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.
Costumes in the Collections
Posted on Oct 26, 2017 by liz otero
It’s decidedly autumn here on the Vancouver campus of UBC. Chilly walks, a desire for soups, and some costume scheming are in the ether. If you’re looking for some inspiration, here are a few from Open Collections. (Pop)Culturally Appropriate, a clown from the Ubyssey: This photo from 1919 is a little far away, […]
Digital Humanities Summer Institute
Posted on Oct 17, 2017 by liz otero
DHSI – the Digital Humanities Summer Institute – is a humanities training program held every summer at the University of Victoria. Delivered over a week, each course is an intensive series of classes interspersed with colloquiums, unconferences, and other community-based events, and provides an ideal environment for influencing teaching, research, dissemination, creation, and preservation in […]
Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted on Oct 05, 2017 by liz otero
We hope you enjoy the long weekend, good food, and this tour through parties and Thanksgivings past in our collections: in 1888, the Regina Lodge in Vancouver was charging $4 to attend a Social Ball and Supper: Turkey was the thing by 1913, as Women’s Words of Western Canada encourages a poultry raising cottage industry: […]
In Memoriam
Posted on Sep 13, 2017 by liz otero
The documents in our collections contain concerns ranging from global to individual. While exploring the collections this week, I was struck by the obituaries, remembrances, and memorials— here is a selection. This Obituary from The Prospector (1896) is front page news, and followed by reports of gold fields in the Kootenays. Mrs. Ellison was remembered […]
Welcome Back!
Posted on Sep 05, 2017 by liz otero
Welcome back to campus, UBC! Don’t get stressed about moving into your dorm: Moving into the new Women’s Residence, 1956 Remember that there is always a way to solve an interpersonal problem: Photo of unidentified students, 1922 Be grateful that freshman no longer wear these: Freshmen wear dunce caps, 1938 While in lecture, take […]
Gems in Special Projects
Posted on Aug 24, 2017 by liz otero
The Digitization Centre’s work is housed online in Open Collections, with projects organized into collections. Occasionally, objects are digitized alone or in a small group, and these are placed in Special Projects—our own home for wayward items. Being a bit of a grab-bag, it is one of our favourite places to explore and gain insight […]
What’s Old is New Again
Posted on Jul 19, 2017 by liz otero
The objects within Open Collections are beautiful, often rare, and allow connection with history as only primary sources can. As your humble blog correspondent, I am consistently struck with how different things were, yet what we are interested in, our concerns, and struggles are the same. This week, let’s see what the past has to […]
Searching Open Collections part 2: Subject keywords
Posted on Jul 18, 2017 by liz otero
When we last met, we had found a photo of an old growth forest: Scrolling down on this screen reveals the metadata* attached to the item: I want to continue my search, and so I’m going to look at the area called “Subject”, here listed as Forestry; Logs; Cedar trees. To start out, I’ll […]
Searching Open Collections part 1: Using established collections
Posted on Jun 29, 2017 by liz otero
This week on the blog, we’ll use Open Collections to search for some images. @VanBigTrees submitted this question on Twitter: Let’s get started! First, we’ll go to Open Collections at https://open.library.ubc.ca/ From here, we can start a search a few ways. Today, we’ll explore using the collections, and next week, we’ll work with keyword searches. […]
Touring the Nitobe Memorial Garden
Posted on Jun 14, 2017 by liz otero
Vancouver is greening up spectacularly with the warmer weather. We’re enjoying many lunchtimes in the beautiful gardens here at UBC, and soaking up as much greenery as we possibly can while it’s here! This week on the blog, we’re taking a photo tour through the Nitobe Memorial Garden. The Nitobe Memorial Garden is on UBC’s […]
