UBC receives $1.2 million gift of historical B.C. photos

History buffs will get a rare glimpse into life in B.C. thanks to a $1.2 million donation from a local art collector.

The Uno Langmann Family Collection of B.C. Photographs, donated by Uno and Dianne Langmann, features over 18,000 rare and unique photographs of B.C from the 1850s to the 1970s.

In a news release, Langmann lauded the importance of local history. “There’s enough in this collection for a thousand students to dig into," said Langmann. "I want them to learn where B.C. comes from, and where they come from.”

In addition to being a valuble glimpse into provincial life, the collection documents early photographic techniques. 

Library users can access the collection via UBC Library’s Rare Books and Special Collections. Some images will be digitized and made available on the library's website starting this summer.