Finding biographical information

Welcome to Island Neighbours: - stories of island history, people, activities and events. To share an item, telephone 604-947-2440 or e-mail to lbmcarter@shaw.ca.

Bowen’s Community Museum and Archives collection has many useful resources. Among them are a number of biographical materials which have been used to address all sort of information challenges or answer family queries. There are a number of ways to locate biographical information. There are two computerized databases - one for biographical information and one for  photographs. Then there are many boxes of hard copy folders containing clippings, notes, etc. relating to individuals or families. Among other approaches to biographical information are telephone books going back to 1957. Probably the most humble and intriguing resource is the obituary file. This one is not yet computerized so researchers have the pleasure of poring through actual file cards housing obituary notices found in local newspapers or celebration leaflets shared by family members. Sometimes someone will bring in a yellowed newspaper obituary with information to be added to the appropriate file. The obituary listings began in 1975 when the Undercurrent was very new. Two historians devoted untold hours checking every Undercurrent issue and establishing a basic alphabetical index. That was then. In recent years, an archive volunteer has maintained an old-fashioned card file. Each card has an obituary notice clipped to it along with occasional notes made by the volunteer. In the last ten years or so, the deaths of each year are also listed in an easy access binder. The card files often provide useful details for the biographical database.

Here are the names of the thirty-five friends who no longer enrich our lives. They were  part of many  Bowen organizations. There are newcomers and members of old families. There are academics and trades people, many Scots and a number of Americans. They’ve contributed by political activities, with their music and with their problem-solving talents. They will be missed and remembered. Here they are: Stuart Allen, Ann Angus, Bob Babcock, Jan Bakker, John Bottomley, Michael Buchanan, Geoffrey Burnett, Rod Clark, Al Davidson, Peter Dean, Alastair Dickenson, Sylvie Deselliers, Jan Furst,  Michael Haggerty, Bill Hawker, Georg Helenius, Carol Hussy, Audrey Hutton, Olive Johnson, Ross Johnson, Charlie MacNeill, Bruce McLeod, Joan McNeill, Ailsa Milligan, Doug Mitchell, Doreen Pryce-Jones. Jim RobInson, Susan Roote, Muriel Ross, Ken Shirley, Mallory Smith, Sheila Tripp, John Wightman, Audrey Woodley and Aird Worsley.

• Ten Years Ago in the Undercurrents of January 18 and January 25, 2002 • The RCMP reported that icy roads were causing havoc but there had been no serious injuries. • With renovations complete, Bowen’s public library had just moved into its beautiful home in the Union Steamship  Company Store. With help of 30 volunteers, the library was moved in less than four hours. Board and staff appreciated the $20,000 gift of maple shelving donated by the West Vancouver Library. • Island Classical Concerts Spring Festival and Music Workshop was planning a full three days of workshops and adjudications with a fine lineup of instructors.

• Birthdays: January 28 through February 10: The January 28 birthdays belong to Farrell MacNeill, Libby Osler and Dan Parkin.  January 29 is birthday time for Ellen Godfrey, James Godfrey and Karen Fulton. January 30 is celebration time for Elizabeth Brumfield, Katy Michener, Sammantha Carter and Nick McKnight. Lastly, George Burley and Joe Wansbrough have January 31 birthdays, February 1 is the birthday of Davin Killy and then February 2 is celebrated by Martin Clarke and Damian Leverton. February 3 is a popular date: there’s Chris Schneider, Christine Miller, Fred Howarth, Calum Cole, Nicholas Watkins and Jaime Boddy. February 4 celebrants are Brittni Dominelli, Michael Slade and Isaac Bailey. Chris Wilson will celebrate February 5. He’s followed by the February 6 birthdays folks who include Peter Goumeniouk, Sierra Massey, Per Thomas Parker-Vik, Julie Ovenell-Carter, Ginny Grierson, Lynn Barr and Susanna Braund. On February 7, we have Catherine Patterson, Jacqueline Massey, Thomas Nesbitt, Chelsea Pollock, Eric Harwood Davies and Lucas Sutherland. Come February 8, there’s Gordon Craig, Andrew Gourlay, Angelyn Toth and Wilf Schwartz. February 9 has two birthday folks: Benjamin Ross and Anya Reid. Last birthdays are those of Barbara Weismiller, Noah Leverton, Brynn Matthews, Russell Copley and Peter Dives.

The Last Word: Valentine Day is coming soon!