Local newspapers reflect the social and cultural life of their communities and thus remain a vital source of information for community members and scholars alike. Enhancing access to this valuable information encourages the study of British Columbia history and brings research material to both historians and genealogists across the province and beyond.
On December 11th, 1858, in the midst of a gold rush, a man with the improbable name Amor de Cosmos inked up an old hand press and launched a newspaper — the British Colonist — into the world. Published in Victoria, it became the leading paper in the colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia, and was the paper for the province of British Columbia until the emergence of Vancouver and competitors in the 1890’s. The “Online Edition 1858 – 1951” is a treasure trove of information about early British Columbia.
The University of British Columbia archive, “The BC Historical Newspapers Project” features digitized versions of historical papers from around the province. The titles, which range from the Abbotsford Post to the Ymir Miner, date from 1865 to 1994.
Victoria Newspapers 1858 – 1936 – The University of Victoria has an ongoing project to provide access to four indices of approximately forty-five thousand summarized transcripts of articles first appearing in newspapers published on Vancouver Island between 1858 and 1936.
Sit down with a cup of tea and enjoy reading yesterday’s news – you never know what you just may find!