The University of British Columbia Library’s Archives and Rare Books and Special Collections have digitized their collections of framed visual works for the benefit of online researchers. The UBC Library Framed Works Collection contains prints, photographs, charters and documentary artworks that originate from diverse sources. In this blog post, we will explore different subjects in these stunning artworks from this collection.
City Life
This reproduction of a lithographic print shows the government buildings in Victoria, BC before construction on the current buildings began in 1893. This print also features the Inner Harbour and horse-drawn carriages in the late 19th century.
BC Government Buildings, Victoria B. C., [1880]
This artwork depicting the 18th century street scene in Paris was painted by John Ridington, UBC Library’s first University Librarian, in 1901.
A Street in Old Paris: The Pont au Change, 1760, 1901
Portrait
This portrait of the UBC Library’s first University Librarian, John Ridington, used to hang in the Ridington Room of the Main Library. John Ridington (1868-1945) came to Vancouver around 1910 and became an acting librarian at UBC Library in 1914. In 1916, Ridington became the first University Librarian and remained in his position until his retirement in 1940.
Mr. John Ridington, 1912
This is the portrait of Walter Gage (1905-1978), who studied at UBC from 1921 to 1926, and served UBC for over 50 years as a professor, academic administrator and as the sixth President of the university from 1969 to 1975.
[Portrait of Walter Gage], [not after 1978]
Natural landscape
The following two paintings, created by the same artist, are contained in one frame. The first painting features McMillan Island in the Fraser River, B.C. from McKiver’s Wharf, and the second features the view from the Fort Langley Wharf.
[Views from Two Wharfs in British Columbia], [unknown]
[Views from Two Wharfs in British Columbia], [unknown]
UBC Library Buildings
John Ridington created this pencil sketch of the original UBC Library in 1936, as well as the painting of A Street in Old Paris: The Pont au Change, 1760.
[View of University of British Columbia Library], 1936
Arthur Erickson is not only a UBC alumnus but also an architect of Walter C. Koerner Library. He drew this architect’s conceptual design of the Walter C. Koerner Library at UBC on transparent paper in black and red ink.
The Walter C. Koerner Library, [unknown]
References
About Walter C. Koerner Library. (2021, November 17). UBC Library. https://koerner.library.ubc.ca/koerner-library/about/
‘Mr. UBC:’ why a university prof and ‘reluctant’ president meant so much to so many. (2018, February 15). CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/walter-gage-ubc-1.4536317
