Welcome to the Emily Carr University of Art + Design Archives database. Here you can search the descriptions of the archives' holdings and digitized material. We are continually adding new descriptions and digitized materials. You can conduct a free text search using the search box at the top of the page. You can also click on the box to reveal the advance search option. Alternatively you can use the "Browse" drop down menu beside the search box. For more information about searching the database, visit the Archives LibGuide or contact us.
The Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECU) Archives acquires, preserves and makes available records documenting the history of Emily Carr University, its various faculties, departments, and governing bodies. Additionally, to supplement the information in the University's institutional records, the ECU Archives acquires the private papers of faculty members, administrators, artists and alumni; as well as the records of independent student, alumni and employee organizations. The holdings consist of a broad range of materials including publications, textual records, course calendars, video recordings, audio recordings and photographs dating from 1925 to present.
The ECU Archives supports the research of faculty, students, alumni, scholars and the public through access and supports teaching/enhancing curriculum as appropriate.
At this time, access to the physical materials in the ECU Archives are available by appointment only. If you are interested in using the ECU Archives, please contact archives@ecuad.ca to arrange a time.
Acknowledgement of Bias in Library + Archives Descriptive Language
The Library + Archives at Emily Carr University of Art + Design aims to create records – including archival descriptions, finding aids, library catalogue records and other metadata – that are inclusive, respectful and do not cause harm to those who interact with our collections. This includes those who create, use, and are represented in the collections we care for. We acknowledge that our existing descriptions and records may contain language that is racist, colonial, homophobic, ableist, or that uses other offensive terms that may cause harm. This language may reflect original titles or terms applied by the creators/authors; it may also have been created by previous stewards or ECU staff since acquisition.
Certain parts of the ECU collection contain historical language and content, for example, language used to refer to racial and cultural groups. This language reflects the time period in which these materials were created and provide insight into the view of their creator(s). These items retain their original descriptions to ensure that attitudes and viewpoints are not erased from the historical record. When possible, ECU provides additional descriptive information to provide context and background about these records. Additionally, the ECU Library + Archives questions the hierarchical and othering language promoted through subject terms and is working to update and implement terminology that promotes inclusive and accurate access to materials.
The ECU Library + Archives team is dedicated to minimizing harm through continual reflection and reparations in our language and systems. Reparative archival description and cataloguing is iterative work, and descriptive language preferences and needs will change over time. New and ongoing work in this area is indicated in our archival finding aids through the use of square brackets indicating the archivists/staff voice and through descriptive notes.
We welcome feedback from our patrons regarding archival description and library catalogue records by email at library@ecuad.ca, in person or by phone at 604-844-3840. Feel free to leave us an anonymous voicemail.
We are grateful to the following organizations who have crafted meaningful bias statements. We echo their thinking and work, and have borrowed language and built upon their words and efforts: Yale University, Duke University, Library + Archives Canada, Stanford University Libraries.