Chester P. Lyons Collection
User Collection Public
The collection is comprised of selections from the archives of Chester P. Lyons and documents the career of Chester Peter Lyons (1915-1998). Lyons worked as a forest engineer with the British Columbia Forest Service; with the Parks Branch, where he helped establish the provincial parks system in British Columbia (including Manning, Tweedsmuir, Wells Gray, and Bowron Lakes) and human heritage initiatives (including the restoration and management of Barkerville and the Stop-Of-Interest plaque program adjacent to major highways in British Columbia).
Lyons also pursued many projects in nature interpretation as an author, lecturer, wildlife and travel filmmaker, television producer, and photographer. He also published fieldguides on the plants of British Columbia and Washington State, such as Trees, Shrubs, and Flowers to Know in BC (1952).
The collection includes Lyons' photographic materials and field notebooks, dating from 1932 to 1998.
Permalink: http://vault.library.uvic.ca/collections/1490617d-ecf0-440b-b663-a64f4a3ca757
Collection Details
- Items 362
- Last Updated 2025-07-03
Works (362)
91. Lyons and a snowy owl
- Title:
- Lyons and a snowy owl
- Description:
- A snowy owl perched on a driftwood log on a rocky shore with Lyons kneeling down next to it.
- Subject:
- Birds, Snowy owl, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Animals, Owls, Natural history, BC Parks, Nyctea, and Nature
- Creator:
- Kirk, Ruth, 1925-2018
- Contributor:
- Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1930?/1970?
- Rights Statement:
- No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only
- License:
- This item is under copyright and made available on this site for research and private study only. Commercial use is prohibited. For all other uses please contact UVic Libraries' Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/StillImage
- Extent:
- 1 photograph ; 20 x 25.5 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia
- Coordinates:
- 53.99983, -125.0032
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Stamped with "Photo by Ruth Kirk, 2409 South Chase, Port Angeles, Washington" and In a folder labelled "Parks books [ca.1930 - ca. 1970] [2]"
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Chester P. Lyons Collection
- Provenance:
- Fonds donated to UVic Archives by Lyons' daughter, Susan Lyons, in 2007.
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- black-and-white photographs and photographs
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2007-039; Series: Photographic materials; Subseries: 03; File: 4.4
- Fonds Title:
- Chester P. Lyons fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- AR409
- Is_referenced_by:
- Archival Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/chester-p-lyons-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2025-02-26/2025-02-28
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Epson Expression 1300XL (600 DPI tif LL). Metadata by KD.
92. Lyons eating on a mountain
- Title:
- Lyons eating on a mountain
- Description:
- Lyons sitting eating from a bowl with mountains and trees in the background.
- Subject:
- Nature, Natural history, BC Parks, Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-, Mountains, and British Columbia. Ministry of Forests
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1930?/1970?
- Rights Statement:
- No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only
- License:
- This item is under copyright and made available on this site for research and private study only. Commercial use is prohibited. For all other uses please contact UVic Libraries' Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/StillImage
- Extent:
- 1 photograph ; 20.5 x 17.5 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia
- Coordinates:
- 53.99983, -125.0032
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- In a folder labelled "Parks books [ca.1930 - ca. 1970] [2]"
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Chester P. Lyons Collection
- Provenance:
- Fonds donated to UVic Archives by Lyons' daughter, Susan Lyons, in 2007.
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- black-and-white photographs and photographs
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2007-039; Series: Photographic materials; Subseries: 03; File: 4.4
- Fonds Title:
- Chester P. Lyons fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- AR409
- Is_referenced_by:
- Archival Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/chester-p-lyons-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2025-02-26/2025-02-28
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Epson Expression 1300XL (600 DPI tif LL). Metadata by KD.
93. Lyons in the Battle Mountain area, Wells Gray Park, B.C.
- Title:
- Lyons in the Battle Mountain area, Wells Gray Park, B.C.
- Description:
- The silhouette of a person standing on a rocky peak in the foreground and a mountain range covered sparsely with trees in the background.
- Subject:
- Mountains, Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-, Parks, Landscapes, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Nature, BC Parks, and Natural history
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1930/1941
- Rights Statement:
- No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only
- License:
- This item is under copyright and made available on this site for research and private study only. Commercial use is prohibited. For all other uses please contact UVic Libraries' Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/StillImage
- Extent:
- 1 photograph ; 12.5 x 17.5 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Thompson-Nicola Regional District--Battle Mountain and British Columbia--Wells Gray Park
- Coordinates:
- 51.9525, -119.854722
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Chester P. Lyons Collection
- Provenance:
- Fonds donated to UVic Archives by Lyons' daughter, Susan Lyons, in 2007.
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- black-and-white photographs and photographs
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2007-039; Series: Photographic materials; Subseries: 03; File: 4.12.3
- Fonds Title:
- Chester P. Lyons fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- AR409
- Is_referenced_by:
- Archival Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/chester-p-lyons-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2025-03
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Epson Expression 1300XL (600 DPI tif) by LG. Metadata by KD.
94. Lyons on a rocky peak
- Title:
- Lyons on a rocky peak
- Description:
- A person on a rocky peak with a vast mountainous landscape and a glacier in the background. Photo's caption reads "C.P.L. in Garibaldi or Battle Mtn Wells Gray?
- Subject:
- Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, BC Parks, Mountains, Natural history, Nature, Landforms, and Cliffs
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1930?/1941?
- Rights Statement:
- No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only
- License:
- This item is under copyright and made available on this site for research and private study only. Commercial use is prohibited. For all other uses please contact UVic Libraries' Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/StillImage
- Extent:
- 1 photograph ; 12.5 x 18 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia
- Coordinates:
- 53.99983, -125.0032
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Chester P. Lyons Collection
- Provenance:
- Fonds donated to UVic Archives by Lyons' daughter, Susan Lyons, in 2007.
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- black-and-white photographs and photographs
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2007-039; Series: Photographic materials; Subseries: 03; File: 4.12.4
- Fonds Title:
- Chester P. Lyons fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- AR409
- Is_referenced_by:
- Archival Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/chester-p-lyons-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2025-03
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Epson Expression 1300XL (600 DPI tif) by LG. Metadata by KD.
95. Lyons on a snow cornice, Mount Seymour
- Title:
- Lyons on a snow cornice, Mount Seymour
- Description:
- A person on skis standing on an overhanging ledge of snow over the side of a ridge called a cornice. Photo's caption reads "C.P.L. on cornice, Mt. Seymour, circa 1944"
- Subject:
- Outdoor recreation, Skis and skiing, Natural history, Snow, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Mountains, Nature, Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-, BC Parks, and Parks
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1930?/1941?
- Rights Statement:
- No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only
- License:
- This item is under copyright and made available on this site for research and private study only. Commercial use is prohibited. For all other uses please contact UVic Libraries' Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/StillImage
- Extent:
- 1 photograph ; 11.5 x 17 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Mount Seymour Provincial Park and British Columbia--Mount Seymour
- Coordinates:
- 49.39327, -122.94422
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Chester P. Lyons Collection
- Provenance:
- Fonds donated to UVic Archives by Lyons' daughter, Susan Lyons, in 2007.
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- photographs and black-and-white photographs
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2007-039; Series: Photographic materials; Subseries: 03; File: 4.12.4
- Fonds Title:
- Chester P. Lyons fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- AR409
- Is_referenced_by:
- Archival Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/chester-p-lyons-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2025-03
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Epson Expression 1300XL (600 DPI tif) by LG. Metadata by KD.
96. Main Trail sign
- Title:
- Main Trail sign
- Description:
- A carved wooden sign with a human figure carrying skis that reads "Main Trail No Skiing".
- Subject:
- Signs and signboards, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Parks, Wooden signs and signboards, Nature, Natural history, Parks--Management, Outdoor recreation, and BC Parks
- Creator:
- Howard, Roy
- Contributor:
- Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1930/1941
- Rights Statement:
- No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only
- License:
- This item is under copyright and made available on this site for research and private study only. Commercial use is prohibited. For all other uses please contact UVic Libraries' Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/StillImage
- Extent:
- 1 photograph ; 12.5 x 17.5 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia
- Coordinates:
- 53.99983, -125.0032
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Verso stamped with "Photo by Roy Howard, Vancouver B.C."
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Chester P. Lyons Collection
- Provenance:
- Fonds donated to UVic Archives by Lyons' daughter, Susan Lyons, in 2007.
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- black-and-white photographs and photographs
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2007-039; Series: Photographic materials; Subseries: 03; File: 4.12.3
- Fonds Title:
- Chester P. Lyons fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- AR409
- Is_referenced_by:
- Archival Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/chester-p-lyons-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2025-03
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Epson Expression 1300XL (600 DPI tif) by LG. Metadata by KD.
97. Main trail sign, Mount Seymour Provincial Park
- Title:
- Main trail sign, Mount Seymour Provincial Park
- Description:
- A carved wooden sign with a human figure on it that says "Main Trail No Skiing". Photo's caption reads "Mt Seymour signs erected in 1939 as part of Forest Redevelopment Projects. They look like Joe St. Pierre's work but the figures are not typical of his work. Someone else must have been involved in these designs"
- Subject:
- BC Parks, Parks--Management, Parks, Parks--Planning, Wooden signs and signboards, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Parks--Maintenance, Signs and signboards, Nature, Recreation areas, and Natural history
- Creator:
- Howard, Roy
- Contributor:
- Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1930?/1941?
- Rights Statement:
- No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only
- License:
- This item is under copyright and made available on this site for research and private study only. Commercial use is prohibited. For all other uses please contact UVic Libraries' Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/StillImage
- Extent:
- 1 photograph ; 12.5 x 17.5 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Mount Seymour and British Columbia--Mount Seymour Provincial Park
- Coordinates:
- 49.39137, -122.91933
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Verso stamped with "Photo by Roy Howard Vancouver B.C."
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Chester P. Lyons Collection
- Provenance:
- Fonds donated to UVic Archives by Lyons' daughter, Susan Lyons, in 2007.
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- photographs and black-and-white photographs
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2007-039; Series: Photographic materials; Subseries: 03; File: 4.12.4
- Fonds Title:
- Chester P. Lyons fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- AR409
- Is_referenced_by:
- Archival Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/chester-p-lyons-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2025-03
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Epson Expression 1300XL (600 DPI tif) by LG. Metadata by KD.
98. Mimulus Lake in Garibaldi Park
- Title:
- Mimulus Lake in Garibaldi Park
- Description:
- Two people on a grassy slope overlooking a couple of lakes with a snow covered mountain range in the background.
- Subject:
- Mountains, Parks, Snow, Landscapes, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, BC Parks, Nature, Natural history, and Lakes
- Creator:
- Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1930?/1970?
- Rights Statement:
- No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only
- License:
- This item is under copyright and made available on this site for research and private study only. Commercial use is prohibited. For all other uses please contact UVic Libraries' Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/StillImage
- Extent:
- 1 photograph ; 25 x 20 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Garibaldi Provincial Park--Mimulus Lake
- Coordinates:
- 49.96, -123.03083
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- In a folder with "Parks books [1930-ca. 1970]" and "Personal Historic" written on it.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Chester P. Lyons Collection
- Provenance:
- Fonds donated to UVic Archives by Lyons' daughter, Susan Lyons, in 2007.
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- black-and-white photographs and photographs
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2007-039; Series: Photographic materials; Subseries: 03; File: 4.3
- Fonds Title:
- Chester P. Lyons fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- AR409
- Is_referenced_by:
- Archival Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/chester-p-lyons-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2025-02-14/2025-02-25
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Epson Expression 1300XL (600 DPI tif LL). Metadata by KD.
99. Mount Seymour administration building
- Title:
- Mount Seymour administration building
- Description:
- A snow covered building made from logs. Photo's caption reads "Mt. Seymour Admin Bldg. Authorized by Hugh Hodgins [?], design by Florence Jenner, built by Joe St. Pierre"
- Subject:
- Parks--Management, Log cabins, Nature, Snow, Natural history, Wooden-frame buildings, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Parks, BC Parks, Winter, and Buildings
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1930?/1941?
- Rights Statement:
- No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only
- License:
- This item is under copyright and made available on this site for research and private study only. Commercial use is prohibited. For all other uses please contact UVic Libraries' Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/StillImage
- Extent:
- 1 photograph ; 12.5 x 18 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Mount Seymour Provincial Park
- Coordinates:
- 49.39137, -122.91933
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Chester P. Lyons Collection
- Provenance:
- Fonds donated to UVic Archives by Lyons' daughter, Susan Lyons, in 2007.
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- photographs and black-and-white photographs
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2007-039; Series: Photographic materials; Subseries: 03; File: 4.12.4
- Fonds Title:
- Chester P. Lyons fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- AR409
- Is_referenced_by:
- Archival Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/chester-p-lyons-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2025-03
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Epson Expression 1300XL (600 DPI tif) by LG. Metadata by KD.
100. Mount Seymour administration building in snow
- Title:
- Mount Seymour administration building in snow
- Description:
- A snow covered building made from logs.
- Subject:
- Nature, Natural history, Parks, Parks--Management, Buildings, Wooden-frame buildings, Snow, Log cabins, BC Parks, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, and Winter
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1930?/1941?
- Rights Statement:
- No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only
- License:
- This item is under copyright and made available on this site for research and private study only. Commercial use is prohibited. For all other uses please contact UVic Libraries' Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/StillImage
- Extent:
- 1 photograph ; 12.5 x 18 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Mount Seymour Provincial Park
- Coordinates:
- 49.39137, -122.91933
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Chester P. Lyons Collection
- Provenance:
- Fonds donated to UVic Archives by Lyons' daughter, Susan Lyons, in 2007.
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- black-and-white photographs and photographs
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2007-039; Series: Photographic materials; Subseries: 03; File: 4.12.4
- Fonds Title:
- Chester P. Lyons fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- AR409
- Is_referenced_by:
- Archival Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/chester-p-lyons-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2025-03
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Epson Expression 1300XL (600 DPI tif) by LG. Metadata by KD.