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)
101. Mount Thor, Monashee Mountains
- Title:
- Mount Thor, Monashee Mountains
- Description:
- Several people looking out over a rocky mountain range covered in some snow.
- Subject:
- Natural history, Landscapes, BC Parks, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Nature, Mountains, and Snow
- 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--Regional District of Central Kootenay--Mount Thor
- Coordinates:
- 50.59987, -118.10227
- 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.
102. Mountain goat and big game guide, Wells Gray Provincial Park, B.C.
- Title:
- Mountain goat and big game guide, Wells Gray Provincial Park, B.C.
- Description:
- A person with a gun stands over a mountain goat laying on the ground. Photo's caption on the verso reads "? Moberly Big Game Guide Wells Gray Park Photo lot 1930's"
- Subject:
- Parks, Nature, Animals, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Mammals, Natural history, Big game animals, Mountain goat, Animal carcasses, and BC Parks
- Contributor:
- Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 193X
- 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 ; 18 x 12.5 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Wells Gray Park
- Coordinates:
- 52.33321, -120.00252
- 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: 4.12.2
- 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 LL. Metadata by KD.
103. Mountain lake
- Title:
- Mountain lake
- Description:
- Two people next to a lake on a mountain with a film camera on a tripod and a mountain range in the background.
- Subject:
- Wildlife photographers, Nature, Wildlife photography, Mountains, Natural history, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, BC Parks, Parks, Lakes, and Landscapes
- 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 ; 24 x 4.5 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia
- Coordinates:
- 53.99983, -125.0032
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Written in pencil on the verso: "Return to Chess Lyons..."
- 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: 4.12.2
- 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 LL. Metadata by KD.
104. Mountain view
- Title:
- Mountain view
- Description:
- Two people on a rocky mountain cliff overlooking a valley with a mountain in the background. Location unidentified.
- Subject:
- Natural history, Nature, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Landscapes, Mountains, and BC Parks
- 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
- Coordinates:
- 53.99983, -125.0032
- 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.
105. Mystery Lake, Mount Seymour Provincial Park
- Title:
- Mystery Lake, Mount Seymour Provincial Park
- Description:
- A person on skis overlooking a snow-covered area on a mountain. Photo's caption on the verso reads "Mystery Lake, Mount Seymour Park, in winter dress. Once a road is completed this ski bowl will be a favourite for many hundreds of visitors."
- Subject:
- BC Parks, Skis and skiing, Natural history, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Winter, Mountains, Nature, Snow, Outdoor recreation, Trees, and Parks
- 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 ; 17.5 x 12.5 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Mount Seymour Provincial Park and British Columbia--Mount Seymour Provincial Park--Mystery Lake
- Coordinates:
- 49.37472, -122.94167
- 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: 4.12.2
- 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 LL. Metadata by KD.
106. Nation Lakes, Bob Ahrens and Chess Lyons 'punting' through some shallows
- Title:
- Nation Lakes, Bob Ahrens and Chess Lyons 'punting' through some shallows
- Description:
- Two men, Bob Ahrens and Chess Lyons, standing in a canoe using long poles or paddles to get through some shallows in Nation Lakes, a popular park for canoeing.
- Subject:
- British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Canoes and canoeing, Natural history, BC Parks, Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-, Lakes, Nature, Parks, and Ahrens, Bob
- 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 ; 25.5 x 20.5 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Nation Lakes and British Columbia--Nation Lakes Provincial Park
- Coordinates:
- 55.19986, -124.75324
- 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.
107. Norm Clark fishing
- Title:
- Norm Clark fishing
- Description:
- A person placing dead fish and fishing equipment on a dock from a boat. Photo's caption reads "Looks like Norm Clark - but who caught the fish?"
- Subject:
- Nature, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Fishing, Natural history, Fishing--Equipment and supplies, and BC Parks
- 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 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:
- 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.
108. Okanagan Lake
- Title:
- Okanagan Lake
- Description:
- A person standing on a rocky cliff formation looking down on Okanagan Lake and it's surrounding landscape.
- Subject:
- BC Parks, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Landforms, Lakes, Landscapes, Natural history, and Nature
- 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 ; 18 x 13 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Okanagan Lake
- Coordinates:
- 49.84661, -119.51891
- 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:
- photographs and black-and-white 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.
109. Picnic table by a lake
- Title:
- Picnic table by a lake
- Description:
- Four silhouettes of people sitting at a picnic table on the shore of a lake.
- Subject:
- Natural history, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Outdoor recreation, Parks, Nature, BC Parks, and Lakes
- 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 ; 17 x 12.5 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: 4.12.1
- 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 LL. Metadata by KD.
110. Picnic time in a forest
- Title:
- Picnic time in a forest
- Description:
- Four people sitting at a picnic table having a meal in a forest.
- Subject:
- Trees, Outdoor recreation, BC Parks, Picnics, Forests and forestry, Parks, Picnic grounds, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Nature, and Natural history
- 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 ; 18 x 12.5 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: 4.12.1
- 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 LL. Metadata by KD.