Elizabeth Illsey, nee Mitchell, oral history interview conducted by Bryan Klassen and Sue Morhun on 30 Jul. 2001.

Collections

salishan Place by the River currently maintains a collection of over 9000 photographs, 2000 archival documents, 9000 objects, 500 works of art, and 300 oral history recordings. This collection, spanning hundreds of years, is a wonderful window on the past and present life of our community.

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Object Description

Object Name

Oral History

Recording

Object ID

SR-196

Title

Elizabeth Illsey, nee Mitchell, oral history interview conducted by Bryan Klassen and Sue Morhun on 30 Jul. 2001.

Extent

1 audio cassette.

Date

30 Jul. 2001.

Description

SR-196: Track 1 introduces the interview. The audio is at first very poor, but it is quickly adjusted.
Tracks 2 - 3 discuss the Kilpin family, including Legh Kilpin, Illsey's grandfather. Kilpin's childhood and education in England are discussed, as well as his family's move to Montreal. Blanche Margareta Sangster, Kilpin's wife, is mentioned.
Track 4 describes Kilpin's art exhibits in London.
Tracks 5 - 6 discuss Kilpin's wife and his hobbies.
Track 7 describes Kilpin's teaching work in England and Montreal.
Track 8 discusses Kilpin's paintings.
Track 9 discusses Blanche Sangster and Illsey's mother, known as Dick.
Track 10 briefly mentions Kilpin's brothers.
Tracks 11 - 12 discuss Kilpin's establishment in Canada as an artist.
Track 13 describes the Kilpin cottage. Kilpin's collection of paintings is also discussed.
Track 14 discusses the Kilpin family moving to Canada.
Tracks 15 - 16 continue to discuss the Kilpin cottage.
Track 17 discusses Noel Kilpin, who was responsible for Kilpin's paintings. The donation of the paintings to the Langley Centennial Museum is discussed.
Track 18 describes a trip Kilpin took back to England in 1910 or 1911.
Track 19 continues to discuss Noel Kilpin.
Tracks 20 - 21 discuss Illsey's own paintings.
Tracks 22 - 23 discuss Illsey's family and husband Hartwell Illsey. Illsey worked for the government in Washington during World War II. Hartwell Illsey was in the army. He became a United Church minister after the war, and a counsellor for veterans.
Track 24 discusses Illsey's opinion of Kilpin's paintings.

People/Subject

Illsey, Elizabeth (nee Mitchell)

Elizabeth Mitchell was born in Montreal in 1919. Her parents were Charlie Mitchell and _ Kilpin; Elizabeth is a granddaughter Legh Kilpin. She worked in Washington for the Canadian government during World War II, and married Hartwell Illsey on an April 28 during the war. She devoted most of her life to serving as a United Church minister's wife. Betty and Hartwell had three children. Betty worked hard to keep the memory of her grandfather, Legh M. Kilpin, and his paintings, alive. She passed away on October 30, 2010.

Kilpin, Legh Mulhall

Langley Centennial Museum

The Museum is located within a designated Heritage Conservation Area in the village of Fort Langley, Township of Langley. Community collecting began in the 1920's with a Native Sons of BC exhibit located in the last remaining Hudson's Bay Company fur trade era structure (circa 1840). A decision by the Canadian Parks Services to actively interpret Fort Langley prompted the provincial and municipal governments to cooperate in the construction of a new museum adjacent to the National Historic Site.

The Township-owned museum opened July 1, 1958 and housed a majority of the Native Sons collection. It was operated by volunteers until 1974 when it was selected by the Federal government as a site for one of 22 National Exhibition Centres across Canada. The physical plant doubled in size, its mandate was extended to include art, history and science traveling exhibitions and the first staff person was hired. Federal NEC operating funding was eliminated in 1994 but the museum has continued to respond to that expanded mandate. In 1991, the Museum became the core facility of the Community and Heritage Services Department, Planning, Development and Stewardship Division, Township of Langley.
Term Source: BCAUL

World War, 1939-1945

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Argus v4.4.2.32 - Langley Centennial Museum