The rich and sometimes rocky history of the Doukhobors in British Columbia and elsewhere in Canada is primarily an oral one. Written material, where it does exist, was often produced in only one copy; much has been burned or otherwise destroyed over the years. Despite these challenges, a donor has amassed and gifted to Simon Fraser University one of the largest collections of Doukhobor documents in Canada. A third of that material is available on the Web through the Doukhobor collection database. "What's magic is through the portion we have on the Web, we've let the world know we have this fabulous collection," says Ralph Stanton, special collections librarian. "People from all over the world can now access the material."

     The collection was created by John Keenlyside, then chair of the Friends of the Library Board, specifically for SFU. "I have really enjoyed my involvement with the university," he says. "SFU's attitude is one of outreach to the community and partnership with the community so I wanted to give something back. It's my way of saying thank you."

      Keenlyside is a passionate collector who specializes in 19th century documents relating to B.C.'s colonial past and its entry into Confederation. The Doukhobor collection is a natural outcome of his interest in the early years of our province. "I wanted to pull something together while it was still fresh," he recollects. "I also realized that this material was getting scarcer and scarcer and soon might not be available at all. And I felt strongly that these documents should be in an institution where they can be available to students and historians and anyone else." The collection came together in three to four years, a relatively short time for something of this magnitude. Keenlyside's network of rare book and document dealers was put into action and the search was on. "I like the challenge factor; I find it exciting to chase after rare documents," says Keenlyside. "And this is precisely the material that a young university such as SFU should have to build on. There should be some focus on the background and history of new Canadians who are such an important part of building our province."

     The documents that make up the collection date from as far back as 1898. They include letters, manuscripts, photographs, books, magazine articles, and financial documents. Although many of the manuscripts are in English, some, such as the personal letters of Peter V. Verigin, are in Russian, and have been translated. There are circular newsletters that were produced in only a handful of copies; letters from a judge to the Attorney General calling the Doukhobors "heathen"; a complete set from 1943 to the present of Iskra, a Doukhobor newsletter; documents relating to Saskatchewan land issues; and photographs of individuals and groups. The piece de resistance is a panoramic picture of Doukhobors assembled with the traditional offering of water, bread, and salt (to which they added apples) when they met their new leader Peter P. Verigin in Brilliant, BC, in 1927. "I like the idea of collecting in different mediums, of having photos, documents, letters, and books all dealing with the same subjects," says Keenlyside. "That way we can look at each event and see how it is perceived in different ways."

  Keenlyside says the collection is laced with ephemera, the common, everyday stuff that flows through and illustrates ordinary lives. What might be considered junk when it is generated becomes history because it is so revealing. Putting part of the collection online was the responsibility of Mark Jordan, librarian/analyst in the systems division. Jordan says the material online is the oldest and most interesting part of the collection.

Four thousand Doukhobors meet with their new leader, Peter P. Verigin in Brilliant, B.C., on Oct. 11 1927

     "We chose material that was older so copyright would not be an issue," he explains. "We think the older material is the most interesting, and the purpose of the Web site is to act as a teaser so people know we have the collection." Jordan says the Web site is generating considerable interest. Some people are getting in touch because they are researching genealogy. Individuals who run Doukhobor Web sites of their own say they're impressed with the SFU site, and there have even been inquiries from as far away as Russia.

     Ralph Stanton treasures the collection because of its rarity, but also because the saga of the Doukhobor people is so fascinating. "Their history illustrates one of the many cultural clashes that have marked the history of BC," he says. "The question is, how do people with very different customs mediate relationships with the outside community and vice versa? These events are still resonating in our culture and our society. This collection is a landmark achievement, there's nothing else like it." aq

EVENTS IN DOUKHOBOR HISTORY

1652 Reforms of the Russian Orthodox Church lead to a major split. The separating party, known as Raskolniki, cling to the old ways.

1734 A decree is issued against the Ikonobors, whose beliefs are similar to those of the Raskolniki and later the Doukhobors.

1785 A government order uses the word Doukhobor for the first time when 90 people are deported to Finland for arguing against militarism.

1825 Russia orders forced assimilation, including military conscription.

1894 Novelist Leo Tolstoy, supporter of Doukhobor principles, meets supporters of Doukhobor leader Peter V. Verigin.

1897 Tolstoy proposes the Doukhobors be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. 1899 First Doukhobors settle on the Canadian prairies. Eventually 7,500 settle in Saskatchewan.

1899 Tolstoy completes his novel Resurrection and uses the proceeds to finance the Doukhobor migration to Canada.

1908-1912 About 5,000 Doukhobors move to BC under the leadership of Peter V. Verigin; 19,000 acres of forest land is purchased in the Kootenays.

1919 BC bars Doukhobors and other conscientious objectors from voting.

1924 Leader Peter V. Verigin and eight others (including one member of the provincial legislature) are killed in a train explosion between Castlegar and Grand Forks. The case remains unsolved.

1927 New leader Peter P. Verigin arrives in BC

1931 Doubkhobors are barred from voting in federal elections.

1932 About 600 members of the Sons of Freedom sect of Doukhobors protest their eviction because of nonpayment of taxes and refusal to send their children to school. They are arrested and detained until 1935.

1947-1948 A royal commission investigates arson and bombings in BC It recommends Doukhobor children be integrated in the public school system so they will assimilate.

1953 One hundred and seventy Sons of Freedom children are hunted down, arrested, and forcibly placed in a residential school in New Denver. They are released in 1959.

1950-1962 Sons of Freedom protest throughout the Kootenays by burning their own houses, stripping at court appearances, and planting bombs.

1962 About 800 Sons of Freedom begin walk from the Kootenays to Agassiz Mountain Prison in the Lower Mainland to join their imprisoned relatives. They live at the gates of the prison for 10 years.

1972 The Kootenay Doukhobor Historical Society Village Museum opens in Ooteschenia near Castlegar.

2001 Many of the children sent to residential school in the 1950's file a lawsuit against the government, claiming they were rounded up and confined against their will.

Click Here to Visit the Doukhobor Collection

Lead image Photography by Raeff Miles http://www.raeffmilesphoto.com