Library, Archives and Artefacts

There is almost no physical evidence of Loyalists in British Columbia: we are not blessed with their mementos in the form of tombstones, buildings and other structures that become more bountiful the further east one travels. Although Loyalists may not have been this far west, their living descendants are present in this region. Western UELAC branches are very fortunate that their branch members represent not just one area of Loyalist settlements but many of them.

Much documentation of Loyalist history is to be found in libraries and special collections in the Maritimes, Quebec and Ontario but little resides in western Canada. Most of the original documents are in London, England. To alleviate the shortage of information available locally, the Vancouver branch, is actively working to improve its library by obtaining books and microfilm pertaining to the Loyalist era and make it available to the public.

Unfortunately the collection has outgrown its current location and needs to find a permanent home in the west where it can continue to expand. Gifts to the branch have been collected over the years but there is nowhere to display them. Some people (descendants or not) own artefacts (such as deeds and other documents, jewellery, furniture and uniforms) that they may be willing to donate should the library be situated in a more commodious and secure facility. These items would then be available for all people in the west to ponder and enjoy, perhaps whetting their appetite to see the rest of Canada.

Because of the current space limitations, our branch is actively working to obtain a suitable location to house:
- our current library holdings,
- the branch archives and
- museum quality artefacts.