ThereB次元官网网址檚 a complex relationship between the collection and preservation of historical items, and one Victorian family paved the way.
The Newcombes contributed the core collection of the Royal BC MuseumB次元官网网址檚 First Nations, botany, marine biology, paleontology, archival, and Emily Carr materials after two family members spent their lives gathering them.
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On Thursday night the Victoria Historical Society will discuss the collection, led by Kevin Neary, applied anthropologist and owner of Traditions Consulting Services. He explained the collection all began with Dr. Charles F. Newcombe, who moved from England.
B次元官网网址淗e had a passion for natural history and exploration, he and numbers of his family in the 1880s and 1890s would go on local expeditions collection natural history specimens,B次元官网网址� Neary said. B次元官网网址淓ventually he ventured further and up to the Haida Gwaii and the north end of Vancouver Island.B次元官网网址�
These travels sparked NewcombeB次元官网网址檚 interest in cultural objects from Indigenous communities.
B次元官网网址淗e negotiated with them and purchased the items,B次元官网网址� Neary said, adding that Indigenous peoples were facing insurmountable pressures at the time. B次元官网网址淢issionaries were putting extreme social and economic pressures on Indigenous communities to give up with they considered heathen and savageB次元官网网址� their ceremonial clothes and masks, people couldnB次元官网网址檛 use them.B次元官网网址�
Newcombe organized the purchase and shipment of large items like totem poles, as well as smaller ceremonial items to be sent to the Victoria Museum and around the world.
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B次元官网网址淚 think many people felt it was like putting the material in a bank so it would be kept safe for them, with hopes that at some point in the future have them repatriated,B次元官网网址� Neary said.
Newcombe also participated in a darker side of the time by collecting human remains from grave sites.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 very hard and very hurtful to understand now, but at the time scientists were very interested in studying race,B次元官网网址� Neary explained.
Luckily, Newcombe also took meticulous notes and photos, which has helped launch a recent repatriation process between the Royal BC Museum and local First Nations.
B次元官网网址淪ome people hate Newcombe, others are very thankful that he did collect items because he protected things,B次元官网网址� Neary said.
Following in his fatherB次元官网网址檚 footsteps, William Newcombe also did a lot of collecting. He also fostered a good friendship with Emily Carr, and often took her paintings in lieu of payment when he helped her around the house.
When Carr passed away, Newcombe was one of the three executors of the estate, and he purchased many of her paintings.
B次元官网网址淗e had a very significant collection of Emily Carr materials, about 120 pieces of art work are now in the provincial archive,B次元官网网址� Neary said.
At a rough calculation, Neary said the family probably helped contributed about 20 per cent of the anthropological collection, and over 4,000 pieces.
A full discussion titled B次元官网网址淐ollecting the Newcombes, Father and SonB次元官网网址� will happen Thursday night at the James Bay New Horizons at 234 Menzies St. Doors open at 7:15 p.m. Cover is $5, or free for members of the Victoria Historical Society.
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