This month I have another archivist interview to share with you. I’m excited to introduce Heather Beattie, an archivist at the Hudson’s Bay Company Archives, a division of the Archives of Manitoba. She shares the history of the archives, details of her career, and images of one of her favourite archival items.
1. Can you tell us a bit about the Hudson’s Bay Company Archives?
The Hudson’s Bay Company has kept meticulous records of its activities ever since its Royal Charter was granted in 1670. The records that HBC created and preserved to meet business needs and legal obligations now provide thorough documentation of the growth of the company through exploration and the fur trade and its later diversification into land sales, natural resources, and the development of its retail stores.
Archivists began arranging and describing this incredibly large, diverse collection in London, England, in the 1920s. In 1970 HBC became a Canadian corporation and its head office was relocated to Winnipeg. A few years later, in 1974, the company’s records were also moved to Canada and placed on deposit at the Archives of Manitoba. In 1993, HBC formally donated the archives to the Province of Manitoba. The company created the Hudson’s Bay Company History Foundation out of the tax savings generated by this donation. The Foundation funds and supports the operations of the Hudson’s Bay Company Archives as a division of the Archives of Manitoba.
The entire HBCA holdings today are comprised of approximately 3,000 linear metres of textual records, 12,000 maps and architectural records, 120,000 photographs, 1,300 documentary art items and 264 audio visual records (sound recordings and films). Approximately 6,000 researchers and other visitors access the HBCA records annually through in person visits, remote inquiry, inter-institutional microfilm loan and tours. In 2007, Hudson’s Bay Company Archives records spanning the first 250 years of its history, 1670 to 1920, were added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Memory of the World Register.
2. How long have you worked there and how did you become interested in the field?
I’ve been working here since December 2006 – nine and a half years now! In 2003 I had completed a M.A. in political science and was struggling to find a career path. For a time I worked at a local publishing company and that led to my first experience with archives – they asked me to go to the Archives of Manitoba to find some photos to use in an upcoming book. When I needed to look for a new job I decided to apply to the University of Manitoba masters program in archival studies, because being an archivist seemed like it would fit well with my interests and abilities.
3. What are your current duties and projects?
As an archivist in HBCA my job is normally a combination of working on appraisal and acquisition of new records (from both private donors and HBC); processing records and describing them in the Keystone online descriptive database; and providing client service by responding to remote inquiries, leading tours, and helping to staff the Archives of Manitoba research room.
However, I’ve recently been assigned to a new project. We’ve just received a large transfer of modern corporate records from HBC, so for the next year most of my time will be spent appraising these boxes and doing some preliminary arrangement.
4. Can you share more about one of your favourite items?
There are so many amazing items in the HBCA holdings that it’s really hard to narrow it down! I love women’s diaries and travel writing, so one of my favourites is definitely Isobel Finlayson’s chronicle of her journey on the “Prince Rupert” from London to York Factory, and from there to the Red River Settlement. It is fascinating to read her perspective of the voyage and realize how extremely difficult it must have been, even though she had it far easier than the vast majority of people making that trip. The notebook also includes several charming pencil drawings by Isobel, of people and scenes she encountered. It has been digitized and is available on the Archives’ website, here.
5. Is there anything else you would like to tell us about yourself or your work?
I feel very lucky to work where I do. My colleagues in both HBCA and Government and Private Sector Archives are wonderful, dedicated people who I really enjoy seeing every day, the records in the Archives’ holdings are incredible, and there are always new and interesting projects and challenges.
Also, it’s next to impossible to take a decent selfie in our vaults – the fluorescent lighting is terrible!