Image of Bill Reid's small boxwood sculpture "The Raven Discovering Mankind in a Clam Shell," which he completed in 1970. He was later commissioned to make a much larger version of this sculpture for the Museum of Anthropology, which he titled "The Raven and the First Men."
Image of Wilson Duff, Harry Hawthorn, Bill Reid and John Smyly under a shelter on Skunnggwaii llanas (Anthony Island). The image was taken during the Ninstints expedition to retrieve 11 totem poles from the area.
Item is an audio recording of ambient noise which was recorded for the soundtrack for the film Celebration of the Raven, directed by Ken Kuramoto, which documented the work process and installation of Bill Reid’s carving titled The Raven and the First Men and its unveiling by the Prince of Wales in 1980. This is Reel #4 of the soundtrack.
Artist Bill Reid discusses the Haida legend of the Raven and the First Men and his carving based on the legend which is on display at the UBC Museum of Anthropology.
Item is the second of two audio recording of performers singing Haida songs at the opening reception of Celebration of the Raven. The recording is Reel #6 of the soundtrack for the film Celebration of the Raven, directed by Ken Kuramoto, which documented the work process and installation of Bill Reid’s carving titled The Raven and the First Men and its unveiling by the Prince of Wales in 1980.
Item is the second of two audio recording of performers singing Haida songs at the opening reception of Celebration of the Raven. The recording is Reel #5 of the soundtrack for the film Celebration of the Raven, directed by Ken Kuramoto, which documented the work process and installation of Bill Reid’s carving titled The Raven and the First Men and its unveiling by the Prince of Wales in 1980.
Item is the first of a three part sound recording of an interview with Bill Reid about the origins of his carving The Raven and the First Men, located at MOA. The interviewer is unknown. During the interview Bill Reid discusses how the sculpture was the result of a highly collaborative process involving other artists, his impression of the location of the carving in MOA, and his working relationship with Walter C. Koerner who commissioned the sculpture. He lastly discusses his representation and interpretation of the Haida legend that the carving is based on. This recording is part of Celebration of the Raven which documented the creation of the Raven and the First Men Sculpture, its relocation to the Museum of Anthropology, and the unveiling by the Prince of Wales in 1982.
Item is the third of a three part sound recording of an interview with Bill Reid about the origins of his carving The Raven and the First Men, located at MOA. The interviewer is unknown. During the interview, Bill Reid discusses symbolism in the carving. This recording is part of Celebration of the Raven which documented the creation of the Raven and the First Men Sculpture, its relocation to the Museum of Anthropology, and the unveiling by the Prince of Wales in 1982.
Item is the second of a three part sound recording of an interview with Bill Reid about the origins of his carving The Raven and the First Men, located at MOA. The interviewer is unknown. During the interview he discusses how the sculpture was the result of a highly collaborative process involving other artists, his impression of the location of the carving in MOA, and his working relationship with Walter C. Koerner who commissioned the sculpture. He lastly discusses his representation and interpreation of the Haida legend that the carving is based on. This recording is part of Celebration of the Raven which documented the creation of the Raven and the First Men Sculpture, its relocation to the Museum of Anthropology, and the unveiling by the Prince of Wales in 1982.
Item is an audio recording of a lecture by Haida artist Bill Reid, who discusses the transition in Northwest West Coast art from its primarily ceremonial function within First Nations society to the present day when, in his words, art is made almost exclusively for sale to the non-Indian community. The recording is Lecture #8 in the University of British Columbia's Center for Continuing Education Lecture Series on Traditions of North West Coast Indian Culture.
Item is an audio recording of introductory speeches given during the opening reception of Celebration of the Raven. The recording is Reel #7 of the soundtrack for the film Celebration of the Raven, directed by Ken Kuramoto, which documented the work process and installation of Bill Reid’s carving titled The Raven and the First Men and its unveiling by the Prince of Wales in 1980. The recording begins with an unidentified speaker who acknowledges the two groups who co-hosted the event: the Haida of the Queen Charlotte Islands including the Chiefs, Chief Elders and the People as well as the Friends of the Museum of Anthropology, Corporate Friends and the Raven Committee. The recording is then interrupted. The following portion of the recording features a woman speaking, likely in Haida. The recording is interrupted several more times during various speeches so it is difficult to identify speakers. Lastly, Haida artist Bill Reid provides a tribute to the passing of Haida storyteller Solomon Wilson and then thanks various individuals involved in the creation of the sculpture including Walter Koerner and artists George Norris, Garry Edenshaw, Charles Edenshaw and others. The recording concludes with singing and drumming.
Subseries contains the booklet produced as part of the Museum Notes program at the Museum of Anthropology titled Bill Reid: Beyond the Essential Form written by Karen Duffek.
Subseries contains three files consisting of records related to the Bill Reid symposium which was titled “The Legacy of Bill Reid: A Critical Enquiry”. The records comprise planning of the symposium, research done after the symposium on related topics, and McLennan’s presentation.
The fonds consists of 17 photographic prints taken by Robert Keziere on October 20, 1982 of artist Bill Reid working in his Kerrisdale (Vancouver) studio. The film remained unprocessed until 2009, when it was developed and the prints, contact sheet, and DVD were created. The DVD contains image files in multiple resolutions. In 2021 an additional roll of film was discovered by Keziere and prints, negatives, contact sheet, and USB flash drive were added to the fonds.