Delta Museum and Archives Society

Identity area

Identifier

DMA

Authorized form of name

Delta Museum and Archives Society

Parallel form(s) of name

  • Delta Archives & Edgar Dunning Reading Room
  • Delta Archives & Edgar Dunning Reading Room

Other form(s) of name

Type

  • Community
  • Community
  • Regional

Contact area

 

Robert McLelland, Archivist

Type

Address

Street address

4450 Clarence Taylor Crescent

Locality

Delta

Region

BC

Country name

Postal code

Telephone

Fax

604-946-5791

Email

Note

Description area

History

The Delta Archives & Edgar Dunning Reading Room is operated by the Delta Museum & Archives Society (DMAS), a registered charitable organization funded in part by the Corporation of Delta as well as through community grants, donations, events, memberships and service fees.

The Delta Historical and Museum Society acquired the 1912 Delta Municipal Hall in Ladner for a museum in 1969. The Archives joined the Delta Historical & Museum Society in 1979, after which it became officially known as the Delta Museum & Archives Society. In December 2010, the archives holdings were moved to a new purpose built facility ‘The Delta Archives and Edgar Dunning Reading Room’ located at 4450 Clarence Taylor Crescent next door to the Delta Municipal Hall.

Geographical and cultural context

Mandates/Sources of authority

The mandate of the Delta Museum and Archives is to collect within the geographic boundaries of the District Municipality of Delta, which includes the urban areas of Ladner, Tsawwassen and North Delta.

Our Mission:
The Delta Museum and Archives Society is a vibrant organization that celebrates cultural and natural heritage, and encourages awareness and education through preservation, research, exhibitions, outreach and collaboration.

Our Vision:
We envision a community where people are inspired by Delta's diverse cultural and natural heritage and work together to build a future full of possibility. Engage - Preserve - Inform

Administrative structure

Records management and collecting policies

The holdings of the archives consists of both municipal and community records. At the opening of the new Delta Archives and Edgar Dunning Reading room in January 2011, the archives became the official repository for the Corporation of Delta. The archives acquires municipal records created, received and accumulated during the course of practical civic activity by Council, and any department, office, committee, board, commission or agency of the Corporation of Delta.

Those records identified as having archival value through the Corporation’s records management program are transferred to the Archives once they become inactive and later made accessible as part of the Archives’ public service.

Delta Archives may collect non-archival material such as publications, research files, periodicals, brochures and pamphlets if they have significant informational or historical value and if they are not within the acquisition mandate of another civic institution.

Buildings

Holdings

Total volume of primary material is 130 linear metres, including 100 metres textual records, over 20,000 photographs, over 1,000 maps and over 200 oral history interviews; inclusive dates 1850 to 2009, predominant dates 1895 to 1990. The reference room has extensive subject files and a non-circulating library that focuses on local history, and a collection of local newspapers on microfilm 1902 to present.

Finding aids, guides and publications

The Delta Museum and Archives Website http://www.deltamuseum.ca provides information about the holdings and archives services. It includes a searchable database http://deltamuseum.ca/dbsearch/Archives/Search.aspx with fonds, series and item level descriptions.
An inventory to the non - circulating library materials can be found on Library Thing http://www.librarything.com/profile/DeltaMuseumArchives
The Reference Room contains Subject Heading Indexes for Subject and names files relating to organizations, residents, obituaries, contemporary and historical reports and local issues in Delta from past to present.
The website also includes a searchable database of the Museum artifact collections which can be found at http://deltamuseum.ca/dbsearch/museum/Search.aspx

Access area

Opening times

Monday to Friday 9 am to 4:30 pm
Closed all Statutory Holidays
please Check website for closures: deltamuseum.ca

Access conditions and requirements

Accessibility

The Delta Archives & Edgar Dunning Reading Room is a wheelchair accessible facility.

Services area

Research services

Reproduction services

Original archival records will be photocopied/scanned by Archives' staff unless the condition prevents handling.
Reproductions available:
photocopies @ .25/pg and microfilm copies @ .40/pg
Photograph Reproductions available by request, contact: archives@deltamuseum.ca for terms and conditions of use and price list.

Public areas

Research & Reference Services
Access to Archival Collections
Reproduction Services
Temporary Exhibitions
Facility Tours
Presentations
Workshops

Control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation, revision and deletion

Revised November 2009.
Revised by BCANS Coordinator, Nov 29, 2010; May 1, 2014.
Revised by CM January 18, 2012
Revised by SS September 2, 2014

Language(s)

Script(s)

Sources

Maintenance notes

Access points

Access Points

  • Clipboard

Primary contact

4450 Clarence Taylor Crescent
Delta, BC