Overview

Photodigitization

The digitization of Vancouver Public Library's Special Collections historical photographs collection began in June 2000 with the Leonard Frank Photodigitization Project, followed two years later by Vancouver's Golden Years: 1900-1910, Photographs by Philip Timms. "British Columbia through the Camera Lens of Philip Timms" continues on from where "Vancouver's Golden Years…" leaves off. InMagic DB/Textworks and Web Publisher software has been used to facilitate searching and displaying the scanned photographic records on the world wide web. Creation of this rich, new, digital collection will serve to:

• protect the collection because it will be available electronically thereby reducing the handling of original images;
• represent the collection by raising researchers' awareness of the historical photograph collection and by heightening awareness of the significance and value of the collection to the wider community.

> Find out more about the archiving and scanning process

Collection Being Digitized

The Philip T. Timms Collection

The Vancouver Public Library is privileged to have a collection of photographs taken by Philip Thomas Timms of British Columbia during the early part of the twentieth century. These photographs provide a rich contribution to the cultural heritage of the province of British Columbia, as well as a cornerstone upon which the Vancouver Public Library historical photograph collection is built. Philip Timms moved to Vancouver from Toronto in 1898 attracted by the prospect of prosperity resulting from the goldstrike in the Klondike. His idea was to "pick up" photography in his spare time while working as a picture framer but he soon became an experienced photographer and opened his own photographic studio. From 1900 to 1968 he managed his own photography and printing shop producing thousands of postcards and photographs and thereby becoming the oldest active printer in Canada. Everything was a subject for Timms' camera: streetscapes filled with people and vehicles; beach scenes depicting swimmers and observers wearing fedora hats; hikers in the mountains; animal husbandry in the Fraser Valley; gardens; theatres; parks and zoos. Timms' record of life in British Columbia during the first half of the twentieth century is now ours to observe and enjoy.

> Find out more about the photographs

> Find out more about Philip Timms

Navigation Bar: VPL 8186, Philip Timms, 1931, Automobile on the Cariboo Road, B.C.

Top Left: VPL 7995, Philip Timms, 193-, Philip Timms in Stanley Park, Vancouver, B.C

Bottom Right: VPL 8096, Philip Timms, 190-, The Hollow Tree in Stanley Park, Vancouver, B.C.

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This digital collection was produced with financial assistance from Canada's Digital Collections Initiative, Industry Canada.