MS-0794
Robert Brown Papers
Originals 1850-1895 39 cm
Transcripts 1864-1866 26 cm
Microfilm 1850-1895 [A01467-A01468]
35 mm
Robert Brown was born in 1842. He was a naturalist who took part in several
expeditions and in 1864 he was appointed Commander of the Vancouver Island
Exploring Expedition.
The records consist of the journal and catalogue compiled as botanist for the British
Columbia Botanical Expedition, 1863-66; journals kept as commander, Vancouver
Island Exploring Expedition [VIEE], 1864-65; memoir on the geography of
Vancouver Island, 1868; The land of the Hydahs, 1866; journals kept by A.
Barnston, J. Buttle, T. Lewis, R. McDonald, J.Meade, F. Whymper during the VIEE
in 1864; Vancouver Island Exploration Committee papers, including minute book,
1864-1865, correspondence, applications, bills and receipts, orders and reports
issued by Brown; private correspondence, 1865-1895.
Also included in Volumes 4 and 5 are transcripts of the VIEE journals, and some
transcripts of Robert Brown’s material.
Two items transferred to BC Archives Library. Copy of volume 1, file 7 is
catalogued as NWp 581.9711 E96. Portion of volume 1, file 10, British Columbia
Botanical Association, abstract of a catalogue of a fourth box of seeds collected by
Robert Brown, 1865, from The Farmer, May 16, 1866 is catalogued as NWp 580
B862c.
Restriction: Volume 3, file 5 is very fragile and has received conservation
treatment. Researchers are directed to use the transcript in volume 5 or the
microfilm copy.
Transcripts in Volumes 4 and 5 have not been microfilmed so researchers are
directed to complete a call slip to retrieve/view.
The Robert Brown records were microfilmed by the BC Archives in 1986. At that
time, volume 1, files 7 and 9 were noted as missing.
Volumes 1 and 2 were purchased jointly by the British Columbia Archives and the
British Columbia Historical Association from H. E. Heinemann of Montreal in 1960.
Volume 3 is composed of material previous held at the British Columbia Archives.
MS-0794 Robert Brown papers 1850-1895
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Reel
Vol
File
Contents
Date
Miscellaneous papers
A01467
1
1
A01467
1
2
Certificate of discharge for Dr. Robert
Brown, surgeon on Narwhal [original]
Instructions given by the Committee of
the Oregon Botanical Association to
John Jeffrey, dated at Edinburgh
[presumably a copy in the possession of
Dr. Brown’s father who was associated
with the undertaking]
16 Dec
1861
22 May
1850
Records relating to the Vancouver Island
Exploration Expedition
A01467
1
3
A01467
1
4
A01467
1
5
A01467
1
6
A01467
1
7
A01467
1
8
The appointment of Robert Brown as
Commander of the Vancouver Island
Exploration Expedition [original, with
signatures and seals]
Contract for monthly stipend of members
of the expedition for five months
[original, with signatures and seals]
Pledge of members of the expedition
[original, with signatures]
Report of the exploration sub-committee
to the chairman and members of the
General Committee [original, has the
following note by Capt. Edmond Hope
Verney, R.N., Chairman of the subcommittee "for the information and
guidance of the Commander of the
Expedition”]
Expedition to Vancouver's Island and
British Columbia, an account of the
meeting of Gentlemen interested in
Arboriculture and Horticulture, members
of the Association and of the Committee
on the Oregon Botanical Expedition
[printed with list of subscribers. Copy
available in library, NWp/581.9711/E96,
original noted as missing in 1986]
Letter from George Cruickshank, Hon.
MS-0794 Robert Brown papers 1850-1895
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2
1 Jun
1864
1 Jun
1864
31 May
1864
1 Jun
1864
21 Jul
1862
4 Aug
A01467
1
9
A01467
1
10
A01467
1
11
A01467
1
12
A01467
1
13
A01467
1
14
A01467
1
15
A01467
1
16
A01467
1
17
Secretary, Vancouver Island Exploration
Committee to Robert Brown, [original]
Extract from minute book of the General
Committee, signed by William Fisher,
Hon. Secretary, and Selim Franklin,
Chairman, expressing appreciation of
services rendered by Brown [original
noted as missing in 1986]
Memoir on the Geography of the Interior
of Vancouver Island by Robert Brown
[original unpublished copy, including
map. A German translation was printed
as Das Innere der Vancouver Insel in
Pettermann's Mettheilungen in 1870]
British Columbia Botanical Association:
Catalogue of animals,plants, seeds,
minerals, collected by Robt. Brown
[original manuscript sent to the
association, July 1864]
Agreement between Robert Brown and
John Buttle regarding payment for
preparation of map prepared by Buttle in
the event it was published
Vancouver Island, British Columbia, an
undated and unsigned manuscript
dealing with Indian manners and
customs as found by the expedition
Manuscript addressed to Editor, Victoria
Standard re Dunsmuir's discovery of
coal at Wellington [never published by
the newspaper]
Letter from W.A.G. Young (Colonial
Secretary) to magistrates and district
officers introducing Brown and
requesting their cooperation [original]
Three scrapbooks and miscellaneous
data on Vancouver Island, kept by
Brown for the expedition
Diary of Robert Brown
Journals of the British Columbia
Botanical Expedition
MS-0794 Robert Brown papers 1850-1895
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1864
15 May
1865
27 Jun
1866
4 Nov
1882
29 Jul
1863
18631866
22 Oct
1864 - 14
May 1865
A01467
2
1a
Journal of the British Columbia Botanical
Expedition, British Columbia
A01467
2
1b
Journal of the British Columbia Botanical
Expedition, Oregon
A01467
2
2
Abstract of journals from British
Columbia Botanical Expedition [MS
covering from departure from
Southampton]
24 Nov
1863 - 29
Jan 1864
15 May
1865 - 28
May 1865
2 Mar
1863 - 29
Apr 1865
Journals of Vancouver Island Exploring
Expedition [true copy prepared by
Robert Martin, noted as such by Brown.
Originals deposited with Colonial
Secretary of Vancouver Island but no
longer extant]
A01467
2
3a
Volume 1
A01467
2
3b
Volume 2
A01468
2
3c
Volume 3
A01468
2
3d
Volume 4
7 Jun
1864 - 28
Jun 1864
28 Jun
1864 - 11
Jul 1864
12 Jul
1864 - 1
Aug 1864
20 Aug
1864 - 14
Sep 1864
Journals of the Vancouver Island
Exploration Expedition and the journal of
the visit to Queen Charlotte Islands
A01468
2
4
Alexander Barnston
A01468
2
5
Corporal John Buttle
A01468
2
6
Thomas Henry Lewis
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7 Jun
1864 - 20
Oct 1864
7 Jun
1864 - 18
Oct 1864
7 Jun
1864 - 22
4
A01468
2
7
Ranald McDonald
A01468
2
7
Photocopy of the journal of Ranald
McDonald
A01468
2
8
John Meade, R.E.
A01468
2
9
F. Whymper (artist)
A01468
2
10
The Land of the Hydahs, a Spring
journey due north in the “Goldstream” to
Queen Charlotte Islands with a
reconnaissance of the coast of British
Columbia and the Eastern Coast of
Vancouver Island by Robert Brown
[original]
Oct 1864
7 Jun
1864 - 22
Oct 1864
7 Jun
1864 - 22
Oct 1864
7 Jun
1864 - 19
Oct 1864
7 Jun
1864 - 18
Oct 1864
1 Mar
1866 - 31
Mar 1866
Records relating to the Vancouver Island
Exploration Expedition
A01468
3
1
A01468
3
2
A01468
3
3
A01468
3
4
A01468
3
5
A01468
3
6
Robert Brown: despatches to the
Vancouver Island Exploration Committee
Vancouver Island Exploration
Committee: correspondence
Vancouver Island Exploration
Committees: bills and receipts
Vancouver Island Exploration
Committee: applications for positions on
exploring expedition
Vancouver Island Exploring Expedition:
summary of activities
Robert Brown: short notes upon the
exploration of Vancouver Island
1864
18641865
18641865
1864
1864
1865
Correspondence, diary, minutes and
reports
A01468
A01468
3
3
7
8
Robert Brown: orders to P.J. Leech
1864
Letter from John Meade to Robert Brown 1864
reporting on the gold mines of Sooke
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River
Vancouver Island Exploration
Committee: minute book
Robert Brown: diary
A01468
3
9
A01468
3
10
A01468
3
11
A01468
3
11
A01468
3
11
A01468
3
11
A01468
3
11
A01468
3
11
A01468
3
11
A01468
3
11
Letter from Robert Brown to W.F.
Tolmie, enclosing letter from J.
Anderson-Henry to Robert Brown
Letter from Robert Brown to J.
Anderson-Henry
Letter from Robert Brown to Mrs.
Fellows
Letter from Robert Brown to Dally
A01468
3
11
Letter from Robert Brown to Dally
A01468
3
11
A01468
3
12
A01468
3
13
Letter from Robert Brown to C.F.
Newcombe [copy]
Vancouver Island Exploration
Committee, Nanaimo Branch, letters to
the secretary of the committee in Victoria
and minutes of meetings
P.J. Leech: reports to the secretary of
1864
the Vancouver Island Exploration
Committee
Letter from Robert Brown to Arthur
Fellows
Letter from Robert Brown to Mrs.
Fellows
Letter from Robert Brown to Arthur
Fellows
Letter from Robert Brown to W.F. Tolmie
Transcripts of Journals (2 copies)
4
4
4
4
4
Alexander Barnston
Corporal John Buttle
Thomas Henry Lewis
Frederick Whymper
John Meade, R.E.
Transcripts of Robert Brown material
MS-0794 Robert Brown papers 1850-1895
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18641865
7 Jun
1864 - 20
Jun 1864
Sep 1868
19 Feb
1865
27 Jun
1866; 1
May 1866
25 Jun
1866
24 Jan
1870
25 Nov
1872
1 Oct
1895
17 Nov
1894
1864
5
Vancouver Island Exploring Expedition
(3 copies)
5
Memoir on the Geography of the Interior
of Vancouver Island (2 copies)
Journal of the Vancouver Island
Exploring Expedition (2 copies)
The Land of the Hydas (2 copies)
5
5
MS-0794 Robert Brown papers 1850-1895
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7 Jun
1864 - 20
Jun 1864