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 76 - 89 of 89

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #76 April 1988

Date: 1988
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), printed ephemera, correspondence, photographs, souvenir programs, communiques, and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's position as the Minister of Economic Development. In specific, the following persons and matters are mentioned: sale of Expo lands (BC Enterprise Corporation), Bill Vander Zalm, BC Government Employees Union, Peter Toigo, Bob Williams (NDP), social welfare policy, German trade delegation, Victor Li, Concord…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #77 April - May 1988

Date: 1988
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), printed ephemera, correspondence, photographs, souvenir programs, communiques, and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's position as the Minister of Economic Development. In specific, the following persons and matters are mentioned: social welfare policy, BC Enterprise Corporation sale controversy, Peter Toigo, Bill Vander Zalm, Victor Li, inauguration of the China Gate. It also includes: issue of Business Pulse (Spring 1988).

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #78 June 1988

Date: 1988
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), printed ephemera, correspondence, photographs, souvenir programs, poster, postcards, and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's position as the Minister of Economic Development. In specific, the following persons and matters are mentioned: BC Hydro fraud, Bill Vander Zalm, BC Enterprise Corporation sale, Brian Smith, Mark Harcourt, Social Credit Party (Socreds) inter party divisions. It also includes: issue of BC Newsletter (…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #79 July 1988

Date: 1988
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of correspondence, photographs, printed ephemera, postcards and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's resignation from the position of Minister of Economic Development.

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #80 July - August 1988

Date: 1988
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), correspondence, photographs, printed ephemera and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's resignation from the position of Minister of Economic Development. In specific, the following persons and matters are mentioned: Bill Vander Zalm, Brian Smith, BC economy, Social Credit Party (Socreds) inter party divisions, BC Enterprise Corporation, Premier being investigated, David Poole, government spying on pro-choice supporters, Peter…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #81 September - November 1988

Date: 1988
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), correspondence, photographs, printed ephemera, souvenir programs, birthday cards and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's resignation from the position of Minister of Economic Development and her role as M.L.A representing Vancouver Little Mountain riding. In specific, the following persons and matters are mentioned: Bill Vander Zalm critique, BC Enterprise Corporation, Social Credit Party Convention 1988, Social Credit Party…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #82 December 1988

Date: 1988
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), correspondence, photographs, printed ephemera, souvenir programs and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's role as M.L.A. representing Vancouver Little Mountain riding. In specific, the following persons and matters are mentioned: Bill Vander Zalm critique, Hong Kong condominium sales, Expo lands, BC Enterprise Corporation, Mike Harcourt, toxic soil at False Creek. It also includes: issue of Party-Link (Winter 1988).

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #83 1989 - 1990

Date: 1989
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), correspondence, photographs, printed ephemera, souvenir programs, communiques and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's role as M.L.A. representing Vancouver Little Mountain riding. In specific, the following persons and matters are mentioned: Social Credit becomes unpopular, EXPO lands issues, opposition to GST, Bill Vander Zalm, NDP as political opposition, Mike Harcourt. It also includes: issue of Lifestyle Magazine Chinese…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #84 August - October 1989

Date: 1989
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), correspondence, photographs, printed ephemera, souvenir programs, communiques and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's role as M.L.A. representing Vancouver Little Mountain riding. In specific, the following persons and matters are mentioned: EXPO lands issues, Bill Vander Zalm, Social Credit party leadership issues, Social Credit party M.L.A. resignations. It also includes: issues of Marketing Matters (vol. 2 no. 3).

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #85 1990

Date: 1990
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), correspondence, photographs, printed ephemera, souvenir programs, communiques, speech, excerpt of debates transcripts and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's role as M.L.A. representing Vancouver Little Mountain riding. In specific, the following persons and matters are mentioned: Brian Smith affair and resignation, Moe Sihota, wire-tap tapes, Bill Vander Zalm, Social Credit party leadership issues, NDP as political…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #86 1991

Date: 1991
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts) that relate to Grace McCarthy's role as M.L.A. representing Vancouver Little Mountain riding as well as to her campaign for the party leadership.

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #87 1991 Random

Date: 1991
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), correspondence, photographs, printed ephemera, souvenir programs, communiques, speech, excerpt of debates transcripts and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's role as M.L.A. representing Vancouver Little Mountain riding as well as to her candidacy for the party leadership and to her with retirement from politics. In specific, the following persons and matters are mentioned: Bill Vander Zalm, Grace's retirement announcement,…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #88 1991 Random

Date: 1991
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of correspondence, photographs, printed ephemera and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's role as M.L.A. representing Vancouver Little Mountain riding as well as to her candidacy for the party leadership and to her with retirement from politics.

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #89 1991 Random

Date: 1991
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), correspondence, photographs, printed ephemera, communiques, souvenir programs and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's role as M.L.A. representing Vancouver Little Mountain riding as well as to her candidacy for the party leadership and to her with retirement from politics. In specific, the following persons and matters are mentioned: Rita Johnson, leadership campaign, It also includes: issue of Variety Club Tent Talk (Nov.…