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 31 - 45 of 89

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #31 November - December 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 and foster parents, BC cabinet minister shuffle, Bill Bennett, Jack Heinrich, aid for special needs children at schools, child support payments enforcement policy, firing of…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #32 December 1979 - September 1980

Date: 1979
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), souvenir programs, printed ephemera, correspondence, photographs, reports 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 welfare policy, women shelters, Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre (Pier BC) planning, Prince Charles visit. It also includes: issue of Counsellor's Reporter (vol.…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #33 1980 Miscellaneous

Date: 1980
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of photographs, 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: construction of the Pacific Rim Trade and Convention Centre, Jack Volrich, Captain Cook bicentennial, BC economic development. Photographs depict various event attended by Grace. It…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #34 January - February 1980

Date: 1980
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), 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: award recognition of social workers, social welfare policy, Pat Jordan, BC tourism ministry, gerrymandering in Grace's riding (“Grace's finger”), Larry Eckhardt, electoral investigation…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #35 February - March 1980

Date: 1980
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), 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: welfare study and policy, provincial pension plan, child welfare and foster parents policies, adoption policies, Prince Charles visit. It also includes: Opening Speech of the 32nd Parliament…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #36 April - May 1980

Date: 1980
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), 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 matters are mentioned: social welfare policy, child welfare and adoption policy, Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre (Pier BC) planning, child prostitutes. It also includes: program: Technology and the Resources 20th Annual…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #37 June - July 1980

Date: 1980
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), printed ephemera, correspondence, photograph, 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: Office of Ombudsman, Karl Friedmann, Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre (Pier BC) planning, social welfare policy, child welfare policies, women shelters, child prostitutes, Jean Chretien. It also…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #38 August 1980

Date: 1980
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: child welfare policies, adoption ads, “lettergate” and “dirty tricks” scandal, gerrymandering, "Gracie's finger”, Bill Bennett, Allan Williams, Larry Eckhard, Dan Campbell, social welfare…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #39 September - November 1980

Date: 1980
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), printed ephemera, correspondence, photographs, radio talk transcripts, souvenir programs 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: “Gracie's Finger”, gerrymandering, Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre (Pier BC) planning, child welfare and child care policies, adoption and foster…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #40 December 1980 - March 1981

Date: 1980
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 welfare policy, child welfare and foster parents policy, women shelters, child care concerns, Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre (Pier BC) planning, Mike Harcourt,…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #41 1981 Press Clippings

Date: 1981
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts) 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: Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre (Pier BC) planning, Mike Harcourt.

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #42 February 10, 1981 (Northeast Coalition Agreement)

Date: 1981
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of photographs that depict ceremonial signing of the Joint Agreement (Northeast Coal) on February 10, 1981 in Four Season Hotel in Vancouver. Agreement for the development of coal industry between Kobe Steel, Nippon Kokan K.K. and B.C.'s Quintette and Teck Corporation.

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #43 April - May 1981

Date: 1981
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), printed ephemera, correspondence, photographs, radio talk transcripts, souvenir programs 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: “Gracie's Finger”, gerrymandering, Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre (Pier BC) planning, child welfare and child care policies, Pezim fund-raising…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #44 June - July 1981

Date: 1981
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), printed ephemera, correspondence, photographs, radio talk transcripts, souvenir programs 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: “Gracie's Finger”, gerrymandering, Karl Friedman - Ombudsman, Ralph Nader, policies for people with disabilities, Allan Williams, NDP accuses Attorney-…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #45 August - September 1981

Date: 1981
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), printed ephemera, correspondence, photographs, souvenir programs 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: “Gracie's Finger”, gerrymandering, social welfare policy, child welfare and foster parents policy, policies for people with disabilities. It also includes: issue of Western…