Anthony Taulbut was many things: an avid collector, historian, explorer and pioneer. He was a passionate and eccentric man who had an insatiable curiosity and a lifelong dedication to learning. He led a busy and dedicated life in which the pursuit of knowledge was ever present. His great contributions to the conservation of history went hand in hand with his sense of community. Mr. Taulbut had a profound and positive impact on those around him and the community he loved.

Anthony Taulbut was born in Fareham, Hampshire, England on January 18, 1874. Though he was born on the other side of the world, Mr. Taulbut’s travels would eventually lead him to settle down in Mission. In 1889 as a young man, Mr. Taulbut joined the Royal Navy. The Navy gave him the opportunity to explore many exotic locations from Africa to the Arctic. Eventually, he left the Navy and came to Canada with his wife in 1908, where they settled down in a little home on Stave Lake St., while it was still just a dirt road. They arrived in Mission with a total of fifty-two huge boxes in tow; boxes filled with the artifacts that would eventually form the bedrock of the Mission Museum’s collection.

While in Mission, Mr. Taulbut filled many roles. He sold real estate and insurance, served as the school board secretary for twenty-five years, acted as Steelhead’s first postman and worked as the curator of his own private museum. He also was appointed Justice of the Peace for BC in 1942, and was a member of the Royal Astronomical society of Canada and the Royal Canadian Legion. Mr. Taulbut had an enthusiasm for learning his entire life, and his love of history stayed with him until his death in 1949. Mr. Taulbut was buried in Hatzic Cemetery, but to this day his legacy lives on in the small town that calls itself a city.