"At the annual general meeting of the British Columbia Historical Association in 1967 in Williams Lake, the President, Donald New, spoke pessimistically about the future of the Association without the British Columbia Historical Quarterly. The most recent issue, dated 1957, had been published in 1962, and although the Editor, Willard Ireland, promised further issues, none had appeared. Meanwhile, the Association had published several short newsletters in an attempt to keep its members informed and committed; three issues appeared between 1965 and 1966, edited in turn by Donald New (Gulf Islands), Robin Brammall (Vancouver) and Bessie Choate (Burnaby). At that 1967 meeting, there seemed little hope of further issues of the Quarterly; the fledgling newsletter also appeared to be moribund. The President, in the absence of nominations, pleaded for an editor. Philip Yandle, unknown to most BCHA members, eventually volunteered and in spring 1968 the first issue of The British Columbia Historical News came out. In it, the new editor promised that "to the best of my ability and with the help of the member societies I will in each issue publish their accomplishments and items of interest."; His aim was to bring together the flagging member societies, and disclose fully the activities of the Association to its members. Volumes 1-10, accordingly, published minutes of all BCHA meetings, along with news of member societies, news of local historical interest, and a feature article in each issue. Robert Genn, well-known BC artist, generously provided drawings for the covers of Volumes 2-10. Book reviews first appeared in Volume 2. Frances Woodward provided a "British Columbia Books of Interest"; column in Volumes 4 -14. The first ten volumes of the News were typed on stencils on a portable Olivetti typewriter, later on an IBM Selectric, and run off on a second-hand Gestetner. Distribution of the News at that time was by mailing batches of copies to member societies; many such packages were delivered personally by John Spittle, whose business took him throughout the province. After Phil Yandle stepped down in 1977 at the end of Volume 10, Volume 11:1-2 were produced by an editorial committee of the Vancouver Historical Society. Kent Haworth and Patricia Roy from Victoria took over and carried on, along with Terry Eastwood, until the end of Volume 12. Maureen Cassidy, Marie Elliott and Bob Tyrrell in turn produced about two volumes each; Esther Birney edited Volume 19:3. Naomi Miller moved from the President's chair to that of Editor in 1988 (Volume 21), continuing until 1999, when Fred Braches succeeded her; he handed the job over to John Atkin in 2003. Over the years the contents of the News have been reorganized by the various editors. Minutes are no longer published, more feature articles have been included, and new columns such as notes on archives and websites have been added. The News, as the successor to the British Columbia Historical Quarterly, carried on the philosophy expressed by Robin Brammall in his 1972 presidential address, when he said that the Quarterly "was the life blood of the Association and there is some doubt as to whether our Association [has] any real vitality or raison d'être without [it]"; (BCHN, Volume 9:1).";