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)
41. Air view of Forbidden Plateau, Vancouver Island, B.C.
- Title:
- Air view of Forbidden Plateau, Vancouver Island, B.C.
- Description:
- Aerial view looking down on a tress and snow covered plateau with heavily snow covered mountains in the distance. Forbidden Plateau is in Strathcona Provincial Park.
- Subject:
- BC Parks, Nature, Snow, Parks, Landscapes, Natural history, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Mountains, and Plateaus
- 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
- Identifier:
- British Columbia Government Photograph: 487
- Extent:
- 1 photograph ; 25 x 20 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Forbidden Plateau and British Columbia--Strathcona Park
- Coordinates:
- 49.68293, -125.31958
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- In a folder with "Parks books [1930-ca. 1970]" and "Personal Historic" written on it. and Stamped on the verso with "Please Credit 'British Columbia Government Photograph' No. 487; Caption: Air view of Forbidden Plateau V.I. B.C. From the Photographic Branch, Dep. of Recreation and Conservation, Victoria, 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:
- aerial photographs, 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.
42. B.C. Police, Forbidden Plateau, Vancouver Island
- Title:
- B.C. Police, Forbidden Plateau, Vancouver Island
- Description:
- A Mountie on a horse that is drinking from a lake with tree lined rocky shoreline and mountains in the background. Forbidden Plateau is located in the east of the Vancouver Island Ranges in Strathcona Provincial Park on Vancouver Island.
- Subject:
- Mountains, Lakes, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Natural history, Nature, Plateaus, Parks, Landscapes, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and BC Parks
- 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
- Identifier:
- British Columbia Government Photograph: 808
- Extent:
- 1 photograph ; 25 x 20 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Strathcona Park and British Columbia--Forbidden Plateau
- Coordinates:
- 49.68293, -125.31958
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- In a folder with "Parks books [1930-ca. 1970]" and "Personal Historic" written on it. and Stamped on the verso with "Please Credit 'British Columbia Government Photograph' No. 808; Caption: B.C. Police Forbidden Plateau V.I. From the Photographic Branch, Dep. of Recreation and Conservation, Victoria, 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 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.
43. Bear family foraging in a dump site, Manning Park [?]
- Title:
- Bear family foraging in a dump site, Manning Park [?]
- Description:
- Looking down on a hillside covered in garbage and refuse at a black bear with two cubs foraging through the dump site. Photo's caption reads "Was this Manning Park at one time?"
- Subject:
- Nature, Bears--Behavior, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Black bear, Natural history, Bears--Ecology, Bears, BC Parks, and Bear cubs
- 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 ; 11 x 16.5 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Manning Provincial Park
- Coordinates:
- 49.06642, -120.78578
- 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.
44. Bill Welsh [?] admiring the view from a highway
- Title:
- Bill Welsh [?] admiring the view from a highway
- Description:
- A person (possibly Bill Welsh according to the photo's caption) standing next to a highway looking out towards a forested landscape with mountains in the far distance. Possibly the Alaksa Highway from the photo's caption.
- Subject:
- Nature, Natural history, Mountains, Landscapes, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, BC Parks, Roads, and Forests and forestry
- 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.
45. Bob Ahrens with large Arbutus tree, Sidney Spit, Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
- Title:
- Bob Ahrens with large Arbutus tree, Sidney Spit, Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
- Description:
- Bob Ahrens standing next to a large tree trunk at Sidney Spit. Photo's caption reads "Bob Ahrens (and C.P.L. on Sidney Spit (park reconnaissance) Possibly the largest arbutus tree in B.C."
- Subject:
- Forests and forestry, Nature, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Trees, Natural areas, Tree trunks, BC Parks, Arbutus, Ahrens, Bob, Parks, Pacific madrone, 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 ; 12.5 x 15 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Gulf Islands National Park Reserve and British Columbia--Sidney Island--Sidney Spit
- Coordinates:
- 48.65192, -123.34318
- 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.
46. Boulders as big as houses, Cathedral Lakes region
- Title:
- Boulders as big as houses, Cathedral Lakes region
- Description:
- Looking up at a two women on huge boulders and rock formations. In the Cathedral Provincial Park region, near U.S.A boundary south of Hedley.
- Subject:
- Nature, Parks, Landforms, Boulders, Geology, Natural history, BC Parks, and British Columbia. Ministry of Forests
- 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 ; 24 x 19 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Cathedral Park
- Coordinates:
- 49.06644, -120.18573
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- In a folder with "Parks books [1930-ca. 1970]" and "Personal Historic" written on it. and Verso stamped with Victoria Daily Times stamp and handwritten notes, including that it was for "Amazing Province".
- 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.
47. C.P. Lyons with two friends
- Title:
- C.P. Lyons with two friends
- Description:
- Two men, left one being C.P. Lyons standing on the lawn in front of a house with a Rough Collie dog between them.
- Subject:
- Nature, Friends and associates, Natural history, Lyons, C. P. (Chester Peter), 1915-, BC Parks, Dogs, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, and Dwellings
- 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 ; 9 x 9 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:
- color 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.
48. Camping at the base of a mountain
- Title:
- Camping at the base of a mountain
- Description:
- Two people camping in a tent with a tall mountain in the background.
- Subject:
- Nature, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Mountains, Camping, Natural history, Landscapes, BC Parks, and Tents
- 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 ; 13.5 x 17.5 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:
- photographs and black-and-white 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.
49. Car park, Mount Seymour Provincial Park
- Title:
- Car park, Mount Seymour Provincial Park
- Description:
- Motor vehicles in a lot and lining a road in snow conditions with people getting their skis.
- Subject:
- Motor vehicles, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Snow, Winter, BC Parks, Natural history, Nature, Parks, Skis and skiing, Recreation area parking facilities, and Parking lots
- 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 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: 4.12.3
- 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.
50. Carved wooden sign for Goldie Lake, Mount Seymour Provincial Park
- Title:
- Carved wooden sign for Goldie Lake, Mount Seymour Provincial Park
- Description:
- A wooden sign for the Goldie Lake trail in Mount Seymour Provincial Park.
- Subject:
- Nature, Wooden signs and signboards, BC Parks, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests, Natural history, Parks, and Trails
- Creator:
- Howard, Roy
- 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 ; 18 x 12 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Mount Seymour Provincial Park and British Columbia--Goldie Lake
- Coordinates:
- 49.36972, -122.93694
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Stamped on verso: "Photo by Roy Howard, Vancouver, B.C." 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.