Showing 10 results

Archival description
Cattle brands
Print preview View:

Record books containing brand registers and other material

  • MS-2831
  • Series
  • 1861-1956

Two record books containing brand registers for Kamloops and Clinton districts 1873-1914, as well as water records for Clinton district 1877-1879. The Kamloops volume also includes collectorate records from the Gold Commissioner at Yale for 1861. The index for the Clinton volume is in GR-1487, box 2, file 1. Also included are 6 volumes of office diaries, 1948, 1951-1953, 1955-1956, used by Thomas Moore, Recorder of brands.

Moore, Thomas, 1948-1956. Recorder of Brands

Register of cattle brands

  • GR-0409
  • Series
  • 1870-1913

Register of cattle brands kept at New Westminster.

British Columbia. Dept. of Agriculture

Register of cattle brands

  • GR-0410
  • Series
  • 1872-1899

Register of cattle brands in Cariboo district.

British Columbia. Dept. of Agriculture

Registers of brands (cattle and horses)

  • GR-1487
  • Series
  • 1873-1914

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).

British Columbia. Recorder of Brands

Register of cattle brands

  • GR-0412
  • Series
  • 1880-1913

Register of cattle brands in Lillooet district.

British Columbia. Dept. of Agriculture

Register of cattle brands

  • GR-0411
  • Series
  • 1899-1908

Register of cattle brands in Cariboo district.

British Columbia. Dept. of Agriculture

Brands register and other material

  • GR-1491
  • Series
  • 1906-1959

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.

British Columbia. Recorder of Brands

Record of cattle brands and other licences

  • GR-2438
  • Series
  • 1906-1929

Record of cattle brands (indexed), 1906-1914 (pp. 1-57); record of automobile licence plates issued, 1925 (pp. 61-163); register of drivers' licences, 1925-1929 (pp. 210-283); and salesman's licences 1927-1929 (pp. 298- 299). Includes: Baynes Lake, Brilliant, Brisco, Coal Creek, Corbin, Dorr, Elko, Fernie, Flagstone, Gateway, Hanbury, Hosmer, Jaffray, Michel, Tobacco Plains, Natal, Newgate, Roosville, Waldo, Wardner, Yahk.

British Columbia. Provincial Court (Fernie)

Registers of brands (cattle and horses)

  • GR-1488
  • Series
  • 1914-1947

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).

British Columbia. Recorder of Brands

Prince George Forest District range management records

  • GR-1034
  • Series
  • 1934-2009

This series includes range management records of the Prince George Forest District, from 1934-2009. Some records are also included from the Fort George Forest District, Robson Valley Forest District and Kamloops Forest District. Records include correspondence, maps, hay cutting permits, land applications, annual reports, and grazing permits, leases and licenses. Records may regard brands, tenure, cooperation, accounts, range resource improvement, general range administration, range condition resource monitoring, range unit use management, community pasture management, the Creation and management of community pastures and balancing land use for range purposes with forestry, wildlife use, recreation and hunting. Each file relates to a particular topic or range tenure.

The majority of records relate to the administration of Grazing Licences and Grazing Permits (ORCS 15700-20) as defined under the Range Act, and Grazing Leases as defined under the Land Act, including issuance, amendments, transfers, billing, monitoring, policy administration, plans specific to tenures, such as Grazing System Plans. Also includes records concerning additions and deletions of land and/or authorized Animal Unit Months (AUM) from grazing tenures. Records include tenure application forms, grazing plans, authorized livestock, correspondence, maps, photos, documents determining range boundaries and use, and information on range improvements and clearing. Note that there may be additional individuals or companies who held the tenure who are not listed in the file list.

Range condition resource management files (ORCS 15420-04, 15420-08 and 15420-09) include files on range seeding and inspections of the condition of certain range units, documented by photos, maps and range use plans.

Range unit files and range unit plans (ORCS 15720-20 and 15720-30) regard measurements of range use, growth and general health. Records include photos, correspondence, range inspections, maps, resource management plans, range management and development plans, photos, user comments, AUM counts, resource analysis, range data, range improvement authorization and range development plans.

Range improvement files (ORCS 15740-20, 15740-35, 15740-30) relate to structural and non-structural resource improvements. Records concerning structural improvements include: fences and cattleguards, water developments and trails. Non-structural improvements include prescribed burns, silvicultural treatments for forage enhancement, grass seeding, fertilization, salting, weed management and timber harvesting. Records include correspondence, improvement authorization, maps of location of planned improvements, invoices, description of improvements, meeting minutes, reports, range use plans, community or stakeholder consultation, pasture use rules, improvement completion reports, water licenses and grazing enhancement fund records.

Community pasture use management files (ORCS 15620-20) include files relating to issues of elk grazing on rangeland and sources of funding for range improvements.

The ministries responsible for the creation of these records, and the years that they were responsible, are:

Dept. of Lands (1908-1945)
Dept. of Lands and Forests (1945-1962)
Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources (1962-1975)
Dept. of Forests (1975-1976)
Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)
Ministry of Forests and Lands (1986-1988)
Ministry of Forests (1988-2005)
Ministry of Forests and Range (2005-2010)

Records in accession 96-4985 are covered by ORCS 15700-20, 15620-20, 15740-20, 15740-35, 15740-30, 15720-20, 15720-30, 15420-04, 15420-08 and 15420-09 of the Forest ORCS (schedule 881261).

British Columbia. Prince George Forest District (1953-1978)