The Royal BC Museum is hosting a temporary exhibit titled Shashin: Japanese Canadian Studio Photography to 1942 from January 25 to May 1, 2005 on the third floor of the museum. The exhibit is curated by Grace Eiko Thomson for the Japanese Canadian National Museum and was developed with funding from CURA (Community-University Research Alliance). An exhibition catalogue will be available.

Jim Hume, a distinguished local journalist will speak on "Don Pedro Alberni, a Spanish Prisoner on Vancouver Island". The meeting will be on Thursday, March 24, 2005 at the James Bay New Horizons Centre, 234 Menzies Street at 7:30pm. Visitors are welcome.

Mairuth Sarsfield, a Montreal-born author will speak on "Sylvia Stark, a Black Pioneer on Saltspring Island" at the Victoria Historical Society's February 24 meeting. The meeting will be at the James Bay New Horizons Centre, 234 Menzies Street at 7:30pm. Visitors are welcome.

The February 21 meeting of the Hallmark Society in Victoria will feature Ken Grant, Hallmark Society award winner and church member, who will speak on the History of Victoria's First Church of Christ Scientist and the problems of maintaining a place of worship in a changing neighbourhood. There will also be a historical display and tour. The meeting will be at the First Church of Christ Scientist, 1205 Pandora Avenue at 7:30pm. Admission by donation.

Friends of the B.C. Archives Lecture, Sunday, March 13, 2005 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Newcombe Conference Hall, Royal British Columbia Museum, 675 Belleville Street, Victoria

"Insanity in British Columbia between 1873 and 1950"

Once again, the Friends and any other interested individuals will be offered a tour of the archives of insanity. Professor Geoff Smith, of the Department of Psychiatry at UBC is also a Research Scientist at Riverview Hospital, and for the past 15 years has researched the causes of schizophrenia. In order to gain more knowledge about how this and other psychiatric diseases have changed over time, Professor Smith has examined the clinical records of virtually every individual in British Columbia who developed a major mental health disorder before 1951. This enormous research project was made possible through the existence of the Essondale patient case files held at the B.C. Archives. Professor Smith will talk about the value of these records to his research, and will describe how these archival records are contributing to modern medicine.

For more information about this event contact Ann ten Cate, Outreach Coordinator, BC Archives, 250-387-2970 or Ron Greene, Secretary of the Friends of the BC Archives at 250-598-1835. This event is free for Friends of the Archives, $5.00 for non-members, payable at the door. Call in advance for information about handicap access.