Explore unique highlights from UBC’s Open Collections, as well as insights into the work of the Digitization Centre. From announcements of new projects and collections to behind-the-scenes looks at our digitization process, we share the stories and hidden gems that inspire us in our efforts to preserve and make accessible diverse materials.
Oldest photos in Open Collections
Posted on Jun 04, 2019 by Risa Hatanaka
The first photographic technologies were invented and developed during the 1830s and 1840s. Among more than 56,000 available photographs in UBC Open Collections, many of our oldest photographs were taken in the early periods of photographic history. 1854: Early timber cruisers beside their makeshift accommodation MacMillan Bloedel Limited fonds contain the records of the MacMillan […]
UBC Graduation in Open Collections
Posted on May 28, 2019 by Risa Hatanaka
This year, UBC spring graduation ceremonies take place on May 22-24 and 27-30 at our Vancouver campus, and June 6-7 at our Okanagan campus. Congratulations to all of the new graduates! In Open Collections, you can find photographs of past graduation ceremonies in the UBC Archives Photograph Collection: […]
Launching Association of University and College Employees (AUCE) Fonds
Posted on May 21, 2019 by Risa Hatanaka
In 1973 library and clerical workers on university and college campuses across British Columbia began organizing as a union in order to represent their collective interests. Workers at University of British Columbia (Local 1), Simon Fraser University (Local 2), Notre Dame University of Nelson (Local 3), Capilano College (Local 4), College of New Caledonia (Local […]
Explore Open Collections: Charles Darwin Letters
Posted on May 14, 2019 by Risa Hatanaka
Charles Darwin (1809-1882), a world-famous naturalist who introduced the concept of natural selection, was known to have exchanged letters with colleagues to discuss their shared interests in nature and animals. In one of our Open Collections, Charles Darwin Letters, you can browse 52 digitized letters written to and from Darwin. This post will explore two […]
Developing the UBC Web Archive Collection
Posted on May 07, 2019 by Rebecca Dickson
This is part of a series on web archiving at the UBC Library. For all posts about web archiving, please see https://digitize.library.ubc.ca/tag/web-archiving/ From May 2017 to April 2018, as part of my work as a Digital Projects Student Librarian and a Professional Experience Student at the Digitization Centre, I worked with Larissa Ringham to develop […]
British Columbia Beaches
Posted on Apr 30, 2019 by Kelly Stathis
Now that the rainy season is finally ending, we’re ready to enjoy British Columbia’s beautiful beaches. For this post, we gathered together historic photos of B.C. beaches, from right here in the Lower Mainland to Powell River. Starting locally, we found several photos of beaches at and near UBC in the UBC Archives Photograph collection. […]
Celebrate World Book and Copyright Day
Posted on Apr 23, 2019 by Kelly Stathis
Today is World Book and Copyright Day, an international event in support of books, reading, and literacy. This year, the focus is on protecting and supporting Indigenous languages, in conjunction with the International Year of Indigenous Languages. You can read more about World Book and Copyright Day on the United Nations and UNESCO websites. In […]
Celebrate National Poetry Month
Posted on Apr 16, 2019 by Kelly Stathis
Since this April is National Poetry Month, we’ve gathered together selected poetry and related items from Open Collections for your enjoyment! Our recently added Historical Children’s Literature Collection includes several poetry chapbooks. This chapbook, The butterfly’s ball, and the grasshopper’s feast, includes beautiful engraved illustrations: Our BC Historical Books collection also contains several […]
Maps in Open Collections
Posted on Apr 09, 2019 by Kelly Stathis
The Digitization Centre has digitized several collections of maps, as well as several collections that contain maps among other materials. This post provides a summary of those collections, showcasing some of our favourite maps from Open Collections! Greater Vancouver Regional District Planning Department Land Use Maps This collection contains more than 1,800 maps of the […]
Cycling through the centuries
Posted on Apr 02, 2019 by Kelly Stathis
Now that spring is well underway, we’re thinking about ways to enjoy the beautiful sunshine! For this post, we’ve gathered together our favourite images of bicycles from Open Collections. Recently added to the Uno Langmann Family Collection of British Columbia Photographs, this photograph album documents Clara Wilson’s cycling trips across Canada. Check out the full […]
