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Archival description
Only top-level descriptions British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)
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Forest Surveys and Inventory Division operational records

  • GR-0944
  • Series
  • 1942-1981

This series consists of the operational records of the Forest Surveys and Inventory Division. Records include procedures, operations, policy, and field manuals relating to forest management, forest protection, forest surveys and inventory, grazing and range administration, engineering, and accounting, 1942-1981; Civil Service Commission descriptions for positions in the B.C. Forest Service, 1950-1970; and letters of instruction and circular letters to Forest Officers, and miscellaneous correspondence, 1943-1977. There is also a report of forest inventory work from 1955 with maps.

British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)

Lake Cowichan Ranger District records

  • GR-1062
  • Series
  • 1928-1980

The series consists of records of the Lake Cowichan Ranger District of the Ministry of Forests, 1928-1980. It includes correspondence files, cutting permits, and inspection reports relating to tree farm licences, timber leases, and timber marks. It also includes records and a collection of pamphlets and reports relating to forest pathology, silviculture, and reforestation.

British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)

Administrative records

  • GR-1340
  • Series
  • 1978-1980

This series contains materials prepared to inform staff of changes during the process of the Ministry of Forests' reorganization. File 1 contains a 1978 background paper prepared by the Internal Reorganization Working Committee for distribution to Regional Managers and Divisional (Branch) Directors, on the role and responsibilities of the various parts of the new organization. File 2 contains "Update", a series of staff bulletins issued in 1979-1980 in order to inform staff of the progress of the reorganization process.

British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)

Report

  • GR-1351
  • Series
  • 1979

This series contains a report prepared for the Task Force on Forest and Range Education on the forest-related educational materials used in the schools of British Columbia, done by New World Learning Systems, Victoria, B.C.

British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)

Correspondence subject indexes

  • GR-1365
  • Series
  • 1918-1983

This series contains subject indexes to the "O Series" of correspondence, ca.1918-1972 and two file directories, 1979-1981 and 1983. Box 1 contains a photocopy of an alphabetical card index to the "O series" of correspondence. Box 2 contains a file directory (updated to 1972) for "O Series" correspondence files arranged as general files, working plans, engineering, farm woodlot applications, public sustained yield units, tree farms and tree farm licences and a Forest Service file directory, 1979-1981 and a Ministry of Forests file directory, 1983. Indexes to forestry correspondence, 1918-1983

British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)

Papers of Project 87

  • GR-1366
  • Series
  • 1981-1983

This series contains miscellaneous papers of Project 87. This project was established in 1981 to do research in preparation for the 75th anniversary of the Forest Service in 1987 and to facilitate transfer of archival records to the Provincial Archives. This series consists of papers and reports prepared, coordinated, or collected by the project. Contents are: (1) Working Paper No. 7, Historical headquarters staff and organizational tables, 1888-1979. (2) Catalogue of Original Timber Leases, 1870-1906, prepared by A. Lazenby. (3) Early history of the B.C. Forest Service, by D. Climenhaga. (4) Forest protection a government responsibility, a draft by Stephen Gray. (5) Protection as conservation - Safeguarding B.C.'s forests from fire, 1874-1921, by John Parmenter.

British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)

Civil service specifications and other material

  • GR-1380
  • Series
  • 1959-1978

This series contains records related to civil service specifications for positions in the B.C. Forest Service. Information captured in the records includes job classifications and descriptions for foresters, forest agrologists, surveyors, carpenters, clerks, forest assistants, conservation officers, and other positions with the Forest Service.

British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)

Forest Protection Suppression Training Series instructional material

  • GR-1753
  • Series
  • ca. 1981

Series consists of Forest Protection Suppression Training instructional material for topics related to fire fighting created in 1981. The series contains instructor's texts, transparencies for overhead projectors, 127 35 mm color slides, and 2 audio cassette tapes. The training topics include: basic fire behavior and suppression, fire communications, use of common hand tools, and helicopter safety.

British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)

Forest Service lookout photographs

  • GR-3263
  • Series
  • 1936-1983

The series consists of ca. 4300 negatives and ca. 5000 photographic prints taken from forest lookouts between 1936 and 1993. Falling under the function of forest protection, "lookout photography" or "panoramic lookout photography" was first initiated in B.C. in 1936. It involved taking a set of eight large-format film images at 263 fire lookout sites.

The negatives were used to create 20 x 32 cm (7½ x 12¾" black and white photo prints, and a grid was photographically superimposed on each print, indicating the compass bearing from 0 to 360 degrees and vertical angle from +10 to -15 degrees from the horizontal. These prints were bound into book form, and kept on hand in the lookout and at the Ranger Station to aid in communicating the details of fire locations using visual references. They were also used to orient the fire finder in the lookout - a rotatable sighting device mounted over a map located in the centre of the building. The books list the date of the images and the location. Some books also contain notations on the photos. The series also contains 2 boxes of photographic proofs which contain information about the date and time that the image was taken and the weather conditions at that time.

In the photographing process, bearings were established with the use of a surveyor's transit and level, and an interchangeable camera. With the transit, the photographer determined the precise known bearing of a distant reference object (usually a mountain peak or another lookout, sometimes a topographic survey cairn). By lifting the transit off the mount and replacing it with the camera, they could then take their eight photographs at 45-degree horizontal intervals. Photographs from the lookout were taken in this order: shot #1, North; shot #2, 45 degrees; shot #3, East; shot #4, 135 degrees; shot #5, South; shot #6, 225 degrees; shot #7, West; shot #8, 315 degrees. A suitable camera was initially borrowed from another agency until one specially built by the National Research Council in Ottawa was obtained in the summer of 1945. One report from the late 1940s states that the eight views each included a horizontal angle of 50 degrees, so that the full panorama was completed with an overlap of 5 degrees per photograph. Photos were taken on infrared film to maximize haze penetration, and a duplicate set of negatives were taken with panchromatic.

Most lookouts were photographed at least once; some were photographed two or three times. This “rephotography” was deemed necessary when there were appreciable changes, over time, in a view from a lookout. Changes in view were caused by various factors: elimination of vegetative cover due to wildfires or logging; the erecting, rebuilding or relocation of a tower; construction of dams; or the change in view caused by tree clearing at the mountain summit. Most lookouts were sites that had established structures; however, some were undeveloped sites.

The photography was sometimes carried out by a two-man crew consisting of UBC forestry students. In time, "visibility mapping" to evaluate potential new lookout sites was combined with lookout photography at existing sites; in some years a two-man crew would do both. Access to lookout sites by helicopter was used by 1960. The same crews sometimes also took photographs on behalf of the National Parks Service for parks lookouts located in B.C. For some years there was limited or no field work undertaken in either lookout photography or visibility mapping. The last photos were taken by professional surveyors on a contract basis as a pilot project.

The majority of the lookout structures were built by the B.C. Forest Service; however, several had been built by the federal government to fulfill their obligation to protect timber from wildfire within the Railway Belt. In 1930 the Railway Belt and its lookout structures were turned over to the Province of B.C.

The number of lookouts that were staffed declined in the late 1970s and early 1980s as other means of fire detection became more efficient, notably, aircraft patrols and public reporting. In addition, the electronic lightning location system that began in 1980 indicated where lightning activity had occurred, and computer models then predicted the likely location and number of new lighting-caused and people-caused fires. The decline in fire lookouts was due to technological changes, and cost-benefit analyses probably showed that some lookouts were no longer good investments. Lookout photography was given up as lookouts declined in value.

The photographs are a resource for studying landscape change. Old harvesting, regeneration, and the impacts of wildfire and urban expansion may be observed in many of the photograph sets.

British Columbia. Dept. of Lands

Ministry of Forests : sound recordings

  • GR-3473
  • Series
  • 1958, 1966-1985

The series consists of miscellaneous sound recordings created or accumulated by the Ministry of Forests.

British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)

Non-replaceable timber sale licences

  • GR-3631
  • Series
  • [ca. 1968]-1997

Series consists of non-replaceable timber sale licence files. These licences provide an applicant with a one-time right to harvest timber in a specified area.

Each file documents the issuance, administration and cancellation of licences as per the Forest Act. The majority of the files in this series date from 1978-1995 although there are also some files that date back to 1968. The records are from all areas of the province.

The files consist primarily of copies of the licence, applications, maps, deletion notices, status clearance forms, correspondence and reports. The ministry assigned A numbers to the files which have been assigned sequentially. There are many gaps in the numbering since the ministry only transferred cancelled licence files to the archives.

The records were created by the Timber Management Branch and the Timber Harvesting Branch. The following ministries were responsible for forestry between 1973-1994:
1973-1975 Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources
1975-1976 Dept. of Forests
1976-1986 Ministry of Forests
1986-1988 Ministry of Forests and Lands
1988-1994 Ministry of Forests

The records have been classified as 19620-25 in the Forest ORCS.

British Columbia. Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources

Tree farm licence annual reports

  • GR-3636
  • Series
  • 1951-1999

This series consists of annual reports submitted by the holders of tree farm licences. Each tree farm licence requires the licensee to submit an annual report. The licensee must report on:

  1. their performance over the previous calendar year in relation to its management of the licence area and their obligations under the licence,
  2. their success in meeting their management objectives, including all employment and economic activities,
  3. the processing or other use or disposition of the timber harvested under the licence, and,
  4. their goals and major initiatives for the next calendar year.

The series is arranged annually by the tree farm licence number. The reports have been placed in file folders which, in some cases, also contain copies of correspondence between ministry staff, and/or the Licensee and references to the applicable “0” lands file. Some of the reports contain attached photographs to provide additional information.

The following ministries and departments were responsible for managing this function:

1951-1962 Dept. of Lands and Forests
1962-1975 Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources
1975-1976 Dept. of Forests (1975-1976)
1976-1986 Ministry of Forests
1986-1988 Ministry of Forests and Lands
1988-1999 Ministry of Forests

The series has been classified as 19700-60 in the Forests Operational Classification System (ORCS).

British Columbia. Dept. of Lands and Forests

Forest licence cutting permits from the Dawson Creek Forest District

  • GR-3683
  • Series
  • 1971-1992

The series consists of cutting permits for forest licences and timber sale harvesting licences. The records were created by both the Chetwynd Field Office and the Dawson Creek Forest District. These offices were part of the Prince George Forest Region. Each office maintained their own files and, in most cases, both files have been retained.

The ministry created multiple files for administering the permit process. These include a central file as well as individual files for each cut block. Since this series also contains files from two offices, there are often duplicate central and block files for each permit. Both are numbered identically but they are differentiated by the acronyms CFO for the Chetwynd office and DDC for the Dawson Creek office.

All files contain a variety of correspondence, reports, maps, and forms. The central file is split into two parts. The first part contains a copy of the cutting permit, final harvesting reports, permit extension documentation, and stumpage fees. The second part contains preliminary inspections by Forest Service staff, appraisal analysis documentation and correspondence.

The ministries responsible for creating these records, and the years that they were responsible, are:

British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1988-1992)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests and Lands (1986-1988)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)
British Columbia. Dept. of Forests (1975-1976)
British Columbia. Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources (1971-1975)

The records were classified as 19500-45 in the Forest Operational Classification System (ORCS).

British Columbia. Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources

Public sustained yield unit policy files

  • GR-3700
  • Series
  • 1955-1985

The series consists of policy files relating to public sustained yield units. These records were created between 1955 and 1985 by the Ministry of Forests and its predecessors. The records were created by the ministry’s central office in Victoria and relate to all areas of the province. These files were used for planning in public sustained yield unit areas.

Public sustained yield units (PSYU) were used by the ministry between 1948 and 1978. They were the method by which the ministry regulated harvest rates. PSYUs were an outgrowth of the 1945 Royal Commission on the Forest Resources of British Columbia. This commission recommended that the ministry should establish forest management units to ensure the long term sustained yield of timber.

The ministry established 88 public sustained yield units in the province and these are reflected in the records of this series. In 1978, the ministry replaced the system of public sustained yield units with timber supply areas. The 88 PSYU’s were reduced to 33 timber supply areas.

Records contain correspondence, maps and reports. The correspondence is with ministry staff, other ministries and third parties including businesses and individuals. The majority of the documents relate to forest use but there are also records that relate to other land use information including mining, recreation, parks, and environment. The reports include computer printouts and written reports. The computer printouts contain information about forestry yield.

Files are arranged alphabetically. There is a file for each of the PSYUs in the province. Each file has also been assigned a classification number that begins with the numbers 700-6-1. This classification number was first assigned to the records ca. 1979. Documents in each file that were created prior to 1979 have been assigned a “0” number. The “0” numbers are 7 digit numbers that are part of a filing system that was created by the Dept. of Lands which was a predecessor of Forests.

Ministries responsible for creating these records, and the dates that they were responsible, include:
British Columbia. Dept. of Lands and Forests (1955-1962)
British Columbia. Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources (1962-1975)
British Columbia. Dept. of Forests (1975-1976)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1985)

British Columbia. Dept. of Lands and Forests

Public sustained yield unit general files

  • GR-3703
  • Series
  • 1955-1980

The series consists of general files relating to public sustained yield units. The files were used to calculate the long term sustainable yield in the forests. These records were created between 1955 and 1980 by the Ministry of Forests and its successors. The records were maintained by the Victoria central office in Victoria and relate to all areas of the province.

Public sustained yield units (PSYU) were used by the ministry between 1948 and 1978. They were the method by which the ministry regulated harvest rates. PSYUs were an outgrowth of the 1945 Royal Commission on the Forest Resources of British Columbia. This commission recommended that the ministry should establish forest management units to ensure the long term sustained yield of timber.

The ministry established 88 public sustained yield units in the province and these are reflected in the records of this series. In 1978, the ministry replaced the system of public sustained yield units with timber supply areas. The 88 PSYU’s were reduced to 33 timber supply areas.

Records consist primarily of reports and maps as well as correspondence among ministry staff. The records were used to calculate yield volumes and therefore contain documents used for that purpose including yield calculation reports, forest inventory summaries, mill surveys and statistics, and information about allowable cuts.

Files are arranged alphabetically. There is a file for each of the PSYUs in the province. Each file has been assigned a classification number that begins with the numbers 700-6-1. This classification number was first assigned to the records ca. 1979. Documents in each file that were created prior to 1979 have been assigned a “0” number. The “0” numbers are 7 digit numbers that are part of a filing system that was created by the Dept. of Lands which was a predecessor of Forests.

Ministries responsible for creating these records, and the dates that they were responsible, include:
British Columbia. Dept. of Lands and Forests (1955-1962)
British Columbia. Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources (1962-1975)
British Columbia. Dept. of Forests (1975-1976)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1980)

British Columbia. Dept. of Lands and Forests

Public sustained yield units management files

  • GR-3708
  • Series
  • 1952-1984

The series consists of management files relating to public sustained yield units. These files document day to day operations and were used for implementing and managing yield policies throughout the province. These records were created between 1956 and 1984 by the Ministry of Forests and its successors. The records were created by the ministry’s central office in Victoria and relate to all areas of the province.

Public sustained yield units (PSYU) were used by the ministry between 1948 and 1978. They were a method by which the ministry regulated harvest rate. PSYUs were an outgrowth of the Royal Commission on the Forest Resources of British Columbia of 1945. This commission recommended that the ministry should establish forest management units that would be managed for a long term sustained yield of timber.

The ministry established 88 public sustained yield units in the province and these are reflected in the records of this series. In 1978, the ministry replaced public sustained yield units with timber supply areas. The 88 PSYU’s were reduced into 33 timber supply areas.

Records contain correspondence, maps, and reports. The correspondence is with ministry staff, other ministries, other governments, businesses and members of the public. The correspondence includes letters about annual cutting rates including information about companies that exceed or do not meet their annual rates of harvesting. There are also requests from municipalities, members of the public and businesses for an increase in cutting quotas.

Files are arranged alphabetically. There is a file for each of the PSYUs in the province. Each file has also been assigned a classification number that begins with the numbers 700-6-1. This classification number was first assigned to the records ca. 1979. Documents in each file that were created prior to 1979 have been assigned a “0” number. The “0” numbers are 7 digit numbers that are part of a filing system that was created by the Dept. of Lands which was a predecessor of Forests.

Ministries responsible for creating these records, and the dates that they were responsible, include:
British Columbia. Dept. of Lands and Forests (1955-1962)
British Columbia. Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources (1962-1975)
British Columbia. Dept. of Forests (1975-1976)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1984)

British Columbia. Dept. of Lands and Forests

Planting reports

  • GR-3709
  • Series
  • 1962-1987

Series consists of forestry planting reports. The reports were created to document reforestation work in the province. The reports were written on standardized form and the description on the back of the form says that “the object of the form is to provide a complete and realistic report of planning project for record and cost comparison purposes.”

The forms were usually completed by the contracted party who carried out the reforestation work. The reports document the number of trees planted, where the planting took place and the cost of doing the work. For most of the years covered by this series, the forms were completed in triplicate with one copy being submitted to the Ranger Office, one to the Reforestation Officer in the District Office and one to the Reforestation Division in Victoria. The reports in this series are from the Victoria Office.

The records are arranged by the Forest District with individual folders for each year. The early records usually contain a range of years in each folder. The folders consist primarily of copies of the planting report form and a map of the area planted. Some folders also contain other documents such as planting inspection reports, daily planting progress reports, and correspondence.

Ministries responsible for the creation of this series, and the dates of the responsibility, are:

Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources, 1962-1975
Dept. of Forests 1975-1976
Ministry of Forests 1976-1986
Ministry of Forests and Lands 1986-1988

Classified by the ministry as 18750-20 in the Ministry of Forests ORCS.

British Columbia. Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources

Stand tending reports

  • GR-3714
  • Series
  • 1977-1987

Series consists of stand tending reports which were created to document forest treatments in the province. According to the Ministry of Forests, “stand tending is a subset of silviculture that includes a variety of forest treatments, including pre-commercial thinning, fertilizing, pruning and commercial thinning, which are carried out to maintain a healthy forest and to increase the quality and quantity of timber produced.”

The reports were maintained by the Victoria Office of the Ministry of Forests. Each report is on a standardized form and a map of the area treated attached to many of them. The reports contain information about the forest region, the district as well as the National Topographic System map number to provide the location of the work. The forms also list the type of project that was undertaken, the project objective and the accomplishments. The forms were usually completed by the contracted party who carried out the work and there is a space on the form to record who did the work, the costs and the date that the work was started. The forms were also signed by the project foreman and forestry staff.

The records are arranged by the Forest District with individual folders for each year. The folders consist primarily of copies of the planting report form and a map of the area planted. Some folders also contain other documents such as planting inspection reports, daily planting progress reports, and correspondence.

Ministries responsible for the creation of this series, and the dates of the responsibility, are:

Ministry of Forests 1976-1986
Ministry of Forests and Lands 1986-1988

Classified by the ministry as 18750-20 in the Ministry of Forests ORCS.

British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)

Special timber licences

  • GR-3736
  • Series
  • 1911-1990 (primarily 1963-1982)

Series consists of special timber licences created by the Ministry of Forests and its predecessors. The ministry created these records to manage the process of providing applicants with the right to cut in forests. The records were created between 1911-1990 although the majority of the records in this series were created between 1963 and 1982. The records deal with all areas of the province and were created in accordance with the Forest Act and its sections on timber licences.

Special timber licences were first referred to in the 1888 Lands Act (SBC 1888, c. 16). The 1912 Forest Act (SBC 1912, c. 17) stated that a “special timber licence shall vest in the holder thereof all rights of property whatsoever in all trees, timber, and lumber cut within the limits of the licence during the term.” These licences remained in effect until the January 1, 1979 enactment of the new Forest Act (SBC 1978, c. 23). This 1978 act replaced special timber licences with a new form of timber licence.

The records are arranged by the timber licence number which begins with TL followed by a sequential number. The TL number was phased out in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s with the introduction of the timber licence files. Many files have the new timber licence number, which begins with “T”, written on the front of the file. There is also a sheet in the front of the file that contains information about the file that replaced it.

The files usually consist of a copy of the licence, renewal documentation, correspondence, logging inspection reports, and termination documents.

There are also two volumes of file 18043f from the Dept. of Lands and Works’ “O” files series. These files contain documentation about multiple licences. These have been placed in the last box.

Ministries that were responsible for this series include:
Dept. of Lands (1908-1945)
Dept. of Lands and Forests (1945-1962)
Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources (1962-1975)
Dept. of Forests (1975-1976)
Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)
Ministry of Forests and Lands (1986-1988)
Ministry of Forests (1988-2005)

British Columbia. Dept. of Lands

Provincial Forest information files

  • GR-4083
  • Series
  • 1932-1983

This series consists of Provincial Forest information files created by the Ministry of Forests and its predecessors from 1932-1983. The records consists of tables recording the various tenures, permits and other forms of land use in Provincial Forests. These include: special use permits, logging road right of ways, reserves, map notations, land withdrawals for public use (parks, reserves, archaeological sites), and land withdrawals for other uses (personal, agricultural, commercial, industrial use).

The series also includes a file on stumpage rates paid, including statistical and financial information related to timber harvesting.

British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)

Forest District annual reports

  • GR-4084
  • Series
  • 1964-1979

This series consists of annual reports created by several Forest Districts and Regions of the Ministry of Forests and its predecessors from 1975-1979. Records are included from the following Forest Regions and Districts: Cariboo, Kamloops, Nelson, Prince George, Prince Rupert, and Vancouver.

The records summarize the annual work conducted by each branch of the office. Subjects include: fire preparedness, protection, pest management, range use and administration, reforestation, silviculture, management of Crown land, valuation, research projects, recreation resources, natural resource management, engineering, staff training and timber tenures. Some reports include maps, charts and statistics. There is also a 1964 public working circles procedure manual.

British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)

Range Branch grazing permits and hay cutting area records

  • GR-4115
  • Series
  • 1914-1991; predominant 1960-1989

This series consists of grazing permits and records related to hay cutting areas created by the central Range Branch of the Ministry of Forests and its predecessors from 1914-1991. Files may also relate to range improvement areas, range surveys and coordinated resource management plans on Crown grazing land.

Records relate to the administration of Grazing Licences and Grazing Permits, including issuance, amendments, transfers, billing, monitoring, policy administration, and plans specific to tenures. Files may also includes records concerning additions and deletions of land and/or authorized Animal Unit Months (AUM) from grazing tenures. Records include tenure application forms, grazing plans, authorized livestock, correspondence, maps, records determining range boundaries and use, and information on range improvements and clearing.

Each file relates to a particular range tenure. Grazing permit files are arranged in alphabetical groups by the names of the permit holder, which may be an individual, a company, a ranch or another group. Hay cutting area (HCA) files are arranged by HCA number.

Ministries responsible for the creation of this series, and their dates of the responsibility, are:
Dept. of Lands, 1908-1945
Dept. of Lands and Forests 1945-1962
Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources 1962-1975
Dept. of Forests 1975-1976
Ministry of Forests 1976-1986
Ministry of Forests and Lands 1986-1988
Ministry of Forests 1988-2005

British Columbia. Dept. of Lands and Forests

Countervail duty research material

  • GR-4181
  • Series
  • 1982-1986

This series consists of records related to research into countervailing duties related to the softwood lumber dispute with the United States of America. The records relate to the US imposition of duties on imported Canadian lumber products. The records were created or received by the BC Ministry of Forests from 1982-1986. Many records were created by the Canadian Forest Industries Council (CFIC) and the United States Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, Import Administration and provided to the Ministry for reference. The records consist of correspondence, memorandums, questionnaires, agendas, reports, working papers, minutes and other reference materials.

British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)