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Help on Indexes

See Also: Help and Instructions and Help on Search and Browse Points

What is an Index?

Within the Basic and Advanced Search Pages, an index consists of a group of descriptions of records that can be searched. For the most part they are not the actual archival records themselves, but descriptions of the records.

For example, searching the Textual Records Index means searching the archival descriptions (consisting of catalogue entries and finding aids) rather than the actual content of the textual records collections. In some cases, such as with the Visual Records index, the description of the record has a link to a digital copy of the actual record (e.g. a digitized version of a photograph or a painting).

In general, indexes exist for many of the different media types of archival records, and for related areas such as the Research Library and the web pages on the main BC Archives web site. There is also a Combined Genealogy Index that contains summarized information from records such as Births, Deaths, and Marriages. In this latter case, that combined index can be expanded to individually list the component sub-indexes by selecting the folders icon.

Below are listed the main indexes available on for searching through these pages. Selecting the Status, Extent, Search Points hyperlink will display further information on the index, including: its current availability (if this is listed as false, the index is off-line for maintenance), the number of entries in the index (i.e. descriptions, records etc.), and the specific search points (fields) that are available with that index.

Overview of Indexes

• Fonds Descriptions Index

  This index contains high level or "Fonds" descriptions of collections and holdings. A fonds consists of the whole of the records created and/or accumulated by a single records creator. They include records in all media and include records from all catalogues at the BC Archives.

  See Also: Fonds Description Index Status, Extent, Search Points

• Textual Records Index

  This index contains two main types of descriptions of archival records (primarily textual records): catalogue card type of descriptions that provide a summary, and detailed finding aids that typically list box and/or file contents. Both types are combined into one display. Expanded layout will display both the catalogue entry, and the detailed finding aid if available. Compact layout will not display the contents of the detailed finding aid, but will indicate that it is available for viewing with expanded layout. Some detailed finding aids are quite large, therefore setting the display to compact layout (can also be set through user Preferences), will speed up the access time. More information is available on the Textual Records page

  See Also: Textual Records Index Status, Extent, Search Points

• Visual Records Index

  This index contains descriptions of historical photographs and items in the painting, drawing and print collection of documentary art. It is only a portion of the total holdings, however many of these descriptions have digital images on-line as well. Note: on the Basic Search Page, the Only Match with Images On-line (Visual Records Only) check-box can be used to limit the results to only include descriptions that have an on-line digital image. More information is available on the Visual Records page

  See Also: Visual Records Index Status, Extent, Search Points

• Cartographic Records Index

  This index contains a very limited number of descriptions about maps and plans in the holdings. More information is available on the Cartographic Records page

  See Also: Cartographic Records Index Status, Extent, Search Points

• Moving Image Records Index

  Moving Image Records include Government and Non-government records, comprising motion picture film and videotape recordings in a wide variety of formats. They include travelogues, sponsored promotional films, documentaries, home movies, and raw footage (or "out-takes"). The descriptions are stored internally as Extensible Markup Language (XML) format according to the Encoded Archival Description (EAD) document type. Descriptive records are presented in HTML, in either expanded or compact format acording to different presentation styles.

  More information is available on the Moving Image Records page

  See Also: Moving Image Records Index Status, Extent, Search Points

• Sound Recordings Index

  Sound Recordings include published and unpublished recordings on audio tapes and audio discs. They include oral history interviews, radio programs, ethnographic recordings, and recorded music. The descriptions are stored internally in Extensible Markup Language (XML) format according to the Encoded Archival Description (EAD) document type. Descriptive records are presented in HTML, in either expanded or compact format, according to different presentation styles.

  More information is available on the Sound Recordings page

  See Also: Sound Recordings Index Status, Extent, Search Points

• Library

  The library Index includes descriptions (catalogue entries) of books,and pamphlets documenting British Columbia history. More information is available on the Library page

  See Also: Library Index Status, Extent, Search Points

• Web Pages Index

  This is an index of the content of all of the static HTML web pages on the BC Archives site, excluding the header and footer portions. In effect, it indexes information (pages on the BC Archives web site) not covered by the other indexes.

  See Also: Web Pages Index Status, Extent, Search Points

• All Indexes

  Selecting this index will search all of the other indexes listed consecutively. Separate Search Results lists will be displayed for each index selected.

• Combined Genealogy Index

  This is a meta-index made up of a number of separate indexes to genealogy records. It contains summarized information from registrations such as Vital Event Births, Deaths, and Marriages. The display can be changed to list the component sub-indexes by selecting the folders icon or hyperlink titled: Expand List of Genealogy Indexes. To return to the main list of Indexes, follow the Return to Main List of Indexes.

  See Also: Combined Genealogy Index Status, Extent, Search Points

  • Births Index

    This index contains summarized information from historical Vital Event Birth Registrations. More information is available on the Vital Events Indexes page

    See Also: Births Index Status, Extent, Search Points

  • Deaths Index

    This index contains summarized information from historical Vital Event Deaths Registrations. More information is available on the Vital Events Indexes page

    See Also: Deaths Index Status, Extent, Search Points

  • Marriages Index

    This index contains summarized information from historical Vital Event Marriages Registrations. More information is available on the Vital Events Indexes page

    See Also: Marriages Index Status, Extent, Search Points

  • Colonial Marriages Index

    This index contains summarized information from certified copies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia pre-confederation marriage records submitted to the Colonial Secretary by clergy, 1859-1872. More information is available in the finding aid GR-3044

    See Also: Colonial Marriages Index Status, Extent, Search Points

  • Baptisms Index

    This index contains information from microfilms of baptismal registries submitted to the Vital Statistics Agency covering the years 1836-1980, however only information older than 120 years can be released. There is no access to the microfilm rolls, those interested in viewing original entries are referred to the appropriate Church as identified on the record. Name spellings may vary, particularly in the case of the earliest entries, so use of the approximate match search feature is recommended.

    The Baptism registers only indicate the surname of the person being baptized. Surnames of the parents are presumed to be the same. If given names, or surnames were not recorded in the register, the word "Unknown" has been substituted for the empty field. Aboriginal names are searchable under both the surname and given names search points.

    See Also: Colonial Marriages Index Status, Extent, Search Points

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