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.
Arches in Vancouver
Posted on Aug 21, 2018 by Paula Arasaki
On September 18, 1912, H.R.H. Prince Arthur William Patrick Albert, Duke of Connaught, then Governor General of Canada, was in Vancouver for the grand opening of the Cambie Bridge. The bridge’s official name was Connaught Bridge, to honor the Duke, but the unofficial name stuck. This is what The Islander said about the Duke’s visit […]
The Beauty of the Western Manuscripts
Posted on Aug 14, 2018 by Paula Arasaki
Old manuscripts can be full of surprises. Going through our collection of Western Manuscripts and Early Printed Books Collection can almost feel like a treasure hunt! You can find amazing and delicate details in the drawings, the margins, and even the letters of the page. But do you know why manuscripts were created so intricately? […]
Web Archiving
Posted on Aug 07, 2018 by Paula Arasaki
Have you ever been in a situation where you’re looking for information on the internet, find a super useful and interesting website that seems to contain a lot of relevant information, and then when you click… you get an error page! This may be because that website no longer exists or because that page was […]
Subjects In Our Collections: Asian Studies
Posted on Jul 31, 2018 by Paula Arasaki
Our digital collections cover a wide range of topics and disciplines that you can explore through Open Collections. Among our thousands of digital items, you can find materials to support your research, your teaching, and even your imagination. Below, we’ve selected a few of our collections that may be helpful when researching topics related to […]
Canadian Food Recipes
Posted on Jul 24, 2018 by Paula Arasaki
Canada is a multicultural country, and its culinary traditions reflect that. Many people often ask Canadians: what are typical Canadian dishes? I’ve asked that question myself a few times and usually heard “gravy” or “poutine.” Well after a bit of digging, we found the answer, and it is way more than just gravy! While browsing […]
Teach me how: Metadata and Digitization
Posted on Jul 17, 2018 by Paula Arasaki
In our last post, we talked about how you can handle and preserve your materials in order to lengthen their lifespan. This post will explore the Metadata and Digitization steps. As always, these topics can be explored in more depth, and we will point you to some resources if you need more information. Before […]
Teach me how: Handle and Preserve Family Photographs and Documents
Posted on Jul 10, 2018 by Paula Arasaki
You or someone in your family may have documents and photographs that hold the history of your family. Often times, people are worried that this information could be lost or damaged and want to know how to preserve this history for future generations. To begin to answer how you can save your cherished treasures, we’ve […]
Explore Open Collections: Uno Langmann Travel Photo Albums
Posted on Jul 03, 2018 by Paula Arasaki
Our Uno Langmann Family Collection of British Columbia Photographs has several photo albums with tons of interesting materials. Photo albums act as collections of memories for families and are always a good source for remembering moments, people, and places. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, people didn’t have digital cameras to take multiple photos […]
The seven Ps of marketing in our collections
Posted on Jun 26, 2018 by Paula Arasaki
Marketing is an important part of any business. People need to know about a product before they buy it, and businesses need to convey exactly what their product or service does in order to make that sale. The seven P’s of marketing is a classic marketing tool used to study what a brand or product […]
Explore Open Collections: Japanese Maps of the Tokugawa Era
Posted on Jun 19, 2018 by Paula Arasaki
Maps are not just for marking land. Through maps, you can travel back in time to understand how society was structured, how a region was recognized, the power structures of that time, and other cultural and societal aspects of the place being represented. The Japanese Maps of the Tokugawa Era Collection is a treasure trove […]
