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RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-07-20 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Russ E. MacDougall talks about gold mining and the Barkerville area, 1900 to 1940. Mr. MacDougall explains how he came to Barkerville in 1921. He discusses hydraulic mining, mining are as Barkerville area, Williams Creek and Lightning Creek, tunneling, claims, details of mining methods and comments on two old time miners, Bill Brown and Julius Powell. He comments about the population in the area, the names of mines and Barkerville.

TRACK 2: Mr. MacDougall talks about Barkerville; the people there, stories, his journey to Barkerville, transportation, road conditions, old timers in the area, ways of business, description of the stores, the old fashioned atmosphere, and social life in Barkerville.

CALL NUMBER: T0164:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Placer Mining and miners of the Cariboo, 1858 - 1920. RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-04-17 SUMMARY: Captain Norman "Cap" Evans-Atkinson talks about placer mining and miners in the Likely area of the Cariboo, 1858 to 1920. TRACK 1: The miners coming to the Cariboo, circa 1858; sailors who became miners; types of gold; detailed discussion of placer mining along creeks, techniques, equipment, terminology; mining settlements; hard rock mining. TRACK 2: Story of John Likely, J.B. Hobson, and the Bullion Mine; Likely and his books; Cedar Creek; phases of mining; claim jumpers; Cedar City; details of the Cariboo fire of 1869; the Quesnel Lake dam.; CALL NUMBER: T0164:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-04-17; 1964-05-05 SUMMARY: Captain Norman "Cap" Evans-Atkinson talks about Cariboo gold and gold miners, 1858 to 1930. TRACK 1: Miners in the backwoods; enmity between two miners; draft evaders; old-timers; Captain Mitchell's trail to the Barkerville gold fields; people at "Snarlburg" (French Snowshoe Creek); Murderer's Gulch; more on Captain Mitchell's trail; Angus McLean, who lived along the Quesnel River. TRACK 2: Story of how miners were guided by Indians, by the name of Tomah and Long Baptiste, to gold on the Horsefly River, beginning the Cariboo gold rush; potatoes brought in by Russian fur traders; hostility of Indians toward miners; massacre averted by Chief William; Indians co-operated with other prospecting parties; Long Baptiste guide/bodyguard for Judge Begbie; Long Baptiste probably had the earliest Cariboo gold. CALL NUMBER: T0164:0003 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-05-05 SUMMARY: Captain Norman "Cap" Evans-Atkinson talks about miners and other people of the Cariboo, 1860 to 1930. TRACK 1: Different types of gold found in the Cariboo; the Indians and the animals they hunted; caribou in the Cariboo; stories about a trapper named Franz who lived alone in the woods; Long Baptiste and Judge Begbie; more on Franz the trapper; eating porcupines; other stories about men living alone in the woods. TRACK 2: Captain Evans-Atkinson's background; came to the Cariboo circa 1912; Cariboo people; World War I service; impressed by Canadians; return to Cariboo; mining experiences; John Likely; gold strike above Quesnel Forks in 1921; staying at miners' cabins; the naming of Likely, more on John Likely, story of Bob Winkler, an old trapper; pokes, money belts; gold caches. CALL NUMBER: T0164:0004 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-05-05 SUMMARY: TRACK 1; Captain Norman "Cap" Evans-Atkinson discusses some aspects of the trapper's life in the Cariboo, 1912 to 1930. Finding gold caches; stories about old-time trappers living alone in the woods; their habits; coping with flies, mosquitoes, ticks; stories about Jack Glass, another old-timer; encounters with bears. [TRACK 2: blank.]

RECORDED: [location unknown], [1955?] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Joseph Wendle describes how he came to the Cariboo in 1895; worked for the Cariboo Gold Fields Company and his own claims; hunted a Grizzly bear; a brief discussion of the old timers; the Cariboo Gold Fields Company; hydraulic mining; mechanical elevators; dredging; the yields in Williams Creek, Antler Creek, Grouse Creek, and Lightning Creek. [TRACK 2: blank.]

RECORDED: [location unknown], [195-?] SUMMARY: Mr. Fred J. Tregillus, "the grand old man of Barkerville", recalls some of his early experiences in the Cariboo, 1880 to 1920.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-07-20 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Alfred "Fred" William Ludditt tells the story of how he came to Barkerville in 1932. He describes the evolution of mining and mining equipment at Barkerville; Bill and John Houser's family; Johnny Butt; Chinese labourers; Andrew Kelly and the Kelly family, and the first Barkerville Museum, circa 1955. TRACK 2: Mr. Ludditt describes the Bowron Lakes Game Reserve, circa 1912 and Herb and Alf Brown. Then he tells anecdotes about Jack Campbell and Bill Livingstone; Seymour Baker; the government reduction works; the use of cyanide in mining; the recovery of magnetite iron, also known as "black sand"; Joe Mason; livestock; cattle and pigs; and the Chinese in the Cariboo.

CALL NUMBER: T0645:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], [196-] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Fred Foster begins with some anecdotes about the Foster family near Clinton. Then he goes back to his school days in 1881 in Victoria, and discusses Judge Matthew Begbie, including descr;iptions of the man and his character; a description of Begbie's house; the school on Belcher Avenue; his impressions of Victoria in those days, including the schools; an anecdote about a drunk man who; drove an ox team; a procedure for breaking camp at night while traveling on a pack train; his recollections of the packer Jean Caux (known as Cataline); a packer named Tate near Clinton; a story abou;t how Foster's father used to buy gold from the Chinese around the Fraser River, and the process of extracting the quicksilver from the gold; and the differences in gold between various creeks in the Cariboo. TRACK 2: Mr. Foster continues with details about his time in Atlin around 1902, and an anecdote about a dead body in a cabin; more anecdotes about his time in Atlin; running a farm in Clint;on, and eventually coming to Barkerville in 1906; a description of Barkerville at that time; an anecdote about spending New Years eve at Clinton around 1900; his time working on a steamship near Prince George; his experiences in Hazelton as a prospector just before WWI; what Hazelton was like at that time, including the Boyd family; the story of how his mother came to Canada in 1881 [?]; and the l;oss of the Skeena River steamer "Mount Royal".

CALL NUMBER: T0645:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], [196-] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Foster continues with details on how water for use the ships came from a spring at Royal Roads; a discussion of Hatley Park; his memories of Victoria as he first knew it; and characters a;round Victoria. [TRACK 2: blank.]

CALL NUMBER: T0423:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Thomas "Tom" Carolan discusses various aspects of settlement and life in the Cariboo, 1850 to 1930. The interview begins with the story of William Pinchbeck, Cariboo pioneer. Stories follow about Amadie Isnardy; Mexican packers and the pack trains; Antonio Boitano; the Chilco Ranch area; the local history of the Cariboo; his perceptions of Native people; and the television series "Cariboo Country". Carolan discusses his own background in Alberta and hunting wild horses in the Cariboo, circa 1927. He tells stories about the famous packer Jean Caux ("Cataline"), the Tressiera family, and Rosetti.

TRACK 2: Carolan continues his stories about packers and Cataline. He describes fiddlers in the Cariboo; Johnny MacLean and the MacLean brothers; hangings in Williams Lake; Judge Begbie's justice; Charlie Skinner; the James railway survey circa 1870; more on William Pinchbeck; and the Cache Creek boarding school. Mr. Carolan discusses settlers entering the Chilcotin and the China Flats; and Chinese miners. He mentions Becher's place at Riske Creek; the Bryant family; and the hurdy-gurdy girls.

CALL NUMBER: T0423:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Carolan describes dances at the big ranches and changes in the Cariboo after WWI. Then he describes cattle in the Cariboo; Amedee Isnardy of Chimney Creek Ranch; the importance of Barkerville; and law and order. Mr. Carolan describes ranchers and ranches of the Chilcotin; the Harper family; Alkali Lake Ranch; Canoe Creek Ranch; Henry Koster; and Upper Dog Creek Ranch. Then he discusses the Big Bar area; raising pigs; and ranches on Chilcotin River.

TRACK 2: The final installment begins with a description of roads in the Chilcotin; Benny Franklin; the ways of the pioneers; Mr. Carolan's family background; and a discussion of Hudson's Bay company activities in the early 1800s. Fur trade routes are mentioned as well as Hudson's Bay Company posts at Anahim Lake. Finally, Pat McClinchy, an old timer of the western Chilotin; the Lee family; John Cook, a Gulf Island pioneer; and children of white/Indian parentage are discussed.

CALL NUMBER: T0388:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Archie Phelps RECORDED: [location unknown], [196-] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Captain Archie Phelps describes how he was born in Barkerville, his grandparents (grandfather Edward R. Phelps -- died 1885) arrived in Victoria in 1849 after the California gold rush, other grandfather Robert Coultson was friend with Governor Seymour, his father William Henry Phelps was the first teacher at Mayne Island and eventually to Barkerville, a description of the school in 1884, the differences between the schools at Mayne Island and Barkerville, details on Barkerville, the family's move to Pender Island including what life was like there, the wharf at Port Washington, people at Pender Island including the school and teachers there, how he became a steward on the ferry at age 15, and then a ship builder in San Francisco, anecdotes about the ferries including one where Indians attacked a ferry and another where an Islander was lost coming back from Skagway, his work on a tugboat, and details on what tugs were like in those days. TRACK 2: Captain Phelps continues by describing working on a tow boat called the "Pilot" in 1911 when there were not many sailing ships, how he became a cook on a CPR ship called the "Princess Ina", Port Simpson, taking Indians to work at canneries, the influence of the Scots on place names, more on Port Simpson and the Indian village there, navigation and fog, an anecdote about a problem in a lighthouse, details about Porlier Pass and foghorns.

CALL NUMBER: T0388:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Archie Phelps RECORDED: [location unknown], [196-] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Phelps discusses several wrecks and ships, how pioneers were the only ones who traveled and Indians had to travel second class, Indian potlatches, how sheep were transported by boat, a massacre which resulted in two Indians being hanged, rough seas at Jervis Inlet, how the "Princess Irene" ferry was built for the Nanaimo run, how he became a CPR Captain in 1925 including several boats he worked on, and deep sea sailing versus coastal. TRACK 2: Blank.

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Katie O'Neill : the Veasy, O'Neill and Alexander families PERIOD COVERED: 1860s-1944 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1966-09-09 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Katie O'Neill speaks about her mother, Marianne Veasy coming out from New York with her family who pre-empted the Bonaparte Ranch outside of Ashcroft (1860's). After her mother and father, Charles Patrick O'Neill, were married they went to Barkerville (1879), there were 3 children in the family and her father worked as a blacksmith. Following her father's death, her mother married James M;orrison Lindsey Alexander and the family moved to the Queen Charlotte Islands to take up cattle ranching, later moving to Port Simpson. She relates childhood memories of the cattle ranch in the Queen ;Charlotte Islands near Masset and growing up in Port Simpson c.1900. She talks about the Minskinisht village, Rev. Robert Tomlinson and her position as telegraph operator at Minskinisht (1906-1909), and the wreck of the "Mount Royal". She later trained as a nurse (1909) and worked in Victoria. Katie O'Neill nursed Emily Carr in 1944 during her old age and she relates some memories and impressions.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-10-25 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Ed Barry discusses his grandfather, Ed Stout, who was a pioneer of Barkerville. His personality and several anecdotes are discussed. Then he discusses his father, Charles Barry, who came out to work on the railroads. He was a bridge builder. Mr. Barry describes many old-timers and the history and significance of Yale in great detail. He discusses the cemetery; the Chinese immigrants who worked on the railway; Yale as a railway and mining town; the things which have changed over time such as the educational system; the growth of Yale; several characters, and some anecdotes. [TRACK 2: blank.]

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-07-20 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Janet Yorston talks about the Australian Ranch, the stages on the Cariboo Road and various Cariboo people, from 1860 to 1914. Mr. Yorston describes how Andrew Olsen and Steve Downes came to the Cariboo and started the Australian Ranch; farming and activities there; how they sold produce to miners; settlers in the area; Chinese miners; Fort Alexandria; more on the Australian Ranch and how it was purchased by her husband John Yorston; the stopping house; and life on the ranch. TRACK 2: Mrs. Yorston tells stories of two Barkerville old-timers, Harry Jones and the "Duke Of York". She describes details of stagecoaches, travel and places on the Cariboo Road.

SUMMARY: The story of cattle ranching in the Nicola Valley: its beginnings in the days of the Cariboo gold rush, and the work of ranchers and cowboys at the Douglas Lake Cattle Company. The voices heard are: Bill Brennan; Alex Bulman; Gerald Guichon; Fred Irwin; Doug Palmer; and Martin Starret.

CALL NUMBER: T0376:0001 RECORDED: Quesnel (B.C.), 1964-07-19 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Nellie Baker talks about her experiences in the Cache Creek, Ashcroft and Quesnel area, 1890 to 1910. Mrs. Baker speaks about her father coming to BC in 1864 and the story of her father and mother coming to Chilcotin in 1884 before buying Bonaparte Ranch near Cache Creek, where Nelly was born. She describes activity along the Cariboo Road; wagons, stages, stopping places and drivers. She speaks about life at the Cache Creek boarding school and her relations with the native children.

TRACK 2: She moved to a ranch between Spences Bridge and Ashcroft where she used to capture wild horses. She discusses the Little Mountain slide at Spences Bridge as well as the sheep and cattle on her father's ranch. She discusses her life after she was married in Ashcroft, as well as pack trains, memories of the famous packer Jean Caux ("Cataline"), Quesnel in 1910, and activity in the area. She mentions that her husband was a doctor.

CALL NUMBER: T0376:0002 RECORDED: Quesnel (B.C.), 1964-07-19 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Baker discusses her traveling and her experiences working with her husband in the area west of Quesnel. She describes the social life and recreation of Wells and Barkerville; working outdoors, a story about eating wild parsnips, and rattlesnakes. She comments on bars and liquor and her upbringing and adventures on her father's ranch near Ashcroft. She talks about her marriage in 1907, the Mormons in Salt Lake City, more experiences with her husband, and horse racing. [TRACK 2: blank.]

CALL NUMBER: T0362:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-07-28 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Hugh Cornwall tells the story of his grandfather, Clement F. Cornwall, who settled in Ashcroft in 1862, including his early days on the ranch, hunting coyotes with hounds, and Ashcroft Manor serving as a stopping house. His grandfather was a politician and Lieutenant Governor of BC. There is more on the operation of the ranch at Ashcroft, which Hugh's father managed after 1910. Markets for cattle changed. More on Ashcroft Manor. TRACK 2: The Ashcroft estate burned down in the late 1930s. Cornwall comments on the veracity of historical accounts.

CALL NUMBER: T0362:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-07-28 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: The Cornwalls of Ashcroft are described, as is the naming of Cache Creek. The McLean boys are described -- Allen McLean, Charlie McLean, Archie McLean, and Alex Hare. The Cornwalls are described in terms of fox-hunting, law and order, and the gold rush. Finally, Cornwall describes Barkerville during its boom days. [TRACK 2: blank.]

CALL NUMBER: T0314:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-07-23 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Alfred Joseph Drinkell tells some stories about the history of the Dog Creek area of the Cariboo, from 1860 to 1914. Drinkell discusses his arrival in BC in 1911. He describes the ranches he worked at around Ashcroft, Joseph Smith's place, and his financial problems and life before he came to BC. He tells anecdotes about Judge Begbie. He tells a story about Samsome, a local doctor, and the legendary packer Jean Caux ("Cataline").

TRACK 2: Drinkell relates the story of Cataline's last trip and describes many trails in the area. He speaks of Joy Sim, a Chinese doctor, and pioneer medicine. He discusses some of Cataline's packers: Robbins, Wiggins Dan Smith, and the first settlers in the area. He describes the Hudson's Bay Trail, freighting, roads in the area, stories about Phil Grinder of Jesmond, a local school teacher, and educated people.

CALL NUMBER: T0314:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-07-23 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Drinkell describes the early days of Ashcroft, the Chinese in the area, two anecdotes: the Wright of the Dog Creek Ferry and the Stobie of the Gang Ranch. He offers the background of the Gang Ranch and describes cattle drives, the Duke Of York, a Barkerville bartender, and local Indians.

TRACK 2: Drinkell discusses cowboys, social life and Christmas. Then he mentions Indian-White relationships and a story about Indians and the law. He discusses the Chilcotin and Shuswap Indians, problems with the reserve system, Chinese settlers in the Dog Creek area, and the importance of Chinese in the area. Finally, Drinkell tells the story of five Indian women who killed themselves over a white man, and how nails and gold dust were used as money.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-08-06 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Dennis Walker recalls the journey from England to Vancouver with his parents in 1892, and their eventual move to the head of Bute Inlet; his father's name was William George Walker. He ;then describes building a homestead; the slow influx of other settlers; the growth of the community around Mr. Walker's original home site; social events in the community of Bute Inlet; various attempts by his father to sell farm produce in Vancouver; the problems which arise from being so far from the market; and stories of other families in the town. TRACK 2: Mr. Walker continues by describing; a trip with other youths up the Southgate River to the Chilcotin; a description of the salmon spawning season; comments on wildlife in the area; the death and burial of three Walker children; the destruction of the township by fire; an anecdote about original settler Tony Bernhardt; the death of Shorty Hibbs at the hands of the Indians; comments on coast and interior Indians; the unused Mallard Company Tannery; the climate and physical setting of the township; his father's departure for work in Vancouver; the gradual departure of the other settlers when the railroad failed to materialize; and; his travels through BC, especially Barkerville, as a machinist.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Earl Shaw Baity recounts his coming to BC in 1920 to move to Prince George with his father, Nick Baity. He describes Prince George in the 1920s, and Quesnel as he moved there in 1922. There is a detailed description of the road to Quesnel and the ferry. After he arrived in Quesnel, he took up a homestead. He discusses the growth of Quesnel between 1922 and 1947. He describes Wells and Barkerville as well, and tells stories of Dr. Gerald Ramsey and Paddy Baker. Mr. Baity outlines the differences in the populations of Quesnel and Barkerville. TRACK 2: Mr. Baity talks about several pioneers including John A. Fraser and the growth of Quesnel since World War II. The interview concludes with a discussion about life during the Great Depression in the 1930s.

CALL NUMBER: T0375:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-07-29 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Roderick "Roddy" Roy Moffat discusses how his father came out to the Chilcotin from Ontario and began ranching near Alexandria. Moffat offers several stories about his father when he drove a stagecoach. He discusses the tests necessary for a person to be a driver for the BC Line Company. He describes horses and drivers and the relationship between the two. There are many more stories about freighting days. Jerk-line teams had anywhere between four and twelve horses and three carriages. He describes how the horses were handled just outside of Ashcroft when the road became hilly and curved.

TRACK 2: Mr. Moffat discusses the competition between freighters to get the business of the Hudson's Bay Company out of Quesnel, alcohol consumption being a problem to achieving the contract, and then more on freighting. His father invented the snow roller for easier freighting in the winter. He describes the town of Barkerville. He discusses Chinese people as ranchers and as miners in the region. He discusses the Pinchbeck farm as the first farm in the area in Williams Lake and other early ranches: Levy Ranch in Soda Creek, McGuiness Ranch, 4 Mile Ranch, Sam Bohanon Ranch and that was all the farming until Quesnel. He describes many people in the area, old timers, and miners. Steve and Andrew Olsen are two characters he discusses, other Moffatts in the area, Alexander Flats, irrigation, the Hudson's Bay post at Alexandria, and the war between the Chilcotin Indians and the Alexander Indians.

CALL NUMBER: T0375:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-07-29 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Moffat describes the trail used by the Chilcotin Indians to invade the Alexander Indians, and how this route was used by Simon Fraser. He describes farmland and how technology has improved its uses. He discusses cattle farming near Quesnel. He describes his childhood and schooling. [TRACK 2: blank.]

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-10-28 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Harry Coldwell talks about his experiences in the Cariboo. Mr. Coldwell came from England in 1910 to Ashcroft. He worked as a carpenter in Ashcroft, Dog Creek and in the area. He describes Ashcroft; the Cariboo road; steamboats; the stopping house at Dog Creek and Joe Place, proprietor; the murderers Paul Spintlum and Moses Paul; a commercial traveler; the Gang Ranch; Carl Wycotte's cattle; Phil Grinder; Barkerville; and Big Bar Ranch. TRACK 2: Mr. Coldwell discusses dry farming in the area; the big cattle ranches; Albert Drinkell; and his own ranch at Jesmond. He describes; how the post office was established, and how mail was transported. The interview concludes with Mr. Coldwell's general comments on the area, people and his travels.

CALL NUMBER: T1311:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1962-03-28 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs."Nellie" Gillespie recounts the arrival of her father (J.H.Todd) in British Columbia in 1862, his grocery and cannery businesses, summer visits to the Fraser canneries, Skeena canneries, her father's early life in Ontario and BC, her childhood impressions of Victoria, Christmas celebrations, St.John's Church, childhood activities, schooling, theatricals, the Pooley family, recreation at Sooke Lake, and the navy in Victoria society. TRACK 2: Mrs.Gillespie continues with recollections about Begbie's funeral, the Birdcages, the Gillespie family, impressions of the city circa 1900, A;.E.Todd, Mayor of Victoria, the Klondike gold rush, the smallpox epidemic, her father's early activities in Victoria and Barkerville, and her views on tourism and the "Englishness" of Victoria.

CALL NUMBER: T1311:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1962-03-28 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs.Gillespie talks about getting to know people in Victoria, social life and her views on "Englishness". [TRACK 2: blank.]

CALL NUMBER: T0006:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Leslie Leighton : life in the Cariboo PERIOD COVERED: 1860-1920 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-06-01 SUMMARY: Mr. Leslie Leighton talks about his father's and his own experiences in the Cariboo and Fraser-Thompson regions, 1860-1920. TRACK 1: Family background, mother's side (Uren). Town of Savona c.1870. Fat;her's background: a telegrapher who worked for Collins Overland Telegraph. A Chinese telegrapher. Mother's family. Ranch at Savona. Discussion of early rodeos, c.1905. Breaking horses. Ashcroft and Savona. "Stage Billy". Roads in Barkerville area. TRACK 2: Barkerville and people there, ca.1900: Andrew Kelly, John Bowron, George Turnstall, other old-timers. Stage business. Beginnings of Inland Express Company. Roads. People on the stage coaches. Other towns in the Cariboo. General comments.

CALL NUMBER: T0006:0004 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Leslie Leighton : Walhachin and other memories of the Fraser-Thompson area PERIOD COVERED: 1894-1920 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-06-01 SUMMARY: Mr. Leslie Leighton talks about the development of Walhachin and other recollections of his experiences in the Fraser-Thompson area, 1894-1920. TRACK 1: Cataline (Jean Caux), a well-known packer. Chinese miners. Mining in area. The story of Walhachin and the Walhachin irrigation flume. The decline of Walhachin. Involvement of the Marquis of Anglesey. Anecdotes about Alphonse Foucault. Freight wagons and jerkline teams. More on Foucault and various exploits. More on Walhachin flume. Memory of first CPR train through Ashcroft. Story about Sir William Mackenzie's daughter Ethel and her husband. [TRACK 2: blank.]

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-07-28 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Harry A. Ferguson describes his father's life as a gold miner who came over in 1862 from Belfast via San Francisco; he went to Barkerville; he built a hotel in Clinton and then bought a hotel on the south side of the lake in 1885; in 1874 his father took the first horses to Alberta with 300 head for the Mounted Police; a description of his father's journey is given; and he describes growing up in Salmon Arm. [TRACK 2: blank.]

RECORDED: [location unknown], [196-] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Herb Gardner was interviewed while holding the office of Mayor of Williams Lake. He describes the federal building; the regional board; urban planning; and the electoral process. Before elections, people were appointed to the board. Demographics of the district. Mr. Gardner offers his own personal history; born in Quesnel and lived in Barkerville; stories about old timers; his father came into the country in 1900, and was a shoemaker before becoming a miner; eventually his father ran a stopping house on a ranch; in 1928 the family moved to Quesnel and worked in the saw mill business. He describes what Williams Lake was like back then.

TRACK 2: Mr. Gardner comments about how smaller sawmills were driven out by economics and larger ones took their place; the lumber industry and how it drives the economy of Williams Lake; prospecting and cattle ranching; stampedes; how much he likes living in Williams Lake. He compares living in Quesnel to living in Williams Lake. He discusses the future and the progress of Williams Lake.

RECORDED: [location unknown], [1955?] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Alice M. Earley talks about coming into the Cariboo from Victoria in 1884; the journey by steamboat, train, and horse-drawn wagon to Quesnel, where she had been hired to teach. The Conco;rd stages. She describes Quesnel in the 1880s: the town; the fur traders; pack trains; the Klondike gold rush of 1898; the telegraph line; a plot by the Chilcotin [Tsilhqot'in] people; Barkerville; Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie; the school teacher; coins; prices and automobiles of a later era. [TRACK 2: blank.]

SUMMARY: A.P. Murray discusses Barkerville newspaper editor Ma Murray talks about Fort St. John.