Hornby Island Community Archives
R.G 43
Acc. No.: 2021-11-23/114
Finding Aid Created by Regan Fahey
Last Updated: November 2021
Title: Betty Fairbank Collection
Level of description: collection
General material designation: textual records and graphic materials
Extent: 13 cm
Creator(s): Betty Fairbank (1923-2016)
Dates of Creation: c 1910 – 2016
Biographical sketch: Born Elizabeth Grace Fairbank May 27, 1923 in Pullman, Washington USA Betty grew up in Davis California where her father was an Agricultural Engineer. Betty graduated from Davis High School in 1941 and attended Oberlin College in Ohio as a music student for 2 years, when she joined the Women’s Reserve of the US Marine Corps. Betty served in the photographic section for 2 years, upon her honourable discharge. In 1946 a son was born to her in Oxford, New York and she continued to work in photography as well as journalism, publishing and editing. In 1954 a second son was born and in 1961 Betty returned to California and worked as an editor for CA Magazine for 10 years. Objecting to the Vietnam war Betty came to Canada as a landed immigrant in 1971 and became a citizen in 1976. Betty lived on Galiano Island during the 1970’s and continued working as a photographer, travelling extensively and most notably in the interior and north of British Columbia where she took her most well known photos of the Gitskan totems. Betty moved to Hornby Island in the early 1980’s where she remained very involved in both global and local political activism. Betty was a participant in the March for Peace in Central America, Walk to Witness in Nicaragua, was arrested in protest over Nuclear submarines at Nanoose Bay and arrested at the Clayoquot Sound protests, for which she spent 14 days in jail. Continuing her love of travel and adventure Betty was always recognizable with her ubiquitous VW Vans and never lost her zeal for political activism, attending protests with a walker and refusing to allow a lack of mobility to damper her pursuit of social justice and environmentalism. On Sunday, April 24 2016 – one month shy of her 93rd birthday – Betty Fairbank died at her home on Hornby Island with her son Jay by her side and cared for by her many friends and community.
Scope and content: This collection contains documents, writings and photographs compiled over the course of the life of Betty Fairbank in her work as a photographer and social activist.
Source of supplied title: Title is based on the creator of the collection
Immediate source of acquisition: Vicki Bale retrieved the documents from Betty’s house after her death in 2016 and kept them in her home until they were donated to the Archives in 2021.
Arrangement: The original filing scheme of the records was reconstructed during archival arrangement on the basis of file markings on the documents in order to retain as much of the original order as possible.
Language of materials: English
Record no.: 43
Repository: Hornby Island Community Archives
Finding aids: Finding aid available with file level control
Accruals: Further accruals are not expected
File Inventory
Box 1
1-1 Family History: Notes, personal documents, ephemera and photographs c1910, 1920’s, 1931, 1997 and n.d (9 photographs)
Re: handwritten note listing Charles and Grace Fairbank children, printout of Renfro family genealogy, Betty Fairbank social security card and photocopies of her birth certificate, history of the Fairbank family and newspaper articles about family reunion and history.
1-1 Man with baby (presumed to be Betty Fairbank) n.d
1-2 Woman, small girl and boy (presumed to be Ruth Renfro, Betty Fairbank and brother William Charles Fairbank) n.d
1-3 A young girl and boy (presumed to be Betty and her brother) 1931
1-4 Girl (presumed to be Betty Fairbank)
1-5 An elderly man and woman, at Crazy Horse Monument SD. (presumed to be Betty’s brother) 1997
1-6 Elderly man (presumed to be be Betty’s brother) n.d
1-7 Ruth (Renfro) Fairbank, Betty’s mother n.d
1-8 Picnic at Newman Lake, Ruth in big hat c 1906-1911
1-9 Portrait of a (presumed) Ruth Renfro
1-2 Photographs, notes and ephemera c 1930’s, 1958, 2001 (5 photographs)
Re: grade school class pictures, handwritten record of employment and residence and Class of 1941 roster
2-1 2nd grade – Betty second row far left, c 1930
2-2 3rd grade – Betty second row third in from the right, c 1931
2-3 4th grade – Betty second row third child in from the right, c 1932
2-4 5th grade – Betty back row, third from the right, c 1933
2-5 6th grade – Betty in the girl scout uniform second row, fourth in from the left, c 1934
1-3 Marine Corps: Photographs, ephemera and certificates c1943-1946 (15 photographs)
Re: Flying with the Marine Corps, with David Dewhurst father of Betty’s sons David and Jay, certificate of active duty in World War II, postcards, newspaper clippings and Honourable Discharge certificates
3-1 Betty Fairbank
3-2 Betty and airplane
3-3 Betty and airplane
3-4 Betty and airplane
3-5 Betty and airplane, Reno airfield c 1940’s
3-6 picnic
3-7 Betty and camera
3-8 Betty and snow
3-9 Betty in uniform
3-10 Betty and camera
3-11 Betty and plane
3-12 Betty and Staff Sergeant David Dewhurst, Quantico VA 1945
3-13 Betty and David feeding pigeons
3-14 Betty and cherry blossoms in Washington DC
3-15 Betty in uniform
1-4 Post War – California, 1946-1960 (8 photographs)
4-1 Betty by house
4-2 Betty with baby in front of church
4-3 Betty with baby
4-4 Betty with toddler
4-5 Betty with toddler
4-6 Child and birthday cake
4-7 Child with chocolate pudding
4-8 2 young boys
1-5 Documents and certificates, 1970’s (23 photographs)
Re: Booking record and court documents related to nude swimming arrest, Canadian immigration card and certificate of Canadian citizenship
5-1 Dog on log
5-2 smoke stacks
5-3 flowers in vase
5-4 Whaling Station Bay
5-5 monument
5-6 “The Store” Denman Island
5-7 Betty with toddler on shoulders
5-8 Betty on beach with camera
5-9 Betty on ferry with Volkswagon
5-10 Betty on ferry with Volkswagon
5-11 Car deck on Queen of Prince Rupert
5-12 Betty with camera
5-13 Betty with cup, January 1979
5-14 Betty, January 1979
5-15 Betty, January 1979
5-16 North:1979 – Bear Glacier
5-17 North:1979 – decrepit house
5-18 North:1979 – float plane
5-19 North:1979 – 2 people sitting on rock
5-20 North:1979 – Van on side of road
5-21 North:1979 – road sign on road to Bella Coola
5-22 North:1979 – town
5-23 North:1979 – old buildings
1-6 Gitksan Totems: Notes, Correspondence, Ephemera and Publications, c1979, 1980, 1982, 1984- 1985. (27 photographs)
Re: Notes written by Betty for display with her totem photographs, correspondence regarding Betty’s interest in doing a book on the totems, “Spirit Images of the Gitksan” by Louise Kilby about Betty’s totem photographs, newspaper articles, biography of Betty as a photographer and totem interest, advertisement for photography show, maps of the Gitksan region, information about the Gitxsan people, “Totem Poles of Prince Rupert” by Dawn Hassett & F.W Drew and miscellaneous
6-1 to 6-27 Photographs of Gitksan totems, some with numerical notations on back. Some of the totems have identifying features that correspond with Betty’s notes on the totems
1-7 Writings and Photographs, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1989, c 1980’s (17 photographs)
Re: Betty writing about newborn grandson Kristopher
7-1 Gathering fiddleheads along the road, 1981
7-2 Betty with totem photographs on display
7-3 Betty in Skagway
7-4 small northern town
7-5 Betty dressing for son Jay’s wedding
7-6 Betty dressing for son Jay’s wedding
7-7 Betty dressing for son Jay’s wedding
7-8 Betty dressing for son Jay’s wedding
7-9 Betty with Patch, 1989
7-10 Betty underwater
7-11 to 7-15 Peggy Mileus, Atlin Lake BC, 1985
7-16 Betty and camera
7-17 Betty. Photo by Shelly Glick, 1981
1-8 Notebook: China – 1984 (1 photograph)
Re: Betty’s travel journal from trip to China in 1984
8-1 Sandi and Linda, Guilan China, 1984
1-9 March for Peace – Writings, Correspondence, Documents and Ephemera, 1985-1986 (7 photographs)
Re: Betty’s fundraising letter, Betty’s passport with a postcard from friend expressing concern over safety of trip, Kirsten’s letter about the March for Peace, newspaper article about Betty and other Comox woman attending March, Report on International Peach March in Central America (author unknown) and miscellaneous
9-1 Training for Central America, Hornby Island November 1985
9-2 Training for Central America, Hornby Island November 1985
9-3 Training for Central America, Hornby Island November 1985
9-4 Training for Central America, Hornby Island November 1985
9-5 March for Peace
9-6 March for Peace, Mexico City
9-7 Betty in Guatemala City, 1986
1-10 Motherpeace Action: Nanoose Bay – Writings and Ephemera. 1986-1987 (4 photographs)
Re: synopsis of action, writing about the acquittal of 8 women (Betty Fairbank being one of them) charged with trespassing, writing by Betty about her involvement, newspaper clippings and miscellaneous
10-1 Hornby parade, 1986
10-2 Motherpeace action
10-3 Circling at Motherpeace trial, Parksville 1986
10-4 Motherpeace trial, 1986
1-11 Notebook: Nicaragua Walk to Witness, 1990
Re: Betty’s journal written during her return to Nicaragua as an observer to oversee elections and her identification card
1-12 Ephemera, Writing and Correspondence, 1993 (25 photographs)
Re: Betty’s first trip to England and Paris, when she was 60
12-1 to 12-25 Travel photos of England and Paris, some with identification of people and place on reverse
1-13 Clayoquot: Writings, Certificate, Notes, Legal Document and Ephemera, 1993-1994 (2 photographs)
Re: Events of September 24, 1993 as remembered by Betty Fairbank, certificate from Friends of Clayoquot Sound for Betty’s arrest, handwritten list of Hornby arrestees, “The Black Hole” poem by Carol Chambers, personal herstory of Betty, “Why was I at Clayoquot” by Betty and presented to the Court in March 1994, probation order from the Supreme Court of British Columbia, newspaper article, “On Doing Prison in Pink” Betty’s recollections of 14 days in jail.
13-1 Painting by Janet Morgan, Betty in handcuffs and white sweatshirt, Carole Chambers with scarf, Liz and Norm on far right. Painting was hung at Hornby Free Store for many years
13-2 Copy of above
1-14 Writings, Financial Documents, and Correspondence, 1995, c 1990’s (15 photographs)
Re: January -August 1995 travel diary of Betty’s travels from Arizona to Arctic Circle, notebook pages detailing expenses, card with writing, and letter from grandson
14-1 Betty with Apple, 1994
14-2 Betty with boat, n.d
14-3 Betty with boat, n.d
14-4 Boat, n.d
14-5 Canoeing, n.d
14-6 Van in Arizona (presumed), n.d
14-7 Van in snow, n.d
14-8 Van in snow, n.d
14-9 Van on side of road, n.d
14-10 Arctic Circle, n.d
14-11 Sowerby, 1997
14-12 Church at Sowerby, 1997
14-13 Betty Christmas 1997
14-14 Betty with Oakley Rankin, n.d
14-15 Betty, n.d
1-15 Journals, 2003, 2005
1-16 Ephemera and Correspondence, 2008, 2012, c 2000’s-2010, n.d (21 photographs)
Re: First edition article, pipeline protest newspaper article (Betty far left with walker), note from son Jay, postcard, “Summer Smiles” photo by Betty
16-1 Betty and dog, n.d
16-2 Betty and door, November 2000
16-3 Helliwell, December 2000
16-4 Shirley Fitzpatrick, Humphrey Jones with possum and Betty, Summer 2008
16-5 Possum and eagle in front of Jones’ house, Summer 2008
16-6 Cabin, n.d
16-7 Cabin, n.d
16-8 Cabin in snow, n.d
16-9 Inside, n.d
16-10 Door, n.d
16-11 Arbutus, n.d
16-12 Snow, n.d
16-13 Trees, n.d
16-14 Betty at Tribune Bay Provincial Park boundary, n.d
16-15 Betty at Helliwell, n.d
16-16 Helliwell, n.d
16-17 Summer Smiles, n.d
16-18 Frog, n.d
16-19 Plants, n.d
16-20 Boats, n.d
16-21 Grass in snow, n.d
1-17 Correspondence, c 2003, c2013
Re: 80th and 90th birthday cards
1-18 “Friends Along the Way”, n.d (30 photographs)
18-1 Sheri Street, c 1970’s
18-2 Jane Rule, Galiano, c 1970’s
18-3 Jane Rule, Galiano, c 1970’s
18-4 Robyn Ephick, c 1989
18-5 Kay Macpherson, Hornby 1986
18-6 Kay Macpherson, n.d
18-7 Monica Campbell-Martin, n.d
18-8 Jane Rule and Helen Sonthoff, Galaino 1974
18-9 Thea Jensen, n.d
18-10 Judith Lawrence, n.d
18-11 Betty with friend, n.d
18-12 Betty with friends, n.d
18-13 Betty with friend, n.d
18-14 Friends and camper van, n.d
18-15 Betty and Caroline McAskie, c 1980’s
18-16 Betty and elderly woman, n.d
18-17 Betty with friend, n.d
18-18 Betty with friend at Ringside market Hornby Island n.d
18-19 Betty with friend, n.d
18-20 Betty with friend, n.d
18-21 Friends, n.d
18-22 Betty and Sylvia Spring, Wakefield QC 2009
18-23 Betty with friend, n.d
18-24 Betty with friend, n.d
18-25 Betty and Fall Faire Queen (Ben Berkeveld), n.d
18-26 Collage, 2010
18-27 Betty with Ruth Fortune, 2010
18-28 Ruth Fortune, 2010
18-29 Ruth Fortune, 2010
18-30 Betty and two friends, n.d
1-19 Writings and Correspondence, 2013, 2016
Re: Betty’s wishes for her memorial service after her death, notice of Betty’s death and correspondence from friends remembering Betty