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)
161. Ted Helset on the first bridge over Murtle River, Wells Gray Park
- Title:
- Ted Helset on the first bridge over Murtle River, Wells Gray Park
- Description:
- Two horses and a person crossing river using a small bridge made of logs. Photo's caption reads "Ted Helset pioneer guide Wells Gray Park 1941. First bridge over Murtle River"
- Subject:
- Rivers, Bridges, Forests and forestry, Parks, Nature, Helset, Ted, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Horses, Natural history, and BC Parks
- Contributor:
- Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 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--Wells Gray Park and British Columbia--Murtle River
- Coordinates:
- 51.91659, -120.20254
- 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: 4.12.3
- 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.
162. John Dean Provincial Park, North Saanich, B.C.
- Title:
- John Dean Provincial Park, North Saanich, B.C.
- Description:
- A person looking out over a small lake surrounded by trees. Photo's caption reads "John Dean Park about 1942 looking at its best after development work. Bob [Boyd?] was in charge in late 1950's when road was built. Flooded trees died a few years later and had to be taken down." and on the verso "John Dean Park near Sydney is a [?] and fall drive for Victoria residents"
- Subject:
- Trees, Lakes, Nature, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Forests and forestry, BC Parks, Parks--Maintenance, Natural history, Parks--Management, and Parks
- Contributor:
- Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1942?
- 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--John Dean Provincial Park
- Coordinates:
- 48.61354, -123.44432
- 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: 4.12.3
- 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.
163. First registration booth, Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park
- Title:
- First registration booth, Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park
- Description:
- A person standing under a small registration booth with carved faces. Photo's caption reads "First registration booth in Little Qualicum about 1943? Designed to use a stamp carved by Joe St. Pierre. There were a number of stumps in the park he had carved in the evenings." and on the verso "Unique registration booth has been built ... fir stump on which two ... faces have been carved. Little Qualicum Falls Park"
- Subject:
- Parks--Management, BC Parks, Parks--Maintenance, Natural history, Nature, Wooden signs and signboards, Wood sculpture, Parks, Signs and signboards, and British Columbia. Ministry of Forests
- Contributor:
- Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1943?
- 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--Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park
- Coordinates:
- 49.31679, -124.549
- 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: 4.12.3
- 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.
164. Fording Bella Coola River in Tweedsmuir Park
- Title:
- Fording Bella Coola River in Tweedsmuir Park
- Description:
- Mick [Trew?] on horseback in a river lined with trees and with a mountain in the background. There is another horse in the river that is packed with supplies. The photo's caption states they are at the start of a trip into what is now the southern leg of Tweedsmuir Park and are fording Bella Coola River with Mick on horseback.
- Subject:
- Rivers, Parks, Fords (Stream crossings), Mountains, Horses, BC Parks, Trees, Natural history, Nature, and British Columbia. Ministry of Forests
- Creator:
- Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-
- Contributor:
- Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1943
- 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 25.5 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Bella Coola River and British Columbia--Tweedsmuir Provincial Park
- Coordinates:
- 53.09976, -125.88649 and 52.37544, -126.7545
- 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.
165. Rainbow Range, Tweedsmuir South Provincial Park
- Title:
- Rainbow Range, Tweedsmuir South Provincial Park
- Description:
- View of a mountain range with varied colours of terrain. Photo's caption reads "Rainbow mtns - Tweedsmuir 1943 Mick and C.P.L. hiked from camp in the valley (Among the earliest photos of this area)"
- Subject:
- BC Parks, Geomorphology, Landforms, Geology, Parks, Nature, Mountains, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, and Natural history
- Contributor:
- Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1943
- 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--Cariboo Regional District--Rainbow Range and British Columbia--Tweedsmuir Provincial Park
- Coordinates:
- 52.71646, -125.81985
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Verso stamped with "Victoria Daily Times..."
- 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.
166. Tweedsmuir Park reconnaissance [01]
- Title:
- Tweedsmuir Park reconnaissance [01]
- Description:
- Several horses with a couple people riding them in shallow river water with a forest lining its opposite shore. Photo's caption reads "Tweedsmuir Park Reconnaissance 1943 Chess Lyons, Mick Trew, outfitter Tommy Walker...."
- Subject:
- Horses, Natural history, Forests and forestry, Nature, Rivers, Parks--Maintenance, Parks--Management, Parks, BC Parks, and British Columbia. Ministry of Forests
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1943
- 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 ; 13.5 x 17.5 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Tweedsmuir Provincial Park
- Coordinates:
- 53.09976, -125.88649
- 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.
167. Tweedsmuir Park reconnaissance [02]
- Title:
- Tweedsmuir Park reconnaissance [02]
- Description:
- A group of pack horses grazing in an grassy area bordered by forest. Photo's caption reads "Tweedsmuir Park Reconnaissance Chess Lyons, Mick Trew, Outfitter Tommy Walker 1943"
- Subject:
- Parks--Maintenance, Natural history, BC Parks, Horses, Parks--Management, Nature, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Forests and forestry, Parks--Planning, and Parks
- Contributor:
- Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1943
- 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--Tweedsmuir Provincial Park
- Coordinates:
- 53.09976, -125.88649
- 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.
168. Tweedsmuir Park reconnaissance [03]
- Title:
- Tweedsmuir Park reconnaissance [03]
- Description:
- A person on horseback at the edge of a lake with a mountain and forest in the background. Photo's caption reads "Tweedsmuir Park Rec: Chess and Mickey - a month on horseback most of it with Tommy Walker following in places a trail built by Bob Boyd in the late 1930's. Mt. Walker?"
- Subject:
- Natural history, BC Parks, Parks--Management, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Parks--Planning, Lakes, Mountains, Horses, Nature, Forests and forestry, Parks--Maintenance, and Parks
- Contributor:
- Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1943
- 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 ; 14 x 17 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Tweedsmuir Provincial Park--Mount Walker and British Columbia--Tweedsmuir Provincial Park
- Coordinates:
- 52.43304, -126.06986
- 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.
169. Hunlen Falls reconnaissance, Tweedsmuir Provincial Park
- Title:
- Hunlen Falls reconnaissance, Tweedsmuir Provincial Park
- Description:
- Two people at the edge of a rocky cliff looking at a tall waterfall. Photo's caption reads "Micky Turner and packer at Mystery (Hunlin) Falls Summer of 1943. C.P.L. took picture from out of a tree top. This reconnaissance led to extension of Tweedsmuir Park south of Bella Coola Highway."
- Subject:
- Mountains, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Waterfalls, Cliffs, Parks--Planning, Natural history, Parks--Management, Parks, Nature, Trees, Parks--Maintenance, BC Parks, and Landforms
- Creator:
- Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1943-22
- 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 x 19 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Tweedsmuir Provincial Park and British Columbia--Tweedsmuir Provincial Park--Hunlen Falls
- Coordinates:
- 52.27476, -125.7739
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Verso stamped with "Victoria Daily Times.."
- 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.
170. Hunlen Falls, Tweedsmuir Provincial Park
- Title:
- Hunlen Falls, Tweedsmuir Provincial Park
- Description:
- A tall waterfall down a steep rocky cliff-side coming from a tree-lined river. This waterfall has also been known as Mystery Falls. The photo's caption mentions this was taken on a trip by Lyons and Trew where they recommended that the southern leg be added to the provincial park. Pencil notes on the verso of the photo say that the photo was used in the National Parks Magazine and that the falls are 1200 feet high.
- Subject:
- BC Parks, Cliffs, Parks--Planning, Nature, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Parks--Management, Landforms, Waterfalls, Parks, Natural history, and Parks--Maintenance
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1943-22
- 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 25.5 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Tweedsmuir Provincial Park--Hunlen Falls and British Columbia--Tweedsmuir Provincial Park
- Coordinates:
- 52.27476, -125.7739
- 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.