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Newspaper indexes and Vertical Files

 

Where are they?

The Vertical Files were copied on to 164 reels of 16 mm. microfilm. Microfilm copies are available at:

  • British Columbia Archives, Victoria. The reels are accessible in the Archives' Reference Room [accessioned number D19].
  • Vancouver Island University Library, Nanaimo . The reels are located in the microform cabinets, in the main reference area, near the stairway to the fourth floor of the Library. The VF reels are catalogued as FC 3805.

How do I find items or files within 164 reels of film?

Consult the paper File Title Index to the Vertical Files. The File Title Index is bound in several volumes and is available at:

  • British Columbia Archives, Victoria. The index volumes are located in the Archives' Reference Room.
  • Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo. The index is bound in 7 volumes and the volumes are shelved in the Reference section of the Library [Ref. FC 3805/V47].

As the name implies, the File Title Index consists of an alphabetical list of Vertical File headings. The Index also includes microfilm reel numbers (1 - 164) and -- most important -- Vertical File microfilm frame numbers for each of the files.

Suppose, for example, you were searching for information on historic buildings in Nanaimo. In the paper Index, under the heading "Nanaimo-Buildings," researchers will find reference to a file on microfilm reel #98, beginning at frame #2437.

Note: Frame numbers appear in the lower left corner of every frame and read from top to bottom. Frame numbers appear sequentially on every reel of microfilm, making it easy to "fast forward" to the start of any particular file on any reel within the 164 reels of film. The frame at the start of each file features a picture of the original file folder; the end of each file is marked by a large black dot.

By noting the frame numbers, researchers can quickly locate the start of a specific "Vertical File" amidst the hundreds of files contained on any one reel of film.

Advanced research methods

Researchers who have more time and experience might also consult the microfiche copy of the Vertical File/Newspaper Index (c. 1858-1895). This index consists of 921 separate microfiche sheets.

The microfiche index is available at:

  • British Columbia Archives, Victoria.The index is available in the Archives' Reference Room [accessioned number Df-40]
  • Vancouver Island University Library, Nanaimo. The index is catalogued as AI 21 B78. The index is kept in the bottom drawer of the filing cabinet containing CHIM microfiche.

Again, suppose we're looking for information on historic buildings in Nanaimo. Under the heading "Nanaimo - Buildings," the following entry appears:

*Old Madill building is coming down.
Nanaimo Daily Free Press, Jan. 11, 1974, p.3.
From the information provided, we can determine that a news item, with the caption "Old Madill building is coming down," appeared on page 3 of the Nanaimo Daily Free Press, on January 11th, 1974.

This same item could be identified by consulting the paper File Title Index described above. And as a general rule, it's easier to use the paper Index. However, the microfiche card index contains more detailed information than the paper Index and it includes references to historical newspaper reports, c. 1858-1895.

Again, let's use "Nanaimo-Buildings" as an example. The microfiche index lists several items under the heading "Nanaimo-Buildings," including the following entry:

"Progress in Nanaimo," Colonist, Dec.12,'72 p. 2.
In this example, the entry refers to a report that was printed on page 3 of the Victoria Daily British Colonist on December 12th, 1872.

Researchers who followed up this reference, by consulting the microfilm copies of the Victoria Colonist for December 12th, 1872, would be rewarded with a very detailed contemporary report on the commercial progress of Nanaimo in 1872. [For a transcript of the report, click here.]

To conclude — you can access the Vertical Files using a paper File Title Index, or you can access them through the microfiche VF/Newspaper Index. If you choose the microfiche index, simply remember than entries marked with an asterix [*] indicate a Vertical File newspaper clipping. Other entries refer to items that appeared in British Columbia newspapers, c. 1858 - 1895.

You can also differentiate between items by noting the dates shown on the VF/Newspaper Index. Entries with an abbreviated year -- for example, Dec. 12, '72 -- always indicate a nineteenth century item. In this case, the '72 refers to 1872. Entries that include a complete date -- e.g. 1974 -- indicate more recent items that were clipped from the newspaper and assigned to one of the Archives' Vertical Files.