The Lives Behind the Mesoamerican Archaeology Collection at the Museum of Vancouver

The origin of the Museum of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada, dates to the late nineteenth century—only a few years after the city was formally incorporated. Initially intended to showcase curios and items of interest, among the early donations were objects from various Mesoamerican cultures. Over the years the Mesoamerican archaeology collection grew not from a deliberate collecting strategy, but from chance donations by residents of the city. Not long after the re-focus to a civic museum the collection ceased to grow, and today the collection is consigned to the museum’s storage area. Despite not being of immediate relevance to the museum’s mission, the history of the collection reveals a fascinating insight into the lives of past Vancouver residents and demonstrates the utility of investigating the provenance of previously little-known collections.