Grace McCarthy Scrapbook Collection

Donated to the Simon Fraser University Library in 2011, the Grace McCarthy fonds (MsC 168) includes 89 scrapbooks compiled by McCarthy, the Social Credit MLA who became cabinet minister and deputy premier. These scrapbooks include photographs, correspondence, clippings, press releases, and other ephemera dating from 1960-1991 and provide a snapshot of her political career and contributions to British Columbia's political, cultural, and economic development.

Donated to the Simon Fraser University Library in 2011, the Grace McCarthy fonds (MsC 168) includes 89 scrapbooks compiled by McCarthy, the Social Credit MLA who became cabinet minister and deputy premier. These scrapbooks include photographs, correspondence, clippings, press releases, and other ephemera dating from 1960-1991 and provide a snapshot of her political career and contributions to British Columbia's political, cultural, and economic development.

Collection history

Grace McCarthy (1927-2017) was a successful business woman turned Social Credit politician whose work significantly impacted British Columbia and the Lower Mainland in particular. During her career, she served as a Vancouver Parks Commissioner, MLA and cabinet minister. As deputy premier, her portfolios included economic development, provincial secretary, human resources, social services, and tourism.

McCarthy's efforts to promote British Columbia made her well regarded across the political spectrum. As the first woman in Canada appointed deputy premier, she was a pioneer whose successes laid a foundation for future women in provincial politics. Her work in lobbying for and preparing the city for the World Exposition in 1986 ushered in Vancouver's modern era and changed the landscape of the city forever.

Highlights

Dating from 1960 to 1991, the scrapbooks document:

  • Grace McCarthy's terms as MLA for the Vancouver-Little Mountain District, including speeches, transcripts, correspondence, and photographs
  • Social Credit political campaigns, including meeting minutes, newsletters, and other publications
  • Lobbying efforts to bring Expo '86 to Vancouver
  • Beautification projects such as securing lighting of the Lions Gate Bridge
  • Contributions to B.C. tourism including "Smile" and "Super, Natural British Columbia" campaigns and film promotion
  • Establishment of the SkyTrain as a rapid transit system
  • Economic development including the construction and opening of the Vancouver Trade & Convention Centre
  • Social welfare and child welfare policy work, including initiation of Canada's first toll-free help line for abused children

Acknowledgments

SFU Library gratefully acknowledges the financial support provided by the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre's B.C. History Digitization Program and the family of Grace McCarthy to make this collection available online.

Copyright and Terms of use

  • This work is protected by copyright in Canada unless its copyright has expired. The user is responsible for doing their own assessment.
  • You may use this work as permitted by applicable licenses, fair dealing and other exceptions under copyright legislation in your jurisdiction. For guidance on seeking further permissions, contact the source/owner of the material.

The Simon Fraser University Library is grateful to the many publishers who gave permission to include their content in this collection. 

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Displaying 16 - 30 of 89

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #16 February - April 1978

Date: 1978
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), printed ephemera, correspondence, press releases, radio talk transcripts, photograph and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's position as Provincial Secretary and Minister of Recreation and Tourism. In specific, the following persons and matters are mentioned: issue of Nuu-chah-nulth participation in bicentennial, Ed Smith (Speaker of BC Legislature) controversy, BC tourism industry revenues, Captain Cook bicentennial, BC…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #17 April 1978

Date: 1978
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts) that relate to Grace McCarthy's position as Provincial Secretary and Minister of Recreation and Tourism. In specific, the following matters are mentioned: BC tourism industry, Captain Cook bicentennial, tall ships race.

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #18 May 1978

Date: 1978
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), souvenir programs, reports, correspondence and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's position as Provincial Secretary and Minister of Recreation and Tourism. In specific, the following persons and matters are mentioned: Bill Ozard settlement, BC tourism industry, Bastion Museum, Captain Cook bicentennial, hospitality industry, First Nations protest due to Captain Cook celebrations, convention centre plans.

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #19 June 1978

Date: 1978
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), printed ephemera, correspondence, and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's position as Provincial Secretary and Minister of Recreation and Tourism. In specific, the following persons and matters are mentioned: Graham Lea, Bill Vander Zahn, BC tourism industry, proposal for trade and convention centre, Dave Barrett, tall ship arriving in Victoria, Captain Cook bicentennial, computer lottery, smile campaign, gerrymandering…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #20 August 1978

Date: 1978
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), printed ephemera, correspondence and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's position as Provincial Secretary and Minister of Recreation and Tourism. In specific, the following persons and matters are mentioned: Prince Philip and Prince Andrew visit, BC tourism industry, lottery, tourism revenue, P.N.E., Captain Cook bicentennial.

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #21 September 1978

Date: 1978
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), printed ephemera, correspondence, radio talk transcripts, photograph and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's position as Provincial Secretary and Minister of Recreation and Tourism. In specific, the following persons and matters are mentioned: Jack Davis (MLA), BC tourism industry, Pier convention centre designs. It also includes: Province of BC Newsletter (Sep. 1978).

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #22 October 1978

Date: 1978
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), printed ephemera, correspondence, souvenir programs and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's position as Provincial Secretary and Minister of Recreation and Tourism. In specific, the following persons and matters are mentioned: BC tourism industry, lottery issues, smile campaign, trade convention centre, J. E. Bernier II, Captain Cook Birthplace Museum.

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #23 November 1978

Date: 1978
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), printed ephemera, correspondence, souvenir programs and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's position as Provincial Secretary and Minister of Recreation and Tourism. In specific, the following persons and matters are mentioned: BC tourism industry, lottery issues, natural gas line in Terrace, Aga Khan, Pierre Trudeau, hospitality courses. It also includes: booklet Annual Report 1978 of The EasterSeal People.

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #24 December 1978

Date: 1978
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), printed ephemera, correspondence, photographs and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's position as Minister of Human Resources and Minister responsible for I.C.B.C. In specific, the following persons and matters are mentioned: cabinet shuffle and Grace becoming Minister of Human Resources, Elwood Veitch, Bill Bennett, I.C.B.C. rates and policies, social and welfare policies.

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #25 January - March 1979

Date: 1979
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), printed ephemera, correspondence, photographs and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's position as Minister of Human Resources and Minister responsible for I.C.B.C. In specific, the following persons and matters are mentioned: 1979 Year of the Child and the Family, Whistler development, film industry, BC tourism industry, social and welfare policies, funeral of W. A. C. Bennett. It also includes: Annual Report Issue of…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #26 March - May 1979

Date: 1979
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), printed ephemera, correspondence, photographs, radio talk transcripts and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's position as Minister of Human Resources and Minister responsible for I.C.B.C. In specific, the following persons and matters are mentioned: social and welfare policies, Social Credit party rift, Bill Bennett, child neglect and death scandal, BC elections, dental care policy, BC medicare issues. It also includes:…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #27 May - July 1979

Date: 1979
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), printed ephemera, correspondence and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's position as Minister of Human Resources and Minister responsible for I.C.B.C. In specific, the following matters are mentioned: child care issues, foster parenting, child welfare policies, I.C.B.C. policies on impaired drivers and rate discrimination, Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre (Pier BC) planning.

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #28 July - September 1979

Date: 1979
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), souvenir programs, printed ephemera, correspondence, radio talk transcripts and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's position as Minister of Human Resources and Minister responsible for I.C.B.C. In specific, the following persons and matters are mentioned: Dave Barrett, I.C.B.C. rate policies, child welfare policies and child abuse helpline, BC Summer Games, the funeral of Earl Mountbatten of Burma. It also includes: 2…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #29 September - October 1979

Date: 1979
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), souvenir programs, printed ephemera, correspondence and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's position as Minister of Human Resources and Minister responsible for I.C.B.C. In specific, the following persons and matters are mentioned: child welfare policies and child abuse helpline, John Gilchrist, foster families, Parti Quebecois members visit BC, pre-election campaigning, aid for the special needs children at schools,  

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #30 October - November 1979

Date: 1979
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), souvenir programs, printed ephemera, correspondence, radio talk transcripts and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's position as Minister of Human Resources and Minister responsible for I.C.B.C. In specific, the following persons and matters are mentioned: child welfare policies and child abuse issues, “dirty tricks” and “lettergate” scandal, child abuse policy manual scandal, Bill Bennett, Bernie Smith, George Lenko…