communications officer
transmission of traditional knowledge at Kaska language camp
14 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
the royal bc Museumrsquos job has been to find the compelling way to communicate the messages through design the two organizations chose to partner closely as they fine-tune details about design development orthography marketing ndash virtually every aspect of the exhibition
ldquoWe are honoured to be part of creation this important exhibition First Nations language speakers are the true experts when it comes to describing and sharing information about their languages By involving them in the development process we hope to create an experience that is both authentic and meaningful for visitors to the museumrdquo
lorna Williams chair of the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council
in fact the theme of co-mingled multiple perspectives has become
a sub-theme of the exhibition itself For example one of the successes of the exhibition is how well it integrates oral and aural experiences with our other senses visitors often expect museum-going to be a primarily visual experience but Our Living Languages is about language transmission a fundamentally spoken activity
And the truth is that contemporary innovative places like the royal bc Museum are increasingly interactive and multi-sensory so Our Living Language rsquos audio messages are supported through visually-interesting video content and tactile details that are rooted in First nations culture
take the cradleboard theatre ndash a small and intimate space that will replicate a cedar root basket inside visitors will be cocooned in soothing First nations languages and lullabies for an immersive experience the idea came from cultural advisors and the medium was designed and fabricated by the royal bc Museumrsquos exhibition arts team
the cradleboard theatre is just one element of the innovative multi-sensory exhibition the
language forest will ldquospeakrdquo as visitors approach each ldquotreerdquo wired with motion sensors A theatre space a rounded counterpoint to the forest spires will be animated by presenters who will add a live dimension to this human story
Our Living Languages will open on saturday June 21 ndash national Aboriginal Day the royal bc Museum will be a celebratory space that weekend with Aboriginal tourism bc hosting the Aboriginal cultural Festival June 19-21 enlivening the campus outside (see page 16 for details) and this collaborative exhibition drawing new eyes ndash and ears ndash to the fascinating and moving story of language diversity and revitalization in bcrsquos First nations communities
royalbcmuseumbcca 15
From June 19 to 21 victoria will host the 2014 Aboriginal cultural
Festival highlighting and celebrating the regionrsquos rich indigenous culture through storytelling artisans dance song and food
created in partnership with Aboriginal tourism bc (Atbc) the esquimalt and songhees nations the royal bc Museum tourism victoria robert bateman centre greater victoria Harbour Authority and First Peoplesrsquo cultural council the festival will take place on the outdoor campus of the royal bc Museum and around victoriarsquos inner Harbour
the three-day festival will feature main stage performances including three-time world champion hoop dancer Alex Wells an artisan area where people may watch demonstrations meet the artists and also learn about the new Authentic Aboriginal program that helps consumers identify products designed created and sold by bc Aboriginal artists a childrenrsquos storytelling area food vendors and an Aboriginal tourism bc information booth
the festival is also an opportunity to celebrate share and learn more
about the history of the First nations people in bc and the capital before the city became victoria esquimalt and songhees nations were one of the first nations to sign a treaty in bc ndash known as the vancouver island treaties which were signed between 1850ndash1854
this festival also coincides with national Aboriginal Day and the launch of the royal bc Museumrsquos new exhibit Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC opening June 21 2014
learn more onlineaboriginalbccom
Aboriginal Cultural Festival
16 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
gerry truscott earned his degree in creative Writing
from the university of victoria in 1982 and since then he has spent his professional life editing and publishing books He joined the royal bc Museum in 1989 as publisher He has edited and produced more than 100 books for the institution and has written or edited much of the
text that appears in the exhibition galleries in 2008 he wrote the exhibition text and book for the museumrsquos project celebrating british columbiarsquos 150th anniversary entitled Free Spirit Stories of You Me and BC
on his own time gerry writes fiction and has had several short stories published in magazines and anthologies Hersquos also very much
interested in soccer and hockey (playing and watching) jazz and progressive rock hiking cycling and walking his dogs
royal bc Museum publications are available at your local book store the royal bc Museum shop and royalbcmuseumbccapublications
FeAture PArtner
Canadian Geographic canadian geographic magazine
is a proud partner of the royal bc Museum one of canadarsquos most award-winning magazines canadian geographic is unapologetic about celebrating canada Wersquore dedicated to uncovering and communicating the stories about canadian people places frontiers and issues (past and present) that canadian magazine readers want Published by the royal canadian geographical society canadian geographic magazine is more than a geography publication each issue of canadian geographic is a voyage of discovery and exploration that features the latest
science environment travel human and cultural stories from across canada
canadian geographic connects with more than 38 million readers per issue in canada and abroad who share our fascination for canada Filled with stunning colour photography fascinating articles and specially commissioned maps each issue of canadian geographic magazine lets you travel the country without leaving home Yoursquoll discover canadarsquos people and cities our wildlife and wilderness our history and the beauty of our land subscriptions include six regular
issues of canadian geographic plus four issues of canadian geographic travel per year
For a special subscription offer exclusive to rbcM members please go to canadiangeographiccarbcm
stAFF ProFile
Gerry TruscottPublisHer
royalbcmuseumbcca 17
$100000 - $499999
$25000 - $99999
$5000 - $24999
the royal bc Museum appreciates and acknowledges the vital and
ongoing financial support of the Province of British Columbia the Ministry of Community Sport and Cultural Development and the Royal BC Museum Foundation their core support makes our work possible
While approximately 63 percent of our annual operating budget
comes from the Province and another 21 percent comes from memberships and admissions we need to raise the remaining 16 percent ndash three million dollars ndash each year from other sources including donations sponsorships and grants contributions from those who value the work of the royal bc Museum help us to meet our most pressing needs such as
Acquiring items for our collection conserving rare and
precious objects Furthering our world-class
research Developing our learning programs supporting our archives Presenting engaging exhibitions Publishing critically-
acclaimed books
Royal BC Museum Supporters(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Please join us in thanking the following individuals corporations and foundations for their support their demonstrated commitment and their inspiration during the past fiscal year
$500000+
bell Media
royal bc Museum Foundation teck resources limited tourism victoria
bc Hydro
black Press
clipper vacations
Hsbc bank of canada
the estate of Akiko Kamitakahara
lamar Advertising company
Pattison outdoor Advertising
the Jim Pattison broadcast group
Quark expeditions
times colonist
John and Joan Walton innovators Fund
Anonymous (1)
the bay centre
bc transit
black ball Ferry line
canadian Museums Association
cibc
cineplex Media
ctv vancouver island
Fannyrsquos cultured cow Products ltd
garth evans
Friends of the bc Archives
iMAX victoria
elizabeth Kennedy
gwendolyn Page
save on Foods Memorial centre
silk road tea
sunset Magazine
rosita Anna tovell
vancity savings credit union
viking Air
Jack and bev Wallace
Westerkirk capital
if you would like to support the work of the royal bc Museum please contact Jillian Appelman Philanthropy Manager at 250-387-3102 or jappelmanroyalbcmuseumbcca
18 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
$1000 - $4999
$500 - $999
$250 - $499
Collections
Education
Conservation
Research
every effort has been made to ensure our supporters are recognized accurately if you notice an error or omission please call the royal bc Museum Development Department at 250-387-7222
eric and leonda Adler
Patrick and Anne Anderson
Anonymous (1)
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
Joyce clearihue
Daphne corbett in memory of Joan corbett
Karen A Duddlesten
robert and Marianne eng
Flight centre
rupert and robin Hambro
bob and Marjorie Johns
lynne Kennedy
lyall and susan Knott
Professor Jack lohman cbe
ron and May lou-Poy
Kenneth and ellen Mahon
tommy Mayne
stefan and Magdalena opalski
Provincial employees community services Fund
Pauline rafferty and bob Plecas
suromitra sanatani and David turpin
sharon smith
Pauline and robert van Den Driessche
rene and Allison Weir
Angela Williams
Anonymous in memory of Joan corbett
robert Appleton in memory of Joan corbett
robert and birgit bateman
ian beauprie
gary and susan braley
Jeff bray
William and Jean cave
Kelly and rose chu
James and Jean cosgrove
carol cullimore
Jon Declan and bridget Dallison
Joe and linda Harvey
Mark Holford in memory of Joan corbett
erik lythgoe
ian and Margaret Mair
David Mattison
susan K McMillan
Jim and isabel Merston
charles and Marjorie Moser
Pauline and John Mustard Foundation
northwest Magazine
shelley reid
Anne and Don russell
Pete seward
John and Fern spring
W Anthony and Darlene southwell
Mark and elizabeth taylor
Anonymous (2)
robin Ashforth and gerald thompson
Patrick D crofton
Jean e Field and roy A richford
barbara Fields
Joyce Folbigg
Hotel grand Pacific
barbara longworth
Dennis Mccann and Diane Darch
Doreen Mitchell
gary Mitchell
greg and susan McKelvie
Helen Parker
barbara Potash
sandy Pratt
barbara rae and george suart
ernest and Adele roberts
robert rothwell
royal scot Hotel and suites
team telus cares
betty thacker
Alan tompson
victoria international buskers Festival
Maryla and Donovan Waters
Angela Wesley
chuck Wilson
royalbcmuseumbcca 19
1 british columbia MlA lana Popham and royal bc Museum ceo Prof Jack lohman discussing an artifact from the exhibition Vikings Lives Beyond the Legends
2 His excellency teppo tauriainen swedish Ambassador to canada and the Honourable linda reid MlA for richmond east and the speaker of the legislative Assembly at the Annual Kermode gala
3 Prof Jack lohman ceo royal bc Museum with seiji okada consul general of Japan and his wife Yasuko okada
4 sharon smith Francis Kermode group patron and 10-year volunteer
sharon smith is a dedicated 10-year volunteer who now
financially supports the royal bc Museum as a member of the Francis Kermode group ldquoexciting things are coming with the redevelopment plans for the royal bc Museum so it has been a very interesting time for me to get more involvedrdquo she says ldquoi have really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes tours and getting to know the other members of the grouprdquo
Having travelled to museums and historical sites around the world what strikes sharon is our uniqueness ldquoYou just cannot see what is in this collection anywhere else this is the only place that does
what it does it is hugely important to get behind it and i highly recommend that supporters consider joining the Francis Kermode group the activities are very enjoyable and our financial support makes a difference to the core work of the museum and archivesrdquo
she adds ldquoi have learned so much during my time with the group that i have decided to include a gift to the royal bc Museum in my will i feel it is an opportunity to extend my values and my dedication to the museum and archives beyond my lifetime the support is needed and the cause is very important to future generationsrdquo
Donor ProFile
Sharon Smith
The Francis Kermode Groupnamed after the royal bc
Museumrsquos first director the Francis Kermode group is a visionary group of patrons who enjoy a special relationship with the royal bc Museum and our world-class team of curators conservators researchers collections managers and archivists Members of the group deepen their
engagement throughout the year with an exclusive series of customized learning opportunities special privileges and social events created to enlighten stimulate and inspire as they explore the treasures of the royal bc Museum and our wonderful province
1
2
3
4
to join the Francis Kermode group or for more information contact Jon Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
20 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
As sharon smith noted (on the previous page) a will presents
a wonderful opportunity for you to extend your values beyond your lifetime and a meaningful way to connect past present and future generations once you have made
arrangements for your loved ones please consider the merits of making a bequest to the royal bc Museum gifts such as these are incredibly helpful in ensuring the long-term financial health of the museum and archives
For more information or to let us know that you have included us in your will please contact Jonathan Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
Have you considered leaving a gift in your will
there are over seven million artifacts and objects in the royal
bc Museumrsquos permanent collections making it one of the largest and most impressive museum collections in the country these objects bring life to the story of british columbia in ways that enlighten stimulate and inspire Many of these items are accessioned as gifts from generous museum and archives supporters who want to
see a favourite piece often a family heirloom live on forever and impact future generations the royal bc Museum is grateful for objects that help us further our provincial mandate to advance new knowledge and understanding of british columbiarsquos natural history and human history
Acquiring a new object is just the beginning of the story through
professional conservation protection measures and display consultations our highly-skilled conservation staff ensure that each piece is properly cared for and preserved conservation efforts are at the core of the important work we do and the end result is that another integral piece of british columbiarsquos history is shared with the world
Gifts to the Collections(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Mary Andrews
Anonymous (35)
bruce Archibald
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
gary bell
Peter bock
James burgess
Delphine castles
tom cockburn
Michael cooper
carole cullimore
carole Davidson
Howard Dirks
raymond graham
george guy
Hanson Materials limited
edward Harvey
James Douglas Helmcken
Dave Henly
Michael Holmes
richard Holmes
gord Hutchings
carl Jonsson
Milan and sharon lacika
Frank lomer
sandy Mclachlan
H edward Mclean
Mona Mosher
brett nelson
Margaret nelson
Dean nicholson
Frank ogden
Margaret ogilvie
out of the Mist gallery
nettie Pasieczka
tom Perry
bernie simpson
David starr
steve suntok
rosita Anna tovell in Memory of Freeman M tovell
south coast british columbia transportation Authority Police service
John veillette
rick Watson and Mike Watson
robert D Watt and Alison Watt
David Yuen
steve suntok fossil donor and volunteer
We wholeheartedly thank our generous donors to the collection during the past fiscal year
royalbcmuseumbcca 21
going DigitAl
Global Plants Initiativeby Dr erica Wheeler botany collections Manager collections care amp conservation
tYPe sPeciMen = the particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached
The Global Plants Initiativethe royal bc Museum has recently become a partner in the global Plants initiative (gPi) gPi is a collaborative effort among herbaria to make digital images of all botany tYPe sPeciMens available to researchers via access to a centralized repository this repository currently holds over 18 million high resolution images of tYPe sPeciMens contributed by over 270 herbaria from more than 70 countries gPi is funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation the image repository is housed and accessed electronically through (Journal storage) Jstor
the royal bc Museum herbarium houses over 80 tYPe sPeciMens that will be included in this important digitization effort
Describing and naming new species of plantsover 400000 species of plants are known to science that is to say more than 400000 species have been formally described and named by taxonomic experts Describing and naming new species is often slow and can be a complicated process A recent study reported that it takes an
average of 21 years from the date a taxonomist spots something new to science to the date the new name is officially recognized two things are required
the new name and a formal latin description must be validly published and
tYPe sPeciMens must be designated and deposited in a publicly accessible herbarium
During the time that a plant taxonomist is doing the work required to describe a new species they collect and preserve specimens for study the main goal of their study is to describe it in very precise terms in particular how does this new species differ from other related species Are the petals a different colour Are the tiny hairs on the underside of the leaves a different shape is this new species found in markedly different habitats than other closely related species
After the author has described and chosen a name for the new species tYPe sPeciMens are designated from the study material tYPe sPeciMens are the particular specimens to which the scientific name of the new species is formally attached because these are of great importance to the science of documenting biodiversity more
than one tYPe sPeciMen is often designated and these are distributed among different herbaria for safe-keeping in the event that one tYPe sPeciMen is destroyed or lost the others will still be available for study
there are at least seven categories of tYPe sPeciMens but HolotYPes and isotYPes are the most important
HolotYPe the single specimen designated by the author at the time of publication as the specimen upon which the description and name is based
isotYPe any specimen collected on the same date and from the same location as the specimen that is designated as the HolotYPe
Roemerrsquos fescuein 1983 royal bc Museum botany curator Dr leon Pavlick described and published the name of a new variety of grass commonly known as `roemerrsquos fescuersquo the scientific name for this grass is Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick names often describe a notable characteristic of a species or sometimes recognize the person who first discovered the new species roemerrsquos fescue was named after Dr Hans roemer a well-known bc botanist who made some of the early collections of this grass
22 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
in the royal bc Museum herbarium we store the HolotYPe of Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick in a special cabinet reserved for such important specimens High resolution images of this specimen and images of other tYPe sPeciMens in the botany collection will soon be available to researchers around the world via the Jstor repository Access to these images will facilitate global biodiversity research the royal bc Museum herbarium is thrilled to contribute to this effort
royalbcmuseumbcca 23
the Artists in Residence program began in september
of 2013 three artists ndash Aimee van Drimmelen lindsay Delaronde and garth gaudin ndash were selected to take part in the inaugural season of this project in addition to their involvement in events throughout the programming year every two weeks they visit different collections areas of the museum and archives the work they create chronicles both the extraordinary collections and the important work being done by staff and volunteers to maintain collections
Artists Get Inspired by the Collectionby chris orsquoconnor schools amp Family learning team lead
the artists are allowed to go behind the scenes and explore the collections Aimee dived into the botany collection which houses over 215000 specimens made up primarily of native and introduced plant species found in british columbia Most specimens are gathered pressed and affixed to cardstock that is marked with collection data for future reference the specimens are then stacked in folders bagged and stored in lockers the earliest specimen in botany is currently lichen collected in 1889
royal bc Museum volunteer Daniela toriola was helping prepare some new specimen sheets on the day the artists visited she carefully arranged the pressed plants gluing them onto the page with assorted metal weights to hold them down until they dried Daniela noted that she always tries to make the presentation as beautiful as possible it takes a lot of creativity to prepare specimens Whether itrsquos taxidermy
scientific drawings or the placement of sea creatures in a jar a lot of care is taken to make things visually appealing the preservation team takes pride in their work knowing that the collections will be looked upon for years to come
on her visit Aimee used a ldquospill saferdquo ink jar the ink mixed with water was perfect for capturing the transparency of leaves and petals and the dark curly roots she used a couple drops of water to wet her brush and introduced ink with a brush pen
Follow along with our artists and their creations on the royal bc Museum blog royalbcmuseumbccakids artists-in-residence
check out Aimeersquos personal blog featuring more entries and animations from different collection areas aimeesketchblogwordpresscom
ink drawing of liliaceae zigaderiusAimee van Drimmelenfrom the botany collection
royalbcmuseumbcca 25
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
it wasnrsquot designed to be an emotional touchpoint but sometimes people
respond in surprising ways to details in the royal bc Museum Well before the Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC exhibition was due to open when patches of carpet were tagged with green painterrsquos tape and the drywall mud was still damp bobbilee copeland walked through the exhibition space
it wasnrsquot completely empty one of the exhibitionrsquos first elements to be erected were 17 towering double-sided pylons clad in colourful paint and bearing the names of the 34 First nations languages that are indigenous to british columbia ndash what will become known as the ldquolanguage Forestrdquo
copeland ndash coordinator of the language revitalization program at the university of victoria ndash was visiting the royal bc Museum to discuss potential partnerships aligned with indigenous languages
and the museum and archivesrsquo learning programs and was touring the unfinished exhibition space she stopped in mid-stride when she saw her own language written on one of the pylons then walked over and gave the metal ldquotreerdquo a long hug
For staff at the royal bc Museum this was an unanticipated sight but also a welcome affirmation that the exhibition was going to have deep meaning for many visitors
ldquoBobbileersquos spontaneous gesture was overwhelmingly powerful In that instant I realized how important this exhibition was to her and all the champions of language revitalization the lsquotreersquo such a tangible representation of the intangible fragility of languagerdquo
Janet MacDonald the royal bc Museumrsquos Head of learning
and visitor engagement experience
it was a gratifying moment for all involved in the planning and design of the exhibition language is a powerful potent marker of identity and culture think about the emotional resonance of the term ldquomother tonguerdquo ndash the languages we grow up with are our kin nourishment and birthright
so the revitalization of languages in bcrsquos First nations communities is bound to stir up feelings of pride loss pain and joy the Our Living Languages exhibition aims to tell the stories of how languages have been nearly-lost and newly awakened and illustrate the success stories of language diversity and revitalization throughout bc
telling these stories has been a deeply collaborative project the royal bc Museum has relied upon the expertise of its partner the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council to shape the narrative provide content and advice on cultural matters
Our Living Languages A Beautiful Collaborationby erik lamberston corporate communications officer
transmission of traditional knowledge at Kaska language camp
14 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
the royal bc Museumrsquos job has been to find the compelling way to communicate the messages through design the two organizations chose to partner closely as they fine-tune details about design development orthography marketing ndash virtually every aspect of the exhibition
ldquoWe are honoured to be part of creation this important exhibition First Nations language speakers are the true experts when it comes to describing and sharing information about their languages By involving them in the development process we hope to create an experience that is both authentic and meaningful for visitors to the museumrdquo
lorna Williams chair of the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council
in fact the theme of co-mingled multiple perspectives has become
a sub-theme of the exhibition itself For example one of the successes of the exhibition is how well it integrates oral and aural experiences with our other senses visitors often expect museum-going to be a primarily visual experience but Our Living Languages is about language transmission a fundamentally spoken activity
And the truth is that contemporary innovative places like the royal bc Museum are increasingly interactive and multi-sensory so Our Living Language rsquos audio messages are supported through visually-interesting video content and tactile details that are rooted in First nations culture
take the cradleboard theatre ndash a small and intimate space that will replicate a cedar root basket inside visitors will be cocooned in soothing First nations languages and lullabies for an immersive experience the idea came from cultural advisors and the medium was designed and fabricated by the royal bc Museumrsquos exhibition arts team
the cradleboard theatre is just one element of the innovative multi-sensory exhibition the
language forest will ldquospeakrdquo as visitors approach each ldquotreerdquo wired with motion sensors A theatre space a rounded counterpoint to the forest spires will be animated by presenters who will add a live dimension to this human story
Our Living Languages will open on saturday June 21 ndash national Aboriginal Day the royal bc Museum will be a celebratory space that weekend with Aboriginal tourism bc hosting the Aboriginal cultural Festival June 19-21 enlivening the campus outside (see page 16 for details) and this collaborative exhibition drawing new eyes ndash and ears ndash to the fascinating and moving story of language diversity and revitalization in bcrsquos First nations communities
royalbcmuseumbcca 15
From June 19 to 21 victoria will host the 2014 Aboriginal cultural
Festival highlighting and celebrating the regionrsquos rich indigenous culture through storytelling artisans dance song and food
created in partnership with Aboriginal tourism bc (Atbc) the esquimalt and songhees nations the royal bc Museum tourism victoria robert bateman centre greater victoria Harbour Authority and First Peoplesrsquo cultural council the festival will take place on the outdoor campus of the royal bc Museum and around victoriarsquos inner Harbour
the three-day festival will feature main stage performances including three-time world champion hoop dancer Alex Wells an artisan area where people may watch demonstrations meet the artists and also learn about the new Authentic Aboriginal program that helps consumers identify products designed created and sold by bc Aboriginal artists a childrenrsquos storytelling area food vendors and an Aboriginal tourism bc information booth
the festival is also an opportunity to celebrate share and learn more
about the history of the First nations people in bc and the capital before the city became victoria esquimalt and songhees nations were one of the first nations to sign a treaty in bc ndash known as the vancouver island treaties which were signed between 1850ndash1854
this festival also coincides with national Aboriginal Day and the launch of the royal bc Museumrsquos new exhibit Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC opening June 21 2014
learn more onlineaboriginalbccom
Aboriginal Cultural Festival
16 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
gerry truscott earned his degree in creative Writing
from the university of victoria in 1982 and since then he has spent his professional life editing and publishing books He joined the royal bc Museum in 1989 as publisher He has edited and produced more than 100 books for the institution and has written or edited much of the
text that appears in the exhibition galleries in 2008 he wrote the exhibition text and book for the museumrsquos project celebrating british columbiarsquos 150th anniversary entitled Free Spirit Stories of You Me and BC
on his own time gerry writes fiction and has had several short stories published in magazines and anthologies Hersquos also very much
interested in soccer and hockey (playing and watching) jazz and progressive rock hiking cycling and walking his dogs
royal bc Museum publications are available at your local book store the royal bc Museum shop and royalbcmuseumbccapublications
FeAture PArtner
Canadian Geographic canadian geographic magazine
is a proud partner of the royal bc Museum one of canadarsquos most award-winning magazines canadian geographic is unapologetic about celebrating canada Wersquore dedicated to uncovering and communicating the stories about canadian people places frontiers and issues (past and present) that canadian magazine readers want Published by the royal canadian geographical society canadian geographic magazine is more than a geography publication each issue of canadian geographic is a voyage of discovery and exploration that features the latest
science environment travel human and cultural stories from across canada
canadian geographic connects with more than 38 million readers per issue in canada and abroad who share our fascination for canada Filled with stunning colour photography fascinating articles and specially commissioned maps each issue of canadian geographic magazine lets you travel the country without leaving home Yoursquoll discover canadarsquos people and cities our wildlife and wilderness our history and the beauty of our land subscriptions include six regular
issues of canadian geographic plus four issues of canadian geographic travel per year
For a special subscription offer exclusive to rbcM members please go to canadiangeographiccarbcm
stAFF ProFile
Gerry TruscottPublisHer
royalbcmuseumbcca 17
$100000 - $499999
$25000 - $99999
$5000 - $24999
the royal bc Museum appreciates and acknowledges the vital and
ongoing financial support of the Province of British Columbia the Ministry of Community Sport and Cultural Development and the Royal BC Museum Foundation their core support makes our work possible
While approximately 63 percent of our annual operating budget
comes from the Province and another 21 percent comes from memberships and admissions we need to raise the remaining 16 percent ndash three million dollars ndash each year from other sources including donations sponsorships and grants contributions from those who value the work of the royal bc Museum help us to meet our most pressing needs such as
Acquiring items for our collection conserving rare and
precious objects Furthering our world-class
research Developing our learning programs supporting our archives Presenting engaging exhibitions Publishing critically-
acclaimed books
Royal BC Museum Supporters(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Please join us in thanking the following individuals corporations and foundations for their support their demonstrated commitment and their inspiration during the past fiscal year
$500000+
bell Media
royal bc Museum Foundation teck resources limited tourism victoria
bc Hydro
black Press
clipper vacations
Hsbc bank of canada
the estate of Akiko Kamitakahara
lamar Advertising company
Pattison outdoor Advertising
the Jim Pattison broadcast group
Quark expeditions
times colonist
John and Joan Walton innovators Fund
Anonymous (1)
the bay centre
bc transit
black ball Ferry line
canadian Museums Association
cibc
cineplex Media
ctv vancouver island
Fannyrsquos cultured cow Products ltd
garth evans
Friends of the bc Archives
iMAX victoria
elizabeth Kennedy
gwendolyn Page
save on Foods Memorial centre
silk road tea
sunset Magazine
rosita Anna tovell
vancity savings credit union
viking Air
Jack and bev Wallace
Westerkirk capital
if you would like to support the work of the royal bc Museum please contact Jillian Appelman Philanthropy Manager at 250-387-3102 or jappelmanroyalbcmuseumbcca
18 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
$1000 - $4999
$500 - $999
$250 - $499
Collections
Education
Conservation
Research
every effort has been made to ensure our supporters are recognized accurately if you notice an error or omission please call the royal bc Museum Development Department at 250-387-7222
eric and leonda Adler
Patrick and Anne Anderson
Anonymous (1)
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
Joyce clearihue
Daphne corbett in memory of Joan corbett
Karen A Duddlesten
robert and Marianne eng
Flight centre
rupert and robin Hambro
bob and Marjorie Johns
lynne Kennedy
lyall and susan Knott
Professor Jack lohman cbe
ron and May lou-Poy
Kenneth and ellen Mahon
tommy Mayne
stefan and Magdalena opalski
Provincial employees community services Fund
Pauline rafferty and bob Plecas
suromitra sanatani and David turpin
sharon smith
Pauline and robert van Den Driessche
rene and Allison Weir
Angela Williams
Anonymous in memory of Joan corbett
robert Appleton in memory of Joan corbett
robert and birgit bateman
ian beauprie
gary and susan braley
Jeff bray
William and Jean cave
Kelly and rose chu
James and Jean cosgrove
carol cullimore
Jon Declan and bridget Dallison
Joe and linda Harvey
Mark Holford in memory of Joan corbett
erik lythgoe
ian and Margaret Mair
David Mattison
susan K McMillan
Jim and isabel Merston
charles and Marjorie Moser
Pauline and John Mustard Foundation
northwest Magazine
shelley reid
Anne and Don russell
Pete seward
John and Fern spring
W Anthony and Darlene southwell
Mark and elizabeth taylor
Anonymous (2)
robin Ashforth and gerald thompson
Patrick D crofton
Jean e Field and roy A richford
barbara Fields
Joyce Folbigg
Hotel grand Pacific
barbara longworth
Dennis Mccann and Diane Darch
Doreen Mitchell
gary Mitchell
greg and susan McKelvie
Helen Parker
barbara Potash
sandy Pratt
barbara rae and george suart
ernest and Adele roberts
robert rothwell
royal scot Hotel and suites
team telus cares
betty thacker
Alan tompson
victoria international buskers Festival
Maryla and Donovan Waters
Angela Wesley
chuck Wilson
royalbcmuseumbcca 19
1 british columbia MlA lana Popham and royal bc Museum ceo Prof Jack lohman discussing an artifact from the exhibition Vikings Lives Beyond the Legends
2 His excellency teppo tauriainen swedish Ambassador to canada and the Honourable linda reid MlA for richmond east and the speaker of the legislative Assembly at the Annual Kermode gala
3 Prof Jack lohman ceo royal bc Museum with seiji okada consul general of Japan and his wife Yasuko okada
4 sharon smith Francis Kermode group patron and 10-year volunteer
sharon smith is a dedicated 10-year volunteer who now
financially supports the royal bc Museum as a member of the Francis Kermode group ldquoexciting things are coming with the redevelopment plans for the royal bc Museum so it has been a very interesting time for me to get more involvedrdquo she says ldquoi have really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes tours and getting to know the other members of the grouprdquo
Having travelled to museums and historical sites around the world what strikes sharon is our uniqueness ldquoYou just cannot see what is in this collection anywhere else this is the only place that does
what it does it is hugely important to get behind it and i highly recommend that supporters consider joining the Francis Kermode group the activities are very enjoyable and our financial support makes a difference to the core work of the museum and archivesrdquo
she adds ldquoi have learned so much during my time with the group that i have decided to include a gift to the royal bc Museum in my will i feel it is an opportunity to extend my values and my dedication to the museum and archives beyond my lifetime the support is needed and the cause is very important to future generationsrdquo
Donor ProFile
Sharon Smith
The Francis Kermode Groupnamed after the royal bc
Museumrsquos first director the Francis Kermode group is a visionary group of patrons who enjoy a special relationship with the royal bc Museum and our world-class team of curators conservators researchers collections managers and archivists Members of the group deepen their
engagement throughout the year with an exclusive series of customized learning opportunities special privileges and social events created to enlighten stimulate and inspire as they explore the treasures of the royal bc Museum and our wonderful province
1
2
3
4
to join the Francis Kermode group or for more information contact Jon Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
20 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
As sharon smith noted (on the previous page) a will presents
a wonderful opportunity for you to extend your values beyond your lifetime and a meaningful way to connect past present and future generations once you have made
arrangements for your loved ones please consider the merits of making a bequest to the royal bc Museum gifts such as these are incredibly helpful in ensuring the long-term financial health of the museum and archives
For more information or to let us know that you have included us in your will please contact Jonathan Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
Have you considered leaving a gift in your will
there are over seven million artifacts and objects in the royal
bc Museumrsquos permanent collections making it one of the largest and most impressive museum collections in the country these objects bring life to the story of british columbia in ways that enlighten stimulate and inspire Many of these items are accessioned as gifts from generous museum and archives supporters who want to
see a favourite piece often a family heirloom live on forever and impact future generations the royal bc Museum is grateful for objects that help us further our provincial mandate to advance new knowledge and understanding of british columbiarsquos natural history and human history
Acquiring a new object is just the beginning of the story through
professional conservation protection measures and display consultations our highly-skilled conservation staff ensure that each piece is properly cared for and preserved conservation efforts are at the core of the important work we do and the end result is that another integral piece of british columbiarsquos history is shared with the world
Gifts to the Collections(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Mary Andrews
Anonymous (35)
bruce Archibald
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
gary bell
Peter bock
James burgess
Delphine castles
tom cockburn
Michael cooper
carole cullimore
carole Davidson
Howard Dirks
raymond graham
george guy
Hanson Materials limited
edward Harvey
James Douglas Helmcken
Dave Henly
Michael Holmes
richard Holmes
gord Hutchings
carl Jonsson
Milan and sharon lacika
Frank lomer
sandy Mclachlan
H edward Mclean
Mona Mosher
brett nelson
Margaret nelson
Dean nicholson
Frank ogden
Margaret ogilvie
out of the Mist gallery
nettie Pasieczka
tom Perry
bernie simpson
David starr
steve suntok
rosita Anna tovell in Memory of Freeman M tovell
south coast british columbia transportation Authority Police service
John veillette
rick Watson and Mike Watson
robert D Watt and Alison Watt
David Yuen
steve suntok fossil donor and volunteer
We wholeheartedly thank our generous donors to the collection during the past fiscal year
royalbcmuseumbcca 21
going DigitAl
Global Plants Initiativeby Dr erica Wheeler botany collections Manager collections care amp conservation
tYPe sPeciMen = the particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached
The Global Plants Initiativethe royal bc Museum has recently become a partner in the global Plants initiative (gPi) gPi is a collaborative effort among herbaria to make digital images of all botany tYPe sPeciMens available to researchers via access to a centralized repository this repository currently holds over 18 million high resolution images of tYPe sPeciMens contributed by over 270 herbaria from more than 70 countries gPi is funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation the image repository is housed and accessed electronically through (Journal storage) Jstor
the royal bc Museum herbarium houses over 80 tYPe sPeciMens that will be included in this important digitization effort
Describing and naming new species of plantsover 400000 species of plants are known to science that is to say more than 400000 species have been formally described and named by taxonomic experts Describing and naming new species is often slow and can be a complicated process A recent study reported that it takes an
average of 21 years from the date a taxonomist spots something new to science to the date the new name is officially recognized two things are required
the new name and a formal latin description must be validly published and
tYPe sPeciMens must be designated and deposited in a publicly accessible herbarium
During the time that a plant taxonomist is doing the work required to describe a new species they collect and preserve specimens for study the main goal of their study is to describe it in very precise terms in particular how does this new species differ from other related species Are the petals a different colour Are the tiny hairs on the underside of the leaves a different shape is this new species found in markedly different habitats than other closely related species
After the author has described and chosen a name for the new species tYPe sPeciMens are designated from the study material tYPe sPeciMens are the particular specimens to which the scientific name of the new species is formally attached because these are of great importance to the science of documenting biodiversity more
than one tYPe sPeciMen is often designated and these are distributed among different herbaria for safe-keeping in the event that one tYPe sPeciMen is destroyed or lost the others will still be available for study
there are at least seven categories of tYPe sPeciMens but HolotYPes and isotYPes are the most important
HolotYPe the single specimen designated by the author at the time of publication as the specimen upon which the description and name is based
isotYPe any specimen collected on the same date and from the same location as the specimen that is designated as the HolotYPe
Roemerrsquos fescuein 1983 royal bc Museum botany curator Dr leon Pavlick described and published the name of a new variety of grass commonly known as `roemerrsquos fescuersquo the scientific name for this grass is Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick names often describe a notable characteristic of a species or sometimes recognize the person who first discovered the new species roemerrsquos fescue was named after Dr Hans roemer a well-known bc botanist who made some of the early collections of this grass
22 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
in the royal bc Museum herbarium we store the HolotYPe of Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick in a special cabinet reserved for such important specimens High resolution images of this specimen and images of other tYPe sPeciMens in the botany collection will soon be available to researchers around the world via the Jstor repository Access to these images will facilitate global biodiversity research the royal bc Museum herbarium is thrilled to contribute to this effort
royalbcmuseumbcca 23
the Artists in Residence program began in september
of 2013 three artists ndash Aimee van Drimmelen lindsay Delaronde and garth gaudin ndash were selected to take part in the inaugural season of this project in addition to their involvement in events throughout the programming year every two weeks they visit different collections areas of the museum and archives the work they create chronicles both the extraordinary collections and the important work being done by staff and volunteers to maintain collections
Artists Get Inspired by the Collectionby chris orsquoconnor schools amp Family learning team lead
the artists are allowed to go behind the scenes and explore the collections Aimee dived into the botany collection which houses over 215000 specimens made up primarily of native and introduced plant species found in british columbia Most specimens are gathered pressed and affixed to cardstock that is marked with collection data for future reference the specimens are then stacked in folders bagged and stored in lockers the earliest specimen in botany is currently lichen collected in 1889
royal bc Museum volunteer Daniela toriola was helping prepare some new specimen sheets on the day the artists visited she carefully arranged the pressed plants gluing them onto the page with assorted metal weights to hold them down until they dried Daniela noted that she always tries to make the presentation as beautiful as possible it takes a lot of creativity to prepare specimens Whether itrsquos taxidermy
scientific drawings or the placement of sea creatures in a jar a lot of care is taken to make things visually appealing the preservation team takes pride in their work knowing that the collections will be looked upon for years to come
on her visit Aimee used a ldquospill saferdquo ink jar the ink mixed with water was perfect for capturing the transparency of leaves and petals and the dark curly roots she used a couple drops of water to wet her brush and introduced ink with a brush pen
Follow along with our artists and their creations on the royal bc Museum blog royalbcmuseumbccakids artists-in-residence
check out Aimeersquos personal blog featuring more entries and animations from different collection areas aimeesketchblogwordpresscom
ink drawing of liliaceae zigaderiusAimee van Drimmelenfrom the botany collection
royalbcmuseumbcca 25
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
the royal bc Museumrsquos job has been to find the compelling way to communicate the messages through design the two organizations chose to partner closely as they fine-tune details about design development orthography marketing ndash virtually every aspect of the exhibition
ldquoWe are honoured to be part of creation this important exhibition First Nations language speakers are the true experts when it comes to describing and sharing information about their languages By involving them in the development process we hope to create an experience that is both authentic and meaningful for visitors to the museumrdquo
lorna Williams chair of the First Peoplesrsquo cultural council
in fact the theme of co-mingled multiple perspectives has become
a sub-theme of the exhibition itself For example one of the successes of the exhibition is how well it integrates oral and aural experiences with our other senses visitors often expect museum-going to be a primarily visual experience but Our Living Languages is about language transmission a fundamentally spoken activity
And the truth is that contemporary innovative places like the royal bc Museum are increasingly interactive and multi-sensory so Our Living Language rsquos audio messages are supported through visually-interesting video content and tactile details that are rooted in First nations culture
take the cradleboard theatre ndash a small and intimate space that will replicate a cedar root basket inside visitors will be cocooned in soothing First nations languages and lullabies for an immersive experience the idea came from cultural advisors and the medium was designed and fabricated by the royal bc Museumrsquos exhibition arts team
the cradleboard theatre is just one element of the innovative multi-sensory exhibition the
language forest will ldquospeakrdquo as visitors approach each ldquotreerdquo wired with motion sensors A theatre space a rounded counterpoint to the forest spires will be animated by presenters who will add a live dimension to this human story
Our Living Languages will open on saturday June 21 ndash national Aboriginal Day the royal bc Museum will be a celebratory space that weekend with Aboriginal tourism bc hosting the Aboriginal cultural Festival June 19-21 enlivening the campus outside (see page 16 for details) and this collaborative exhibition drawing new eyes ndash and ears ndash to the fascinating and moving story of language diversity and revitalization in bcrsquos First nations communities
royalbcmuseumbcca 15
From June 19 to 21 victoria will host the 2014 Aboriginal cultural
Festival highlighting and celebrating the regionrsquos rich indigenous culture through storytelling artisans dance song and food
created in partnership with Aboriginal tourism bc (Atbc) the esquimalt and songhees nations the royal bc Museum tourism victoria robert bateman centre greater victoria Harbour Authority and First Peoplesrsquo cultural council the festival will take place on the outdoor campus of the royal bc Museum and around victoriarsquos inner Harbour
the three-day festival will feature main stage performances including three-time world champion hoop dancer Alex Wells an artisan area where people may watch demonstrations meet the artists and also learn about the new Authentic Aboriginal program that helps consumers identify products designed created and sold by bc Aboriginal artists a childrenrsquos storytelling area food vendors and an Aboriginal tourism bc information booth
the festival is also an opportunity to celebrate share and learn more
about the history of the First nations people in bc and the capital before the city became victoria esquimalt and songhees nations were one of the first nations to sign a treaty in bc ndash known as the vancouver island treaties which were signed between 1850ndash1854
this festival also coincides with national Aboriginal Day and the launch of the royal bc Museumrsquos new exhibit Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC opening June 21 2014
learn more onlineaboriginalbccom
Aboriginal Cultural Festival
16 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
gerry truscott earned his degree in creative Writing
from the university of victoria in 1982 and since then he has spent his professional life editing and publishing books He joined the royal bc Museum in 1989 as publisher He has edited and produced more than 100 books for the institution and has written or edited much of the
text that appears in the exhibition galleries in 2008 he wrote the exhibition text and book for the museumrsquos project celebrating british columbiarsquos 150th anniversary entitled Free Spirit Stories of You Me and BC
on his own time gerry writes fiction and has had several short stories published in magazines and anthologies Hersquos also very much
interested in soccer and hockey (playing and watching) jazz and progressive rock hiking cycling and walking his dogs
royal bc Museum publications are available at your local book store the royal bc Museum shop and royalbcmuseumbccapublications
FeAture PArtner
Canadian Geographic canadian geographic magazine
is a proud partner of the royal bc Museum one of canadarsquos most award-winning magazines canadian geographic is unapologetic about celebrating canada Wersquore dedicated to uncovering and communicating the stories about canadian people places frontiers and issues (past and present) that canadian magazine readers want Published by the royal canadian geographical society canadian geographic magazine is more than a geography publication each issue of canadian geographic is a voyage of discovery and exploration that features the latest
science environment travel human and cultural stories from across canada
canadian geographic connects with more than 38 million readers per issue in canada and abroad who share our fascination for canada Filled with stunning colour photography fascinating articles and specially commissioned maps each issue of canadian geographic magazine lets you travel the country without leaving home Yoursquoll discover canadarsquos people and cities our wildlife and wilderness our history and the beauty of our land subscriptions include six regular
issues of canadian geographic plus four issues of canadian geographic travel per year
For a special subscription offer exclusive to rbcM members please go to canadiangeographiccarbcm
stAFF ProFile
Gerry TruscottPublisHer
royalbcmuseumbcca 17
$100000 - $499999
$25000 - $99999
$5000 - $24999
the royal bc Museum appreciates and acknowledges the vital and
ongoing financial support of the Province of British Columbia the Ministry of Community Sport and Cultural Development and the Royal BC Museum Foundation their core support makes our work possible
While approximately 63 percent of our annual operating budget
comes from the Province and another 21 percent comes from memberships and admissions we need to raise the remaining 16 percent ndash three million dollars ndash each year from other sources including donations sponsorships and grants contributions from those who value the work of the royal bc Museum help us to meet our most pressing needs such as
Acquiring items for our collection conserving rare and
precious objects Furthering our world-class
research Developing our learning programs supporting our archives Presenting engaging exhibitions Publishing critically-
acclaimed books
Royal BC Museum Supporters(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Please join us in thanking the following individuals corporations and foundations for their support their demonstrated commitment and their inspiration during the past fiscal year
$500000+
bell Media
royal bc Museum Foundation teck resources limited tourism victoria
bc Hydro
black Press
clipper vacations
Hsbc bank of canada
the estate of Akiko Kamitakahara
lamar Advertising company
Pattison outdoor Advertising
the Jim Pattison broadcast group
Quark expeditions
times colonist
John and Joan Walton innovators Fund
Anonymous (1)
the bay centre
bc transit
black ball Ferry line
canadian Museums Association
cibc
cineplex Media
ctv vancouver island
Fannyrsquos cultured cow Products ltd
garth evans
Friends of the bc Archives
iMAX victoria
elizabeth Kennedy
gwendolyn Page
save on Foods Memorial centre
silk road tea
sunset Magazine
rosita Anna tovell
vancity savings credit union
viking Air
Jack and bev Wallace
Westerkirk capital
if you would like to support the work of the royal bc Museum please contact Jillian Appelman Philanthropy Manager at 250-387-3102 or jappelmanroyalbcmuseumbcca
18 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
$1000 - $4999
$500 - $999
$250 - $499
Collections
Education
Conservation
Research
every effort has been made to ensure our supporters are recognized accurately if you notice an error or omission please call the royal bc Museum Development Department at 250-387-7222
eric and leonda Adler
Patrick and Anne Anderson
Anonymous (1)
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
Joyce clearihue
Daphne corbett in memory of Joan corbett
Karen A Duddlesten
robert and Marianne eng
Flight centre
rupert and robin Hambro
bob and Marjorie Johns
lynne Kennedy
lyall and susan Knott
Professor Jack lohman cbe
ron and May lou-Poy
Kenneth and ellen Mahon
tommy Mayne
stefan and Magdalena opalski
Provincial employees community services Fund
Pauline rafferty and bob Plecas
suromitra sanatani and David turpin
sharon smith
Pauline and robert van Den Driessche
rene and Allison Weir
Angela Williams
Anonymous in memory of Joan corbett
robert Appleton in memory of Joan corbett
robert and birgit bateman
ian beauprie
gary and susan braley
Jeff bray
William and Jean cave
Kelly and rose chu
James and Jean cosgrove
carol cullimore
Jon Declan and bridget Dallison
Joe and linda Harvey
Mark Holford in memory of Joan corbett
erik lythgoe
ian and Margaret Mair
David Mattison
susan K McMillan
Jim and isabel Merston
charles and Marjorie Moser
Pauline and John Mustard Foundation
northwest Magazine
shelley reid
Anne and Don russell
Pete seward
John and Fern spring
W Anthony and Darlene southwell
Mark and elizabeth taylor
Anonymous (2)
robin Ashforth and gerald thompson
Patrick D crofton
Jean e Field and roy A richford
barbara Fields
Joyce Folbigg
Hotel grand Pacific
barbara longworth
Dennis Mccann and Diane Darch
Doreen Mitchell
gary Mitchell
greg and susan McKelvie
Helen Parker
barbara Potash
sandy Pratt
barbara rae and george suart
ernest and Adele roberts
robert rothwell
royal scot Hotel and suites
team telus cares
betty thacker
Alan tompson
victoria international buskers Festival
Maryla and Donovan Waters
Angela Wesley
chuck Wilson
royalbcmuseumbcca 19
1 british columbia MlA lana Popham and royal bc Museum ceo Prof Jack lohman discussing an artifact from the exhibition Vikings Lives Beyond the Legends
2 His excellency teppo tauriainen swedish Ambassador to canada and the Honourable linda reid MlA for richmond east and the speaker of the legislative Assembly at the Annual Kermode gala
3 Prof Jack lohman ceo royal bc Museum with seiji okada consul general of Japan and his wife Yasuko okada
4 sharon smith Francis Kermode group patron and 10-year volunteer
sharon smith is a dedicated 10-year volunteer who now
financially supports the royal bc Museum as a member of the Francis Kermode group ldquoexciting things are coming with the redevelopment plans for the royal bc Museum so it has been a very interesting time for me to get more involvedrdquo she says ldquoi have really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes tours and getting to know the other members of the grouprdquo
Having travelled to museums and historical sites around the world what strikes sharon is our uniqueness ldquoYou just cannot see what is in this collection anywhere else this is the only place that does
what it does it is hugely important to get behind it and i highly recommend that supporters consider joining the Francis Kermode group the activities are very enjoyable and our financial support makes a difference to the core work of the museum and archivesrdquo
she adds ldquoi have learned so much during my time with the group that i have decided to include a gift to the royal bc Museum in my will i feel it is an opportunity to extend my values and my dedication to the museum and archives beyond my lifetime the support is needed and the cause is very important to future generationsrdquo
Donor ProFile
Sharon Smith
The Francis Kermode Groupnamed after the royal bc
Museumrsquos first director the Francis Kermode group is a visionary group of patrons who enjoy a special relationship with the royal bc Museum and our world-class team of curators conservators researchers collections managers and archivists Members of the group deepen their
engagement throughout the year with an exclusive series of customized learning opportunities special privileges and social events created to enlighten stimulate and inspire as they explore the treasures of the royal bc Museum and our wonderful province
1
2
3
4
to join the Francis Kermode group or for more information contact Jon Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
20 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
As sharon smith noted (on the previous page) a will presents
a wonderful opportunity for you to extend your values beyond your lifetime and a meaningful way to connect past present and future generations once you have made
arrangements for your loved ones please consider the merits of making a bequest to the royal bc Museum gifts such as these are incredibly helpful in ensuring the long-term financial health of the museum and archives
For more information or to let us know that you have included us in your will please contact Jonathan Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
Have you considered leaving a gift in your will
there are over seven million artifacts and objects in the royal
bc Museumrsquos permanent collections making it one of the largest and most impressive museum collections in the country these objects bring life to the story of british columbia in ways that enlighten stimulate and inspire Many of these items are accessioned as gifts from generous museum and archives supporters who want to
see a favourite piece often a family heirloom live on forever and impact future generations the royal bc Museum is grateful for objects that help us further our provincial mandate to advance new knowledge and understanding of british columbiarsquos natural history and human history
Acquiring a new object is just the beginning of the story through
professional conservation protection measures and display consultations our highly-skilled conservation staff ensure that each piece is properly cared for and preserved conservation efforts are at the core of the important work we do and the end result is that another integral piece of british columbiarsquos history is shared with the world
Gifts to the Collections(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Mary Andrews
Anonymous (35)
bruce Archibald
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
gary bell
Peter bock
James burgess
Delphine castles
tom cockburn
Michael cooper
carole cullimore
carole Davidson
Howard Dirks
raymond graham
george guy
Hanson Materials limited
edward Harvey
James Douglas Helmcken
Dave Henly
Michael Holmes
richard Holmes
gord Hutchings
carl Jonsson
Milan and sharon lacika
Frank lomer
sandy Mclachlan
H edward Mclean
Mona Mosher
brett nelson
Margaret nelson
Dean nicholson
Frank ogden
Margaret ogilvie
out of the Mist gallery
nettie Pasieczka
tom Perry
bernie simpson
David starr
steve suntok
rosita Anna tovell in Memory of Freeman M tovell
south coast british columbia transportation Authority Police service
John veillette
rick Watson and Mike Watson
robert D Watt and Alison Watt
David Yuen
steve suntok fossil donor and volunteer
We wholeheartedly thank our generous donors to the collection during the past fiscal year
royalbcmuseumbcca 21
going DigitAl
Global Plants Initiativeby Dr erica Wheeler botany collections Manager collections care amp conservation
tYPe sPeciMen = the particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached
The Global Plants Initiativethe royal bc Museum has recently become a partner in the global Plants initiative (gPi) gPi is a collaborative effort among herbaria to make digital images of all botany tYPe sPeciMens available to researchers via access to a centralized repository this repository currently holds over 18 million high resolution images of tYPe sPeciMens contributed by over 270 herbaria from more than 70 countries gPi is funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation the image repository is housed and accessed electronically through (Journal storage) Jstor
the royal bc Museum herbarium houses over 80 tYPe sPeciMens that will be included in this important digitization effort
Describing and naming new species of plantsover 400000 species of plants are known to science that is to say more than 400000 species have been formally described and named by taxonomic experts Describing and naming new species is often slow and can be a complicated process A recent study reported that it takes an
average of 21 years from the date a taxonomist spots something new to science to the date the new name is officially recognized two things are required
the new name and a formal latin description must be validly published and
tYPe sPeciMens must be designated and deposited in a publicly accessible herbarium
During the time that a plant taxonomist is doing the work required to describe a new species they collect and preserve specimens for study the main goal of their study is to describe it in very precise terms in particular how does this new species differ from other related species Are the petals a different colour Are the tiny hairs on the underside of the leaves a different shape is this new species found in markedly different habitats than other closely related species
After the author has described and chosen a name for the new species tYPe sPeciMens are designated from the study material tYPe sPeciMens are the particular specimens to which the scientific name of the new species is formally attached because these are of great importance to the science of documenting biodiversity more
than one tYPe sPeciMen is often designated and these are distributed among different herbaria for safe-keeping in the event that one tYPe sPeciMen is destroyed or lost the others will still be available for study
there are at least seven categories of tYPe sPeciMens but HolotYPes and isotYPes are the most important
HolotYPe the single specimen designated by the author at the time of publication as the specimen upon which the description and name is based
isotYPe any specimen collected on the same date and from the same location as the specimen that is designated as the HolotYPe
Roemerrsquos fescuein 1983 royal bc Museum botany curator Dr leon Pavlick described and published the name of a new variety of grass commonly known as `roemerrsquos fescuersquo the scientific name for this grass is Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick names often describe a notable characteristic of a species or sometimes recognize the person who first discovered the new species roemerrsquos fescue was named after Dr Hans roemer a well-known bc botanist who made some of the early collections of this grass
22 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
in the royal bc Museum herbarium we store the HolotYPe of Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick in a special cabinet reserved for such important specimens High resolution images of this specimen and images of other tYPe sPeciMens in the botany collection will soon be available to researchers around the world via the Jstor repository Access to these images will facilitate global biodiversity research the royal bc Museum herbarium is thrilled to contribute to this effort
royalbcmuseumbcca 23
the Artists in Residence program began in september
of 2013 three artists ndash Aimee van Drimmelen lindsay Delaronde and garth gaudin ndash were selected to take part in the inaugural season of this project in addition to their involvement in events throughout the programming year every two weeks they visit different collections areas of the museum and archives the work they create chronicles both the extraordinary collections and the important work being done by staff and volunteers to maintain collections
Artists Get Inspired by the Collectionby chris orsquoconnor schools amp Family learning team lead
the artists are allowed to go behind the scenes and explore the collections Aimee dived into the botany collection which houses over 215000 specimens made up primarily of native and introduced plant species found in british columbia Most specimens are gathered pressed and affixed to cardstock that is marked with collection data for future reference the specimens are then stacked in folders bagged and stored in lockers the earliest specimen in botany is currently lichen collected in 1889
royal bc Museum volunteer Daniela toriola was helping prepare some new specimen sheets on the day the artists visited she carefully arranged the pressed plants gluing them onto the page with assorted metal weights to hold them down until they dried Daniela noted that she always tries to make the presentation as beautiful as possible it takes a lot of creativity to prepare specimens Whether itrsquos taxidermy
scientific drawings or the placement of sea creatures in a jar a lot of care is taken to make things visually appealing the preservation team takes pride in their work knowing that the collections will be looked upon for years to come
on her visit Aimee used a ldquospill saferdquo ink jar the ink mixed with water was perfect for capturing the transparency of leaves and petals and the dark curly roots she used a couple drops of water to wet her brush and introduced ink with a brush pen
Follow along with our artists and their creations on the royal bc Museum blog royalbcmuseumbccakids artists-in-residence
check out Aimeersquos personal blog featuring more entries and animations from different collection areas aimeesketchblogwordpresscom
ink drawing of liliaceae zigaderiusAimee van Drimmelenfrom the botany collection
royalbcmuseumbcca 25
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
From June 19 to 21 victoria will host the 2014 Aboriginal cultural
Festival highlighting and celebrating the regionrsquos rich indigenous culture through storytelling artisans dance song and food
created in partnership with Aboriginal tourism bc (Atbc) the esquimalt and songhees nations the royal bc Museum tourism victoria robert bateman centre greater victoria Harbour Authority and First Peoplesrsquo cultural council the festival will take place on the outdoor campus of the royal bc Museum and around victoriarsquos inner Harbour
the three-day festival will feature main stage performances including three-time world champion hoop dancer Alex Wells an artisan area where people may watch demonstrations meet the artists and also learn about the new Authentic Aboriginal program that helps consumers identify products designed created and sold by bc Aboriginal artists a childrenrsquos storytelling area food vendors and an Aboriginal tourism bc information booth
the festival is also an opportunity to celebrate share and learn more
about the history of the First nations people in bc and the capital before the city became victoria esquimalt and songhees nations were one of the first nations to sign a treaty in bc ndash known as the vancouver island treaties which were signed between 1850ndash1854
this festival also coincides with national Aboriginal Day and the launch of the royal bc Museumrsquos new exhibit Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BC opening June 21 2014
learn more onlineaboriginalbccom
Aboriginal Cultural Festival
16 Whatrsquos insight summer 2014
gerry truscott earned his degree in creative Writing
from the university of victoria in 1982 and since then he has spent his professional life editing and publishing books He joined the royal bc Museum in 1989 as publisher He has edited and produced more than 100 books for the institution and has written or edited much of the
text that appears in the exhibition galleries in 2008 he wrote the exhibition text and book for the museumrsquos project celebrating british columbiarsquos 150th anniversary entitled Free Spirit Stories of You Me and BC
on his own time gerry writes fiction and has had several short stories published in magazines and anthologies Hersquos also very much
interested in soccer and hockey (playing and watching) jazz and progressive rock hiking cycling and walking his dogs
royal bc Museum publications are available at your local book store the royal bc Museum shop and royalbcmuseumbccapublications
FeAture PArtner
Canadian Geographic canadian geographic magazine
is a proud partner of the royal bc Museum one of canadarsquos most award-winning magazines canadian geographic is unapologetic about celebrating canada Wersquore dedicated to uncovering and communicating the stories about canadian people places frontiers and issues (past and present) that canadian magazine readers want Published by the royal canadian geographical society canadian geographic magazine is more than a geography publication each issue of canadian geographic is a voyage of discovery and exploration that features the latest
science environment travel human and cultural stories from across canada
canadian geographic connects with more than 38 million readers per issue in canada and abroad who share our fascination for canada Filled with stunning colour photography fascinating articles and specially commissioned maps each issue of canadian geographic magazine lets you travel the country without leaving home Yoursquoll discover canadarsquos people and cities our wildlife and wilderness our history and the beauty of our land subscriptions include six regular
issues of canadian geographic plus four issues of canadian geographic travel per year
For a special subscription offer exclusive to rbcM members please go to canadiangeographiccarbcm
stAFF ProFile
Gerry TruscottPublisHer
royalbcmuseumbcca 17
$100000 - $499999
$25000 - $99999
$5000 - $24999
the royal bc Museum appreciates and acknowledges the vital and
ongoing financial support of the Province of British Columbia the Ministry of Community Sport and Cultural Development and the Royal BC Museum Foundation their core support makes our work possible
While approximately 63 percent of our annual operating budget
comes from the Province and another 21 percent comes from memberships and admissions we need to raise the remaining 16 percent ndash three million dollars ndash each year from other sources including donations sponsorships and grants contributions from those who value the work of the royal bc Museum help us to meet our most pressing needs such as
Acquiring items for our collection conserving rare and
precious objects Furthering our world-class
research Developing our learning programs supporting our archives Presenting engaging exhibitions Publishing critically-
acclaimed books
Royal BC Museum Supporters(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Please join us in thanking the following individuals corporations and foundations for their support their demonstrated commitment and their inspiration during the past fiscal year
$500000+
bell Media
royal bc Museum Foundation teck resources limited tourism victoria
bc Hydro
black Press
clipper vacations
Hsbc bank of canada
the estate of Akiko Kamitakahara
lamar Advertising company
Pattison outdoor Advertising
the Jim Pattison broadcast group
Quark expeditions
times colonist
John and Joan Walton innovators Fund
Anonymous (1)
the bay centre
bc transit
black ball Ferry line
canadian Museums Association
cibc
cineplex Media
ctv vancouver island
Fannyrsquos cultured cow Products ltd
garth evans
Friends of the bc Archives
iMAX victoria
elizabeth Kennedy
gwendolyn Page
save on Foods Memorial centre
silk road tea
sunset Magazine
rosita Anna tovell
vancity savings credit union
viking Air
Jack and bev Wallace
Westerkirk capital
if you would like to support the work of the royal bc Museum please contact Jillian Appelman Philanthropy Manager at 250-387-3102 or jappelmanroyalbcmuseumbcca
18 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
$1000 - $4999
$500 - $999
$250 - $499
Collections
Education
Conservation
Research
every effort has been made to ensure our supporters are recognized accurately if you notice an error or omission please call the royal bc Museum Development Department at 250-387-7222
eric and leonda Adler
Patrick and Anne Anderson
Anonymous (1)
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
Joyce clearihue
Daphne corbett in memory of Joan corbett
Karen A Duddlesten
robert and Marianne eng
Flight centre
rupert and robin Hambro
bob and Marjorie Johns
lynne Kennedy
lyall and susan Knott
Professor Jack lohman cbe
ron and May lou-Poy
Kenneth and ellen Mahon
tommy Mayne
stefan and Magdalena opalski
Provincial employees community services Fund
Pauline rafferty and bob Plecas
suromitra sanatani and David turpin
sharon smith
Pauline and robert van Den Driessche
rene and Allison Weir
Angela Williams
Anonymous in memory of Joan corbett
robert Appleton in memory of Joan corbett
robert and birgit bateman
ian beauprie
gary and susan braley
Jeff bray
William and Jean cave
Kelly and rose chu
James and Jean cosgrove
carol cullimore
Jon Declan and bridget Dallison
Joe and linda Harvey
Mark Holford in memory of Joan corbett
erik lythgoe
ian and Margaret Mair
David Mattison
susan K McMillan
Jim and isabel Merston
charles and Marjorie Moser
Pauline and John Mustard Foundation
northwest Magazine
shelley reid
Anne and Don russell
Pete seward
John and Fern spring
W Anthony and Darlene southwell
Mark and elizabeth taylor
Anonymous (2)
robin Ashforth and gerald thompson
Patrick D crofton
Jean e Field and roy A richford
barbara Fields
Joyce Folbigg
Hotel grand Pacific
barbara longworth
Dennis Mccann and Diane Darch
Doreen Mitchell
gary Mitchell
greg and susan McKelvie
Helen Parker
barbara Potash
sandy Pratt
barbara rae and george suart
ernest and Adele roberts
robert rothwell
royal scot Hotel and suites
team telus cares
betty thacker
Alan tompson
victoria international buskers Festival
Maryla and Donovan Waters
Angela Wesley
chuck Wilson
royalbcmuseumbcca 19
1 british columbia MlA lana Popham and royal bc Museum ceo Prof Jack lohman discussing an artifact from the exhibition Vikings Lives Beyond the Legends
2 His excellency teppo tauriainen swedish Ambassador to canada and the Honourable linda reid MlA for richmond east and the speaker of the legislative Assembly at the Annual Kermode gala
3 Prof Jack lohman ceo royal bc Museum with seiji okada consul general of Japan and his wife Yasuko okada
4 sharon smith Francis Kermode group patron and 10-year volunteer
sharon smith is a dedicated 10-year volunteer who now
financially supports the royal bc Museum as a member of the Francis Kermode group ldquoexciting things are coming with the redevelopment plans for the royal bc Museum so it has been a very interesting time for me to get more involvedrdquo she says ldquoi have really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes tours and getting to know the other members of the grouprdquo
Having travelled to museums and historical sites around the world what strikes sharon is our uniqueness ldquoYou just cannot see what is in this collection anywhere else this is the only place that does
what it does it is hugely important to get behind it and i highly recommend that supporters consider joining the Francis Kermode group the activities are very enjoyable and our financial support makes a difference to the core work of the museum and archivesrdquo
she adds ldquoi have learned so much during my time with the group that i have decided to include a gift to the royal bc Museum in my will i feel it is an opportunity to extend my values and my dedication to the museum and archives beyond my lifetime the support is needed and the cause is very important to future generationsrdquo
Donor ProFile
Sharon Smith
The Francis Kermode Groupnamed after the royal bc
Museumrsquos first director the Francis Kermode group is a visionary group of patrons who enjoy a special relationship with the royal bc Museum and our world-class team of curators conservators researchers collections managers and archivists Members of the group deepen their
engagement throughout the year with an exclusive series of customized learning opportunities special privileges and social events created to enlighten stimulate and inspire as they explore the treasures of the royal bc Museum and our wonderful province
1
2
3
4
to join the Francis Kermode group or for more information contact Jon Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
20 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
As sharon smith noted (on the previous page) a will presents
a wonderful opportunity for you to extend your values beyond your lifetime and a meaningful way to connect past present and future generations once you have made
arrangements for your loved ones please consider the merits of making a bequest to the royal bc Museum gifts such as these are incredibly helpful in ensuring the long-term financial health of the museum and archives
For more information or to let us know that you have included us in your will please contact Jonathan Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
Have you considered leaving a gift in your will
there are over seven million artifacts and objects in the royal
bc Museumrsquos permanent collections making it one of the largest and most impressive museum collections in the country these objects bring life to the story of british columbia in ways that enlighten stimulate and inspire Many of these items are accessioned as gifts from generous museum and archives supporters who want to
see a favourite piece often a family heirloom live on forever and impact future generations the royal bc Museum is grateful for objects that help us further our provincial mandate to advance new knowledge and understanding of british columbiarsquos natural history and human history
Acquiring a new object is just the beginning of the story through
professional conservation protection measures and display consultations our highly-skilled conservation staff ensure that each piece is properly cared for and preserved conservation efforts are at the core of the important work we do and the end result is that another integral piece of british columbiarsquos history is shared with the world
Gifts to the Collections(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Mary Andrews
Anonymous (35)
bruce Archibald
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
gary bell
Peter bock
James burgess
Delphine castles
tom cockburn
Michael cooper
carole cullimore
carole Davidson
Howard Dirks
raymond graham
george guy
Hanson Materials limited
edward Harvey
James Douglas Helmcken
Dave Henly
Michael Holmes
richard Holmes
gord Hutchings
carl Jonsson
Milan and sharon lacika
Frank lomer
sandy Mclachlan
H edward Mclean
Mona Mosher
brett nelson
Margaret nelson
Dean nicholson
Frank ogden
Margaret ogilvie
out of the Mist gallery
nettie Pasieczka
tom Perry
bernie simpson
David starr
steve suntok
rosita Anna tovell in Memory of Freeman M tovell
south coast british columbia transportation Authority Police service
John veillette
rick Watson and Mike Watson
robert D Watt and Alison Watt
David Yuen
steve suntok fossil donor and volunteer
We wholeheartedly thank our generous donors to the collection during the past fiscal year
royalbcmuseumbcca 21
going DigitAl
Global Plants Initiativeby Dr erica Wheeler botany collections Manager collections care amp conservation
tYPe sPeciMen = the particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached
The Global Plants Initiativethe royal bc Museum has recently become a partner in the global Plants initiative (gPi) gPi is a collaborative effort among herbaria to make digital images of all botany tYPe sPeciMens available to researchers via access to a centralized repository this repository currently holds over 18 million high resolution images of tYPe sPeciMens contributed by over 270 herbaria from more than 70 countries gPi is funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation the image repository is housed and accessed electronically through (Journal storage) Jstor
the royal bc Museum herbarium houses over 80 tYPe sPeciMens that will be included in this important digitization effort
Describing and naming new species of plantsover 400000 species of plants are known to science that is to say more than 400000 species have been formally described and named by taxonomic experts Describing and naming new species is often slow and can be a complicated process A recent study reported that it takes an
average of 21 years from the date a taxonomist spots something new to science to the date the new name is officially recognized two things are required
the new name and a formal latin description must be validly published and
tYPe sPeciMens must be designated and deposited in a publicly accessible herbarium
During the time that a plant taxonomist is doing the work required to describe a new species they collect and preserve specimens for study the main goal of their study is to describe it in very precise terms in particular how does this new species differ from other related species Are the petals a different colour Are the tiny hairs on the underside of the leaves a different shape is this new species found in markedly different habitats than other closely related species
After the author has described and chosen a name for the new species tYPe sPeciMens are designated from the study material tYPe sPeciMens are the particular specimens to which the scientific name of the new species is formally attached because these are of great importance to the science of documenting biodiversity more
than one tYPe sPeciMen is often designated and these are distributed among different herbaria for safe-keeping in the event that one tYPe sPeciMen is destroyed or lost the others will still be available for study
there are at least seven categories of tYPe sPeciMens but HolotYPes and isotYPes are the most important
HolotYPe the single specimen designated by the author at the time of publication as the specimen upon which the description and name is based
isotYPe any specimen collected on the same date and from the same location as the specimen that is designated as the HolotYPe
Roemerrsquos fescuein 1983 royal bc Museum botany curator Dr leon Pavlick described and published the name of a new variety of grass commonly known as `roemerrsquos fescuersquo the scientific name for this grass is Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick names often describe a notable characteristic of a species or sometimes recognize the person who first discovered the new species roemerrsquos fescue was named after Dr Hans roemer a well-known bc botanist who made some of the early collections of this grass
22 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
in the royal bc Museum herbarium we store the HolotYPe of Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick in a special cabinet reserved for such important specimens High resolution images of this specimen and images of other tYPe sPeciMens in the botany collection will soon be available to researchers around the world via the Jstor repository Access to these images will facilitate global biodiversity research the royal bc Museum herbarium is thrilled to contribute to this effort
royalbcmuseumbcca 23
the Artists in Residence program began in september
of 2013 three artists ndash Aimee van Drimmelen lindsay Delaronde and garth gaudin ndash were selected to take part in the inaugural season of this project in addition to their involvement in events throughout the programming year every two weeks they visit different collections areas of the museum and archives the work they create chronicles both the extraordinary collections and the important work being done by staff and volunteers to maintain collections
Artists Get Inspired by the Collectionby chris orsquoconnor schools amp Family learning team lead
the artists are allowed to go behind the scenes and explore the collections Aimee dived into the botany collection which houses over 215000 specimens made up primarily of native and introduced plant species found in british columbia Most specimens are gathered pressed and affixed to cardstock that is marked with collection data for future reference the specimens are then stacked in folders bagged and stored in lockers the earliest specimen in botany is currently lichen collected in 1889
royal bc Museum volunteer Daniela toriola was helping prepare some new specimen sheets on the day the artists visited she carefully arranged the pressed plants gluing them onto the page with assorted metal weights to hold them down until they dried Daniela noted that she always tries to make the presentation as beautiful as possible it takes a lot of creativity to prepare specimens Whether itrsquos taxidermy
scientific drawings or the placement of sea creatures in a jar a lot of care is taken to make things visually appealing the preservation team takes pride in their work knowing that the collections will be looked upon for years to come
on her visit Aimee used a ldquospill saferdquo ink jar the ink mixed with water was perfect for capturing the transparency of leaves and petals and the dark curly roots she used a couple drops of water to wet her brush and introduced ink with a brush pen
Follow along with our artists and their creations on the royal bc Museum blog royalbcmuseumbccakids artists-in-residence
check out Aimeersquos personal blog featuring more entries and animations from different collection areas aimeesketchblogwordpresscom
ink drawing of liliaceae zigaderiusAimee van Drimmelenfrom the botany collection
royalbcmuseumbcca 25
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
gerry truscott earned his degree in creative Writing
from the university of victoria in 1982 and since then he has spent his professional life editing and publishing books He joined the royal bc Museum in 1989 as publisher He has edited and produced more than 100 books for the institution and has written or edited much of the
text that appears in the exhibition galleries in 2008 he wrote the exhibition text and book for the museumrsquos project celebrating british columbiarsquos 150th anniversary entitled Free Spirit Stories of You Me and BC
on his own time gerry writes fiction and has had several short stories published in magazines and anthologies Hersquos also very much
interested in soccer and hockey (playing and watching) jazz and progressive rock hiking cycling and walking his dogs
royal bc Museum publications are available at your local book store the royal bc Museum shop and royalbcmuseumbccapublications
FeAture PArtner
Canadian Geographic canadian geographic magazine
is a proud partner of the royal bc Museum one of canadarsquos most award-winning magazines canadian geographic is unapologetic about celebrating canada Wersquore dedicated to uncovering and communicating the stories about canadian people places frontiers and issues (past and present) that canadian magazine readers want Published by the royal canadian geographical society canadian geographic magazine is more than a geography publication each issue of canadian geographic is a voyage of discovery and exploration that features the latest
science environment travel human and cultural stories from across canada
canadian geographic connects with more than 38 million readers per issue in canada and abroad who share our fascination for canada Filled with stunning colour photography fascinating articles and specially commissioned maps each issue of canadian geographic magazine lets you travel the country without leaving home Yoursquoll discover canadarsquos people and cities our wildlife and wilderness our history and the beauty of our land subscriptions include six regular
issues of canadian geographic plus four issues of canadian geographic travel per year
For a special subscription offer exclusive to rbcM members please go to canadiangeographiccarbcm
stAFF ProFile
Gerry TruscottPublisHer
royalbcmuseumbcca 17
$100000 - $499999
$25000 - $99999
$5000 - $24999
the royal bc Museum appreciates and acknowledges the vital and
ongoing financial support of the Province of British Columbia the Ministry of Community Sport and Cultural Development and the Royal BC Museum Foundation their core support makes our work possible
While approximately 63 percent of our annual operating budget
comes from the Province and another 21 percent comes from memberships and admissions we need to raise the remaining 16 percent ndash three million dollars ndash each year from other sources including donations sponsorships and grants contributions from those who value the work of the royal bc Museum help us to meet our most pressing needs such as
Acquiring items for our collection conserving rare and
precious objects Furthering our world-class
research Developing our learning programs supporting our archives Presenting engaging exhibitions Publishing critically-
acclaimed books
Royal BC Museum Supporters(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Please join us in thanking the following individuals corporations and foundations for their support their demonstrated commitment and their inspiration during the past fiscal year
$500000+
bell Media
royal bc Museum Foundation teck resources limited tourism victoria
bc Hydro
black Press
clipper vacations
Hsbc bank of canada
the estate of Akiko Kamitakahara
lamar Advertising company
Pattison outdoor Advertising
the Jim Pattison broadcast group
Quark expeditions
times colonist
John and Joan Walton innovators Fund
Anonymous (1)
the bay centre
bc transit
black ball Ferry line
canadian Museums Association
cibc
cineplex Media
ctv vancouver island
Fannyrsquos cultured cow Products ltd
garth evans
Friends of the bc Archives
iMAX victoria
elizabeth Kennedy
gwendolyn Page
save on Foods Memorial centre
silk road tea
sunset Magazine
rosita Anna tovell
vancity savings credit union
viking Air
Jack and bev Wallace
Westerkirk capital
if you would like to support the work of the royal bc Museum please contact Jillian Appelman Philanthropy Manager at 250-387-3102 or jappelmanroyalbcmuseumbcca
18 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
$1000 - $4999
$500 - $999
$250 - $499
Collections
Education
Conservation
Research
every effort has been made to ensure our supporters are recognized accurately if you notice an error or omission please call the royal bc Museum Development Department at 250-387-7222
eric and leonda Adler
Patrick and Anne Anderson
Anonymous (1)
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
Joyce clearihue
Daphne corbett in memory of Joan corbett
Karen A Duddlesten
robert and Marianne eng
Flight centre
rupert and robin Hambro
bob and Marjorie Johns
lynne Kennedy
lyall and susan Knott
Professor Jack lohman cbe
ron and May lou-Poy
Kenneth and ellen Mahon
tommy Mayne
stefan and Magdalena opalski
Provincial employees community services Fund
Pauline rafferty and bob Plecas
suromitra sanatani and David turpin
sharon smith
Pauline and robert van Den Driessche
rene and Allison Weir
Angela Williams
Anonymous in memory of Joan corbett
robert Appleton in memory of Joan corbett
robert and birgit bateman
ian beauprie
gary and susan braley
Jeff bray
William and Jean cave
Kelly and rose chu
James and Jean cosgrove
carol cullimore
Jon Declan and bridget Dallison
Joe and linda Harvey
Mark Holford in memory of Joan corbett
erik lythgoe
ian and Margaret Mair
David Mattison
susan K McMillan
Jim and isabel Merston
charles and Marjorie Moser
Pauline and John Mustard Foundation
northwest Magazine
shelley reid
Anne and Don russell
Pete seward
John and Fern spring
W Anthony and Darlene southwell
Mark and elizabeth taylor
Anonymous (2)
robin Ashforth and gerald thompson
Patrick D crofton
Jean e Field and roy A richford
barbara Fields
Joyce Folbigg
Hotel grand Pacific
barbara longworth
Dennis Mccann and Diane Darch
Doreen Mitchell
gary Mitchell
greg and susan McKelvie
Helen Parker
barbara Potash
sandy Pratt
barbara rae and george suart
ernest and Adele roberts
robert rothwell
royal scot Hotel and suites
team telus cares
betty thacker
Alan tompson
victoria international buskers Festival
Maryla and Donovan Waters
Angela Wesley
chuck Wilson
royalbcmuseumbcca 19
1 british columbia MlA lana Popham and royal bc Museum ceo Prof Jack lohman discussing an artifact from the exhibition Vikings Lives Beyond the Legends
2 His excellency teppo tauriainen swedish Ambassador to canada and the Honourable linda reid MlA for richmond east and the speaker of the legislative Assembly at the Annual Kermode gala
3 Prof Jack lohman ceo royal bc Museum with seiji okada consul general of Japan and his wife Yasuko okada
4 sharon smith Francis Kermode group patron and 10-year volunteer
sharon smith is a dedicated 10-year volunteer who now
financially supports the royal bc Museum as a member of the Francis Kermode group ldquoexciting things are coming with the redevelopment plans for the royal bc Museum so it has been a very interesting time for me to get more involvedrdquo she says ldquoi have really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes tours and getting to know the other members of the grouprdquo
Having travelled to museums and historical sites around the world what strikes sharon is our uniqueness ldquoYou just cannot see what is in this collection anywhere else this is the only place that does
what it does it is hugely important to get behind it and i highly recommend that supporters consider joining the Francis Kermode group the activities are very enjoyable and our financial support makes a difference to the core work of the museum and archivesrdquo
she adds ldquoi have learned so much during my time with the group that i have decided to include a gift to the royal bc Museum in my will i feel it is an opportunity to extend my values and my dedication to the museum and archives beyond my lifetime the support is needed and the cause is very important to future generationsrdquo
Donor ProFile
Sharon Smith
The Francis Kermode Groupnamed after the royal bc
Museumrsquos first director the Francis Kermode group is a visionary group of patrons who enjoy a special relationship with the royal bc Museum and our world-class team of curators conservators researchers collections managers and archivists Members of the group deepen their
engagement throughout the year with an exclusive series of customized learning opportunities special privileges and social events created to enlighten stimulate and inspire as they explore the treasures of the royal bc Museum and our wonderful province
1
2
3
4
to join the Francis Kermode group or for more information contact Jon Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
20 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
As sharon smith noted (on the previous page) a will presents
a wonderful opportunity for you to extend your values beyond your lifetime and a meaningful way to connect past present and future generations once you have made
arrangements for your loved ones please consider the merits of making a bequest to the royal bc Museum gifts such as these are incredibly helpful in ensuring the long-term financial health of the museum and archives
For more information or to let us know that you have included us in your will please contact Jonathan Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
Have you considered leaving a gift in your will
there are over seven million artifacts and objects in the royal
bc Museumrsquos permanent collections making it one of the largest and most impressive museum collections in the country these objects bring life to the story of british columbia in ways that enlighten stimulate and inspire Many of these items are accessioned as gifts from generous museum and archives supporters who want to
see a favourite piece often a family heirloom live on forever and impact future generations the royal bc Museum is grateful for objects that help us further our provincial mandate to advance new knowledge and understanding of british columbiarsquos natural history and human history
Acquiring a new object is just the beginning of the story through
professional conservation protection measures and display consultations our highly-skilled conservation staff ensure that each piece is properly cared for and preserved conservation efforts are at the core of the important work we do and the end result is that another integral piece of british columbiarsquos history is shared with the world
Gifts to the Collections(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Mary Andrews
Anonymous (35)
bruce Archibald
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
gary bell
Peter bock
James burgess
Delphine castles
tom cockburn
Michael cooper
carole cullimore
carole Davidson
Howard Dirks
raymond graham
george guy
Hanson Materials limited
edward Harvey
James Douglas Helmcken
Dave Henly
Michael Holmes
richard Holmes
gord Hutchings
carl Jonsson
Milan and sharon lacika
Frank lomer
sandy Mclachlan
H edward Mclean
Mona Mosher
brett nelson
Margaret nelson
Dean nicholson
Frank ogden
Margaret ogilvie
out of the Mist gallery
nettie Pasieczka
tom Perry
bernie simpson
David starr
steve suntok
rosita Anna tovell in Memory of Freeman M tovell
south coast british columbia transportation Authority Police service
John veillette
rick Watson and Mike Watson
robert D Watt and Alison Watt
David Yuen
steve suntok fossil donor and volunteer
We wholeheartedly thank our generous donors to the collection during the past fiscal year
royalbcmuseumbcca 21
going DigitAl
Global Plants Initiativeby Dr erica Wheeler botany collections Manager collections care amp conservation
tYPe sPeciMen = the particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached
The Global Plants Initiativethe royal bc Museum has recently become a partner in the global Plants initiative (gPi) gPi is a collaborative effort among herbaria to make digital images of all botany tYPe sPeciMens available to researchers via access to a centralized repository this repository currently holds over 18 million high resolution images of tYPe sPeciMens contributed by over 270 herbaria from more than 70 countries gPi is funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation the image repository is housed and accessed electronically through (Journal storage) Jstor
the royal bc Museum herbarium houses over 80 tYPe sPeciMens that will be included in this important digitization effort
Describing and naming new species of plantsover 400000 species of plants are known to science that is to say more than 400000 species have been formally described and named by taxonomic experts Describing and naming new species is often slow and can be a complicated process A recent study reported that it takes an
average of 21 years from the date a taxonomist spots something new to science to the date the new name is officially recognized two things are required
the new name and a formal latin description must be validly published and
tYPe sPeciMens must be designated and deposited in a publicly accessible herbarium
During the time that a plant taxonomist is doing the work required to describe a new species they collect and preserve specimens for study the main goal of their study is to describe it in very precise terms in particular how does this new species differ from other related species Are the petals a different colour Are the tiny hairs on the underside of the leaves a different shape is this new species found in markedly different habitats than other closely related species
After the author has described and chosen a name for the new species tYPe sPeciMens are designated from the study material tYPe sPeciMens are the particular specimens to which the scientific name of the new species is formally attached because these are of great importance to the science of documenting biodiversity more
than one tYPe sPeciMen is often designated and these are distributed among different herbaria for safe-keeping in the event that one tYPe sPeciMen is destroyed or lost the others will still be available for study
there are at least seven categories of tYPe sPeciMens but HolotYPes and isotYPes are the most important
HolotYPe the single specimen designated by the author at the time of publication as the specimen upon which the description and name is based
isotYPe any specimen collected on the same date and from the same location as the specimen that is designated as the HolotYPe
Roemerrsquos fescuein 1983 royal bc Museum botany curator Dr leon Pavlick described and published the name of a new variety of grass commonly known as `roemerrsquos fescuersquo the scientific name for this grass is Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick names often describe a notable characteristic of a species or sometimes recognize the person who first discovered the new species roemerrsquos fescue was named after Dr Hans roemer a well-known bc botanist who made some of the early collections of this grass
22 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
in the royal bc Museum herbarium we store the HolotYPe of Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick in a special cabinet reserved for such important specimens High resolution images of this specimen and images of other tYPe sPeciMens in the botany collection will soon be available to researchers around the world via the Jstor repository Access to these images will facilitate global biodiversity research the royal bc Museum herbarium is thrilled to contribute to this effort
royalbcmuseumbcca 23
the Artists in Residence program began in september
of 2013 three artists ndash Aimee van Drimmelen lindsay Delaronde and garth gaudin ndash were selected to take part in the inaugural season of this project in addition to their involvement in events throughout the programming year every two weeks they visit different collections areas of the museum and archives the work they create chronicles both the extraordinary collections and the important work being done by staff and volunteers to maintain collections
Artists Get Inspired by the Collectionby chris orsquoconnor schools amp Family learning team lead
the artists are allowed to go behind the scenes and explore the collections Aimee dived into the botany collection which houses over 215000 specimens made up primarily of native and introduced plant species found in british columbia Most specimens are gathered pressed and affixed to cardstock that is marked with collection data for future reference the specimens are then stacked in folders bagged and stored in lockers the earliest specimen in botany is currently lichen collected in 1889
royal bc Museum volunteer Daniela toriola was helping prepare some new specimen sheets on the day the artists visited she carefully arranged the pressed plants gluing them onto the page with assorted metal weights to hold them down until they dried Daniela noted that she always tries to make the presentation as beautiful as possible it takes a lot of creativity to prepare specimens Whether itrsquos taxidermy
scientific drawings or the placement of sea creatures in a jar a lot of care is taken to make things visually appealing the preservation team takes pride in their work knowing that the collections will be looked upon for years to come
on her visit Aimee used a ldquospill saferdquo ink jar the ink mixed with water was perfect for capturing the transparency of leaves and petals and the dark curly roots she used a couple drops of water to wet her brush and introduced ink with a brush pen
Follow along with our artists and their creations on the royal bc Museum blog royalbcmuseumbccakids artists-in-residence
check out Aimeersquos personal blog featuring more entries and animations from different collection areas aimeesketchblogwordpresscom
ink drawing of liliaceae zigaderiusAimee van Drimmelenfrom the botany collection
royalbcmuseumbcca 25
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
$100000 - $499999
$25000 - $99999
$5000 - $24999
the royal bc Museum appreciates and acknowledges the vital and
ongoing financial support of the Province of British Columbia the Ministry of Community Sport and Cultural Development and the Royal BC Museum Foundation their core support makes our work possible
While approximately 63 percent of our annual operating budget
comes from the Province and another 21 percent comes from memberships and admissions we need to raise the remaining 16 percent ndash three million dollars ndash each year from other sources including donations sponsorships and grants contributions from those who value the work of the royal bc Museum help us to meet our most pressing needs such as
Acquiring items for our collection conserving rare and
precious objects Furthering our world-class
research Developing our learning programs supporting our archives Presenting engaging exhibitions Publishing critically-
acclaimed books
Royal BC Museum Supporters(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Please join us in thanking the following individuals corporations and foundations for their support their demonstrated commitment and their inspiration during the past fiscal year
$500000+
bell Media
royal bc Museum Foundation teck resources limited tourism victoria
bc Hydro
black Press
clipper vacations
Hsbc bank of canada
the estate of Akiko Kamitakahara
lamar Advertising company
Pattison outdoor Advertising
the Jim Pattison broadcast group
Quark expeditions
times colonist
John and Joan Walton innovators Fund
Anonymous (1)
the bay centre
bc transit
black ball Ferry line
canadian Museums Association
cibc
cineplex Media
ctv vancouver island
Fannyrsquos cultured cow Products ltd
garth evans
Friends of the bc Archives
iMAX victoria
elizabeth Kennedy
gwendolyn Page
save on Foods Memorial centre
silk road tea
sunset Magazine
rosita Anna tovell
vancity savings credit union
viking Air
Jack and bev Wallace
Westerkirk capital
if you would like to support the work of the royal bc Museum please contact Jillian Appelman Philanthropy Manager at 250-387-3102 or jappelmanroyalbcmuseumbcca
18 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
$1000 - $4999
$500 - $999
$250 - $499
Collections
Education
Conservation
Research
every effort has been made to ensure our supporters are recognized accurately if you notice an error or omission please call the royal bc Museum Development Department at 250-387-7222
eric and leonda Adler
Patrick and Anne Anderson
Anonymous (1)
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
Joyce clearihue
Daphne corbett in memory of Joan corbett
Karen A Duddlesten
robert and Marianne eng
Flight centre
rupert and robin Hambro
bob and Marjorie Johns
lynne Kennedy
lyall and susan Knott
Professor Jack lohman cbe
ron and May lou-Poy
Kenneth and ellen Mahon
tommy Mayne
stefan and Magdalena opalski
Provincial employees community services Fund
Pauline rafferty and bob Plecas
suromitra sanatani and David turpin
sharon smith
Pauline and robert van Den Driessche
rene and Allison Weir
Angela Williams
Anonymous in memory of Joan corbett
robert Appleton in memory of Joan corbett
robert and birgit bateman
ian beauprie
gary and susan braley
Jeff bray
William and Jean cave
Kelly and rose chu
James and Jean cosgrove
carol cullimore
Jon Declan and bridget Dallison
Joe and linda Harvey
Mark Holford in memory of Joan corbett
erik lythgoe
ian and Margaret Mair
David Mattison
susan K McMillan
Jim and isabel Merston
charles and Marjorie Moser
Pauline and John Mustard Foundation
northwest Magazine
shelley reid
Anne and Don russell
Pete seward
John and Fern spring
W Anthony and Darlene southwell
Mark and elizabeth taylor
Anonymous (2)
robin Ashforth and gerald thompson
Patrick D crofton
Jean e Field and roy A richford
barbara Fields
Joyce Folbigg
Hotel grand Pacific
barbara longworth
Dennis Mccann and Diane Darch
Doreen Mitchell
gary Mitchell
greg and susan McKelvie
Helen Parker
barbara Potash
sandy Pratt
barbara rae and george suart
ernest and Adele roberts
robert rothwell
royal scot Hotel and suites
team telus cares
betty thacker
Alan tompson
victoria international buskers Festival
Maryla and Donovan Waters
Angela Wesley
chuck Wilson
royalbcmuseumbcca 19
1 british columbia MlA lana Popham and royal bc Museum ceo Prof Jack lohman discussing an artifact from the exhibition Vikings Lives Beyond the Legends
2 His excellency teppo tauriainen swedish Ambassador to canada and the Honourable linda reid MlA for richmond east and the speaker of the legislative Assembly at the Annual Kermode gala
3 Prof Jack lohman ceo royal bc Museum with seiji okada consul general of Japan and his wife Yasuko okada
4 sharon smith Francis Kermode group patron and 10-year volunteer
sharon smith is a dedicated 10-year volunteer who now
financially supports the royal bc Museum as a member of the Francis Kermode group ldquoexciting things are coming with the redevelopment plans for the royal bc Museum so it has been a very interesting time for me to get more involvedrdquo she says ldquoi have really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes tours and getting to know the other members of the grouprdquo
Having travelled to museums and historical sites around the world what strikes sharon is our uniqueness ldquoYou just cannot see what is in this collection anywhere else this is the only place that does
what it does it is hugely important to get behind it and i highly recommend that supporters consider joining the Francis Kermode group the activities are very enjoyable and our financial support makes a difference to the core work of the museum and archivesrdquo
she adds ldquoi have learned so much during my time with the group that i have decided to include a gift to the royal bc Museum in my will i feel it is an opportunity to extend my values and my dedication to the museum and archives beyond my lifetime the support is needed and the cause is very important to future generationsrdquo
Donor ProFile
Sharon Smith
The Francis Kermode Groupnamed after the royal bc
Museumrsquos first director the Francis Kermode group is a visionary group of patrons who enjoy a special relationship with the royal bc Museum and our world-class team of curators conservators researchers collections managers and archivists Members of the group deepen their
engagement throughout the year with an exclusive series of customized learning opportunities special privileges and social events created to enlighten stimulate and inspire as they explore the treasures of the royal bc Museum and our wonderful province
1
2
3
4
to join the Francis Kermode group or for more information contact Jon Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
20 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
As sharon smith noted (on the previous page) a will presents
a wonderful opportunity for you to extend your values beyond your lifetime and a meaningful way to connect past present and future generations once you have made
arrangements for your loved ones please consider the merits of making a bequest to the royal bc Museum gifts such as these are incredibly helpful in ensuring the long-term financial health of the museum and archives
For more information or to let us know that you have included us in your will please contact Jonathan Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
Have you considered leaving a gift in your will
there are over seven million artifacts and objects in the royal
bc Museumrsquos permanent collections making it one of the largest and most impressive museum collections in the country these objects bring life to the story of british columbia in ways that enlighten stimulate and inspire Many of these items are accessioned as gifts from generous museum and archives supporters who want to
see a favourite piece often a family heirloom live on forever and impact future generations the royal bc Museum is grateful for objects that help us further our provincial mandate to advance new knowledge and understanding of british columbiarsquos natural history and human history
Acquiring a new object is just the beginning of the story through
professional conservation protection measures and display consultations our highly-skilled conservation staff ensure that each piece is properly cared for and preserved conservation efforts are at the core of the important work we do and the end result is that another integral piece of british columbiarsquos history is shared with the world
Gifts to the Collections(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Mary Andrews
Anonymous (35)
bruce Archibald
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
gary bell
Peter bock
James burgess
Delphine castles
tom cockburn
Michael cooper
carole cullimore
carole Davidson
Howard Dirks
raymond graham
george guy
Hanson Materials limited
edward Harvey
James Douglas Helmcken
Dave Henly
Michael Holmes
richard Holmes
gord Hutchings
carl Jonsson
Milan and sharon lacika
Frank lomer
sandy Mclachlan
H edward Mclean
Mona Mosher
brett nelson
Margaret nelson
Dean nicholson
Frank ogden
Margaret ogilvie
out of the Mist gallery
nettie Pasieczka
tom Perry
bernie simpson
David starr
steve suntok
rosita Anna tovell in Memory of Freeman M tovell
south coast british columbia transportation Authority Police service
John veillette
rick Watson and Mike Watson
robert D Watt and Alison Watt
David Yuen
steve suntok fossil donor and volunteer
We wholeheartedly thank our generous donors to the collection during the past fiscal year
royalbcmuseumbcca 21
going DigitAl
Global Plants Initiativeby Dr erica Wheeler botany collections Manager collections care amp conservation
tYPe sPeciMen = the particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached
The Global Plants Initiativethe royal bc Museum has recently become a partner in the global Plants initiative (gPi) gPi is a collaborative effort among herbaria to make digital images of all botany tYPe sPeciMens available to researchers via access to a centralized repository this repository currently holds over 18 million high resolution images of tYPe sPeciMens contributed by over 270 herbaria from more than 70 countries gPi is funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation the image repository is housed and accessed electronically through (Journal storage) Jstor
the royal bc Museum herbarium houses over 80 tYPe sPeciMens that will be included in this important digitization effort
Describing and naming new species of plantsover 400000 species of plants are known to science that is to say more than 400000 species have been formally described and named by taxonomic experts Describing and naming new species is often slow and can be a complicated process A recent study reported that it takes an
average of 21 years from the date a taxonomist spots something new to science to the date the new name is officially recognized two things are required
the new name and a formal latin description must be validly published and
tYPe sPeciMens must be designated and deposited in a publicly accessible herbarium
During the time that a plant taxonomist is doing the work required to describe a new species they collect and preserve specimens for study the main goal of their study is to describe it in very precise terms in particular how does this new species differ from other related species Are the petals a different colour Are the tiny hairs on the underside of the leaves a different shape is this new species found in markedly different habitats than other closely related species
After the author has described and chosen a name for the new species tYPe sPeciMens are designated from the study material tYPe sPeciMens are the particular specimens to which the scientific name of the new species is formally attached because these are of great importance to the science of documenting biodiversity more
than one tYPe sPeciMen is often designated and these are distributed among different herbaria for safe-keeping in the event that one tYPe sPeciMen is destroyed or lost the others will still be available for study
there are at least seven categories of tYPe sPeciMens but HolotYPes and isotYPes are the most important
HolotYPe the single specimen designated by the author at the time of publication as the specimen upon which the description and name is based
isotYPe any specimen collected on the same date and from the same location as the specimen that is designated as the HolotYPe
Roemerrsquos fescuein 1983 royal bc Museum botany curator Dr leon Pavlick described and published the name of a new variety of grass commonly known as `roemerrsquos fescuersquo the scientific name for this grass is Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick names often describe a notable characteristic of a species or sometimes recognize the person who first discovered the new species roemerrsquos fescue was named after Dr Hans roemer a well-known bc botanist who made some of the early collections of this grass
22 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
in the royal bc Museum herbarium we store the HolotYPe of Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick in a special cabinet reserved for such important specimens High resolution images of this specimen and images of other tYPe sPeciMens in the botany collection will soon be available to researchers around the world via the Jstor repository Access to these images will facilitate global biodiversity research the royal bc Museum herbarium is thrilled to contribute to this effort
royalbcmuseumbcca 23
the Artists in Residence program began in september
of 2013 three artists ndash Aimee van Drimmelen lindsay Delaronde and garth gaudin ndash were selected to take part in the inaugural season of this project in addition to their involvement in events throughout the programming year every two weeks they visit different collections areas of the museum and archives the work they create chronicles both the extraordinary collections and the important work being done by staff and volunteers to maintain collections
Artists Get Inspired by the Collectionby chris orsquoconnor schools amp Family learning team lead
the artists are allowed to go behind the scenes and explore the collections Aimee dived into the botany collection which houses over 215000 specimens made up primarily of native and introduced plant species found in british columbia Most specimens are gathered pressed and affixed to cardstock that is marked with collection data for future reference the specimens are then stacked in folders bagged and stored in lockers the earliest specimen in botany is currently lichen collected in 1889
royal bc Museum volunteer Daniela toriola was helping prepare some new specimen sheets on the day the artists visited she carefully arranged the pressed plants gluing them onto the page with assorted metal weights to hold them down until they dried Daniela noted that she always tries to make the presentation as beautiful as possible it takes a lot of creativity to prepare specimens Whether itrsquos taxidermy
scientific drawings or the placement of sea creatures in a jar a lot of care is taken to make things visually appealing the preservation team takes pride in their work knowing that the collections will be looked upon for years to come
on her visit Aimee used a ldquospill saferdquo ink jar the ink mixed with water was perfect for capturing the transparency of leaves and petals and the dark curly roots she used a couple drops of water to wet her brush and introduced ink with a brush pen
Follow along with our artists and their creations on the royal bc Museum blog royalbcmuseumbccakids artists-in-residence
check out Aimeersquos personal blog featuring more entries and animations from different collection areas aimeesketchblogwordpresscom
ink drawing of liliaceae zigaderiusAimee van Drimmelenfrom the botany collection
royalbcmuseumbcca 25
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
$1000 - $4999
$500 - $999
$250 - $499
Collections
Education
Conservation
Research
every effort has been made to ensure our supporters are recognized accurately if you notice an error or omission please call the royal bc Museum Development Department at 250-387-7222
eric and leonda Adler
Patrick and Anne Anderson
Anonymous (1)
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
Joyce clearihue
Daphne corbett in memory of Joan corbett
Karen A Duddlesten
robert and Marianne eng
Flight centre
rupert and robin Hambro
bob and Marjorie Johns
lynne Kennedy
lyall and susan Knott
Professor Jack lohman cbe
ron and May lou-Poy
Kenneth and ellen Mahon
tommy Mayne
stefan and Magdalena opalski
Provincial employees community services Fund
Pauline rafferty and bob Plecas
suromitra sanatani and David turpin
sharon smith
Pauline and robert van Den Driessche
rene and Allison Weir
Angela Williams
Anonymous in memory of Joan corbett
robert Appleton in memory of Joan corbett
robert and birgit bateman
ian beauprie
gary and susan braley
Jeff bray
William and Jean cave
Kelly and rose chu
James and Jean cosgrove
carol cullimore
Jon Declan and bridget Dallison
Joe and linda Harvey
Mark Holford in memory of Joan corbett
erik lythgoe
ian and Margaret Mair
David Mattison
susan K McMillan
Jim and isabel Merston
charles and Marjorie Moser
Pauline and John Mustard Foundation
northwest Magazine
shelley reid
Anne and Don russell
Pete seward
John and Fern spring
W Anthony and Darlene southwell
Mark and elizabeth taylor
Anonymous (2)
robin Ashforth and gerald thompson
Patrick D crofton
Jean e Field and roy A richford
barbara Fields
Joyce Folbigg
Hotel grand Pacific
barbara longworth
Dennis Mccann and Diane Darch
Doreen Mitchell
gary Mitchell
greg and susan McKelvie
Helen Parker
barbara Potash
sandy Pratt
barbara rae and george suart
ernest and Adele roberts
robert rothwell
royal scot Hotel and suites
team telus cares
betty thacker
Alan tompson
victoria international buskers Festival
Maryla and Donovan Waters
Angela Wesley
chuck Wilson
royalbcmuseumbcca 19
1 british columbia MlA lana Popham and royal bc Museum ceo Prof Jack lohman discussing an artifact from the exhibition Vikings Lives Beyond the Legends
2 His excellency teppo tauriainen swedish Ambassador to canada and the Honourable linda reid MlA for richmond east and the speaker of the legislative Assembly at the Annual Kermode gala
3 Prof Jack lohman ceo royal bc Museum with seiji okada consul general of Japan and his wife Yasuko okada
4 sharon smith Francis Kermode group patron and 10-year volunteer
sharon smith is a dedicated 10-year volunteer who now
financially supports the royal bc Museum as a member of the Francis Kermode group ldquoexciting things are coming with the redevelopment plans for the royal bc Museum so it has been a very interesting time for me to get more involvedrdquo she says ldquoi have really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes tours and getting to know the other members of the grouprdquo
Having travelled to museums and historical sites around the world what strikes sharon is our uniqueness ldquoYou just cannot see what is in this collection anywhere else this is the only place that does
what it does it is hugely important to get behind it and i highly recommend that supporters consider joining the Francis Kermode group the activities are very enjoyable and our financial support makes a difference to the core work of the museum and archivesrdquo
she adds ldquoi have learned so much during my time with the group that i have decided to include a gift to the royal bc Museum in my will i feel it is an opportunity to extend my values and my dedication to the museum and archives beyond my lifetime the support is needed and the cause is very important to future generationsrdquo
Donor ProFile
Sharon Smith
The Francis Kermode Groupnamed after the royal bc
Museumrsquos first director the Francis Kermode group is a visionary group of patrons who enjoy a special relationship with the royal bc Museum and our world-class team of curators conservators researchers collections managers and archivists Members of the group deepen their
engagement throughout the year with an exclusive series of customized learning opportunities special privileges and social events created to enlighten stimulate and inspire as they explore the treasures of the royal bc Museum and our wonderful province
1
2
3
4
to join the Francis Kermode group or for more information contact Jon Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
20 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
As sharon smith noted (on the previous page) a will presents
a wonderful opportunity for you to extend your values beyond your lifetime and a meaningful way to connect past present and future generations once you have made
arrangements for your loved ones please consider the merits of making a bequest to the royal bc Museum gifts such as these are incredibly helpful in ensuring the long-term financial health of the museum and archives
For more information or to let us know that you have included us in your will please contact Jonathan Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
Have you considered leaving a gift in your will
there are over seven million artifacts and objects in the royal
bc Museumrsquos permanent collections making it one of the largest and most impressive museum collections in the country these objects bring life to the story of british columbia in ways that enlighten stimulate and inspire Many of these items are accessioned as gifts from generous museum and archives supporters who want to
see a favourite piece often a family heirloom live on forever and impact future generations the royal bc Museum is grateful for objects that help us further our provincial mandate to advance new knowledge and understanding of british columbiarsquos natural history and human history
Acquiring a new object is just the beginning of the story through
professional conservation protection measures and display consultations our highly-skilled conservation staff ensure that each piece is properly cared for and preserved conservation efforts are at the core of the important work we do and the end result is that another integral piece of british columbiarsquos history is shared with the world
Gifts to the Collections(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Mary Andrews
Anonymous (35)
bruce Archibald
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
gary bell
Peter bock
James burgess
Delphine castles
tom cockburn
Michael cooper
carole cullimore
carole Davidson
Howard Dirks
raymond graham
george guy
Hanson Materials limited
edward Harvey
James Douglas Helmcken
Dave Henly
Michael Holmes
richard Holmes
gord Hutchings
carl Jonsson
Milan and sharon lacika
Frank lomer
sandy Mclachlan
H edward Mclean
Mona Mosher
brett nelson
Margaret nelson
Dean nicholson
Frank ogden
Margaret ogilvie
out of the Mist gallery
nettie Pasieczka
tom Perry
bernie simpson
David starr
steve suntok
rosita Anna tovell in Memory of Freeman M tovell
south coast british columbia transportation Authority Police service
John veillette
rick Watson and Mike Watson
robert D Watt and Alison Watt
David Yuen
steve suntok fossil donor and volunteer
We wholeheartedly thank our generous donors to the collection during the past fiscal year
royalbcmuseumbcca 21
going DigitAl
Global Plants Initiativeby Dr erica Wheeler botany collections Manager collections care amp conservation
tYPe sPeciMen = the particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached
The Global Plants Initiativethe royal bc Museum has recently become a partner in the global Plants initiative (gPi) gPi is a collaborative effort among herbaria to make digital images of all botany tYPe sPeciMens available to researchers via access to a centralized repository this repository currently holds over 18 million high resolution images of tYPe sPeciMens contributed by over 270 herbaria from more than 70 countries gPi is funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation the image repository is housed and accessed electronically through (Journal storage) Jstor
the royal bc Museum herbarium houses over 80 tYPe sPeciMens that will be included in this important digitization effort
Describing and naming new species of plantsover 400000 species of plants are known to science that is to say more than 400000 species have been formally described and named by taxonomic experts Describing and naming new species is often slow and can be a complicated process A recent study reported that it takes an
average of 21 years from the date a taxonomist spots something new to science to the date the new name is officially recognized two things are required
the new name and a formal latin description must be validly published and
tYPe sPeciMens must be designated and deposited in a publicly accessible herbarium
During the time that a plant taxonomist is doing the work required to describe a new species they collect and preserve specimens for study the main goal of their study is to describe it in very precise terms in particular how does this new species differ from other related species Are the petals a different colour Are the tiny hairs on the underside of the leaves a different shape is this new species found in markedly different habitats than other closely related species
After the author has described and chosen a name for the new species tYPe sPeciMens are designated from the study material tYPe sPeciMens are the particular specimens to which the scientific name of the new species is formally attached because these are of great importance to the science of documenting biodiversity more
than one tYPe sPeciMen is often designated and these are distributed among different herbaria for safe-keeping in the event that one tYPe sPeciMen is destroyed or lost the others will still be available for study
there are at least seven categories of tYPe sPeciMens but HolotYPes and isotYPes are the most important
HolotYPe the single specimen designated by the author at the time of publication as the specimen upon which the description and name is based
isotYPe any specimen collected on the same date and from the same location as the specimen that is designated as the HolotYPe
Roemerrsquos fescuein 1983 royal bc Museum botany curator Dr leon Pavlick described and published the name of a new variety of grass commonly known as `roemerrsquos fescuersquo the scientific name for this grass is Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick names often describe a notable characteristic of a species or sometimes recognize the person who first discovered the new species roemerrsquos fescue was named after Dr Hans roemer a well-known bc botanist who made some of the early collections of this grass
22 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
in the royal bc Museum herbarium we store the HolotYPe of Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick in a special cabinet reserved for such important specimens High resolution images of this specimen and images of other tYPe sPeciMens in the botany collection will soon be available to researchers around the world via the Jstor repository Access to these images will facilitate global biodiversity research the royal bc Museum herbarium is thrilled to contribute to this effort
royalbcmuseumbcca 23
the Artists in Residence program began in september
of 2013 three artists ndash Aimee van Drimmelen lindsay Delaronde and garth gaudin ndash were selected to take part in the inaugural season of this project in addition to their involvement in events throughout the programming year every two weeks they visit different collections areas of the museum and archives the work they create chronicles both the extraordinary collections and the important work being done by staff and volunteers to maintain collections
Artists Get Inspired by the Collectionby chris orsquoconnor schools amp Family learning team lead
the artists are allowed to go behind the scenes and explore the collections Aimee dived into the botany collection which houses over 215000 specimens made up primarily of native and introduced plant species found in british columbia Most specimens are gathered pressed and affixed to cardstock that is marked with collection data for future reference the specimens are then stacked in folders bagged and stored in lockers the earliest specimen in botany is currently lichen collected in 1889
royal bc Museum volunteer Daniela toriola was helping prepare some new specimen sheets on the day the artists visited she carefully arranged the pressed plants gluing them onto the page with assorted metal weights to hold them down until they dried Daniela noted that she always tries to make the presentation as beautiful as possible it takes a lot of creativity to prepare specimens Whether itrsquos taxidermy
scientific drawings or the placement of sea creatures in a jar a lot of care is taken to make things visually appealing the preservation team takes pride in their work knowing that the collections will be looked upon for years to come
on her visit Aimee used a ldquospill saferdquo ink jar the ink mixed with water was perfect for capturing the transparency of leaves and petals and the dark curly roots she used a couple drops of water to wet her brush and introduced ink with a brush pen
Follow along with our artists and their creations on the royal bc Museum blog royalbcmuseumbccakids artists-in-residence
check out Aimeersquos personal blog featuring more entries and animations from different collection areas aimeesketchblogwordpresscom
ink drawing of liliaceae zigaderiusAimee van Drimmelenfrom the botany collection
royalbcmuseumbcca 25
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
1 british columbia MlA lana Popham and royal bc Museum ceo Prof Jack lohman discussing an artifact from the exhibition Vikings Lives Beyond the Legends
2 His excellency teppo tauriainen swedish Ambassador to canada and the Honourable linda reid MlA for richmond east and the speaker of the legislative Assembly at the Annual Kermode gala
3 Prof Jack lohman ceo royal bc Museum with seiji okada consul general of Japan and his wife Yasuko okada
4 sharon smith Francis Kermode group patron and 10-year volunteer
sharon smith is a dedicated 10-year volunteer who now
financially supports the royal bc Museum as a member of the Francis Kermode group ldquoexciting things are coming with the redevelopment plans for the royal bc Museum so it has been a very interesting time for me to get more involvedrdquo she says ldquoi have really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes tours and getting to know the other members of the grouprdquo
Having travelled to museums and historical sites around the world what strikes sharon is our uniqueness ldquoYou just cannot see what is in this collection anywhere else this is the only place that does
what it does it is hugely important to get behind it and i highly recommend that supporters consider joining the Francis Kermode group the activities are very enjoyable and our financial support makes a difference to the core work of the museum and archivesrdquo
she adds ldquoi have learned so much during my time with the group that i have decided to include a gift to the royal bc Museum in my will i feel it is an opportunity to extend my values and my dedication to the museum and archives beyond my lifetime the support is needed and the cause is very important to future generationsrdquo
Donor ProFile
Sharon Smith
The Francis Kermode Groupnamed after the royal bc
Museumrsquos first director the Francis Kermode group is a visionary group of patrons who enjoy a special relationship with the royal bc Museum and our world-class team of curators conservators researchers collections managers and archivists Members of the group deepen their
engagement throughout the year with an exclusive series of customized learning opportunities special privileges and social events created to enlighten stimulate and inspire as they explore the treasures of the royal bc Museum and our wonderful province
1
2
3
4
to join the Francis Kermode group or for more information contact Jon Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
20 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
As sharon smith noted (on the previous page) a will presents
a wonderful opportunity for you to extend your values beyond your lifetime and a meaningful way to connect past present and future generations once you have made
arrangements for your loved ones please consider the merits of making a bequest to the royal bc Museum gifts such as these are incredibly helpful in ensuring the long-term financial health of the museum and archives
For more information or to let us know that you have included us in your will please contact Jonathan Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
Have you considered leaving a gift in your will
there are over seven million artifacts and objects in the royal
bc Museumrsquos permanent collections making it one of the largest and most impressive museum collections in the country these objects bring life to the story of british columbia in ways that enlighten stimulate and inspire Many of these items are accessioned as gifts from generous museum and archives supporters who want to
see a favourite piece often a family heirloom live on forever and impact future generations the royal bc Museum is grateful for objects that help us further our provincial mandate to advance new knowledge and understanding of british columbiarsquos natural history and human history
Acquiring a new object is just the beginning of the story through
professional conservation protection measures and display consultations our highly-skilled conservation staff ensure that each piece is properly cared for and preserved conservation efforts are at the core of the important work we do and the end result is that another integral piece of british columbiarsquos history is shared with the world
Gifts to the Collections(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Mary Andrews
Anonymous (35)
bruce Archibald
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
gary bell
Peter bock
James burgess
Delphine castles
tom cockburn
Michael cooper
carole cullimore
carole Davidson
Howard Dirks
raymond graham
george guy
Hanson Materials limited
edward Harvey
James Douglas Helmcken
Dave Henly
Michael Holmes
richard Holmes
gord Hutchings
carl Jonsson
Milan and sharon lacika
Frank lomer
sandy Mclachlan
H edward Mclean
Mona Mosher
brett nelson
Margaret nelson
Dean nicholson
Frank ogden
Margaret ogilvie
out of the Mist gallery
nettie Pasieczka
tom Perry
bernie simpson
David starr
steve suntok
rosita Anna tovell in Memory of Freeman M tovell
south coast british columbia transportation Authority Police service
John veillette
rick Watson and Mike Watson
robert D Watt and Alison Watt
David Yuen
steve suntok fossil donor and volunteer
We wholeheartedly thank our generous donors to the collection during the past fiscal year
royalbcmuseumbcca 21
going DigitAl
Global Plants Initiativeby Dr erica Wheeler botany collections Manager collections care amp conservation
tYPe sPeciMen = the particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached
The Global Plants Initiativethe royal bc Museum has recently become a partner in the global Plants initiative (gPi) gPi is a collaborative effort among herbaria to make digital images of all botany tYPe sPeciMens available to researchers via access to a centralized repository this repository currently holds over 18 million high resolution images of tYPe sPeciMens contributed by over 270 herbaria from more than 70 countries gPi is funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation the image repository is housed and accessed electronically through (Journal storage) Jstor
the royal bc Museum herbarium houses over 80 tYPe sPeciMens that will be included in this important digitization effort
Describing and naming new species of plantsover 400000 species of plants are known to science that is to say more than 400000 species have been formally described and named by taxonomic experts Describing and naming new species is often slow and can be a complicated process A recent study reported that it takes an
average of 21 years from the date a taxonomist spots something new to science to the date the new name is officially recognized two things are required
the new name and a formal latin description must be validly published and
tYPe sPeciMens must be designated and deposited in a publicly accessible herbarium
During the time that a plant taxonomist is doing the work required to describe a new species they collect and preserve specimens for study the main goal of their study is to describe it in very precise terms in particular how does this new species differ from other related species Are the petals a different colour Are the tiny hairs on the underside of the leaves a different shape is this new species found in markedly different habitats than other closely related species
After the author has described and chosen a name for the new species tYPe sPeciMens are designated from the study material tYPe sPeciMens are the particular specimens to which the scientific name of the new species is formally attached because these are of great importance to the science of documenting biodiversity more
than one tYPe sPeciMen is often designated and these are distributed among different herbaria for safe-keeping in the event that one tYPe sPeciMen is destroyed or lost the others will still be available for study
there are at least seven categories of tYPe sPeciMens but HolotYPes and isotYPes are the most important
HolotYPe the single specimen designated by the author at the time of publication as the specimen upon which the description and name is based
isotYPe any specimen collected on the same date and from the same location as the specimen that is designated as the HolotYPe
Roemerrsquos fescuein 1983 royal bc Museum botany curator Dr leon Pavlick described and published the name of a new variety of grass commonly known as `roemerrsquos fescuersquo the scientific name for this grass is Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick names often describe a notable characteristic of a species or sometimes recognize the person who first discovered the new species roemerrsquos fescue was named after Dr Hans roemer a well-known bc botanist who made some of the early collections of this grass
22 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
in the royal bc Museum herbarium we store the HolotYPe of Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick in a special cabinet reserved for such important specimens High resolution images of this specimen and images of other tYPe sPeciMens in the botany collection will soon be available to researchers around the world via the Jstor repository Access to these images will facilitate global biodiversity research the royal bc Museum herbarium is thrilled to contribute to this effort
royalbcmuseumbcca 23
the Artists in Residence program began in september
of 2013 three artists ndash Aimee van Drimmelen lindsay Delaronde and garth gaudin ndash were selected to take part in the inaugural season of this project in addition to their involvement in events throughout the programming year every two weeks they visit different collections areas of the museum and archives the work they create chronicles both the extraordinary collections and the important work being done by staff and volunteers to maintain collections
Artists Get Inspired by the Collectionby chris orsquoconnor schools amp Family learning team lead
the artists are allowed to go behind the scenes and explore the collections Aimee dived into the botany collection which houses over 215000 specimens made up primarily of native and introduced plant species found in british columbia Most specimens are gathered pressed and affixed to cardstock that is marked with collection data for future reference the specimens are then stacked in folders bagged and stored in lockers the earliest specimen in botany is currently lichen collected in 1889
royal bc Museum volunteer Daniela toriola was helping prepare some new specimen sheets on the day the artists visited she carefully arranged the pressed plants gluing them onto the page with assorted metal weights to hold them down until they dried Daniela noted that she always tries to make the presentation as beautiful as possible it takes a lot of creativity to prepare specimens Whether itrsquos taxidermy
scientific drawings or the placement of sea creatures in a jar a lot of care is taken to make things visually appealing the preservation team takes pride in their work knowing that the collections will be looked upon for years to come
on her visit Aimee used a ldquospill saferdquo ink jar the ink mixed with water was perfect for capturing the transparency of leaves and petals and the dark curly roots she used a couple drops of water to wet her brush and introduced ink with a brush pen
Follow along with our artists and their creations on the royal bc Museum blog royalbcmuseumbccakids artists-in-residence
check out Aimeersquos personal blog featuring more entries and animations from different collection areas aimeesketchblogwordpresscom
ink drawing of liliaceae zigaderiusAimee van Drimmelenfrom the botany collection
royalbcmuseumbcca 25
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
As sharon smith noted (on the previous page) a will presents
a wonderful opportunity for you to extend your values beyond your lifetime and a meaningful way to connect past present and future generations once you have made
arrangements for your loved ones please consider the merits of making a bequest to the royal bc Museum gifts such as these are incredibly helpful in ensuring the long-term financial health of the museum and archives
For more information or to let us know that you have included us in your will please contact Jonathan Dallison at 250-387-3283 or jdallisonroyalbcmuseumbcca
Have you considered leaving a gift in your will
there are over seven million artifacts and objects in the royal
bc Museumrsquos permanent collections making it one of the largest and most impressive museum collections in the country these objects bring life to the story of british columbia in ways that enlighten stimulate and inspire Many of these items are accessioned as gifts from generous museum and archives supporters who want to
see a favourite piece often a family heirloom live on forever and impact future generations the royal bc Museum is grateful for objects that help us further our provincial mandate to advance new knowledge and understanding of british columbiarsquos natural history and human history
Acquiring a new object is just the beginning of the story through
professional conservation protection measures and display consultations our highly-skilled conservation staff ensure that each piece is properly cared for and preserved conservation efforts are at the core of the important work we do and the end result is that another integral piece of british columbiarsquos history is shared with the world
Gifts to the Collections(April 1 2013 ndash March 31 2014)
Mary Andrews
Anonymous (35)
bruce Archibald
Howard Armstrong in Memory of ronald Armstrong
gary bell
Peter bock
James burgess
Delphine castles
tom cockburn
Michael cooper
carole cullimore
carole Davidson
Howard Dirks
raymond graham
george guy
Hanson Materials limited
edward Harvey
James Douglas Helmcken
Dave Henly
Michael Holmes
richard Holmes
gord Hutchings
carl Jonsson
Milan and sharon lacika
Frank lomer
sandy Mclachlan
H edward Mclean
Mona Mosher
brett nelson
Margaret nelson
Dean nicholson
Frank ogden
Margaret ogilvie
out of the Mist gallery
nettie Pasieczka
tom Perry
bernie simpson
David starr
steve suntok
rosita Anna tovell in Memory of Freeman M tovell
south coast british columbia transportation Authority Police service
John veillette
rick Watson and Mike Watson
robert D Watt and Alison Watt
David Yuen
steve suntok fossil donor and volunteer
We wholeheartedly thank our generous donors to the collection during the past fiscal year
royalbcmuseumbcca 21
going DigitAl
Global Plants Initiativeby Dr erica Wheeler botany collections Manager collections care amp conservation
tYPe sPeciMen = the particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached
The Global Plants Initiativethe royal bc Museum has recently become a partner in the global Plants initiative (gPi) gPi is a collaborative effort among herbaria to make digital images of all botany tYPe sPeciMens available to researchers via access to a centralized repository this repository currently holds over 18 million high resolution images of tYPe sPeciMens contributed by over 270 herbaria from more than 70 countries gPi is funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation the image repository is housed and accessed electronically through (Journal storage) Jstor
the royal bc Museum herbarium houses over 80 tYPe sPeciMens that will be included in this important digitization effort
Describing and naming new species of plantsover 400000 species of plants are known to science that is to say more than 400000 species have been formally described and named by taxonomic experts Describing and naming new species is often slow and can be a complicated process A recent study reported that it takes an
average of 21 years from the date a taxonomist spots something new to science to the date the new name is officially recognized two things are required
the new name and a formal latin description must be validly published and
tYPe sPeciMens must be designated and deposited in a publicly accessible herbarium
During the time that a plant taxonomist is doing the work required to describe a new species they collect and preserve specimens for study the main goal of their study is to describe it in very precise terms in particular how does this new species differ from other related species Are the petals a different colour Are the tiny hairs on the underside of the leaves a different shape is this new species found in markedly different habitats than other closely related species
After the author has described and chosen a name for the new species tYPe sPeciMens are designated from the study material tYPe sPeciMens are the particular specimens to which the scientific name of the new species is formally attached because these are of great importance to the science of documenting biodiversity more
than one tYPe sPeciMen is often designated and these are distributed among different herbaria for safe-keeping in the event that one tYPe sPeciMen is destroyed or lost the others will still be available for study
there are at least seven categories of tYPe sPeciMens but HolotYPes and isotYPes are the most important
HolotYPe the single specimen designated by the author at the time of publication as the specimen upon which the description and name is based
isotYPe any specimen collected on the same date and from the same location as the specimen that is designated as the HolotYPe
Roemerrsquos fescuein 1983 royal bc Museum botany curator Dr leon Pavlick described and published the name of a new variety of grass commonly known as `roemerrsquos fescuersquo the scientific name for this grass is Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick names often describe a notable characteristic of a species or sometimes recognize the person who first discovered the new species roemerrsquos fescue was named after Dr Hans roemer a well-known bc botanist who made some of the early collections of this grass
22 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
in the royal bc Museum herbarium we store the HolotYPe of Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick in a special cabinet reserved for such important specimens High resolution images of this specimen and images of other tYPe sPeciMens in the botany collection will soon be available to researchers around the world via the Jstor repository Access to these images will facilitate global biodiversity research the royal bc Museum herbarium is thrilled to contribute to this effort
royalbcmuseumbcca 23
the Artists in Residence program began in september
of 2013 three artists ndash Aimee van Drimmelen lindsay Delaronde and garth gaudin ndash were selected to take part in the inaugural season of this project in addition to their involvement in events throughout the programming year every two weeks they visit different collections areas of the museum and archives the work they create chronicles both the extraordinary collections and the important work being done by staff and volunteers to maintain collections
Artists Get Inspired by the Collectionby chris orsquoconnor schools amp Family learning team lead
the artists are allowed to go behind the scenes and explore the collections Aimee dived into the botany collection which houses over 215000 specimens made up primarily of native and introduced plant species found in british columbia Most specimens are gathered pressed and affixed to cardstock that is marked with collection data for future reference the specimens are then stacked in folders bagged and stored in lockers the earliest specimen in botany is currently lichen collected in 1889
royal bc Museum volunteer Daniela toriola was helping prepare some new specimen sheets on the day the artists visited she carefully arranged the pressed plants gluing them onto the page with assorted metal weights to hold them down until they dried Daniela noted that she always tries to make the presentation as beautiful as possible it takes a lot of creativity to prepare specimens Whether itrsquos taxidermy
scientific drawings or the placement of sea creatures in a jar a lot of care is taken to make things visually appealing the preservation team takes pride in their work knowing that the collections will be looked upon for years to come
on her visit Aimee used a ldquospill saferdquo ink jar the ink mixed with water was perfect for capturing the transparency of leaves and petals and the dark curly roots she used a couple drops of water to wet her brush and introduced ink with a brush pen
Follow along with our artists and their creations on the royal bc Museum blog royalbcmuseumbccakids artists-in-residence
check out Aimeersquos personal blog featuring more entries and animations from different collection areas aimeesketchblogwordpresscom
ink drawing of liliaceae zigaderiusAimee van Drimmelenfrom the botany collection
royalbcmuseumbcca 25
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
going DigitAl
Global Plants Initiativeby Dr erica Wheeler botany collections Manager collections care amp conservation
tYPe sPeciMen = the particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached
The Global Plants Initiativethe royal bc Museum has recently become a partner in the global Plants initiative (gPi) gPi is a collaborative effort among herbaria to make digital images of all botany tYPe sPeciMens available to researchers via access to a centralized repository this repository currently holds over 18 million high resolution images of tYPe sPeciMens contributed by over 270 herbaria from more than 70 countries gPi is funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation the image repository is housed and accessed electronically through (Journal storage) Jstor
the royal bc Museum herbarium houses over 80 tYPe sPeciMens that will be included in this important digitization effort
Describing and naming new species of plantsover 400000 species of plants are known to science that is to say more than 400000 species have been formally described and named by taxonomic experts Describing and naming new species is often slow and can be a complicated process A recent study reported that it takes an
average of 21 years from the date a taxonomist spots something new to science to the date the new name is officially recognized two things are required
the new name and a formal latin description must be validly published and
tYPe sPeciMens must be designated and deposited in a publicly accessible herbarium
During the time that a plant taxonomist is doing the work required to describe a new species they collect and preserve specimens for study the main goal of their study is to describe it in very precise terms in particular how does this new species differ from other related species Are the petals a different colour Are the tiny hairs on the underside of the leaves a different shape is this new species found in markedly different habitats than other closely related species
After the author has described and chosen a name for the new species tYPe sPeciMens are designated from the study material tYPe sPeciMens are the particular specimens to which the scientific name of the new species is formally attached because these are of great importance to the science of documenting biodiversity more
than one tYPe sPeciMen is often designated and these are distributed among different herbaria for safe-keeping in the event that one tYPe sPeciMen is destroyed or lost the others will still be available for study
there are at least seven categories of tYPe sPeciMens but HolotYPes and isotYPes are the most important
HolotYPe the single specimen designated by the author at the time of publication as the specimen upon which the description and name is based
isotYPe any specimen collected on the same date and from the same location as the specimen that is designated as the HolotYPe
Roemerrsquos fescuein 1983 royal bc Museum botany curator Dr leon Pavlick described and published the name of a new variety of grass commonly known as `roemerrsquos fescuersquo the scientific name for this grass is Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick names often describe a notable characteristic of a species or sometimes recognize the person who first discovered the new species roemerrsquos fescue was named after Dr Hans roemer a well-known bc botanist who made some of the early collections of this grass
22 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
in the royal bc Museum herbarium we store the HolotYPe of Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick in a special cabinet reserved for such important specimens High resolution images of this specimen and images of other tYPe sPeciMens in the botany collection will soon be available to researchers around the world via the Jstor repository Access to these images will facilitate global biodiversity research the royal bc Museum herbarium is thrilled to contribute to this effort
royalbcmuseumbcca 23
the Artists in Residence program began in september
of 2013 three artists ndash Aimee van Drimmelen lindsay Delaronde and garth gaudin ndash were selected to take part in the inaugural season of this project in addition to their involvement in events throughout the programming year every two weeks they visit different collections areas of the museum and archives the work they create chronicles both the extraordinary collections and the important work being done by staff and volunteers to maintain collections
Artists Get Inspired by the Collectionby chris orsquoconnor schools amp Family learning team lead
the artists are allowed to go behind the scenes and explore the collections Aimee dived into the botany collection which houses over 215000 specimens made up primarily of native and introduced plant species found in british columbia Most specimens are gathered pressed and affixed to cardstock that is marked with collection data for future reference the specimens are then stacked in folders bagged and stored in lockers the earliest specimen in botany is currently lichen collected in 1889
royal bc Museum volunteer Daniela toriola was helping prepare some new specimen sheets on the day the artists visited she carefully arranged the pressed plants gluing them onto the page with assorted metal weights to hold them down until they dried Daniela noted that she always tries to make the presentation as beautiful as possible it takes a lot of creativity to prepare specimens Whether itrsquos taxidermy
scientific drawings or the placement of sea creatures in a jar a lot of care is taken to make things visually appealing the preservation team takes pride in their work knowing that the collections will be looked upon for years to come
on her visit Aimee used a ldquospill saferdquo ink jar the ink mixed with water was perfect for capturing the transparency of leaves and petals and the dark curly roots she used a couple drops of water to wet her brush and introduced ink with a brush pen
Follow along with our artists and their creations on the royal bc Museum blog royalbcmuseumbccakids artists-in-residence
check out Aimeersquos personal blog featuring more entries and animations from different collection areas aimeesketchblogwordpresscom
ink drawing of liliaceae zigaderiusAimee van Drimmelenfrom the botany collection
royalbcmuseumbcca 25
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
in the royal bc Museum herbarium we store the HolotYPe of Festuca idahoensis elmer var roemeri Pavlick in a special cabinet reserved for such important specimens High resolution images of this specimen and images of other tYPe sPeciMens in the botany collection will soon be available to researchers around the world via the Jstor repository Access to these images will facilitate global biodiversity research the royal bc Museum herbarium is thrilled to contribute to this effort
royalbcmuseumbcca 23
the Artists in Residence program began in september
of 2013 three artists ndash Aimee van Drimmelen lindsay Delaronde and garth gaudin ndash were selected to take part in the inaugural season of this project in addition to their involvement in events throughout the programming year every two weeks they visit different collections areas of the museum and archives the work they create chronicles both the extraordinary collections and the important work being done by staff and volunteers to maintain collections
Artists Get Inspired by the Collectionby chris orsquoconnor schools amp Family learning team lead
the artists are allowed to go behind the scenes and explore the collections Aimee dived into the botany collection which houses over 215000 specimens made up primarily of native and introduced plant species found in british columbia Most specimens are gathered pressed and affixed to cardstock that is marked with collection data for future reference the specimens are then stacked in folders bagged and stored in lockers the earliest specimen in botany is currently lichen collected in 1889
royal bc Museum volunteer Daniela toriola was helping prepare some new specimen sheets on the day the artists visited she carefully arranged the pressed plants gluing them onto the page with assorted metal weights to hold them down until they dried Daniela noted that she always tries to make the presentation as beautiful as possible it takes a lot of creativity to prepare specimens Whether itrsquos taxidermy
scientific drawings or the placement of sea creatures in a jar a lot of care is taken to make things visually appealing the preservation team takes pride in their work knowing that the collections will be looked upon for years to come
on her visit Aimee used a ldquospill saferdquo ink jar the ink mixed with water was perfect for capturing the transparency of leaves and petals and the dark curly roots she used a couple drops of water to wet her brush and introduced ink with a brush pen
Follow along with our artists and their creations on the royal bc Museum blog royalbcmuseumbccakids artists-in-residence
check out Aimeersquos personal blog featuring more entries and animations from different collection areas aimeesketchblogwordpresscom
ink drawing of liliaceae zigaderiusAimee van Drimmelenfrom the botany collection
royalbcmuseumbcca 25
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
the Artists in Residence program began in september
of 2013 three artists ndash Aimee van Drimmelen lindsay Delaronde and garth gaudin ndash were selected to take part in the inaugural season of this project in addition to their involvement in events throughout the programming year every two weeks they visit different collections areas of the museum and archives the work they create chronicles both the extraordinary collections and the important work being done by staff and volunteers to maintain collections
Artists Get Inspired by the Collectionby chris orsquoconnor schools amp Family learning team lead
the artists are allowed to go behind the scenes and explore the collections Aimee dived into the botany collection which houses over 215000 specimens made up primarily of native and introduced plant species found in british columbia Most specimens are gathered pressed and affixed to cardstock that is marked with collection data for future reference the specimens are then stacked in folders bagged and stored in lockers the earliest specimen in botany is currently lichen collected in 1889
royal bc Museum volunteer Daniela toriola was helping prepare some new specimen sheets on the day the artists visited she carefully arranged the pressed plants gluing them onto the page with assorted metal weights to hold them down until they dried Daniela noted that she always tries to make the presentation as beautiful as possible it takes a lot of creativity to prepare specimens Whether itrsquos taxidermy
scientific drawings or the placement of sea creatures in a jar a lot of care is taken to make things visually appealing the preservation team takes pride in their work knowing that the collections will be looked upon for years to come
on her visit Aimee used a ldquospill saferdquo ink jar the ink mixed with water was perfect for capturing the transparency of leaves and petals and the dark curly roots she used a couple drops of water to wet her brush and introduced ink with a brush pen
Follow along with our artists and their creations on the royal bc Museum blog royalbcmuseumbccakids artists-in-residence
check out Aimeersquos personal blog featuring more entries and animations from different collection areas aimeesketchblogwordpresscom
ink drawing of liliaceae zigaderiusAimee van Drimmelenfrom the botany collection
royalbcmuseumbcca 25
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
ink drawing of liliaceae zigaderiusAimee van Drimmelenfrom the botany collection
royalbcmuseumbcca 25
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
A closer looK
A Vice-Regal Mysteryby Dr lorne Hammond senior History curator amp colleen Wilson textile conservator
our story began when i was contacted by a donor who
wondered if the royal bc Museum would be interested in a donation of an unusual uniform the uniform included an ornate gold-threaded jacket and a feathered bicorn hat embroidered with the initials ldquot Mc rrdquo could this uniform have belonged to a Premier or a lieutenant-general of british columbia
Where did it come from in 1946 young ldquotuckrdquo Hutch was asked to clean out the sub-basement of an old vancouver hotel and get rid of its contents in a rusty abandoned box he found a gold sword a gold-threaded uniform and a feathered bicorn hat Fascinated he took it home and posed in it His girlfriend (who later became his wife) their friends and later tuckrsquos grandchildren wore it for costume parties
the uniform had modifications some gold brocade was cut off and changes were tried and abandoned the hatrsquos feathers proved too brittle for use in a bridersquos hair ornament and broke generations of the family posed in and loaned the garment as seen in many of the photographs the family have shared with me
From emails i studied the digital images i began investigating the mystery of whose garment it was no it was not Premier Mcbridersquos as i learned he had no middle initial
We had a real mystery i had a suspicion but no proof i explained my idea to the family and we received a wonderful and very kind donation to our collection of the uniform that the family had cherished for over half a century the family privately published a book about this story and donated a copy to us a first in my experience
research took me to a guide on londonrsquos military button makers contracts changed constantly and makers often moved but most put their name and address on the back of the ornate buttons i soon had a five year window the hat had initials they might be those of the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes (1840-1904) i checked official photographs for the embroidered chest patterns which also vary a great deal i found a possible match Digging deeper i learned that Mcinnes and his family lost almost everything when fire destroyed government House in May 1899 Accounts tell us a staff member rushed in and tossed his vice-regal uniform out a second storey window at no small risk the garment bag we had did indeed have smoke stains
born in nova scotia the Hon thomas robert Mcinnes was a Harvard educated physician who
practiced at the royal columbia Hospital in new Westminster Appointed by Prime Minister John A McDonald to the senate he later became our sixth lieutenant-governor (1897-1900) He promoted mining in Atlin but proved unpopular after removing two premiers and alienating the legislature Pressure built on him to resign but he refused the political deadlock in british columbia created a constitutional crisis in ottawa For the first time in canadian history a lieutenant-governor was removed from office with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the governor-general
the former lieutenant governor moved into a vancouver hotel and later went for a one-year Pacific cruise He returned in ill health to die in vancouver of a heart attack on
1
26 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
March 15 1904 this was very likely his uniform but was still not proven that proof came from the work of my colleague colleen Wilson our textile conservatorhellip
When Dr Hammond brought in the donation he asked whether the uniform could be reassembled for display there had been considerable cutting and cobbling at the jacket back the trousersrsquo waist was a mass of shreds the hat looked chewed and there was a box of assorted fragments of fabric and metal thread embroidery in the course of examining the materials a label was found in the trousers seam identifying the uniform as having belonged to t r Mcinnes examination also clarified that the metal thread is brass not the gold that it appears to be
the back of the jacket had been cut apart and re-sewn at a later date by someone who did not understand the original construction the two tails were of different lengths and the lining no longer covered them When the newer stitching was removed it became obvious that all the pertinent pieces were there the cut edge of the centre back embroidery fit exactly against the cut edge of the back of the jacket the lining of the tails had been folded under and when released revealed two pockets and the wonderful hand sewing of 19th century tailoring by stitching
the cut areas to black cotton it was possible to re-assemble the jacket Areas of the silk lining that had been worn to shreds were covered with fine sheer silk to protect it from further abrasion while leaving the jacketrsquos beautifully quilted interior visible for examination
the trousers too were virtually intact just the waistband lining was in shreds the oak leaf patterned metallic bands were found among the fragments and re-united with the trouser legs
the hat was missing a few critical stitches and a lot of its feathery presence careful hand stitching secured the band and upright sides ostrich feathers were dyed and curled to match the grubby yellowed remnants of the extant plumage the feather shafts were split and cut away so the new plumes could be sewn to black cotton tape this was then basted behind the original feather band on close examination it is clear what is original but the overall appearance has been returned to its initial glory
Mystery solved and thanks to the gift of our donors we now hold a fabulous and historically important garment one linked to a canadian and Provincial constitutional crisis a tragic fire and a forgotten moment in british columbiarsquos history now restored and safe within our collections
2 3
1 ldquotuckrdquo Hutch posing with the hat brim pulled down in 1947
2 the label that proved it
3 button inscribed with name and address of its maker
4 sword found with uniform4
royalbcmuseumbcca 27
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
MuSeuM HOuRS 10 am ndash 5 pm daily summer hours (May 23 ndash september 27) 10 am ndash 10 pm Friday amp saturday only
For a full listing of whatrsquos happening at the royal bc Museum pick up our 2014 Program guide at the box office or view our calendar online royalbcmuseumbccaPrograms and events subject to change see website for the latest calendarWhatrsquos on
ADult lectures amp events
Helmcken House amp St Annrsquos Schoolhouseopen for summer June 1 ndash september 2 noon ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or by donation
Vikings and CanadaJune 13 700 ndash 830 pm$16 per person 10 member discount
grant Keddie curator of Archaeology at the royal bc Museum will examine the deep history of the vikings the DnA evidence of their origins and their lives in canada
Aboriginal Cultural Festival 2014June 19 ndash 21Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate bcrsquos First nations and Meacutetis cultures through performances and events
Vikings ParTeAJuly 10Membership early bird Price $40 Register by June 27Membership regular Price $50non-Member Price $55 royal bc Museum campus in colaboration with silk road tea
Devour deletable treats while Daniela ceublic demonstrates the art of creating tea infused cocktails
Victoria International Buskers FestivalJuly 18 ndash 27Free royal bc Museum campus
celebrate the medium of chalk art featuring local and international artists
The Vikings Are HereAugust 9 amp 10 11 am ndash 4 pmincluded with admission or membership
Discover the vital role vikings played as traders seafarers and discoverers with members of the society for creative Anachronism as they recreate a viking market site
Night Shift VikingsAugust 9 8 ndash 11 pm$50 per person 10 member discount
night shift is an opportunity for adults to explore creative connections to our feature exhibition through unique displays special guests live music entertainment cash bar and food
Vikings Gallery TourAugust 21 11 ndash 1140 am amp 1 ndash 140 pmincluded with admission or membership no registration required
With over 500 artifacts vikings is one of the largest collections of viking material ever seen in north America Join Dr erin Mcguire as she focuses on some of the more important objects
eMilY cArr House207 government stopen tuesday to saturday until september 3011 am ndash 4 pm
exhibitionHundreds and Thousandsopens in August
Musical Bouquets of emilyFeathers emily Carr and the BirdsAugust 21 amp 22
emily Carr The Music of Her TimeAugust 28 amp 29
learn more online emilycarrcomevents
tHe MAritiMe MuseuM oF bc
Canadarsquos Titanic ndash The empress of IrelandApril 29 ndash october 20
Treasures from Within Sculptural Forms in Marine DesignMay 2 ndash June 30
Weird and WonderfulJune 3 5 July 24 | 12 pmJune 16 24 30 July 14 28 Aug 5 7 12 20 25 | 1pmincluded with admission
explore some of the eccentric stories about bastion square the Maritime Museum and the magical array of oddball objects contained within its walls
Women at SeaJune 18 25 July 16 27 Aug 17 27 | 1 pmJune 21 July 11 25 Aug 9 24 | 2 pmincluded with admission
Discover the myriad roles performed by women in maritime trades from piracy to commerce to the military
learn more online mmbcbccaexhibits
FeAture eXHibitions
Vikings Lives Beyond the LegendsMay 16 ndash november 21 2014
Our Living Languages First Peoplesrsquo Voices in BCopens June 21 2014
iMAX FeAtures
Now Playing
Vikings Journey to New Worlds
D-Day Normandy 1944
Great White Shark
Island of Lemurs Madagascar
For more information please visit imaxvictoriacom or phone 250-953-4629
28 Whatrsquos inSight Summer 2014
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount
Royal BC Museum Foundation Privacy Policy the personal information collected on this form is collected under the legal authority of the societies Act (rsbc 1996 c 433) and is subject to the personal information Protection Act (sbc 2003 c 63) the personal information collected will be used to updatemaintain our donor list issue tax receipts and publicly recognize your donation Personal information collected will be shared with the royal bc Museum to provide you with up to date information on current eventsexhibitions
Your support is neededAdmission fees and membership cover only 21 of the cost of caring for and sharing our collection Please consider making a donation today to help us continue our important work
New AFFINITY MembershipDeepen your connection to the museum and
archives through our new AFFinitY member program and enjoy exclusive events and privileges AFFinitY membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount Donation amounts will directly support our world-class conservation collections research and access
upgrade your membership today and support the great work we do call 250-387-3102 or email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca
Collector $350
exclusive early morning gallery viewings with coffee and newspapers
exclusive feature exhibition preview
two guest passes
tax receipt for crA approved amount
Conservator $750
collector benefits plus
exclusive tours led by a museum expert (two per year)
Guardian $1000
collector and conservator benefits plus
Four guest passes
reciprocal privileges to over 500 selected museums and art galleries across north America
eligibility to host event with appropriate rental fee
recognition on annual donor wall
Yes i would like to help support the important work of the royal bc Museum
single gift $50 $100 $250 $500 $ _________ other
cheque (made payable to royal bc Museum Foundation charitable registration number 118933241rr0001
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
Monthly gifton the 1st or 15th of each month i would like to give
$25 $50 $ _________ other
Please charge my visa Mastercard American express
creDit cArD eXPirY DAte
cArDHolDerrsquos nAMe
signAture
All gifts are eligible for a tax receipt Please send my charitable tax receipt to (Please complete in block capitals)
nAMe
ADDress
citY PostAl coDe
telePHone eMAil
nAMe For Donor recognition PurPoses
tHis giFt is MADe in Honour oF
other Ways to givei would like to learn more about leaving a gift in my will for
the royal bc Museum Foundation Please contact me to confirm that my wishes can be honoured
Thank you for supporting the Royal BC Museum Please return this form along with your donation to the royal bc Museum Foundation 675 belleville street victoria bc v8W 9W2
For more information please Phone 250-387-7222 email donateroyalbcmuseumbcca Web royalbcmuseumbccasupport
cellulose nitrate Modern plastics present new challenges to conservators as materials such as this cellulose nitrate comb can deteriorate rapidly under normal conditions sometimes plastics must be frozen to preserve them
Affinity membership dues include a membership subscription fee of $10560 and a voluntary tax-deductible donation for the remaining amount