To access the descriptions and inventories (if available) of RBSC manuscript collections, browse alphabetically by fonds or collection title.

In order to facilitate primary research, Rare Books and Special Collections (RBSC) acquires archival materials in all media which document the economic, political, cultural, labour, and literary history of British Columbia and Canada.

The manuscript collections are particularly strong in the areas of fishing,forestry, and mining, with important business records such as J.H. Todd & Sons, the Council of Forest Industries, MacMillan Bloedel, the Howe Sound Company - Britannia Division, the United Fishermen & Allied Workers' Union, and the International Union of Mine, Mill & Smelter Workers (Canada).

Political materials include records from the New Democratic Party of British Columbia, and from prominent politicians such as Angus and Grace MacInnis, and Dorothy Steeves.

Additionally, RBSC has a number of literary manuscript collections. For example, the correspondence, notebooks and other literary manuscripts of many Victorian authors are represented in the Colbeck manuscript collection. As well, the records of the Rossetti family and of other noted artists are included in the Angeli-Dennis collection. Significant British Columbia authors and artists represented in the holdings include Malcolm Lowry, Ethel Wilson, Roderick Haig-Brown, Eric Nicol, Spider Robinson. Materials documenting the history of B.C.'s ethnic communities are also acquired.

If you are new to archival research, the Archival Research Tutorial will provide you with an overview of doing research in RBSC.