Fonds consists of material related to the art, research, and writing of Hilary Stewart. The bulk of the material is related to the production of her books on the culture and art of the First Nations peoples of the Pacific Northwest. The remaining material relates to illustrations that she did for publications by other authors, a small amount of material done for personal use, and collected research and ephemera that does not appear to be related to one specific publication. Material includes original illustrations, collected research and notes, book drafts and pre-press materials, photographs, correspondence, and collected memorabilia.

The material has been arranged into three series:
1 - Books
2 - Illustrations and other artwork
3 - Collected research and ephemera

Collection illustrates the gathering of information and writing of the book “Paddling to Where I Stand : Agnes Alfred, Qwiqwasutinuxw Noblewoman.” Includes interviews to Agnes Alfred conducted by Martine J. Reid and Daisy Sewid-Smith between 1979 and 1985. Interviews are documented as audio and video recordings and their written transcriptions, and other materials gathered by Martine J. Reid and Daisy Sewid-Smith for the edition and publication of the book. Collection also contains the manuscripts and draft for the book; correspondence between Martine J. Reid, Daisy Sewid-Smith and other people; eulogies and funeral pamphlets; Agnes Alfred’s family information; historical notes; and miscellanea. Collection includes photographic materials with photographs included in the book and additional photographs gathered by Martine J. Reid and Daisy Sewid-Smith during their research, and portraits of Agnes Alfred’s parents.

The fonds consists of 7 photographs from a June 1958 centennial [centenary] celebration in Alert Bay that Barwick described as having been ordered from a local cameraman. There are also 7 postcards that contain images of Alert Bay ca. 1949 or 1950 that were purchased by Barwick in the summer of 1958. Sixteen negatives were taken by Barwick at an excavation at Beach Grove in the Fraser River delta in June of 1957, likely done under the guidance of Charles Borden, a Lecturer and later Professor of Archaeology at UBC who studied the Beach Grove site from ca. 1955 to 1958. Notes on the envelope indicate these negatives include images of D. N. Abbott, Colin McCafferty, and Nansi Swayze.