Documents and Diaries

Primary Documents

• Letter from King George to Ellanore Parker, 1918
  This is a letter from George V, King of England, thanking Ellanore Parker for her faithful service to her country. A letter from the King boosted morale, and reminded Canadians who served of the strong bonds between Britain and Canada. The letter reads:  The Queen and I wish you God-speed, a safe return to the happiness and joy of home life with an early restoration to health. A grateful Mother Country thanks you for faithful services.

  Inventory Number: MS-1895, Box 3, file 2

  Collection Link: https://search-bcarchives.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/personal-papers-of-ellanore-parker-and-murney-pugh
• Frank Swannell Diary
  Frank Swannell Diary Entry from the Battle of Festubert May 1915.

  Inventory Number: MS-0392, Box 1, Volume 4, pages 78

  Collection Link: https://search-bcarchives.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/diary-and-folder-of-loose-diary-pages-and-correspondence-removed-from-diary
• Swannell Diary Image
  Inventory Number: MS-0392, Box 1, Volume 4, pages 28

  Collection Link: https://search-bcarchives.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/diary-and-folder-of-loose-diary-pages-and-correspondence-removed-from-diary?_ga=2.204399765.4086385.1591717651-1806730931.1586987567

From the Royal BC Museum

• Canadian Women at War

Curator of History Dr. Lorne Hammond writes about women in the First World War, including nurses Ellanore Parker and Murney Pugh. For more about them see look.

Where to Begin Your Own Research

• Transcribe

Transcribe gives you the opportunity to make the Royal BC Museum’s collections more accessible, all from the comfort of your home! Our first community transcription project is diaries and letters from the First World War, written by British Columbians.  The transcriptions you create will become searchable data, facilitating learning and research around the world.

• BC Archives Page

The BC Archives contains government and private records that are of enduring value to the province of British Columbia.  New information is continually being added, including some digital copies of records, giving ever-growing access to the archival materials.

Watch these helpful instructional videos on how to search the BC Archives:

How-to: BC Archives Genealogy Search. Learn how to find records on births, deaths, marriages or baptisms in BC.

How-to: BC Archives Collections Search. Learn how to find any documents aside from those used in the genealogy search, including maps, photographs, textual records, moving images or audio recordings.

• Finding Family

Was someone in your own family involved in the First World War? Visit the Finding Family pathway on the Learning Portal for more about using primary documents when doing family history research (genealogy) .

Outside Links

These links will take you away from the Learning Portal. Come back soon!

• Canadian War Museum: Canada and the First World War

Check out objects and photographs from the First World War on this excellent website.

• Smithsonian National Museum of American History: Engaging Students with Primary Sources

This is an amazing resource for teachers, but is useful for anyone using primary resources.