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The series consists of records of the Rural Organizations Branch (also Rural Organization and Services Branch) within the Dept. of Agriculture and its successors from 1921-1993. The Branch was responsible for rural organizations and for promoting agricultural and rural education and awareness, youth development, and fairs and exhibitions.

As part of its function of education and awareness, the branch was responsible for overseeing Womens' Institutes and Farmers' Institutes. The series consists of Women’s Institutes records which include general correspondence, documents regarding annual grants and finances and financial statements, conventions, board meetings and minutes, correspondence, annual reports, copies of the B.C. Women’s Institute newsletter as well as clippings and other historical materials.

B.C. Farmers' Institutes records in the series include correspondence, documents regarding seminars and conventions, the Institute advisory board and its meetings, grant information, and written histories such as “Early History of the Farmers’ Institutes.” For both Farmers’ and Women’s Institutes there are annual reports and lists of dissolutions of local institutes.

Numerous records in the series concern other aspects of education and awareness promoted by the Rural Organizations Branch, including: the Canadian Rural Transition Program; the Rural Community Development Committee; Farm vacations; Family Farm Forum (a consultative program); Chinese farmers agricultural tour 1988-1992; and the Century Farms project. Record types include: brochures, correspondence, records regarding meetings, seminars, reports and information requests.

Records concerning organizations include files relating to the B.C. Institute of Agrologists; the B.C. Federation of Agriculture; the Workers' Compensation Board; and the Western Indian Agricultural Corporation (W.I.A.C.).

Records relating to the provision of agricultural awareness and leadership training opportunities for youth include files on: the Young Farmers program, Young Farmers clubs, 4-H, Junior Farmers, and the Environment Youth Corps of British Columbia program (EYC). Record types include correspondence, information reports and brochures.

The series also consists of records regarding the B.C. Fairs Association and collected information on the history of local agricultural exhibitions and fairs in British Columbia.

This series consists of letterbook correspondence outward of the Inspector of Fruit Pests. Volumes are partially indexed.

This series contains official correspondence, reports, and related papers of Premier John H. Turner. Records include correspondence pertaining to provincial railway charters (1893-1897), agriculture, and mining; also includes B.C. Agent-General's Report (1895), applications for employment, and miscellaneous letters.

Papers in this series are those of the Honourable John Herbert Turner (1833-1923), premier of British Columbia from 4 March 1895 to 8 August 1898. Since Turner's administration was characterized by rapid industrial development (notably in railways, mining, and agriculture), and by no little political controversy, his official papers are especially valuable.

Most of the reports and correspondence in GR-1197 originated while Turner was the province's chief minister and, as such, they have been included in the archive's collection of Premier's Papers. As will be seen, though, some of the papers pertain to Turner's tenure as Minister of Finance and Agriculture, a portfolio he held from 1887 to 1898.

GR-1197 may be regarded as a supplement to GR-0441 (British Columbia - Premier: 1883-1933), Series II, volumes 2-13, which also contains official correspondence of Premier Turner. Researchers may find that Volume 354 of GR-0441 (Index to Official Correspondence, 1895-1897) will assist them in locating other related records.

This series consists of correspondence, feasibility studies, and technical reports concerning proposed Third Crossing of Burrard Inlet, Vancouver, B.C., 1972. These files were compiled by W.A. Benson, Co-ordinating Chairman of the Canada Land Inventory and director of the Agriculture and Rural Development Act Branch (ARDA) of the Department of Agriculture.

The series consists of a report collected by the Dept. of Agriculture in 1915. The report was written by Agricultural Surveyor W.H. Cartwright and contains information on the physical features, soil conditions and agricultural possibilities of an area just north of the Peace River Block, recorded between April 1913 and October 1914. The report is illustrated with 22 black and white photographs and is accompanied by meteorological readings and some correspondence between Cartwright and the Deputy Minister of Agriculture.

This series contains a notebook of data recorded during a fruit tree experimental pruning project conducted in the vicinity of Vernon. The notebook includes photographs affixed to the pages. The notebook is believed to have originated from the Horticulture branch of the Department of Agriculture.

This series consists of a Department of Agriculture book of lists. The book records fruit inspectors (1920), B.C. students at Guelph Agricultural College (1913-1920), loans (1920), bulletins (1924), books on agriculture, films, and canning factories in British Columbia.

The series consists of records created by the Crop Protection Branch of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and its predecessor bodies, from 1948 to 1996.

The records contain annual reports from Crop Protection Branch and Plant Pathology as well as monthly and progress reports for particular horticultural, entomology and greenhouse projects (1975 to 1995 with gaps). There are also miscellaneous meeting minutes and other general files relating to lab operations and summer students.

The series also includes copies of meeting minutes and proceedings relating to various apiculture associations (1948 to 1990 with gaps) and some correspondence files relating to apiculture.

The series consists of films created or acquired by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, and its predecessor agencies, between 1928 and ca. 1981.

The agencies responsible for creating the films are:
Ministry of Agriculture and Food, 1980-1981
Ministry of Agriculture, 1976-1980
Dept. of Agriculture, 1928-1976

The series consists of release prints, printing elements, film out-takes and videos created between 1973 and 1989 by the Media Production Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and its predecessor agencies. The Media Production Centre was situated in Kelowna, B.C. Many of the films were produced by third party production companies.
Accession F1981:14 includes 19 reels of miscellaneous film footage, stock shots and out-takes, on colour reversal magnetic stripe stock, except for the last roll, which is black and white.
Accession F1981:15 includes printing elements for 33 completed films. Most film printing elements consist of an A roll, produced by splicing original reversal film, and an optical sound track. A few others are more complex with A & B rolls (also spliced original reversal), sometimes C rolls and both optical track and magnetic master mix. 31 of the 33 films were produced by the Media Production Centre and present various aspects of agriculture in British Columbia and were made for educational purposes and to promote B.C. agriculture. Two other films were produced by the Department of Health on the subjects of nutrition and on radiation protection services.
Accession 95-1658 (2021:01) includes seven reels of colour reversal film, 14 release prints (9 of which are the release print of the films represented in the earlier accession of printing elements), 25 videocassettes and 1 colour slideshow with accompanying cassette tape.

The series consists of 64 film reels of stories or items (including out-takes from items) dealing with various aspects of agriculture in BC, produced for television broadcast by the Horticultural Branch of the B.C. Dept. of Agriculture, between 1959 and 1973. Topics include: cattle, chinchilla raising, diseases of plants, fruit-growing, fruit tree care, grain growing, insects, irrigation, mushroom growing, poultry raising, ranching, vegetable planting and harvesting, etc. The series was originally broadcast by CHBC-TV Kelowna, and later by several other stations as well.

The series consists of silent films and film footage about bees and bee-keeping in British Columbia, accumulated by the Apiary Branch of the B.C. Dept. of Agriculture. Most of the material was shot by apiarists or bee-keeping enthusiasts; however, there is little or identification of the photographers, shooting dates, etc. Some of the locations and individuals shown are identified in the notes on file.

The series consists of eight policy files and reports relating to Agricultural programs of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, and its predecessor agencies, created from 1975 to 2001. The records have been classified under the Agricultural, Fisheries and Food Operational Records Classification System (ORCS) and consist of the following files:
21200-00 - Agricultural loans : agriculture land development assistance program (ALDA), 1975-1994
22300-00 - Agricultural loans : guarantees feeder associations program, 1990-1995
22300-00 - Agricultural loans : guarantees feeder associations program : manual of policy and procedures, 1991-1994
25200-60/EOFL - Economics of off-farm litter disposal options for South Coastal BC poultry farms, 1992
32200-00 - Education & awareness : exhibitions, fairs & societies, 1999
44200-30/BCEMB - British Columbia Egg Marketing Board : regulation impact report, 1998.
46200-40/FTAA 01 - Policy, innovation & development : Free trade of the Americas : general, 2001.
46200-40/BTISS 14 - Policy, innovation & development : bilateral trade issues : Canada/USA : cattle & beef, 1999.

The series consists of ARDSA reports created between 1976 and 1994 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and its predecessor bodies. ARDSA (Agriculture and Rural Development Subsidiary Agreement) was a joint Canada and British Columbia agreement, originally signed in 1977, which committed up to $60 million to projects which would identify or pursue opportunities for development in the agriculture and food sector. The original agreement was for five years with a one year extension. In 1985, ARDSA became Agri-food Regional Development Subsidiary Agreement and a new five year agreement was signed to provide $40 million to assist in the growth and development of the agri-food sector.

The records contain final ARDSA reports submitted to the Ministry, roughly arranged by date or by ARDSA project code. In some cases, the files include preliminary reports and project proposals. The records have been classified as 21700-60 under the Agricultural, Fisheries and Food Operational Records Classification System (ORCS).
The following ministries were responsible for the creation of these records:
Department of Agriculture (1963-1976)
Ministry of Agriculture (1976-1980)
Ministry of Agriculture and Food (1980-1986)
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (1986-1991)
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1991-).

Series consists of public information photographs from the Dept. of Agriculture and its successors. The photos depict a wide range of agricultural activity in the province and were used by the ministry to promote the industry and the work of the department. The photographs were originally brought together by the ministry’s Kelowna office and document many industries including farming and food processing. There are files containing images of fruit, vegetable, poultry, dairy, honey and wine production. There are also a large number of files relating to the Agricultural and Rural Development Subsidiary Agreement (ARDSA) which document farming and food processing as well as other areas such as irrigation and fencing.

The files have been arranged into three main groupings: ARDSA images, slide presentations, and general images. The records consist primarily of 35 mm slides although there is also one audiotape and one file that contains contact prints and negatives. Some files also contain the script that was used for presentations.
The records were selectively retained by the BC Government Records Management Branch in accordance with the Special Media records schedule (102905).

The following ministries were responsible for the creation of these records:
Department of Agriculture (1963-1976)
Ministry of Agriculture (1976-1980)
Ministry of Agriculture and Food (1980-1984)

This series contains a brands register (interim or working copy) covering the years 1916-1918. Other records in this series include minutes, correspondence, and reports of B.C. Stock Breeders' Association from 1906-1918 as well as minutes of B.C. Brands Commissioners from 1930-1959.

This series contains registers of cattle brands and horse brands, 1914-1947. Includes Brand Owners' Index [Horses] 1914-1930, and "Old Brands" Register [i.e. alphabetical listing of all brands registered in British Columbia between 1871 and 1914]. This unit may be used in conjunction with GR-0409 - GR-0412 and GR-1488 (registers of cattle brands, by district).
A regulated system of branding or marking livestock in British Columbia began with the Cattle Ordinance of 1869 (32 Vic., No. 114) which established a procedure whereby cattle brands and other distinctive markings could be registered with district magistrates for a fee of 25 cents. The system developed further with the Cattle Marking Act, 1875 (BCS 38 Vic. c.14) which defined "cattle" to include "horses, mares, fillies, foals, geldings, colts, bulls, bullocks, cows, heifers, steers, calves, sheep, hogs, mules and asses." Recording officers were appointed for each electoral district and were authorized to keep a register of brands and markings; local justices of the peace were empowered to ensure that brands were not duplicated, obliterated, or defaced and penalties were set for infractions. In 1881 the registration fee was raised to 50 cents (Cattle Brands Act, 44 Vic. c.4) and in 1888 provisions were made for regional cattle districts, whose boundaries were not necessarily identical to those of electoral districts. A distinction was also made in 1888 between the Mainland and Vancouver Island: in Mainland districts, brands were to be registered by an "authorized recording officer" usually the local Government Agent while on the Island brands were to be recorded by district magistrates. These distinctions were abolished in 1894 by the Cattle Act Amendment Act which confirmed Government Agents as "authorized recording officers" throughout the province. The procedure of registering brands was streamlined and centralized by the Brand Act of 1914 (4 Geo. 5 c.9). With this act, provision was made for a Recorder of Brands (responsible to the Minister of Agriculture) and a three man Board of Brand Commissioners. After 1 July 1914 all applications for brand registers or transfers were made through the Recorder's office in Victoria. The fee for brand registration was increased to $1.00 and henceforth all brands were to be renewed annually at a cost of 50 cents.
GR-1488 consists of brands registers and indexes compiled after the passing of the Brand Act of 1914. Volume I of this unit, the "Old Brands" Register, was one of the first records created by the new Recorder of Brands. This volume consists of an alphabetical listing of all brands (cattle and horses) registered in the province between 1871 and July of 1914. The volume was based on older, regional registers [catalogued in BCARS as GR-0409, GR-0410, GR-0411, GR-0412 and GR-1487]. The remaining volumes in this unit (vols. 216) were compiled over the years by staff at Recorder's office from applications received by stockmen throughout the province. Volumes 2 to 12 record brands registered between 1914 and 1930, while volumes 13 to 16 pertain mainly to the period 1930-1947. The Brands Registers in GR-1488 provide the names and addresses of brand owners, brand certificate numbers and dates of allotment, and a detailed description of the various brands and markings. The registers also show when brands were transferred from one owner to another, as well as the status of the brands (i.e. in current use, reissued, or lapsed).

This series contains registers of brands (for both cattle and horses) kept by district recording offices prior to 1914. Registers pertain to brands registered in Cariboo, Similkameen, Okanagan, and Nanaimo districts. This series may be used in conjunction with other district brands registers (GR-0409 - GR-0412) and with post-1914 brands registers (GR-1488). A regulated system of branding or marking livestock in British Columbia began with the Cattle Ordinance of 1869 (32 Vic., No. 114) which established a procedure whereby cattle brands and other distinctive markings could be registered with district magistrates for a fee of 25¢. The system developed further with the Cattle Marking Act, 1875 (BCS 38 Vic. c.14) which defined "cattle" to include "horses, mares, fillies, foals, geldings, colts, bulls, bullocks, cows, heifers, steers, calves, sheep, hogs, mules and asses." Recording officers were appointed by cabinet for each electoral district and were authorized to keep a register of brands and markings; local justices of the peace were empowered to ensure that brands were not duplicated, obliterated, or defaced and penalties were set for infractions. In 1881 the registration fee was raised to 50 ¢ (Cattle Brands Act, 44 Vic. c.4) and in 1888 provisions were made for regional cattle districts, whose boundaries were not necessarily identical to those of electoral districts. A distinction was also made in 1888 between the Mainland and Vancouver Island: in Mainland districts, brands were to be registered by an "authorized recording officer" usually the local Government Agent while on the Island brands were to be recorded by district magistrates. These distinctions were abolished in 1894 by the Cattle Act Amendment Act which confirmed Government Agents as "authorized recording officers" throughout the province. The procedure of registering brands was streamlined and centralized by the Brand Act of 1914 (4 Geo. 5 c.9). With this act, provision was made for a Recorder of Brands (responsible to the Minister of Agriculture) and a three man Board of Brand Commissioners. After 1 July 1914 all applications for brand registers or transfers were made through the Recorder's office in Victoria. The fee for brand registration was increased to $1.00 and henceforth all brands were to be renewed annually at a cost of 50 ¢. GR 1487 consists of brands registers and indexes kept prior to 1914. In most cases, the registers show the name and address of brand owners, the date and certificate number of the brand registration, and a description of registered brands and markings. Registers pertain to both cattle and horses. Since the districts covered by the registers were not rigidly defined, researchers may have to consult more than one volume to locate specific brands or brand owners. This series may be used in conjunction with GR 0409 GR 0412 (Registers for Cariboo, Lillooet, and New Westminster, 18701913) and with GR 1488 (post1914 brands registers and indexes).

This series consists of a Department of Agriculture scrapbook detailing the efforts of the Department's Food Information Service to promote British Columbia agricultural products, 1974.

Department of Agriculture report entitle "the present economic status of the Arrow Lakes Valley", prepared by P.C. Forward with the assistance of J.M. Boygo of the B.C. Power Commission staff, 1961.

This series contains correspondence inward and outward of the Director of Elementary Education and the organizer of Technical Education. Files include correspondence and reports regarding summer schools and night schools, manual training and domestic science, agricultural education and wartime Food Conservation Committee. The series also contains miscellaneous reports from school inspectors and correspondence regarding provincial university and college programmes. This collection may be used in conjunction with GR-0457 (Technical Education, 1915-1923) and GR-0458 (Elementary Agricultural Education, 1915-1929). This collection includes: correspondence (inward and outward) of J. W. Gibson, the Director of Elementary Agricultural Education Branch and John Kyle, the Organizer of Technical Education; the records of George H. Deane, the Supervisor of Technical Education; correspondence and reports pertaining to summer school and night school programs, manual training and domestic science, agriculture education and wartime food supply; miscellaneous reports from school inspectors; and correspondence concerning university and college courses. During this period, the Organizer of Technical Education (John Kyle) was responsible for night schools, domestic science courses, and manual training programs. The Director of the Elementary Agricultural Education Branch (J.W.Â\~Gibson) was responsible for rural science courses, schools gardening projects and acted as director of the Summer School for Teachers. Gibson was also the Provincial Organizer for the Wartime Food Conservation Committee. Both John Kyle and J.W. Gibson reported to George H. Deane, the Assistant Superintendent of Education as well as the Supervisor of Technical Education (19131917). Deane also acted as Inspector of Schools on Vancouver Island, and this collection includes correspondence relating to school inspection and to matters other than technical and agricultural education.

The series consists of the records created by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, mostly between 1955 and 1971 with some earlier dated material found in select files. The Deputy Minister between 1955 and 1963 was William MacGillivray and from 1963-1971, it was A.H. Turner.

The files include correspondence to and from the Deputy Minister, reports and articles, memoranda, administrative records and subject files all to do with the daily operations of the office and its functions.

Responsibilities of the office included: apiary activities, cattle brands, beef and dairy cattle, fruits and vegetables, poultry, sheep, horticulture, field crops, Milk Board, soil and plant and animal disease.

The series consists of files created by the Dept. of Agriculture between 1962 and 1971 to manage the Agricultural and Rural Development Agreement (ARDA) project #29007 funded by the Governments of Canada and British Columbia.

This project, the Initial Rural Development and Research Study, was directed by B. Thorsteinsson and J.P. Allin of the Dept. of Agriculture, along with contract director C.C. Watson between 1966 and 1970. The purpose of the study was to determine ways and means of improving the socio-economic conditions in certain low income areas in British Columbia.

The files are arranged mostly in alphabetical order. Boxes 1 and 2 contain the administrative and organizational records including contracts, project outlines, correspondence, statistics, expenses and other financial information and reports relating to the Initial Rural Development and Research Study (project #29007). Boxes 3 and 4 contain files arranged by community name and include maps, lists of residents, correspondence and other documents relating to that community.

This series consists of correspondence regarding the gopher extermination bounty from the Department of Agriculture, 1922-1923.

Register of cattle brands in Lillooet district.

Register of cattle brands in Cariboo district.

Register of cattle brands in Cariboo district.

Register of cattle brands kept at New Westminster.

Department of Agriculture ledger of expenditures under special warrant.

Register of agricultural and horticultural societies.