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Royal Commission Into All Matters Pertaining to the Doukhobor Sect in British Columbia (1912)
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Royal Commission Into All Matters Pertaining to the Doukhobor Sect in British Columbia (1912)

  • GR-0793
  • Series
  • 1912

This series consists of the records of the Royal Commission on Matters Relating to the Sect of Doukhobors in the Province of British Columbia, 1912. Commissioner William Blakemore was appointed in August 1912 to enquire into the organization, habits, customs and practices of the Doukhobor communities in British Columbia.

The records include Letters Patent appointing the commissioner (GR-0793.1, File 1, Reel B17011), three volumes of transcripts of evidence presented at proceedings (GR-0793.2, File 2, Reel B06072), the commissioner's report (GR-0793.2b, File 2b, Reel B17011), exhibits (GR-0793.3, File 3, Reel B17011) and a scrapbook of newspaper clippings (GR-0793.4, File 4, Reel B17011). The series also includes a photograph album entitled Doukhobor Commission photographs : Photographic views to illustrate the report of the Doukhobour [sic] Commissioner (see GR-0793.5). The album is frequently referred to throughout the report.

Royal Commission on Matters Relating to the Sect of Doukhobors in the Province of British Columbia (1912)

Letters patent appointing commissioner

File consists of a letters patent appointing William Blakemore as Commissioner, and directs Blakemore to inquire into the organization, habits, customs, and practices of the Doukhobor community, as well as the leadership of the community, ownership of property, marriage practices, registrations of births, marriages, and deaths, and observances of provincial and federal law.

Transcript of proceedings

File consists of three volumes of transcripts of evidence presented at proceedings held in Nelson, Grand Forks, and Trail. 110 witnesses were examined at these hearings and an alphabetical index is available at the beginning of each volume. The contents of the proceedings deal with the economic and cultural practices of the Doukhobors and Doukhobor views on marriage, divorce, registration of vital events, military service, and education. Several of the Doukhobors interviews also recount their journey from Russia to Canada, including their time in Saskatchewan before moving to British Columbia. A number of non-Doukhobors are also interviewed and discuss their interactions with the Doukhobor community and whether they consider Doukhobors "desirable citizens" in Canada. Community Doukhobors were represented by counsel A.M. Johnson of Nelson.

Report of Royal Commission on the Doukhobors

File consists of the Report of Royal Commission on the Doukhobors compiled by William Blakemore and submitted to the Provincial Secretary on 21 December 1912. The report is divided into four books covering the following subjects: the history and origins of the Doukhobours, their time in Russia, their time in Canada (Saskatchewan and British Columbia); the organizational structure of the Doukhobors, their customs, religious life, and economic activities; Peter Verigin, leader of the Doukhobors; and objections, findings, and recommendations of the report.

The report makes frequent reference to materials found in the appendices (GR-0793.3) and the photo album (GR-0793.5).

Royal Commission on the Doukhobors : Appendices

File consists of the appended documents relating to the Report of the Royal Commission. The file is comprised of the following documents:

  1. Statement of the Citizens’ Committee of Grand Forks, put in at Second Public Sitting there
  2. Statement of Dr. T. A. Patrick, Ex-MLA of Yorkton, Saskatchewan
  3. Letter from Doukhobor community giving John Konkin, S. Verishagan and J.W. Sherbinin authority to act on behalf of Community; and letter from two first-named giving decision of Community regarding schools and registration
  4. Letter from Doukhobor community at Brilliant, detailing Doukhobor beliefs, and conveying decision of community with regard to schools and registration
  5. Original Russian of last (item 4)
  6. Original Russian of statement of Community as to the Doukhobor position
  7. Original Russian of Sherbinin’s letter to the Commissioner
  8. Letter from Peter Verigin in original Russian, with translation, varying his evidence on the subject of divorce
  9. Original Russian letter from representatives of the Community
  10. Order-in-Council granting Doukhobors exemption from military service
  11. Minutes of annual meeting of Doukhobor community in Saskatchewan, held 12th and 13th August, 1912
  12. Annual report and financial statement of Doukhobor community in Saskatchewan for the year 1911, and up to August 1912
  13. Report of general meeting of Doukhobor Community held January, 1910
  14. Copy of letter from Doukhobor community in Saskatchewan to the Hon. Robert Rogers, Minister of the Interior
  15. Settlement showing land purchases in British Columbia
  16. Statement showing Doukhbor taxes in British Columbia
  17. Original letter from Miss Buelah Clarke, ex-teacher at Brilliant school

Newspaper clippings covering the Royal Commission on the Doukhobors

Item consists of one bound notebook with affixed newspaper clippings documenting the activities of the Royal Commission on the Doukhobors. The clippings date between August 31 to September 27 and appear to have been taken from a Nelson newspaper. Several of the pages in the notebook are blank.

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