about Us
Our Mission
The Nicola Valley Museum & Archives supports and advocates for the heritage sector of the Merritt and Nicola Valley region through education, training and skills development, capacity building in heritage planning, and funding through the Heritage Legacy Fund.
We are passionate about building links between heritage conservation and tourism, economic and environmental sustainability, community pride and an appreciation of our common history.
Background & Location
The Nicola Valley Museum and Archives is in Merritt, British Columbia. It was built and is operated by the Nicola Valley Museum and Archives Association, which was formed at a meeting at Merritt City Hall on May 26, 1976, and was registered as a Society on September 23, 1976.
The members initially met in a variety of locations and had two temporary museums before moving into the current facility in 1980/81.
It is located in downtown Merritt at 1675 Tutill Court with access from Coldwater Avenue or from the adjacent Railyard Mall.
On Display
The 4,000 square foot (372 square metre) museum/archives shares a building with a Senior Citizens Recreation Centre.
- Rail Travel
- Teams & Sports
- Nicola Valley General Hospital
- Pioneer Kitchen
- Ranching Equipment & Brands
- Harry Priest - Pioneer Photographer
- Pioneer General Store
- First Nations & James Teit
- Transportation
- Churches
- Widow Smith of Spence's Bridge
- Musical Instruments, Record Players & Radios
- Military Uniforms and Artifacts
- Early Mining History
- Craigmont Mine History
The Association
Nicola Valley Museum Archives formed in 1976.
The Nicola Valley Museum Archives Association (NVMAA) is relatively new compared to many of the historical groups throughout the province of British Columbia. It was formed in the summer of 1976 and operated out of various temporary store-front locations for five years before moving into a new Museum/Archives building at what is now 1675 Tutill Court in Merritt. (Note that the location name changed several times due to street reconfigurations for Coquihalla-Gillis House.)
BACKGROUND
The founding meeting to discuss a Merritt / Nicola Valley museum or heritage group was held at the Merritt City Hall on May 26, 1976. A group of about 20 people attended and the decision was made to proceed with the establishment of a Nicola Valley Archives Association to collect the local history.
The Nicola Valley Archives Association was incorporated under the Societies Act September 23, 1976 and became a Registered Charity for income tax purposes on January 1, 1977.
Although the Association had no “home” during its first year, it made its presence known in the community through the publication of the Newsletter – Historical Work Paper, later the Nicola Valley Historical Quarterly. This publication served to attract members from all over the world and hold the group together by providing a purpose for continuing research in the history of Merritt and the Nicola Valley.
The Association decided to develop a museum to house some of the artifacts that their research had attracted. From late 1977 to 1981 the museum was housed in various temporary quarters, including “Curly’s Drive-In” and Ken Toy’s Photography Shop. Then, under a Neighbourhood Improvement Program, the Museum/Archives and Senior Citizens’ Complex was completed at what is now 1675 Tutill Court. With the assistance of generous donors, including Egil Lorntzsen and Craigmont Mines, the Museum Archives was officially opened May 1, 1983.
AIMS & OBJECTIVES
As registered under the British Columbia Society Act:
The Purposes of the Association are the advancement of historical services in the Nicola Valley by:
Research
Gathering, researching, and preserving information, aural history, records, objects, sites and buildings concerning the natural resources, wildlife and all phases of human history;
Development
Developing and maintaining a site or sites for preserving, recording, and displaying such material for public enjoyment and education;
Promotion
Promoting the exchange of exhibition material and the arrangement of exhibitions;
Partnerships
Co-operating with other associations with similar aims;
Publishing
Publishing books, papers, and periodicals; and such other methods as may from time to time be deemed appropriate.
The Archives
Digital Research Computer with access to newspapers and photographs.
- Extensive collection of James Teit First Nations reference material.
- Merritt Herald newspapers from 1905 to date. (Digitization underway.)
- Merritt News newspapers.
- BC Gazettes starting at 1886.
- Mining Reports starting at 1923.
- 4000 to 5000 photographs. (Digitization underway.)
- Sherwin Kelly Collection - mining information.
- Pioneer Family information.
- Cemetery information; Pineridge, Upper and Lower Nicola.
- Early maps.
- City of Merritt records.
- Early pre-emption records.
- Early Water License records.
- Digital Research Computer with access to newspapers and photographs.