The item is a diazo print of a plan measuring 125 cm in length by 110 cm when unrolled. It was drawn by W.F. Robertson, Provincial Mineralogist and his assistant Harold Nation of the Bureau of Mines in October 1909 and shows the East and West sides of the No. 2 Extension coal mine at Ladysmith. The No. 2 Extension mine, run by the Wellington Colliery Company, had suffered an explosion at 8:30 am on October 5, 1909. The plan was made as part of the Bureau of Mines investigation into the cause of the explosion and the subsequent deaths of 32 men.
Footage. Stock shots and camera original rolls of the activities of Island Tug and Barge Ltd. in the 1960s. Items of note: salvage of the "Mandoil", 1968; salvage of the ferry "Queen of Prince Rupert," 1967; salvage of the "Glafkos", [1961]; launch and first dump of the log barge "Island Yarder", 1965.
Documentary. The burning of logging waste in coastal BC. Slash burning is advocated as a means of reducing forest fire hazards and ensuring forest regeneration. The necessity of reforestation after slash burning is discussed.
News item. Interior and exterior shots of the S.S. "Prince George". Before a refit can even be considered, the debt on the ship -- now over $600,000 -- must be greatly reduced. This is not possible when no revenue is coming in. Neither Nanaimo nor Ladysmith now seem to want to buy the ship. NDP MLA Dave Stupich says the vessel could be developed into an excellent facility and tourist attraction for Nanaimo.
RECORDED: Nanaimo (B.C.), 1967-03 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Kneen's arrival in Nanaimo in 1907; his work as construction manager for [Canadian] Western Fuel Company; discusses pay scales in 1910; city of Nanaimo's structural growth; city's water system; above ground mining equipment; 1913 miners' strike; the involvement of American unions; lands agreements between mining companies and city officials to create city parks; the naming of Bowen Park. TRACK 2: Structural changes in Nanaimo; houses there; the naming and growth of Ladysmith.
SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Phyllis & Richard Whisker : community life during the Vancouver Island miners' strike, 1912-1914 RECORDED: Ladysmith (B.C.), 1979-08-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Both Phyllis Whisker and her husband Richard came from coal mining families. Richard worked in the coal mines as a boy, before the 1912 to 1914 strike. The strike occurred when the United Mine Workers organised because of unsafe conditions. The 72nd Highlanders were brought in to put down the strike and arrested miners in Extension, Ladysmith and Nanaimo. Mrs. Whisker's father was secretary of the union and was forced to go to New Zealand to find work, as he was blackballed for his union activities when he was released from prison. Mrs. Whisker's mother was a member of the Women's Labour League and fought for it to retain its labour orientation. Women were present on picket lines during the strike in support of their husbands and the strike in general. The women were independent and willing to take risks. The community pooled its resources during the strike, living off hunting, fishing and gardening. The company evicted the miners' families during the strike. The strike resulted in long-term hostilities in the community between the families of strikers and strike-breakers. TRACK 2: Mr. Whiskers later worked in the wood industry as a rail man.
SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Jack Atkinson : The Ladysmith IWA & women RECORDED: Ladysmith (B.C.), 1979-06-28 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Jack Atkinson was active in Local 1-80 of the International Woodworkers of America in the Ladysmith sub-local. He describes the Ladysmith Women's Auxiliary, which followed the pattern of Local 1-80, and was a sub-local of the larger local. Other sub-locals existed in Lake Cowichan and Youbou. Both the sub-local and the local met regularly. The prime objective of the women's auxiliary was to educate wives of woodworkers about the benefits of unionism, and provide a group of supporters for the union. Men initially called the women's auxiliary meetings, bringing together a nucleus of women The women's auxiliary in Ladysmith prioritized organizing social functions. Not all women in the town supported the union; some opposed their husbands becoming members, for fear of strikes and loss of pay. Few women came into the Ladysmith mills as workers, and few men supported women working in the industry. The issue of equal pay was posed in relation to the different nationalities working in the industry.
RECORDED: [location unknown], 1979-02-06 SUMMARY: One in a series of interviews about the history of Vancouver Island's coal mining industry and mining communities. Blasting; mining the coal; Chinese; "laggin'"; Beban's mine; flood; forest fire; powder house; Lamphouse Mine; noise; burning rock pile; Extension; burning buildings; Chinatown; Mines Regulations Act; train; shipping at Ladysmith; mine whistle; mules; deaths; mining pillars; bucket brigade; racism; closing mine; strike; black damp; low seam.
RECORDED: Nanaimo (B.C.), 1979-02-28 SUMMARY: One in a series of interviews about the history of Vancouver Island's coal mining industry and mining communities. Mine whistle; quit school; Ladysmith; Dunsmuir; 1909 explosion; strike; Alexander; blacklisted; Joseph Mair; scabs; miners' prayer; mules; wages; travel to Victoria; grievances; union organising; the Depression; WeeToo; bosses; fire bosses; inspections; Chinese; houses; lamps Saturday; night; explosion; arrives; Draeger team.
RECORDED: Nanaimo (B.C.), 1979-07-03 SUMMARY: One in a series of interviews about the history of Vancouver Island's coal mining industry and mining communities. Father from Italy; Chinese; hotels; bar; Ladysmith; stable; snow; fire department; school; strike; lodges; Italians; doctor; Granby; blow-outs; Cumberland.
RECORDED: Nanaimo (B.C.), 1979-03-15 SUMMARY: One in a series of interviews about the history of Vancouver Island's coal mining industry and mining communities. Finns; Extension; Richardson mine; pillars; broken leg; move to Ladysmith; parents come; 1909 explosions; wash houses; timbers; saunas; old South Wellington mine; safety; hotels; gas; Sam Guthrie; buried in a cave-in; kids meet dad; mules; horses; Dunsmuir; bosses; strike; watching cows.
RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1984-04-01 SUMMARY: Born 1909. Early family history; parents' arranged marriage. Father's business in Ladysmith, early 1900s; poverty. Mother's work in home, from morning until evening; arduous labour. Household chores. All the children participated in home work. 12 Chinese women in Ladysmith while she was growing up. Women had gardens, sold produce. Move to Nanaimo. Mother's labour -- sewed for tailors, ran store and laundry. Waiking Lee worked for her family -- did everything for the store. Marriage: she eloped, family upheaval -- very unacceptable thing to do. Marriage. Went into a wholesale business. Hotel business. Thoughts on her life as "a life of hardship".
RECORDED: Wellington (B.C.), 1984-05-11 SUMMARY: One in a series of interviews about the history of Vancouver Island's coal mining industry and mining communities. TRACK 1: Dunsmuir's Old Slope mine; ventilation shaft; Douglas pit mine; hoists; disa;ppearing house; No. 5 mine; "Robbing Pillars"; Wellington railroad; Old Incline; Wellington; Ladysmith; Extension; currency; Wellington merchants; E & N machine shop; Noah's ark; Gilfillan mine; couga;r; Departure Bay; Rock City; 1912-14 strike; Chinese; 1890-91 strike; United Mine Workers; blacklisting. TRACK 2: Blacklisting; dispute in No. 1 mine; Departure Bay; Incline; coal wharves; Wellington; railroad; sailing ships; No. 1 shaft; No. 5 mine; Blacks.;
RECORDED: Nanaimo (B.C.), 1984-12-07 SUMMARY: One in a series of interviews about the history of Vancouver Island's coal mining industry and mining communities. TRACK 1: James Sharp; Rebecca Sharp Sanders; John Sanders; Sarah Barlow Sharp; Wellin;gton; boarding house; Sarah Sanders Cornish; Chelsea Cornish; Port Alberni coal mine; immigration; Vera Aidenhead Maffeo; Five Acres; Extension; Jingle Pot Road; mine accident; Wellington Hotel; Welli;ngton school; Ladysmith; Extension-to-Ladysmith railroad; Saunders anglicized. TRACK 2: Extension/Ladysmith railroad; Wellington; Sarah Sanders Cornish; Grand Templar's Lodge; John Waddington Hilbert; Black woman; fashion; Emily and John Johns; Sunday school; Simon Leiser; Wellington Hotel.;
