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)
211. Fish cache and fur warehouse buildings, Fort St. James, B.C.
- Title:
- Fish cache and fur warehouse buildings, Fort St. James, B.C.
- Description:
- The raised building used as a fish cache in the foreground and the fur warehouse in the background at the former fur trading post and National Historic Site of Fort St. James.
- Subject:
- Wooden-frame buildings, Buildings, Nature, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Historic buildings, BC Parks, Historic sites, and Natural history
- Contributor:
- Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1949/1998
- 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 ; 9 x 9 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Fort St. James--Fort Saint James National Historic Site
- Coordinates:
- 54.44017, -124.2588
- 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: 4.11
- 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:
- 2025-01/2025-02
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Epson Expression 1300XL (600dpi; tif, LG). Metadata by KD.
212. Fur, Gold, and Cattle historical marker
- Title:
- Fur, Gold, and Cattle historical marker
- Description:
- A historical marker for "Fur, Gold, and Cattle" with the Thompson River in the background. The inscription reads: "Founded in 1812, Fort Kamloops stood at a natural crossroads. For 50 years it remained the focus of an inland fur empire the roaring mining boom of the 1880's. Ranchers with cattle and horses replaced the miners. They settled, and stayed to see two railways bring prosperity anew to this land of sagebrush, sun and great rivers. Department of Recreation & Conservation".
- Subject:
- Nature, Natural history, Landscapes, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, History, Rivers, Historical markers, Signs and signboards, BC Parks, and Mountains
- Contributor:
- Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1949/1998
- 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 ; 9 x 9 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Kamloops
- Coordinates:
- 50.6735669, -120.3532833
- 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: 4.11
- 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:
- 2025-01/2025-02
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Epson Expression 1300XL (600dpi; tif, LG). Metadata by KD.
213. Ghost of Walhachin historical marker
- Title:
- Ghost of Walhachin historical marker
- Description:
- A historical marker for the Ghost of Walhachin with an arid desert landscape in the background. Sign reads "Here bloomed a "Garden of Eden"! The sagebrush desert changed to orchards through the imagination and industry of English settlers during 1907-14. Then the men left to fight - and die - for king and country. A storm ripped out the vital irrigation flume. Now only ghosts of flume, trees, and homes remain to mock this once thriving settlement. Department of Recreation & Conservation."
- Subject:
- Historical markers, BC Parks, Ghost towns, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Natural history, Nature, Landscapes, History, and Signs and signboards
- Contributor:
- Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1949/1998
- 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 ; 9 x 9 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Walhachin
- Coordinates:
- 50.75, -120.98333
- 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: 4.11
- 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:
- 2025-01/2025-02
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Epson Expression 1300XL (600dpi; tif, LG). Metadata by KD.
214. Graffiti inside a cabin [01]
- Title:
- Graffiti inside a cabin [01]
- Description:
- The interior of a log cabin covered in graffiti of people's names and locations.
- Subject:
- Log cabins, Nature, Natural history, Graffiti, Parks, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Parks--Maintenance, and BC Parks
- Contributor:
- Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1949/1998
- 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 ; 9 x 9 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: 4.11
- 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:
- 2025-01/2025-02
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Epson Expression 1300XL (600dpi; tif, LG). Metadata by KD.
215. Graffiti inside a cabin [02]
- Title:
- Graffiti inside a cabin [02]
- Description:
- The interior of a log cabin covered in graffiti of people's names and locations.
- Subject:
- Natural history, Log cabins, BC Parks, Parks--Maintenance, Parks, Nature, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, and Graffiti
- Contributor:
- Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1949/1998
- 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 ; 9 x 9 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: 4.11
- 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:
- 2025-01/2025-02
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Epson Expression 1300XL (600dpi; tif, LG). Metadata by KD.
216. Graffiti inside a cabin [03]
- Title:
- Graffiti inside a cabin [03]
- Description:
- The interior of a log cabin covered in graffiti of people's names and locations.
- Subject:
- British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Graffiti, Log cabins, Nature, Natural history, BC Parks, Parks, and Parks--Maintenance
- Contributor:
- Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1949/1998
- 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 ; 9 x 9 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: 4.11
- 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:
- 2025-01/2025-02
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Epson Expression 1300XL (600dpi; tif, LG). Metadata by KD.
217. Historic Hat Creek Ranch, near Cache Creek, B.C.
- Title:
- Historic Hat Creek Ranch, near Cache Creek, B.C.
- Description:
- Hat Creek House at the Historic Hat Creek Ranch site built in 1861 and was one of the largest roadhouses along the original Cariboo wagon road.
- Subject:
- British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Buildings, Roadhouses, History, Historic buildings, Nature, Historic sites, Natural history, Frontier and pioneer life, BC Parks, and Wooden-frame buildings
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1949/1998
- 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 18 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Cache Creek--Historic Hat Creek Ranch
- Coordinates:
- 50.886510, -121.408745
- 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: 4.11
- 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:
- 2025-01/2025-02
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Epson Expression 1300XL (600dpi; tif, LG). Metadata by KD.
218. Lake landscape and vegetation, Bowron Lake, B.C.
- Title:
- Lake landscape and vegetation, Bowron Lake, B.C.
- Description:
- A lake surrounded by heavy vegetation and trees with mountains in the background.
- Subject:
- Forests and forestry, Trees, Plants, Natural history, Mountains, Lakes, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Lake ecology, BC Parks, Parks, and Nature
- Contributor:
- Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1949/1998
- 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 ; 9 x 9 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Bowron Lake and British Columbia--Bowron Lake Provincial Park
- Coordinates:
- 53.1666, -121.08608 and 53.23194, -121.37917
- 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: 4.11
- 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:
- 2025-01/2025-02
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Epson Expression 1300XL (600dpi; tif, LG). Metadata by KD.
219. Lake of the Shuswap historical marker
- Title:
- Lake of the Shuswap historical marker
- Description:
- A historical marker for the Lake of the Shuswap with a lake and mountains in the background.
- Subject:
- British Columbia. Forest Service, Indigenous peoples, Signs and signboards, BC Parks, Landscapes, Lakes, Historical markers, Natural history, Nature, and History
- Contributor:
- lyons
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1949/1998
- 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 ; 9 x 9 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Shuswap Lake
- Coordinates:
- 50.95, -119.16944
- 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: 4.11
- 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:
- 2025-01/2025-02
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Epson Expression 1300XL (600dpi; tif, LG). Metadata by KD.
220. Looking down into a pit house [illustration]
- Title:
- Looking down into a pit house [illustration]
- Description:
- Illustration looking down into a pit house showing the wooden structure and different layers of the roof.
- Subject:
- Nature, Indigenous peoples, Dwellings, Indigenous peoples--Dwellings, BC Parks, Pit houses, British Columbia. Forest Service, and Natural history
- Contributor:
- Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1949?/1998?
- 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 drawing ; 13 x 14.5 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia
- Coordinates:
- 53.99983, -125.0032
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Black ink print on white paper. Stamped with "Victoria Daily Times" with handwritten notes on verso for "Lyon's BC"
- 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 prints (prints on paper), illustrations (layout features), drawings (visual works), and prints (visual works)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2007-039; Series: Photographic materials; Subseries: 03; File: 4.11
- 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
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Epson Expression 1300XL (600dpi; tif, LG). Metadata by KD.