Our Archives & Collections

Embark on a captivating journey through history and culture with our Museum’s YouTube channel, where immersive exhibitions and enlightening discussions await, inviting you to explore the wonders of the world from the comfort of your screen.

Delve into an expansive repository of topics at the Museum. The Subject File provides a diverse listing of a topics worth researching.

A discussion on the correlation between the population of a community and the enrollment of the school. Christine Funk’s thesis is based on an historical study done on Okanagan Centre School, (1911—1984).

History has a long-range perspective, as does the formal systematic account of George Middleton Gibson, his wife Grace, and daughters Pamela and Joan.

A brief biography of John James (Jim) Carney written by John James Carney Jr. (JJ) and prepared for CBC Vancouver’s WW I Commemorative Book From the West Coast to the Western Front. 

Hugh Bernau writes about his life. His account is especially focused on his youth and details his early years in England and his family. Upon adulthood, he immigrated to Canada.

The few years during which Connie’s family lived at Fintry were the highlights of her childhood and left a large imprint on her heart.

This workshop was about the ongoing conservation of Lake Country’s heritage. Community members identified their heritage values.

This account details the early days of the Winfield district through the eyes of the ex manager of the Duck Lake Fruit Ranch beginning in 1909.

The thoughts expressed here cover the period 1931-1938 which cover most of the years of the great depression and in some instances reflect that difficult time.

The Old Winfield Cemetery’s history is vague. The earliest marked grave in the cemetery is that of Joseph Malloy, who was buried in the cemetery in 1908.

The Okanagan Valley is the homeland of the Indigenous Okanagan peoples. The first Europeans to enter the interior of BC were fur traders who arrived in
1811.

The boats which provided
commercial passenger and freight service on Okanagan
Lake from 1882 to 1973 are examined chronologically.

The Okanagan Centre Women’s Institute decided to be responsible for a local Library in 1921. This was continued until 1936 when it was passed over to the Union Library.

The house when first built in 1921, consisted of a kitchen and bathroom on north aspect, dining room with opening through from
the kitchen for easier serving.

Mary White moved with her family from Lavington on May long weekend in 1932. They moved so that she could attend school. This account details her school years.

The school was built in 1917 and accommodated
pupils from Grades 1 to 8. In 1922 water pipes were installed. The school was wired for electricity in 1935. Outhouses were used until 1938.

Details a Eurocentric colonialist perspective of the land used to create the commonage for the purposes of grazing cattle.

A series of letters from E.W. Widdowson to Donald MacLennan on the subject of MacLennan’s gold mine.

Osam Kobayashi’s first person account of his memories going to school, starting in 1932 when the school was new.

About a documentary film of twelve local artists. The interviews focus on the story of each artist and how their life experiences have translated into their artwork.

This document was compiled in 1983 using material gained in letters and discussions with Mr. Campbell and with several of his former students. Details Mr. Campbell’s career.

The Kalamalka Women‟s Institute (KWI) was founded in 1914, under the presidency of Mrs. Trask of Oyama. This document details its history and daily goings-on. 

Details daily life at the Okanagan Centre School, with standout memories.

A first-person account about the Modernaires band. Started by Sigh Kobayashi, it played all around the Okanagan.

Essays on subjects such as: the history of Winfield, 1860-1939, news items ten and twenty years age, the roads of Winfield, water system, early orchards of Winfield, etc.

The history of the Swiss Village Resort in Oyama, B.C. and a personal memoir of
Gérard Monod, better known as Gerry Monod.

During his time working in the Gleed General Store, Cyril L. Smith made a series of character drawings. This document shows the drawings and explores the people depicted.

The first part of the essay is the author’s knowledge on the family tree. The second part is the story of who came to the Okanagan, where they worked, where they lived, what they did for enjoyment, and their children.

Stories told by Rosemary Carter mainly focused on her father, George Middleton Gibson. Details his coming to Canada, a shooting in Vernon, and other anecdotes.

The lives of the Gleeds and their coming to Canada.

The story of three generations of Goldies. It is a family saga made up
of some facts which are indisputable and some that are based on stories recounted by the author’s mother, as well as many personal memories.

This report includes Winfield, Oyama, Okanagan Centre and Carrs Landing. The first organized ministry of the Anglican Church began
in Okanagan Centre in 1909 with the arrival of Rev. Owen
Bulkeley. 

Since its modest beginning as “Rainbow Ranche”, in 1893, the Rainbow has changed and grown. The Barr brothers first bought it and then sold it in 1896 to Northcote Caesar. James Goldie moved into the Ranche house in 1909.

The little convenience store on the corner of Okanagan Centre Road West and Fourth Street known by the locals as “the store” began
in 1910 in a small part of a little house located at that very spot. It was owned by the Gleed family.

How the Isaacs family came to Canada. Constance Felicie Valentine Léa Seta was born around 1874 and married Godfrey Charles Joseph Isaacs in 1892. Their son, Marcel Godfrey Isaacs, came to the US in 1912 aboard the RMS Lusitania and then went to Canada.

In the late part of the 19th and the early part of the 20th
century, the Japanese government was encouraging the emigration of its people. Many came to Canada and British Columbia. 

The Farmers’ Institute movement in B.C. arose as a result of the
implementation of the Farmers’ Institute and Co-operation Act, passed
in the province in 1897.

The land we call the ‘Old Cemetery’ is owned by the
Okanagan Valley Land Company Limited. The actual use of the Cemetery can be traced back a fair way, indicating that between 1906 and 1908 the Maddock Bros. (original owners of the Land Co.) gave a lot of land for the cemetery where ‘several bodies had been buried’.

An autobiography, dating from the author’s life as a young child, told in verse. “In eighteen hundred and eighty three I left Old Englands shore/To try and make a living and get of gold some more” 

“My parents, my older brother Jack, aged 5, and I spent the winter, a long one, in a tent cabin with no windows, by a spring near Wood Lake, on what was later known as Stoke’s Point. We moved into the house as
soon as it was completed.”

Notes on meetings to set up the emergency fund between the Women’s Institute of Okanagan Centre, Women’s Institute of Winfield, Horeas Society Farmer’s Institute, -Winfield/Okanagan Centre, Hall Committee Winfield and Okanagan Centre.

A brief biography of Thomas Wood. He sailed from Newfoundland through the Panama Canal to come to Victoria, BC. From there he went to the Cariboo, then went to partner with Cornelius O’Keefe by Vernon.

A history of the local women’s institute, geography, Indigenous and settler settlements, churches, schools, etc.

“This essay will describe Winfield from the time prior to the first contact between the Okanagan Indians and the White Traders From there the advent of the mission will be traced, the arrival of the setters, the reasons for their settlement and the consequent growth of the community.”

Various memories and photos from members of the Lake Country Japanese community, such as the Koyamas, Kobayashis, Takenakas, Hikichis. 

The objective of the Winfield Town Centre Plan is the establishment of a downtown core for the community for Winfield.