Kamloops Museum and Archives Willson E. Knowlton fonds 1973.012, 1983.039 Compiled by Jaimie Fedorak, January 2018 Revised by Jaimie Fedorak, July 2018 Kamloops Museum and Archives 2018
Title: Willson E. Knowlton fonds Dates of Creation: Physical Description: 1.08 meters of textual records, 2 cm of cartographic materials, ca. 5 b&w photos. Administrative History: Willson E. Knowlton was an optometrist from Ontario, who lived in British Columbia, the Yukon, and Alaska. Knowlton was involved in many community groups, notably the Kamloops Little Theatre Company and the Kamloops Museum Association, and was an avid historian. Knowlton died in 1982. Scope and Content: Fonds consists of the books and personal papers of Willson E. Knowlton, which includes papers related to his optometry practice, administrative papers of the Kamloops Little Theatre Company and general theatre materials, administrative papers of the Kamloops Museum Association, Knowlton s personal research on various topics, and maps. Custodial History Accession 1973.012 was donated to the Kamloops Museum and Archives on January 22, 1973 by Dr. W.E. Knowlton and was initially placed in the Map. Accession 1983.039 was donated to the Kamloops Museum and Archives by Mrs. Grace Swarson, the sister of W.E. Knowlton, in March 1983. 2
Notes: Source of supplied title: Title based on contents of fonds. Arrangement: When this collection was acquired by the KMA, books, pamphlets, and maps were removed from the collection and filed in subject files, the rare books collection, and the Map. Some additional arrangement was performed circa 2011 to arrange the collection into series based on logical subject areas, with final arrangement completed in 2017. Within this series level arrangement, the original order of the fonds has been maintained by the archivist. Treatment: Materials from the following Kamloops Little Theatre Company series files were removed from binders: 1983.039.042.002, 1983.039.042.003, 1983.039.042.004, 1983.039.042.005. Access restrictions: Access to Optometry series file 3 Patient Files is restricted, on the basis that these records contain Personal Health Information. All other files are open. The archivist reserves the right to restrict access to any fragile material for preservation purposes. Terms governing use and reproduction: No reproduction permitted without consent of copyright holder. It is the researcher's responsibility to obtain permission for the reproduction of materials for publication or dissemination. Finding aids: File list is available for this collection. Accruals: No further accruals are expected. Related Materials: See Map for additional materials donated with accession 1973.012 (M-885, M-887, M-965). 3
Series 1: Books and Pamphlets 1858-1967. 20 cm of textual records. Scope and Content: Series contains Knowlton s reference collection of published materials relating to British Columbia and Kamloops-area history. Accession Description Dates Location 1983.039.001 Folklore of the Far West with some clues to Characteristics 1933 Rare Book and Customs by Alice Ravenhill 1983.039.002 Chinook Rudiments (from Kamloops Wawa) May 3, 1924 1 1983.039.003 Studies on Shuswap 1925 1 1983.039.004 What Shall I do to Possess Life Everlasting? By Father Le Jeune 1983.039.005 Dictionary of the Chinook Jargon compiled by Frederic J. Long 1983.039.006 Papers Connected with the Indian Land Question 1850-1875 1983.039.007 The Year Book of British Columbia 1879 by R.R. Goshell 1983.039.008 Proceedings, Reports and Evidence of House Committee on Inquiry into Claims of the Allied Indian Tribes of British Columbia 1983.039.009 Art Historical and Scientific Association Session 1907-1908 historical papers 1983.039.010 Fruit Farming on the Dry Belt of B.C. by J.S. Redmayne 1983.039.011 Potlash 63 North Kamloops Secondary School Yearbook 1909 Rare Book 1875 Rare Book 1897 Rare Book 1926-1927 Rare Book 1 1907-1908 Reading 1910 Rare Book 1963 Rare Book 4
1983.039.012 John McLoughlin, Patriarch of the Northwest by R.C. NL Johnson 1983.039.013 B.C. and Vancouver s Island by W.C. Hazlett 1858 NL 1983.039.014 Nkwala by Edith Lambert Sharp 1958 Reading 1983.039.015 First Victoria Directory and BC Guide 1874 Rare Book 1983.039.016 A Net of Naturalists by Ruth Chambers NL 1983.039.017 Blazing the Trail Through the Rockies by Noel Robinson Reading 1983.039.018 Resorts in the Canadian Rockies C.P.R. 1929 Rare Book 1983.039.019 Golden Memories 1958 NL 1983.039.020 Ranald MacDonald, Adventurer by M. Leona Nichols 1940 Reading 1983.039.021 The Valley of Youth by Charles W. Holliday NL 1983.039.022 The Yearbook of British Columbia 1911-1914 by R.E. Gosnell 1911 Reading 1983.039.023 A Bit Of Okanagan History by D.H. Gellatly NL 1983.039.024 C.P.R. and Northwest Lands Startling Facts by C. Horetzky 1983.039.025 C.P.R. Report of Progress, January 1874 by Sanford Fleming NL 1874 NL 1983.039.026 Report C.P.R. 1877 by Sanford Fleming 1877 NL 1983.039.027 Archaeological from the Southern Interior of British Columbia by Harlan I. Smith 1913 Reading 1983.039.028 The Newspapering Murrays by Georgina Keddell 1967 Reading 5
1983.039.029 The B.C. Outlaws by F.W. Lindsay 1964 Reading 1983.039.030 Gold, Gold in Cariboo by Clive Phillips-Wolley NL 1983.039.031 Vancouver Island and British Columbia by Alexander Rattray 1862 Rare Book 1983.039.032 The Western Avernus by Morley Roberts 1896 Reading 1983.039.033 The Selkirk Range British Columbia Vol. 1 by A.G. Wheeler 1983.039.034 The Selkirk Range British Columbia Vol. 2 by A.G. Wheeler 1983.039.035 Tales of the British Columbia Frontier by William Ward Spinks 1905 Reading 1905 NL 1933 Reading 1983.039.036 On the Cars and Off by Douglas Sladen 1894 Rare Book 1983.039.037 Rossland, the Golden City by L.H. Whittaker 1949 NL 1983.039.038 The Rocks and Rivers of BC by W.M. Moberly 1949 Rare Book 1983.039.039 The Great Northwest by Oscar Osburn Winther 1955 Reading 1983.039.040 Thompson River Indian Traditions by James Teit 1898 Reading 1983.039.041 Handbook of BC 1911 Rare Book 6
Series 2: Kamloops Little Theatre Company 1931-1968. 20 cm of textual records. Scope and Content: Series contains administrative records of the Kamloops Little Theatre Company, including correspondence, season programming notes, meeting minutes, and pamphlets, programs, and brochures from the company s theatrical productions. Series also includes Knowlton s personal correspondence with the actor Boris Karloff and pamphlets and brochures from a variety of other performing arts companies. Accession Description Dates Location 1983.039.042.001 Little Theatre Association Meeting Minutes 1932-1938 1/1 1983.039.042.002 Minutes 1932-1938; Correspondence 1932-1943 1932-1943 1/2 1983.039.042.003 Programs 1965 1/3 1983.039.042.004 Kamloops Little Theatre Minutes 1938-1951 1/4 1983.039.042.005 Kamloops Little Theatre Assn. Season 1944-1945 1983.039.042.006 Theatre Materials Misc. [includes pamphlets, programs, and correspondence] 1983.039.042.007 Boris Karloff [includes clippings and correspondence] 1944-1945 1/5 1931-1958 1/6 1960-1968 1/7 7
Series 3: Optometry Practice [ca. 1930s]-1980 12 cm of textual records. Scope and Content: Series contains records from Willson E. Knowlton s optometry practice and includes clippings, correspondence, optometry product advertisements and information, and patient records. Accession Description Dates Location 1983.039.043.001 Optometry General [includes annual meeting notes of the British Columbia Optometry Association, issues of the Optometric Weekly, optometry measurement guides, correspondence, clippings, and lecture notes] [ca. 1930s- 1950s] 1/8 1983.039.043.002 General Practice Articles 1950-1954 1/9 1983.039.043.003 Patient Files (restricted until 2050) [ca. 1930s]- 1950 1/10 1983.039.043.004 Alaska and Yukon [includes clippings, correspondence, and optometry supplies ads] 1983.039.043.005 Yukon Territory [includes draft of proposed Optometry Ordinance, correspondence with G.A. Jeckell controller, correspondence re: Canadian Association of Optometrists 1948, cell of Optometrists of Ontario Alumni Constitution and Bylaws 1980, British Columbia Association of Optometrists minutes 1949-1950] 1940-1957 1/11 1944-1980 1/12 1983.039.043.006 Catalogue Order Correspondence 1960 1/13 1983.039.043.007 Misc. [includes clippings, correspondence, and Kami-Overlander Days 1972 brochure] 1960-1972 1/14 8
Series 4: Kamloops Museum Association & Personal Research 1898-[ca. 1980] 56 cm of textual records, cartographic material, and photographs. Scope and Content: Series contains records related to Willson E. Knowlton s involvement with the Kamloops Museum Association, and his personal research files related to the history of British Columbia and the Kamloops-area. Accession Description Dates Location 1983.039.044.001 History of Vancouver Exhibition Association by J.J. Miller [includes clippings and correspondence] 1908-1933 2/1 1983.039.044.002 B.C. History Maritime [includes clippings, correspondence, and brochures] 1983.039.044.003 Correspondence Norman Hacking [includes correspondence and publication Steamboat Days] 1983.039.044.004 Notes on the Cosmogony and History of the Squamish Indians of British Columbia by C. Hill-Tout 1983.039.044.005 NSBC (forestry, etc) [includes clippings, correspondence, and publications from the Province of BC Forest Branch] 1959-1975 2/2 1955 2/3 1897 2/4 1928-1954 2/5 1983.039.044.006 W.E.K. Library #2 [includes clippings, correspondence, and invoices] 1983.039.044.007 W.E.K. Library #1 [includes clippings, correspondence, and invoices] [ca. 1958-1972] 1943-[ca. 1958] 2/6 2/7 1983.039.044.008 Kamloops Indian Days (1 st ) June 23, 24, 1961 1961 2/8 1983.039.044.009 BC History [includes biographies, personal references, and events] December 1, 1963 2/9 1983.039.044.010 Agriculture (BC) for John Jex Woods, M.S.A. [includes correspondence and research notes] 1960, 1962 2/10 9
1983.039.044.011 Native Sons of British Columbia [includes 1936-1958 2/11 correspondence, clippings, postcards, membership forms, and social event programs and brochures] 1983.039.044.012 Misc. Correspondence and Clippings [ca. 1960s] 2/12 1983.039.044.013 Local Histories Geographic and Place Names [includes clippings and essays] 1983.039.044.014 Adelphi Vict. April 1962 [includes history brochures, clippings, and correspondence] March 1962 2/13 April 1962 2/14 1983.039.044.015 Canadian Pacific Steamers Dec 1972 [includes 5 booklets published by the Vancouver Archives 1968 and clippings] 1968- December 1972 2/15 1983.039.044.016 Edith Josie (exerpts from Star) 1964-1965 2/16 1983.039.044.017 Kamloops Museum [includes clippings, display plans, list of keyholders, correspondence, budget report, The Future of the Kamloops Museum, and president s report] [ca. 1960-1980] 3/1 1983.039.044.018 Misc. Clippings 3/2 1983.039.044.019 Misc. Correspondence and Clippings 3/3 1983.039.044.020 Misc. Clippings 3/4 1983.039.044.021 Museum and Archives Methods 1960, 1973 3/5 1983.039.044.022 Notebook [includes clippings, research notes, and meeting notes] 1976 3/6 1983.039.044.023 Overlander s of 62 1970 3/7 1983.039.044.024 John Tait s Letters 1872-80 re: C.P.R. Survey 1972-1973 3/8 1983.039.044.025 Alfred Waddington and the Bute Inlet Route 1862 3/9 1983.039.044.026 Ranald MacDonald 1963-1965 3/10 1983.039.044.027 Seymour Arm 1960 3/11 1983.039.044.028 Kamloops Museum Association Constitution 1962-1975 3/12 10
1983.039.044.029 Mt. Baker 1969-1975 3/13 1983.039.044.030 History of Whatcom Country 3/14 1983.039.044.031 Kamloops Lumber Company [includes signature of Stanley G. Vladcote] 1983.039.044.032 The Burning Bush in the Sagebrush Hills by St. Andrews Presbyterian Church 1906-1970 3/15 1962 3/16 1983.039.044.033 Name the Subdivision Contest Sahali 1959 3/17 1983.039.044.034 Papers Relating to Victoria Area 1858-1875 from the Victoria City Archives 1983.039.044.035 Willson Knowlton Papers List: BC 1858-c. 1875 3/18 1974 4/1 1983.039.044.036 Pacific Coast Salmon Uncorhynchus. Obtained from Dept. of Fishers, Kamloops Office September 1978 4/2 1983.039.044.037 History of the Vancouver Yukoners Association 1974 4/3 1983.039.044.038 Geological Survey of Canada [map] 1898 4/4 1983.039.044.039 A Historical Sketch [includes b&w photos of Dawson area and notes] March 23, 1966 4/5 1983.039.044.040 Yukon Riverboats 1974 4/6 1983.039.044.041 Kamloops Museum [includes constitution, correspondence, and clippings] 1983.039.044.042 Chinese Business Papers [includes correspondence and photocopies] 1983.039.044.043 Native Indians Distribution of Ethnic Groups [map] 1976-1977 4/7 1980 4/8 1956 4/9 1983.039.044.044 Afton Mines Production Brochure October 1975 4/10 1983.039.044.045 Knowlton Falls Robson River, Mount Robson Provincial Park [includes map and correspondence] 1974 4/11 11
1983.039.044.046 Alaska and Yukon 4/12 Series 5: Walter Moberly Research 1959-1974 12 cm of textual records and cartographic material. Scope and Content: Series contains records related to Willson E. Knowlton s research on Walter Moberly. Accession Description Dates Location 1983.039.045.001 Walter Moberly [includes correspondence, clippings, research notes, and Eagle Pass research] 1960-1972 5/1 1983.039.045.002 Walter Moberly [includes clippings and correspondence] 1983.039.045.003 Walter Moberly Correspondence [includes copies from Vancouver City Archives] 1983.039.045.004 Walter Moberly [includes correspondence and clippings] 1983.039.045.005 Walter Moberly [includes correspondence and clippings] 1983.039.045.006 W. Moberly [includes correspondence with Provincial Archives of British Columbia] 1960-1964 5/2 5/3 1960 5/4 1960-1962 5/5 1968-1969 5/6 1983.039.045.007 Walter Moberly Bibliography by W. Knowlton 1962 5/7 1983.039.045.008 Walter Moberly [includes photocopies of articles] 1983.039.045.009 Walter Moberly [includes correspondence and clippings] 1983.039.045.010 W. Moberly [includes Early History of C.P.R. Road by W. Moberly, Report on Roads of B.C., Moberly: Forgotten Pioneer by Ray Atkinson] 5/8 1959-1960 5/9 1961 5/10 1983.039.045.011 W. Moberly: Letter, etc re: Marriage 1969 5/11 12
1983.039.045.012 Walter Moberly Report of the C.P.R. Royal 5/12 Commission 1983.039.045.013 Name the Bridge Contest Overlanders 1959 5/13 1983.039.045.014 Dr. J.S. Helmcken Reminiscences 5/14 1983.039.045.015 W. Moberly Diary Notes 1871 5/15 1983.039.045.016 W. Moberly Letters 1862-63 re: Cariboo Road Contract 1983.039.045.017 Walter Moberly School (Vancouver, B.C.) Ray J. Atkinson 1983.039.045.018 Walter Moberly [includes copies of materials from Provincial Archives of British Columbia] 1983.039.045.019 Walter Moberly [includes correspondence with City of Vancouver] 5/16 1963 5/17 5/18 5/19 1983.039.045.020 W. Moberly Papers 1865-66 5/20 1983.039.045.021 Walter Moberly [includes correspondence and clippings] 1983.039.045.022 Walter Moberly [includes correspondence and clippings] 1983.039.045.023 Walter Moberly [includes correspondence, clippings, and map of Columbia River District] 1983.039.045.024 Walter Moberly [includes correspondence, clippings, and pamphlet] 1983.039.045.025 Walter Moberly [includes correspondence, clippings, and research notes] 1954-1969 5/21 1961-1965 5/22 1962-1963 5/23 1961-1974 5/24 1960-1964 5/25 13
Series 6: Maps [ca. 1900s]-1924. 3 maps Scope and Content: Series contains W.E. Knowlton s map collection. Accession Description Dates Location 1973.012.001; Pennask Lake / B.C. Game Department, Fish [ca. 1900s] Map M-965 Research Group 1973.012.004; M-885 Pre-Emptor s Map, Lillooet Sheet / British Columbia, Department of Lands May 1, 1924 Map 1973.012.005; M-887 Pre-Emptor s Map, North Thompson Sheet / British Columbia, Department of Lands June 30, 1921 Map 14