Archives and Research

Archives

Collections

Housing over 60 linear feet of textual, photographic, and moving images records, the archival collection is growing annually. The archival collections enjoy protection from environmental contaminants and climate control measures are actively monitored.  The following collections are available for research:

• West Kootenay Power & Light Co. Collection
• Cristoforo Colombo Lodge Collection
• Trail Daily Times (photographic negatives from 1968-1998)
• Teck Photograph Collection (some restrictions apply)
• Trail Family Histories
• Extensive Trail Smoke Eater records

Newspapers - The Trail Times newspapers back to 1895 are available for viewing on the microfilm scanner in the Research Room.  Original copies are no longer available for public handling.  Photocopy fees apply.  To avoid additional fees, bring your own flash drive to download PDFs of articles you require.

Digitized Content - The Trail Museum & Archives and the Trail Historical Society are thrilled to partner with BC Regional Digitized History (BCRDH) and ARCA to enhance the Kootenay Columbia historical digitized content online.  We are slowly adding content from our archival photograph collection and look forward to a lengthy partnership with BCRDH to see our collections more accessible in the future.
View the current online collection here.

Research Room

The Research Room, located on the second floor and overlooking Bay Avenue, is available to researchers of the archival collections.  To make an appointment, please contact the Collections Coordinator at 250-364-0856 or by email.

Photo by Mike Hockley

Research Room Policies:

• Appointments are required, with at least 48 hours advanced notice of both appointment time and subject matter.
• Researchers must sign out all material provided for viewing.
• Researchers may not remove any items from the Research Room.
• The Collections Coordinator will supervise the use of all material in the collections.
• White cotton gloves must be worn when handling archival records (we are happy to provide these).
• No food or beverages are permitted in the Research Room.
• Only pencils (no ink) are permitted for use in the Research Room when handling archival records.
• Public access to the archival vault is strictly prohibited.
• Some restrictions apply to certain fonds within the collection and may limit accessibility to certain files and/or documents.

Research, Copy, and Use Fees:

 Photocopies from textual records, photographs, newspapers:

• 8.5” x 11” and 8.5 x 14”      $0.25/page
• 11” x 17”                               $0.50/page

 Photographic Reproduction Charges

• For Digital Files  - (Scanned from negative, photographic print, textual document or 35 mm transparency)

•  For Prints - (Scanned from negative, photographic print, textual document or 35 mm transparency)

 Research                        

•   $30.00/hour after first 10 minutes

 Use Fees                                                                       

•  $10.00 per image (for use in commercial publication, website, merchandise).  All requests for use of images or documents for purposes other than personal research must be accompanied by the Permission for Use Application. 

Video Reproduction                                              

• Actual production cost plus research fee.

The Trail Museum & Archives accepts cash, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and debit card as payments for services rendered.