Accession number(s): PR-1682
Archives code(s): M388
The transcript copies of this volume are incomplete. The first portion of the journal was never transcribed. The original letter book transcription (M390) is missing pages 72-73.
Published
The series is a bound journal containing 92 pages, originally created by James Douglas in 1839 when he was stationed at Fort Vancouver. The first ten pages contain lists of "gentlemen and men" associated with various HBC forts and vessels as well as shipping information. Pages 11 to 70 contain Douglas' letterbook copies of correspondence to John McLoughlin and other officials from 1840 to 1841, written while in Fort Tako, Carquines, on board the Barque Columbia, San Francisco and Fort Vancouver. Interspersed with the letters are receipts and lists of men at forts.
Douglas took the journal with him to Victoria and used it as a personal letter book between 1866 and 1867. Pages 71 to 92 contain draft copies of his letters to his family and business associates.
A list of contents was created by Archives staff, ca. 1936.
Some pages have been torn or cut out of the book. Penciled page numbers were added ca. 1936.
Records digitized in 2019.
Transcript copies of the letterbook portions of the journal were made prior to 1936:
A/B/20/V2DA/2 Fort Vancouver correspondence outward 1840-1941
B/40/3 Douglas, James correspondence outward 1866-1867
Conservation restriction: Access to original journal is restricted. Use digital copies or transcript copies A/B/20/V2DA/2 and B/40/3.