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Douglas, James, Sir, 1803-1877 Text
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Correspondence outward

The series consists of correspondence out from Fort Vancouver, 1846-1848, signed by Peter Skene Ogden and James Douglas. The records consist of originals, borrowed transcripts and transcript copies. Almost all of the letters are addressed to Dr. W.F. Tolmie, at Fort Nisqually

Correspondence outward

The series consists of correspondence from James Douglas to other HBC officials, written between 1832 and 1849 while he was assigned to Fort Vancouver. The first part of the series consists of the original letters (1839 to 1848) while the second part consists of copies or transcripts of original letters (1832 to 1849) obtained from other institutions or individuals.

The letters cover all aspects of life in the Hudson's Bay Company forts including directions sent by Douglas to other Fort officials regarding men, equipment and farm operations; trading, exploration and relations with the Indigenous people; news and politics.

Establishment of servants, Columbia District out

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.

Fort Vancouver : register of marriage licenses

The item consists of a record book kept by Chief Factor John McLoughlin in 1837 at Fort Vancouver for the purposes of recording marriage licences. Entry no. 1 records the marriage licence of James Douglas and Amelia Connolly, dated February 27, 1837. Entry no. 2 records the marriage licence of Benjamin McKenzie and Katharine Campbell, dated February 27, 1837.

Land office blotter

The item is a volume titled land office blotter. Blotters were used to record detailed trading activity. Only one page has been used. The page describes two financial transactions with the Hudson's Bay Company.

The first transaction relates to 200 pound sterling received from James Cooper, Master of the Hudson's Bay Company ship Columbia, as a deposit on a land purchase in September 1849.

The next relates to the trade of 535 blankets on the 6th of May, 1850. The blankets were paid to several Indigenous groups "for purchase of their lands as per details in Register of Land Purchases", also known as the Douglas Treaties. The names, transcribed directly from the blotter, are: Tee-chamitsa, Kosampsom, Swenghung, Chilcowitch, Whyomilth, Checonein, Kakyaakan, Chewhaytsun, and Soak.

This record was likely created by James Douglas, as it appears to be written in his handwriting [see Wilson Duff, "The Fort Victoria Treaties", BC Studies No. 3 (Fall 1969): 8].

Letter book : correspondence outward

The item is a bound letter book containing copies of correspondence outward from the Hudson's Bay Company Fort Simpson between 1851 and 1855. The letters are written by William Henry McNeill, Chief Trader at Fort Simpson. Most of the correspondence is addressed to James Douglas, Chief Factor or the Board of Management, Hudson's Bay Company, at Fort Victoria. There are also some letters addressed to other Hudson's Bay Company officials such as John Work.

There is a two page diary from August 21 to September 1, 1875 in the back of the book written by an unnamed woman, probably McNeill's daughter Rebecca.

Letter from H.H. Berens to James Douglas

The item is a letter to Governor James Douglas at Fort Victoria written by H.H. Berens, Agent of the Puget Sound Agricultural Company at Hudson's Bay House in London, on June 11, 1862. The letter states that the company is not interested in purchasing Douglas' shares in the PSAC and giving Douglas the authority to dispose of them as he pleases.

Letter to I.W. Powell regarding reserves

Item consists of one letter (copy) written by James Douglas to Israel Wood Powell, Superintendent of Indian Affairs. Douglas' letter is in response to a letter from Powell (9 October 1874) inquiring whether, during Douglas' tenure a Governor of British Columbia, there was a specific basis of acreage used in setting apart reserves.

Outward correspondence

The series consists of correspondence sent by Paul Fraser in 1852 and 1853 to a number of correspondents, including James Douglas, Eden Colville, and James Yale. Correspondence deals with Hudson's Bay Company and other business or travel matters.

Peter Ogden correspondence with James Douglas

The file consists of one letter written in 1860 by Peter Ogden to James Douglas, governor of British Columbia. Ogden requests payment of $102 as recompense for supplies and assistance provided to Major William Downie, who arrived at Stuart Lake in 1859 in a destitute state.

Register of land purchases from Indians

The series consists of a register of land purchases from Indigenous peoples on Southern Vancouver Island (near Fort Victoria), 1850-1852; record of agreements with Indigenous peoples at Fort Rupert, 1851, and Nanaimo, 1854. These conveyances or agreements are often referred to as the Fort Victoria treaties, Vancouver Island or Douglas treaties.

The following is a list of the signatory tribes and their present-day community names:

Saanich, Victoria, Metchosin and Sooke areas:
Teechamitsa (Songhees)
Kosampson (Esquimalt)
Whyomilth (Esquimalt)
Swengwhung (Songhees)
Chilcowitch (Songhees)
Che-ko-nein (Songhees)
Ka-ky-aakan (Scia'new/Becher Bay)
Chewhaytsum (Scia'newBecher Bay)
Soke (T'Sou-ke/Sooke)
Saanich -South (Tsawout, Tsartlip, Malahat)
Saanich -North (Pauquachin, Tseycum)

Nanaimo area:
Saalequun (Snaw-Na-Was/Nanoose, Snuneymuxw)

Port Hardy area:
Queackar (Kwiakah)
Quakiolth (Kwakiutl)

Included with these records, but not part of the HBC agreements, are two land purchase agreements made between Vancouver Island Government Agent William Banfield and two Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations in 1859 and 1860, as well as a list with the male adult population of tribes of the southwest coast of Vancouver Island compiled by Banfield.

Report from James Douglas to John McLoughlin

The item is a transcript copy of an 18 page report in the form of a letter written by James Douglas on October 1, 1840 on board the HBC steam vessel "Beaver". It is addressed to John McLouglin, Chief Factor of Fort Vancouver.

The report details Douglas' activities from May to September 1840 in his visits to various HBC forts including Fort McLoughlin, Fort Simpson, Fort Stikine; and Sitka where he met and negotiated business with the Russian Governor. The report also outlines Douglas' interactions with Indigenous people, the establishment of Fort Taku (later Fort Durham) and fur trade activities.