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SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Captain Alexander Peabody RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978-07-19 SUMMARY: NOTE: Captain Alexander Peabody was President and General Manager of Puget Sound Navigation Company (operating under the trade name the Black Ball Line). Part of this service was sold to Washington State's' Toll Bridge Authority in 1951 and became the Washington State Ferry Service. Peabody retained its Canadian subsidiary, Black Ball Ferries Ltd., which was later purchased by the British Columbia government and became part of the B.C. Ferry Authority. [No content summary or documentation is available for this interview.];

The series consists of scrapbooks and subject files created by Earl Marsh together with original records, primarily from the Canadian Pacific Navigation Company, the British Columbia Coast Steamship Service (BCCSS), and the Canadian Pacific Railway Company. Created predominantly from 1900 to 1975, the records document the history of these companies and maritime history in general for British Columbia, Washington State, and Alaska.

The series consists of records about the following companies: Canadian Pacific Navigation Company; the BCCSS; the Canadian Pacific Railway Company; British Columbia Lake and River Service; Canadian Pacific Steamships Limited; Canadian National Steamship Company; Union Steamship Company of British Columbia; Washington State Ferries; Puget Sound Navigation Company; Black Ball Ferries Ltd.; Black Ball Transport Inc.; British Columbia Ferry Corporation; and Alaska Steamship Company.

Marsh maintained some of the records in scrapbooks dedicated to particular subjects. He also kept subject files which had titles and contents similar to scrapbooks. Scrapbooks and subject files about the BCCSS were typically arranged in rough alphabetical order. Additionally, Marsh kept records from the Canadian Pacific Railway Company and its subsidiaries in binders. These records, as well as scrapbooks that were not about the BCCSS, were grouped according to subject. All materials were arranged according to documentary form. For example, all of Marsh’s scrapbooks were kept separate from his subject files.

The scrapbooks and subject files assembled by Marsh include, but are not limited to, the following documentary forms: photographs; BCCSS financial records, correspondence, and reports; promotional materials for ships and cruises; newspaper and magazine clippings; ticket stubs from ships; sale agreements for ships; engineers’ reports; and insurance adjusters’ reports. Other Canadian Pacific Railway Company documents include, but are not limited to, contracts, financial records, annual directors’ reports, staff records, engineers’ reports, insurance adjusters’ reports, passenger lists, rate and schedule announcements, menus, employee newsletters, and ship schedules.

This series makes up the majority of the records in the collection.

Marsh gathered the bulk of the records between 1964 and 1973.

BC Archives has retained all records in the series with the exception of duplicates of menus, a file of newspaper trivia clippings, and six sexually explicit, photocopied comics.

CALL NUMBER: T1675:0039 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Social Credit and the 1972 election in British Columbia PERIOD COVERED: 1969-1972 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978-03-18 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: W.A.C. Bennett discusses government use of special warrants for special expenditure of public funds. The use of orders-in-council. Response to criticisms that his was a "government by order-in-council". The 1969 provincial election. The possibility of resigning as Premier prior to 1972. The influence of public opinion polls on Bennett's decision to remain in office. Succession to the Social Credit party leadership. John de Wolf and the 1969 election. The Conservative party under the stewardship of Derril Warren. The defection of Scott Wallace from the Social Credit party and its effect upon Socred fortunes. Factors contributing to the defeat of the Social Credit government, 1972. TRACK 2: Further discussion of factors contributing to Social Credit's defeat: the ban on liquor and tobacco advertising, limitation of public employee pay increases to 6.5 %. Bennett has no personal regrets, but is sorry about the defeat of several of his cabinet ministers and members. Response to the idea that 1972 was simply "time for change". Events following the defeat of his government. Personal feelings about the election loss. CALL NUMBER: T1675:0040 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Early years, Conservative battles, political opponents and the Socred cabinet PERIOD COVERED: 1900-1972 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978-03-28 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: W.A.C. Bennett discusses aspects of his childhood and early years in New Brunswick. Recollections of school days. Memories of mother and father. Religious training. Recollections of Bennett's; attempts to gain the leadership of the Conservative party of B.C. Problems of the Conservative party in coalition with the Liberals. Pat Maitland and the stewardship of the Conservatives during the early Coalition era. TRACK 2: Anscomb's ascension to the leadership of the Conservative party after Maitland's death. Attempt to draft Howard Green from the federal party to replace Maitland. Evaluation of the various Leaders of the Opposition Bennett faced in the B.C. legislature: Winch, Webster, Strachan, Berger and Barrett. Reasons for Bennett's great admiration for Winch. Travelling cabinets. The operation of Social Credit cabinet under the leadership of W.A.C. Bennett. CALL NUMBER: T1675:0041 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Electoral reform in British Columbia, 1952-1972 PERIOD COVERED: 1952-1972 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978-03-28 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: W.A.C. Bennett discusses the operation of the cabinet during the years he served as Premier. The reasons why a full Hansard service was never instituted while Bennett was Premier. The Press Gallery and Hansard. Hansard and parliamentary tradition. Electoral reform in British Columbia during the years Bennett served as Premier. Bennett's theories of democratic representation: the example of the Peace River constituencies. The issue of over-representation of rural areas in the B.C. legislature. The redistribution of 1955. The issue of dual-member ridings. The Angus Commission on electoral reform, 1965. Reasons for appointing Dr. Angus. TRACK 2: Comments on the recommendations of the Angus Commission. Dissatisfaction with the commission's report by Socred backbenchers. The operation of the Socred caucus. Redistribution of 1966 and the increase in seats in the legislature from 52 to 55. Reasons why Bennett believes in special representation for rural areas of the province. All provincial ridings should be dual-member constituencies and tied to the same boundaries as the federal ridings. Bennett intended a further redistribution after the 1972 election. Comments on the Eckhardt Commission on electoral reform, 1978. Comments on an incident during the early years of the Socred government when Bennett attempted to persuade Charles Parker, MLA from Peace River, to resign in favour of Einar Gunderson. CALL NUMBER: T1675:0042 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): The attainment of power, 1952, and a day in the life of the Premier PERIOD COVERED: 1930-1972 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: W.A.C. Bennett discusses Conservative politics in B.C. in the 1930s and 1940s and his attempt to get elected as a federal representative in the 1948 Yale by-election. The story of Cyril Shelford and how he was persuaded to join Social Credit, 1951. Events following Bennett's assumption of the office of the Premier. Finding living accommodations in Victoria with Mrs. Bennett. For the first six months as Premier, Bennett had a perpetual headache. TRACK 2: The problem of securing legislative seats for Robert Bonner and Einar Gunderson. Recollection of the first legislative session presided over by Bennett as Premier. The appointment of Tom Irwin as Speaker of the House. Recollection of a demonstration by unemployed workers at the opening of the legislature in 1971. Bennett recounts a day in his life as Premier of B.C. Relations with the press. The role and function of his office staff. Relaxation in the evenings. CALL NUMBER: T1675:0043 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Reaction to the defeat of Social Credit, 1972 PERIOD COVERED: 1972-1973 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: W.A.C. Bennett discusses the defeat of his government in 1972. His personal reaction to the defeat and the decision to go on a world cruise with his wife. Receiving a cablegram from his son while on his trip and returning home to help rebuild the party. Soliciting the help of Dan Campbell and Grace McCarthy to rebuild the Social Credit party. Appealing to British Columbians to reject socialism and defeat the NDP government. TRACK 2: Helping elect Grace McCarthy as the president of the Social Credit party. The timing of W.A.C. Bennett's retirement from public life, 1973. CALL NUMBER: T1675:0044 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Life in Edmonton, 1918-1930 PERIOD COVERED: 1918-1960 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: W.A.C. Bennett discusses leaving New Brunswick after the First World War and travelling to Peace River country. Moving to Edmonton and working in the hardware business with Marshall Wells' stores. Anecdote about MacKenzie King and politics in Edmonton. Playing and scheduling hockey games in Edmonton. Bennett's penchant for blue serge suits. Recollection of his girlfriend, Ellen Mulholland. The story of Clarence Budd, who served as best man at Bennett's wedding and later served as executive assistant to Bennett as Premier of B.C. [TRACK 2: blank.] CALL NUMBER: T1675:0045 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Aspects of government in British Columbia, 1952-1972 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: W.A.C. Bennett discusses addressing a Social Credit meeting in Winnipeg in the late 1950s. The value of Aberhart's prosperity certificates. Comments on the severance between the federal and provincial wings of the Social Credit party. Social Credit monetary theory. Definition of a genuine Social Crediter. The origin of the "B.C. Government News". Bennett's attitude towards the youth of British Columbia. TRACK 2: Organization of the Young Socreds. Bennett was opposed to the idea of a Minister of Youth in the government. Reform of legislative proceedings. Hansard and question periods in the Legislative Assembly. Attitude towards parliamentary institutions. All-night sittings of the legislature. The role of the parliamentary Opposition. The role and duties of an MLA. CALL NUMBER: T1675:0046 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Early years, origin of the B.C. Ferries and the Columbia River Treaty RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: W.A.C. Bennett discusses the possibility of his United Empire Loyalist origins. Recollections of his mother and early years in New Brunswick. Comments on the creation of the B.C. Ferry system. The role of Captain Peabody of the Black Ball line. The CPR's reluctance to expand ferry transportation on British Columbia's coast. The effect of labour problems on the creation of the B.C. Ferries. The Columbia River Treaty and hydro-electric power development in British Columbia. TRACK 2: Recollection of meeting U.S. President Kennedy at a banquet in Seattle in 1961 and the topics they discussed. The legal battles which followed the British Columbia government's takeover of the B.C. Electric Company. Compensation for shareholders in the B.C. Electric Company. Further comments on the Columbia River Treaty. The issue of downstream benefits to the Americans. (End of interview)