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 1 - 15 of 89

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #01 1960 - 1982

Date: 1960
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of newspaper clippings, photographs and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's position as the B.C. Minister of Tourism. In specific, the following persons, organizations and events are mentioned: Louis Brier, Irwin Stout, Mayor Reid, Jim Payner, Evan Wolfe, Earl Bradford, Ed Lumley, Bob Dawson, Colin Fox, Prince Charles, Jack Volrich, Myrtle Russell, Dick Hussey, Connie and Frank Alpen, Frank Howard, Rafe Mair, Leo Balatsas, John Plul, Hugh Pickett, Phillip…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #02 1970

Date: 1970
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of newspaper clippings, photographs and other materials that relate to Grace McCarthy's position as Minister Without Portfolio and government policies on housing development. In specific, the following persons and projects are mentioned: Dean and Faye Leung, Miss Linnell, Tom Campbell, Champlain Heights Townhouse Project.

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #03 1970

Date: 1970
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of newspaper clippings, photographs, received notes that relate to Grace McCarthy's position as Minister Without Portfolio, government policies on housing development and illicit drug policies.

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #04 1972

Date: 1972
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of newspaper clippings, photographs, correspondence that relate to Grace McCarthy's position as Minister Without Portfolio. In specific, the following persons, events and projects are mentioned: E. K. de Beck, Waldo McTavish Skillings, Jericho land sales for park, 1975 Kinsmen Mothers' March, Christ Church Cathedral parish, Salt Spring Island landing strip,

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #05 1974

Date: 1974
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of the Social Credit League operational documents: Grace's correspondence as the League's president, party's newsletters, meeting minutes and notices. It includes a brochure "The Preservative" by Dr. Kenneth McFarland (Denver, CO: Homemakers Guild of America Corp.).

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #06 1974

Date: 1974
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of newspaper clippings and cartoons relating to the British Columbia political scene and the Social Credit Party policies in regards to property taxes increases and changes to the mining industry.

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #07 1975

Date: 1975
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of the Social Credit Party operational documents: Grace's correspondence as the president of Social Credit Party, as well as correspondence to her; party's newsletters, meeting minutes and notices, campaign promotional materials and Bill Bennet's campaign pamphlets.

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #08 1975

Date: 1975
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of Grace's campaign pamphlets, the Social Credit Party campaign correspondence, the Social Credit Party newsletters, meeting memos, and constituency correspondence.

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #09 January - November 1976

Date: 1976
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of newspaper clippings that relate to Grace McCarthy's position as Provincial Secretary, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Recreation and Tourism. In specific, the following matters are mentioned: P.N.E., cancer grant controversy, Western Canada Lottery, gun policies, Ministry of Tourism, reorganization of government bill and other policies of Social Credit Party government.

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #10 December 1976 - April 1977

Date: 1976
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of newspaper clippings, photographs 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: Bob Bierman cartoonist, promotion of tourism industry, civil servants benefits, Wayne R. Currie - Deputy Minister of Tourism. It also includes: program of legislature proceedings, Opening Speech of 31st Parliament session of BC on January 13, 1977 by…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #11 April - August 1977

Date: 1977
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of newspaper clippings, photographs and other materials 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, Royal Hudson tour and smile campaign for tourism promotion.

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #12 August - November 1977 and Royal Hudson Tour

Date: 1977
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of newspaper clippings, photographs 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: Rafe Mair, BC tourism industry, Royal Hudson tour and smile campaign for tourism promotion, PNE parade, Chinese community quarrel, Captain Cook bicentennial celebration, hospitality programs, government employees pension shortages. It also includes:…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #13 November 1977 - March 1978

Date: 1977
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts), souvenir programs, 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: ferry fare increases, BC tourism industry, Captain Cook bicentennial, Grace's visit to Kootenay Region, Friendship Exchange campaign, Sam Bawlf, Jack Davis, Royal Hudson tour, Duke Point development, BC film industry.…

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #14 1977 Misc.

Date: 1977
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of clippings (information artifacts) and report that relate to Grace McCarthy's position as Provincial Secretary and Minister of Recreation and Tourism. In specific, the following matters are mentioned: Royal Hudson tour, Captain Cook bicentennial, smile campaign, BC tourism industry. It also includes: Pacific National Exhibition 1977 Annual Report; issue of BC Hotelman, May 1977.

Grace McCarthy Scrapbook #15 1978 Clearbrook Days

Date: 1978
Name(s): McCarthy, Grace
Description: This volume consists of photographs and event programme of Clearbrook Days parade in Abbotsfords in 1978.