UBC LIBRARY BLOGGERS

How do you get a group of urban forestry students excited about historical archives? You start with a map.

When Claire Malek first joined UBC Library’s Rare Books and Special Collections (RBSC) as an archivist, working with UBC Library’s extensive forest history collections, she wanted to see more forestry students using the materials. The breakthrough came at a President’s Breakfast for new faculty, where she met Dr. Susan Day, Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Forestry.

“When Dr. Day shared that she was in urban forestry, and that she was interested in soils and soil history, my ears perked up,” says Malek.

That conversation sparked a long-running collaboration. Students in Day’s urban forestry course were invited to RBSC for a hands-on class to explore archival materials and how they can inform research on urban ecology, forest systems, greenspace planning, sustainability, and more.

At the same time, Helen L. Brown, Reference Librarian at Woodward Library and liaison to the Faculty of Forestry, was working on ways to incorporate a greater variety of resources from different time periods and sources into environmental science classes. Knowing that a huge amount of relevant research and data are available in archives, government repositories, grey literature, and other sources, Brown wanted to help students use a broader range of materials to understand the places they were studying and expand the timescale of the data they used.

Malek and Brown teamed up to guide students through unique historical sources—from flood photographs and city planning documents to student theses. Years later, the partnership between UBC Library and UBC’s Urban Forestry program continues to thrive.

“Susan taught me a lot about what would be meaningful for urban forestry students to learn using our materials. That’s an education that continues to happen for me as I learn about their discipline and what skills students need, both for their assignments and their research,” says Malek.

Today, the course is taught by Dr. Matthew Mitchell, Assistant Professor in the Department of Forest Resources Management, UBC Faculty of Forestry.

“The greatest benefit to students is understanding where they might find historical data on cities and urban ecosystems,” says Dr. Matthew Mitchell. “Understanding urban ecosystems, why different plants or wildlife are present in a certain area, and how to manage or restore those ecosystems, requires an understanding of the historical legacies and past patterns in cities. Archival materials can provide a unique perspective on these legacies and information that can’t be found anywhere else. Knowing how and where to find and access this data will be useful to students in their studies and potential future careers.”

Historical fire insurance maps are one example. “They’re an easy way for students to examine how a specific area of Vancouver has changed over time,” explains Brown. “Knowing what used to be in a space is essential if you’re making decisions about that space today.”

Another favourite resource is the Vancouver’s Old Streams map by Sharon Proctor, showing the city’s long-buried waterways. “The water is still there,” Brown notes. “Where is it going now? It’s important to consider the legacy of these past decisions and how they continue to impact the environment over time.”

False Creek offers a particularly striking case: once extending further inland before being filled in, the area now experiences significant heat impacts due to the lack of green infrastructure and faces heightened risk from sea-level rise.

Last year, Malek and Brown transformed their class session into a deep dive on a single site: xʷməm̓qʷe:m (Camosun Bog) in Pacific Spirit Park. Using a wide range of archival sources, they demonstrated how different types of historical resources can be used in research.

Through these classes, students are introduced to resources that can help them understand the land better, with data on water flow and soil history as well as the human and cultural impacts. The approach of focusing on a specific place encourages finding local solutions for local issues, Malek and Brown note, and an opportunity to engage in better decision-making.

Learn more about UBC Library’s forestry resources.