The Columbian newspaper of New Westminster published its first issue on February 13, 1861 and its last on November 15, 1983. Initially established as an organ to espouse the political opinions of its first editor, John Robson, the newspaper was associated with or owned by several prominent politicians. Besides Robson, a future premier of the province, Richard McBride, was also associated with the paper. The Kennedy brothers also owned the paper for a time. Finally James Davis (J.D.) Taylor, an M.P. and Senator, gained control of the paper in the early 1900's and the Taylor family owned the Columbian up to its demise in 1983.

Columbian staff in Coquitlam

When the Columbian Company faced financial difficulties in 1983, a number of files containing photographs, newspaper clippings and other material were deposited with the New Westminster Public Library for safekeeping. In 2001, the Library transferred a number of these files to the New Westminster Museum and Archives. In 2008, the Archives received a grant from Library and Archives Canada to help pay for the costs of processing these files. The Archives staff is now in the process of cataloging this collection. This particular collection covers the period predominately from 1960's up to 1983.
The files fall into several groups. The largest group of files contains files on people who made news in New Westminster in one way or another (See list of people files). There is a smaller number of files devoted to particular subjects and a third group of files pertaining to sports.
We have reproduced a selection of the photographs from three decades along with some of the original captions that were printed with the photographs when they appeared in the paper. We hope that you enjoy them and that they bring back a few memories.