Vancouver: A History in Photographs

Ann Turner is Financial and Budget Manager at the University of British
Columbia Library.

First published in 1993, this concise history chronicles the highlights of Vancouver’s social, economic, and cultural development from the 1860s to about 1989.

Its 150 photographs, all black and white, are accompanied by captioned paragraphs to explain the subjects and significance of each one.  A lively, information-packed narrative flows around them, binding the album together and adding intriguing details of life in the city as it grew.  Most of the photographs come from the collections of the Vancouver Public Library and the City of Vancouver Archives.  Their clarity and the quality of reproduction are excellent. 

At just over 100 pages this is an easy read and a most enjoyable introduction to Vancouver’s history for visitors and residents alike.