The Readings in British Columbia collection consists of poetry readings and lectures on poetry that took place and were recorded in the province of British Columbia between 1965 and 2009.

The collection offers insight into the imprisonment of the “Sons of Freedom” between 1932 and 1934 at Piers Island Penitentiary. The “Sons of Freedom” Doukhobors began as a small, radical movement to reinvigorate the faith, restore traditional Doukhobor values, and protest the sale of land, education, citizenship and registration of vital statistics. They would achieve infamy through civil disobedience, nude marches, and burnings. In 1932, over 600 Sons of Freedom protestors were convicted of public nudity. As B.C. Penitentiary was unable to handle such a rise in inmate population, a satellite prison under the authority of B.C. Penitentiary was constructed on Piers Island to house these prisoners. The records document how the prison was set up and run and the problems that the federal prison system encountered regarding both staff and prisoners. The correspondence and telegrams shed light on the internal discussions of senior officials concerning the management of the prison and its prisoners.
Fonds consists of correspondence, memoranda, telegrams, and other textual records pertaining to the Piers Island Penitentiary created or accumulated by H. W. Cooper during his career as the warden of B.C. Penitentiaries. The fonds also contains photographs which were all taken at Piers Island. The textual records predominantly consist of letters to and from H. W. Cooper regarding the penitentiary, staff, and prisoners. The records have been arranged into the following two series: Correspondence and other documents (1932-1934); and Photographs ([between 1932 and 1934]).

Evelyn Woods was a mature student who entered the University to complete a teaching certificate. She befriended early staff members of The Peak student newspaper and often brought them cakes and other treats. In return, when she completed her studies in 1968, Peak staffers gave her a scrapbook as a souvenir.

Collection consists of one scrapbook of news clippings, and selected issues of The Tartan, SF View, The Peak and other memorabilia.

Peter Stursberg was a journalist who interviewed Pauline Jewett for his book on Lester B. Pearson. Dr. Jewett was President of SFU from 1974 to 1978. She was a former university professor and a member of Parliament.

The collection consists of 2 audio cassettes and the transcript of the interview.

This collection contains records of the British Columbia Social Credit Party, predominantly in relation to the operations of Burnaby-Edmonds constituency. The collection includes records relating to other selected ridings where by-elections took place and party wide records relating to provincial elections. A considerable amount of records relates to the Social Credit Party leadership campaigns, party annual conventions and BC Young Socred organization. The majority of records cover period between 1978 and 1996, but some records reach as far as 1950 and 2005.

The collection contains administrative and day to day operations records such as memos, correspondence, membership list, contact lists, organizational constitution and by-laws, statements, committees’ minutes, and messages. In addition, the collection contains handbooks, manuals, reports and informational booklets intended to instruct candidates and volunteers on campaigning methods and strategies. Many of these records provide insight into shaping and evolving of the policies and electoral platforms of the Social Credit Party. In addition, the collection contains provincial election and party leadership campaign managing records that include candidate profiles and lists, internal correspondence and memos, and external use records intended for the promotion of the Social Credit Party and its candidates. The collection also includes a number of newspaper clippings, party newsletters, articles, posters, photographs, campaign buttons, video and sound recordings of events and promotional material.

The collection is arranged into to eight series: 1. Assembled books; 2. Government publications; 3. General documents; 4. Newspaper clippings and party newsletters; 5. Photographs; 6. Posters; 7. Buttons; 8. Audio and video recordings.

The Pacific Socialist Education Association’s Pacific Tribune Photograph Collection comprises over 40,000 35-mm images taken for the weekly Vancouver labour newspaper Pacific Tribune. The images cover a twenty-year period, from 1972 to 1992, one of the most active periods in British Columbia’s labour history.
Included in the collection are images from some of the most tumultuous events involving British Columbia’s labour movements:

• the province-wide campaign against insurance rate increases introduced by the new Social Credit government in 1976
• the opposition to federal wage controls that culminated in a one-day national work stoppage in 1976
• the historic Solidarity movement in 1983
• labour’s campaign — that also included a one-day work stoppage in 1987 — against government legislation that severely curtailed the right to organize unions and bargain collectively

The collection is also a rich source of images from political and other social movements, including:

• rallies and campaigns for human rights
• internationally recognized Vancouver walks for peace during the mid-1980s
• anti-poverty and housing movements
• womens' rights
• First Nations' movements
• environmental campaigns

The collection consists of records associated to the Occupy Vancouver movement covering the years 2011 and 2012. It comprises records related to Occupy Vancouver Committees (General Assembly, Volunteer Coordinating Committee, Info Tent), photographs of activists and objects (teddy bear, pins, flags). The collection includes records associated with the court case between the City of Vancouver and Sean O’Flynn-Magee, Jane Doe, John Doe and other unknown persons. The records have been arranged in the following six series: Committee records (2011); Court case records (2011); Photographs and moving images (2011); Notebooks (2011); Publications (2012); Adbusters ([2011-2012]).

Collection consists of records collected by Robert McDonald while he was living and working as a journalist in Greece. The bulk of the documents and publications reflect the period from 1967 to 1974, while Robert McDonald was a correspondent for the BBC. The collection also contains background material relating to the war years 1940-45, the civil war period, the invasion of Cyprus, and restoration of Greek Democracy. These historically sensitive items document the political events of Greece in the form of personal notes, manuscripts, newspapers, magazines and interview tapes. Some highlights include: The resistance organizations' secret circulars; political prisoners' signed documents; and tapes that contain unpublished interviews with Evangelos Averoff - a key figure in the movement to overthrow the military dictatorship. Later materials include research and reports on economic subjects such as the evolution of Greek industry during the period of accession to the Eurozone and first eight years of participation, the competitiveness of the Greek economy, and materials related to Cyprus.

Sue Cox was an undergraduate student at SFU, who was a student in one of Maggie Benston's classes. The collection consists of handwritten class notes and reprints from Maggie Benston's first offering of the course, "Women, Science and Technology," (WS 204-3).

The collection consists of one file.

Collection consists of biographical information about Lorne M. Kendall and a group of his papers and lectures selected by Mary Kendall.

Collection consists of an interview (audio recording and transcript) of Dr. Kenneth Strand by Gordon Hardy.

Strand was Acting President of Simon Fraser University from August 1968 to September 1969, and was President of the University from September 8, 1969 to September 1974. Gordon Hardy is a former student of Simon Fraser University. Mr. Hardy first interviewed Dr. Strand for the "The Peak" when Dr. Strand was named Acting President in 1968. The present interview was conducted in 1977 for the SFU Alumni Magazine, "Afterthoughts."

The interview is on Side A of the cassette tape. It is approximately 45 minutes long. Unfortunately the interview ends rather abruptly in mid-sentence, because the tape ended. Side B of the tape contains a short (about 10 minutes) interview of Gordon Hardy by the Library Assistant for Archives. This interview provides some background on Mr. Hardy's interview with Dr. Strand. Both interviews were conducted in offices, and consequently the background noise and interruptions detract from the interview.

The transcript of the interview is available.

This collection consists of 15 photographs, as well as a postcard. Subject matter is pertaining to Japanese Canadians in the decades leading up to, and including, the Second World War. Content has been divided into 2 identifiable series: Photographs (ca.1925-1945?) and Correspondence (1908).

Covering the time period from February 1942 to November 1943, the collection consists of records created or received by various staff of the Department of Mines and Resources, Surveys and Engineering Branch in the course of their activities establishing, administering and operating road work camps for evacuated male Japanese Canadian nationals along the proposed route of the Yellowhead Highway between Blue River, British Columbia and Jasper, Alberta. Also included among the files are some records of Department of Public Works staff pertaining to their role in the establishment of the camps, as well as a significant amount of correspondence with the British Columbia Security Commission (B.C.S.C) and related records. In addition to documenting the evacuation of Japanese Canadians from the B.C. coast to interior road work camps and other areas in early 1942, and many of the activities and events that occurred in the camps, the records also provide evidence of the economic and labour conditions in British Columbia during World War II.

Records within the collection pertain to the following road work camps: Albreda, Black Spur, Blacks Spit, Blue River, Gosnell, Grantbrook, Lampriere, Lucerne, Pratt, Pyramid, Rainbow, Red Pass, Red Sands, Tete Jaune / Yellowhead, and Thunder River in British Columbia, and Geikie, Jasper and Decoigne in Alberta. In addition, some records reference detention camps at Greenwood, Kaslo, Lemon Creek, New Denver, Roseberry, Sandon, and Slocan.

Record types include correspondence, reports, lists, nominal rolls, bills of lading, invoices, operational memos, purchase orders, and balance sheets. A significant number of records relate to the establishment and ongoing supply of the road work camps; these include supply orders and invoices, architectural plans for camp buildings, and status and other reports concerning the preparation of camps. Administrative personnel records document the hiring, management and activities of non-Japanese Canadian road camp workers, such as foremen, sub-foremen, and carpenters, and include information pertaining to the previous work and life experiences of these men, their age, ‘character,’ medical conditions, and home address, as well as positions and wages expected and received.

Many records within the fonds relate to the management of Japanese Canadian road camp workers, including the administration of pay, Workmens’ Compensation claims, and payment of assignment fees for dependents; medical and perceived psychological issues and the treatment of such issues; and the movement of Japanese Canadian men between camps and the policies and procedures governing these movements. This includes records pertaining to the granting of temporary leave, transfer to other camps or areas, family re-unification, the release of workers to private jobs, either within B.C. or in another province such as Ontario or Alberta, and the attitudes of certain communities towards Japanese Canadians. Correspondence in several files relates to supervisors’ attitudes towards road camp workers, including those identified as agitators or troublesome, and the methods used to deal with them, such as transfer out of camp and the censorship of Japanese Canadian mail. Included also are records relating to the organization and collective resistance of Japanese Canadian road camp workers, their demands, complaints and refusals to work, and the techniques identified to deal with these situations.

Several files include nominal roles and other lists of Japanese Canadian and other road camp workers, including some or all of the following personal information: name, registration number, occupation, previous work experience, age, place of birth, address, marital status, number of dependents, ‘physical defects’ and medical, dental or mental health issues. Some correspondence from Japanese Canadian road camp workers to camp administrators provides insight into their lives both in camp and prior to evacuation.

The Indo-Canadian Oral History Collection documents the histories of immigrants from the Punjab Province of India who came to Canada between 1912 and 1938. The project was initiated by Hari Sharma, Professor of Sociology at SFU, who conducted the interviews with the assistance of a graduate student.

The interview subjects, primarily Sikhs, discuss such topics as why they came to Canada, the journey to Canada, adjustment to Canadian society upon arrival, employment in Canada, family life, and their ongoing links with their country of origin. Appendices include an interview guide prepared by Hari Sharma and an article about the project.

From 1979-1981 the University Archives collected historical information on the Indo-Canadian Community in British Columbia with a view towards acquiring records in this area. The Archives prepared a bibliography, and made copies of relevant material. According to Professor Hugh Johnston, the collection contains a fairly complete set of all articles written up to 1980 about Indo-Canadians in BC. The Archives also acquired some photographs from the community. Since the conclusion of the project, the Archives has shifted its primary acquisition focus away from ethnic collections.

Collection consists of photocopied magazine articles, theses, books, reports, newspaper clippings and other secondary sources about Indo-Canadians. The information is primarily about the Sikh community, but there is also some material on Hindu immigrants. There is one file of photographic prints and negatives.

Collection also contains one file of correspondence with Ray Hundle, who corresponded with the University Archives regarding his research on the possible establishment of a Sikh temple in Golden, BC in 1880.

Material is in Punjabi and English.

Journalist Peter Stursberg interviewed Hugh Keenleyside as part of an oral history project for the Parliamentary Library and the National Archives of Canada. Dr. Keenleyside was a former chair of the B.C. Power Commission and played an important role in the development of hydroelectric power in B.C.

The collection consists of three files containing the complete transcripts of two interviews.

Collection consists of research material gathered by Johnston for his book "The Voyage of the Komagata Maru: The Sikh Challenge to Canada's Colour Bar" (1979; 1989) and subsequent articles and books about Sikhs in Canada, including (with Tara Singh Bains) "The Four Quarters of the Night: The Life-Journey of an Emigrant Sikh" (1995) and "Jewels of the Qila: The Remarkable Story of an Indo-Canadian Family" (2011). Records in the collection are primarily of photocopied and microfilmed material from archival material held by institutions, newspapers and journals, and notes and drafts.

Collection is divided into the following eleven series: Articles (1988–2016); "The voyage of the Komagata Maru" draft manuscripts (1977–1978); Finding aids, bibliography and essays on sources (1975–1991); Archival documents and research notes ([197-–before 2011]); Official sources files ([1975–after 1996]); Biographical and autobiographical sources files ([197-–198-?]); Individual files (1988–1993); Research studies files ([ca. 1980]–1988); Scholarly articles ([197-]–2000); Periodicals and pamphlets ([198-?]–2014); and Newspaper clippings ([197-]–2014).

Collection is comprised primarily of interview material in the form of audio and video tapes, transcripts and notes. The material provides both a broad biographical overview of the life and achievements of Gordon Shrum and a description of his work at SFU in particular. The collection includes a copy of Shrum's doctoral thesis and a scrapbook that was given to Gordon Shrum in 1983.

Collection includes textual records, photographs, audio cassettes, audio reels, U-matic video tapes, and VHS video tapes.

Collection consists of records created or accumulated by Roger Stonebanks over the course of, and following, his research for the book “Fighting for Dignity: The Ginger Goodwin Story,” published in 2004, as well as for numerous newspaper articles about Goodwin, mining, and labour history in British Columbia. Records include interview notes, correspondence, photographs and other graphic material, audio cassette tapes containing interview recordings and radio broadcasts, research records from various sources, and Stonebanks’ notes about sources consulted. Research records are primarily reproductions from sources such as museums and archives, and include records such as birth, death and marriage certificates, photographs, and newspaper articles. Some records date past 2004, after the publication of Stonebanks’ books, and thus were not used as research sources. The collection also contains various articles reviewing and publicizing Stonebanks’ book.

Collection has been arranged into the following four series: Correspondence (1985-2004); Subject files (1908-2011); General clippings and publicity (1990-2010); and Photographs (1909-2004).

This collection consists of pen and brush drawings based on the flora (fungi, wildflowers, trees) and fauna (butterflies, owls, foxes, birds, and insects) of British Columbia. The representations are from different locations in B.C.: Bridge River, Williams Lake, Manning Park, and Vancouver. The records have been arranged in the following five series: Wildflowers of British Columbia: Bridge River (1959); Wildflowers of British Columbia: Williams Lake (1959); Wildflowers of British Columbia: Manning Park (1959); Wildflowers of British Columbia: Vancouver (1959); and Wildflowers of British Columbia: General (1959).

Collection consists of records such as press releases and publications that document activities of the Gay Alliance Toward Equality (GATE). It includes copies and drafts of A Guide for the Naive Homosexual (called the "Blurb"). The collection also includes photographs of various GATE boycotts or protests and personal photographs of Roedy Green, some of which include members of GATE.

Collection consists of 16 mm film, transcripts, master audio recordings and audio cassettes. These records form part of the production elements used by Stanley Fox and Aquarian Productions to produce Series Two of Gestalt Sessions with Fritz Perls, filmed in 1969 and edited in 1972. Films are introduced by Dr. Karl. E. Humiston, and record psychotherapy sessions between Perls and volunteer patients that took place over five days and 55 hours in 1969.

Collection consists of biographical information on the Palmers including an article from SFU Comment magazine; a binder (refiled in folders) on the history of the Department of Chemistry prepared by Evelyn T. Palmer; a group of files about the Albert Einstein Memorial Lecture Series (files F-182-0-0-0-4 to F-182-0-0-0-25 ) as well as reel-to-reel tapes and cassette recordings of the lectures; and a binder (refiled in folders) on various Faculty of Science lecture series organized by the Palmers. Collection includes correspondence, programs, posters, publications and other documents.

Collection consists of diaries, photographs, a passport, correspondence and an award issued to Allan Grant from the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool in 1974.

The collection consists of 115 handbills, and 78 posters (including 5 manuscript posters) collected by Robin Mathews in Paris during the student rebellion and general strike of May 1968.

The collection consists of photographic images and printed materials relating to the life and death of E. Pauline Johnson. Some of the material is associated with her sister, Evelyn Johnson, but the provenance and nature of compilation is largely unknown.

The collection consists of agendas and minutes from the Women's Studies Coordinating Committee and the Women's Studies Graduate Committee. The collection also includes a proposal for a minor in Women's Studies and a correspondence file that contains letters exchanged between Lolita Wilson, Assistant to the Vice-President, Academic and the Committee on the Status of Women of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC). The latter file also contains a copy of Wilson's 1972 report, "Women at Simon Fraser University."

The Political Science, Sociology and Anthropology (PSA) Department was established in 1965 as one of the original departments at SFU. It marked a significant academic innovation in that it united three separate disciplines under one head—the distinguished Marxist scholar Tom Bottomore. By the late 1960s, Bottomore had returned to England, and the department entered a period of scholarly and administrative turmoil. The crisis culminated in the Department being placed under trusteeship by the University administration and eight faculty members going on strike.

The collection consists of various files collected over the years by the staff of the University Archives to assist history students and other researchers. Includes press releases, reports, publications and other documents.

Norman Swartz joined the Department of Philosophy at SFU in 1967 and retired as Professor Emeritus in 1998.

During Swartz's early years at SFU, the Political Science, Sociology and Anthropology Department was in academic and administrative turmoil, which culminated in the Department being placed under trusteeship by the University administration and eight faculty members going on strike.

Various faculty members, administrators and students produced documents to support their points of view during the PSA crisis. As he explained in his autobiographical notes, Swartz collected all of the PSA material that circulated around the University and that reached his desk from 1969 to 1970. Collection includes correspondence, memoranda, newspaper clippings and other documents related to the ongoing events in the PSA Department at this time.