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The series consists of indexes to correspondence files relating to the administration of Crown lands and natural resources. The records were created in 1980 from a computer print-out of various departmental indexes and includes references to files created by various branches of the Dept. of Lands and Works (1872-1908), the Dept. of Lands (1908-1945), the Dept. of Lands and Forests (1945-1962), the Dept. of Lands, Forest and Water Resources (1962-1975) and the Ministry of Lands, Parks and Housing. It provides access to active, microfilmed and obsolete O series files and pre-1918 files.

The records consist of one subject index and two lists which can be used to identify and locate Lands Correspondence files. They are not comprehensive, as they do not cover all the correspondence files created between 1871 and 1986.

The index and lists may be used to locate a file number for a subject area of interest, or to determine the subject of a file when only the number of the file is known.

Note that a listing in these documents does not necessarily mean that the file is held at the BC Archives. Many active files remain with the Crown Land Registry.

The series consists of files created by Judge William Evans dealing with disposal of crown lands to members of the Sons of Freedom sect of Doukhobors. The records cover the period 1959 to 1975 and contain correspondence, maps, registers, and accounting material. The maps were transferred to the Archives Map Division (see photocopy of map accession slips attached to print finding aid).

This series consists of the records of the Inter-Departmental Advisory Committee on Agriculture Land Settlement, 1942-1943. Records include correspondence, memoranda and reports of the Chairman of the Land Settlement Board, William Turnbull, relating to his activities as chairman of the Interdepartmental Advisory Committee on Agriculture and Land Settlement established by the Post-War Rehabilitation Council. The Council had the task of planning civil employment and vocational training of veterans of World War II.

This series consists of notes, maps, reports and descriptions of various land districts in British Columbia. This includes a hand written report titled "Report on the gazettings of land districts" by C.E. Tildesley, Legal Surveys, Dept. of Lands and Forests. The majority of the records appear to have been created in the 1930s, and cover the history of land districts from the 1860s to 1930s.

These records were created as an attempt at creating formal descriptions of every land district in BC. Previously, land districts had been created in an ad hoc manner, and the term "land district" had been used to describe any area in the province that had an official land register, which at the time of writing, applied to 83 land districts. Many of these districts never had an official description of their extent or boundary locations. Only some districts had been described through the use of an official survey map, and even fewer had a gazetted description with formal boundaries.

Extensive research was conducted on BC Gazettes and Dept. of Lands records to determine a chronological history for each district and what land districts did, or did not, have official maps and previously gazetted boundaries. Research was also conducted on the terminology used to define land districts over time, and potential overlap with mineral districts, electoral districts, school districts and other official boundaries. The terms land district, land recording district, lot district, land recording division, and land division had often used interchangeably until around 1909.

Records may relate to the following land districts: Alberni, Barclay, Bright, Cameron, Cariboo, Cassiar, Cedar, Chemainus, Clayoquat, Coast Range 1, Coast Range 2, Coast Range 3, Coast Range 4, Coast Range 5, Comiaken, Comox, Cowichan, Cowichan Lake, Cranberry, Douglas, Dunsmuir, Esquimalt, Goldstream, Helmcken, Highland, Kamloops, Kootenay, Lake, Lillooet, Malahat, Metchosin, Mountain, Nanaimo, Nanoose, Nelson, Newcastle, New Westminster, Nootka, Osoyoos, Otter, Oyster, Peace River, Quamichan, Quatsino, Queen Charlotte (Haida Gwaii), Renfrew, Rupert, North Saanich, South Saanich, Sahtlam, Sayward, Seymour, Shawnigan, Similkameen, Somenos, Sooke, Victoria, Wellington, Yale and various Gulf Islands.

This series consists of Appraisal Reports of reverted government lands for the Lillooet Land District, 1932. The reports are arranged numerically by report number. Information may include assessment district registry office, legal description, land plan number, acreage, date of forfeiture, soil, water suitability, improvements, accessibility, supply, irrigation or dyking, nearest settlement or Post Office, nearest school, topography, and assessed and appraised value. The report usually contains a sketch map of the property, and this volume contains a sketch map of Lillooet townsite plus the lots across the Fraser River. The volume is indexed by report numbers to the legal land description.

The series consists of appraisal reports of reverted lands from the New Westminster land district, 1931 to 1932. These reports are in two volumes and are divided into arbitrary land areas labeled "F", "E", "G", and "H". Reports are arranged numerically by report number. Information may include assessment district, land registry office, legal description, date of forfeiture, plan number, acreage, suitability, improvements, soil, water supply, irrigation or diking, accessibility, nearest settlement or Post Office, nearest school, topography, and assessed and appraised value. The report usually includes a coloured sketch map of the property. The information is indexed by District Lot number to report number.

The series consists of records created by the Department of Lands in 1930. It contains a volume of Coast Land Districts, Range 4 and Range 5 appraisal reports of reverted government lands within Tps. 2-4, Range 4 and Tps. 10-13, 19,20, Range 5. The reports are arranged numerically within each land district. Information may include assessment district, land registry office, legal description, date of forfeiture, plan number, acreage, suitability, improvements, soil, water supply, irrigation or dyking, accessibility, nearest settlement or Post Office, nearest school, topography, and assessed and appraised value. The report usually includes a coloured sketch map of the property. The two sections are indexed by report numbers to the legal land description.

This series consists of two Similkameen Division of Yale Land District town lot subdivision registers of District Lot 2450S, Block B and Block A, lots 1-271F, and 280-348. The records relate to irrigated lands in the southern Okanagan. Earliest entries from 1921 and bother volumes were superseded in 1923 (i.e. no further entries were made after 1923).

The records are arranged numerically, and record the alienation of land from the Crown (by purchase etc.), within the Southern Okanagan Irrigation Project at Oliver (B.C.) Information may include the name of purchaser, dates and numbers of certificates (including Crown Grant), dates and amounts of payments, and reference numbers to correspondence files, and water agreements, There is an alphabetical name index in each volume.

The series consists of records created by the Department of Lands between 1919 and 1923. It contains two volumes of Coast Land District, Range 5, subdivision lot registers for Smithers. The records are arranged numerically by lots within blocks, and record the alienation of land from the Crown. Information may include the name of purchaser, dates and numbers of certificates issued (including Crown Grants), dates and amounts of payments, and reference numbers to correspondence files and field books. There is an alphabetical index of names in volume 1.

The series consists of a photograph album created between 1919 and ca. 1922 by the Land Settlement Board. The album contains 166 black and white photographs which depict various agricultural development areas and drainage and dyking projects.

The first 10 photographs in the album are 8 x 10 prints taken by Leonard Frank which show dredging activities. The last 10 photographs in the album are duplicates of these. These photographs are numbered with Leonard Frank's own negative number scheme and have his embossed imprint.

The rest of the album is divided up into districts and projects and most have identifying captions. The districts and projects are as follows:
Bulkley Valley and Francois Lake - 42 photographs (including 1 loose photograph which may be unconnected)
Nechako Valley - 18 photographs
Prince George district - 13 photographs
Merville development area - 21 photographs
Creston development area - 13 photographs
Kootenay flats - 3 photographs
Fernie area - 2 photographs
Cranbrook Slough drainage project - 3 photographs (1 panorama made of 2 prints)
Sumas dyking project - 31 photographs

Some of the photographs have come away from the album and have further identification on the back.

Records relate to the Soldiers' Homestead Act, the Soldiers' Land Act, and the B.C. Returned Soldiers' Aid Commission. Types of records include correspondence, reports and memoranda; includes a proposal for soldier settlement in Stuart Lake District.

The series consists of seven files created by the Department of the Interior at the Pouce Coupe Dominion Lands Office. These files relate to Peace River block land and seem to be applications for land grants started in the Grande Prairie, Alberta Dominion Lands Office before being transferred to the Pouce Coupe office.

File 10617, 1923
File 15243, 1930
File 16652, 1930
File 16654, 1930
File 16656, 1930

There are also two files numbered 0319000 (old file numbers 6875 and 1547) which relate to the settlement of World War I veteran soldiers in Townships 78 and 79, Range 18, West of the 18th meridian.

This series contains microfilmed copies of O series correspondence files relating to the administration, management, conservation and development of Crown Lands and natural resources.

These correspondence files were microfilmed by the Lands Branch in 3 stages between 1955-1958, 1970-1975
and 1982-1986 resulting in 9 sets, or runs, of files. Many files are missing and researchers should go directly to the Ministry at CLRHelp@gov.bc.ca for access to the originals when they are looking for specific complex issue files or those that may not have been microfilmed.

Many of the microfilm reels contain amendments or updates to previously filmed correspondence files. These amendments are usually found at the beginning of the reel and, except for the last three files on reel B10989, are not noted on the file list.

Summarized within the finding aid are the three microfilming projects. For reels between B10918 and B10989 that were microfilmed in 1986, the lowest file number beginning a sequence may represent the start of a new range of file numbers, an amendment or update, or a file filmed out of numeric order. Check these last 72 reels carefully because many files were filmed out of numeric order.

This series consists of the records of the Commission of Inquiry Into Certain Claims Respecting Lands Situated Within the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway Land Belt, 1916. This commission was also known as Settlers' Rights Commission. Commission records include correspondence, claims submitted by settlers to the Commission and other miscellaneous records. No report has been found.

This series contains a list of lands resumed by the Crown under B.C. Soldiers' Homestead Act, 1916. Includes legal description and file references. Also contains an undated letter of John William McIntosh, Member of the Legislative Assembly, to the Deputy Minister of Lands regarding moneys owed on land by a wounded veteran.

This series contains a record book of resumed lands under the Soldiers' Homestead Act, 1916. The information is arranged by Land District. The records list pre-emptions and land purchase applications canceled or resumed by the Crown during the Great War (1914-1918). The reverted lands were to be used for returned soldiers' homesteads.

This series consists of New Westminster Land District forfeiture certificates of lands reverted to the Crown from 1915-1957. Records relate to the Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows and Matsqui Dyking Districts. The certificates are arranged chronologically without regard to Dyking District. Information may include the legal description of the land, the plan number, the date it was subject to forfeiture, the date of the end of the period of grace, and the date of forfeiture. Certificates are indexed alphabetically by owners name, and numerically by plan to folio numbers.

Coquitlam Dyking District lies within the limits of the City of Port Coquitlam, and the Municipality of Coquitlam.

Pitt Meadows No.2 Dyking District lies within the defined boundaries of the Municipality of Pitt Meadows, and is situated 1 1/2 miles north of the Dewdney Trunk Road at the confluence of the Pitt and Alouette Rivers.

Maple RIdge Dyking District lies within the boundaries of the Municipalities of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, including the Townsite of Hammond.

This series consists of Cariboo Land District town lot and townsite registers. This includes subdivision lot registers for Fort George, Summit Lake, Red Pass, and a McBride townsite register with a list of reverted lots offered for sale by public auction in 1923. Earliest entries dated 1914 and all volumes were superseded by 1949 (i.e. no further entries were made after 1949).

The registers list lots in numerical order and record the alienation of land from the Crown (by purchase, auction, etc.). Information may include name of purchaser, dates and numbers of certificates issued (including Crown Grants), dates and amounts of payments, and references to correspondence files and field books. Upset prices are also listed. There is an alphabetical name index in each volume.

This series consists of Cariboo Land District, auctioneer's agreements, subdivision lots 11385, at Fort George from 1914. The lots were subdivided from District Lots 343, 933, 934, 936, 938, and 1429, and are arranged randomly by lot and sublot, but numerically by certificate number, in each volume. Information may include date of sale, name and address of highest bidder and amount bid, deposit, and terms of sale. No index is available.

The series includes two volumes. Volume 1 includes entries for certificates 1-721, and volume 2 is 722-1385.

This series consists of pre-emption records, including, Fernie district: certificates of purchase, nos. 1-307, 1913-1944 (4 v.); certificates of improvement, nos. 1-7, 1936-1947 and nos. 1-99, 1913-1927; and certificates of pre-emption nos. 1-99, 1914-1942.

This series consists of one Cariboo Land District township register, for Townships 21 and 39-42.The earliest entries begin in 1913 and the volume was superseded by 1956 (i.e. no further entries were made after 1956). The registers list land in numerical order by Sections within Townships and record the alienation of land from the Crown (by purchase, pre-emption, lease, etc.): information may include the name of the purchaser, dates and numbers of certificates issued (including Crown Grants), dates and amounts of payments, and reference numbers to correspondence files and field books. There is an alphabetical name index in the volume.

This series consists of auctioneers records for 1913 auction sales of Crown land in the New Westminster Land District. Sales include Hastings townsite, lots 1-138; Kitsilano, District Lot 540 G.1, Lots 1-101; and Point Grey, District Lots 538 and 176 G.1. Information may include date of sale, name and address of highest bidder and amount bid, deposit, and terms of sale. No index is available.

This series consists of a Similkameen Division of Yale Land District subdivision lot register for lots 1-4 of District Lot 2708. Earliest entries from 1312 and the volume was cancelled in 1928. The records are arranged numerically and record the alienation of land from the Crown (by purchase, pre-emption, lease, etc.). Information may include name of the purchaser, dates and numbers of certificates issued, dates and amounts of payments, and reference numbers to correspondence files and field books. The volume contains an alphabetical name index.

This series consists of records related to land use, management and alienation in the Range IV Coast District, Range V Coast District and the Cariboo Land District. The records date from 1911-1980. The records were created by various government officials stationed in Fort Fraser and Burns Lake.

The series includes subject files and correspondence files with settlers discussing the pre-emption, lease and purchase of specific parcels of land.

Other records include certificates of pre-emption; lists of pre-emptions, crown grants, cancellations, purchases and leases; Cariboo country lands registers; Atlin Townsite land register; Endako townsite land register; registers of pre-emption records; register of purchased land; Fort Fraser hay and pasture lease register; one volume of government agent record of receipts and payments financial records; and one file of Smithers mining recorder correspondence.

This series consists of records related to the administration, management and alienation of land in the Peace River Block from 1911-1969. The records were primarily created by the Dominion Land Agent stationed in Grand Prairie, Alberta. Later records may have been added to files by the provincial Government Agent or Land Commissioner located in Pouce Coupe. The majority of these records are homestead files created by the Dominion (Canadian) government. These files contain information about homesteaders, their applications and the process of obtaining title to land. Some files may relate to land in Alberta.

Records include: applications for pre-emption, purchase or lease; land classification reports; declarations of occupation and permanent improvement on pre-emption claims; applications for homestead entry, cancellation, and abandonment; homestead Inspector’s reports; affidavits in support of an Application for Entry; land sales records; correspondence with settlers and other government officials; patents; Crown Grants; certificates; forms; maps and plans; financial records including receipts and cheques; court records, such as probates; survey records; notices of sale or cancellation; and sale agreements. Some records may also relate to the use of Crown land for timber or grazing range purposes.

Files may cover a wide time period and may be associated with multiple individuals or companies, as land rights were often transferred to others or cancelled and reapplied for. Only the name of the first individual listed on the file is included in the file list. This means there may be additional names associated with files not included on the file list. The file list may also only include part of the legal description of land in cases where the description was exceptionally long, or included many different pieces of land. Single individuals may also have multiple files for each piece of land they are associated with.

The series consists of records created by the Department of Lands between 1911 and 1912. It contains two volumes of Coast Land District, Range 5 certificates of sale for South Hazelton. The lots were subdivided from District Lot 851 and are arranged by sale randomly within each volume. Information may include date of sale, name and address of highest bidder and amount bid, deposit, and terms of sale. Also included is a summary of lots within Blocks 1-98, dated Dec. 6, 1912. No index is available.

This series include a summary of pre-emption records cancelled in the Barkerville Assessment District. The series contains one volume of a register that contains the name and number of the pre-emption record, the lot number and acreage, and the date and cause of cancellation.

The series consists of records created by the Department of Lands in 1910. It contains a volume of Cassiar Land District auctioneers agreements of sale for Stewart townsite lots 1-232, subdivided from District Lots 466 and 468. Information in the certificates may include the date of sale, name and address of highest bidder, amount bid, deposit, and terms of sale. The certificates are arranged randomly and no index is available.

This series contains land administration records of the Government Agent and District Land Commissioner for the Cariboo Land District and Lillooet Land District from 1910-1973. Records consists of selected purchase, Crown grant, and lease files.

This series consists of one register documenting applications to purchase unsurveyed Crown land. Information includes the date a notice was posted in the government gazette, the name of the applicant, the amount of acreage applied for, the district, location of the acreage, and a remarks column documenting whether or not the application was successful and any Dept. of Lands correspondence numbers relevant to the application. The register covers all areas of the province. There is an applicant name index in each register. Note that the volume also includes cancelled or disallowed entries.

This item is volume 2 and covers 1910-1913. Volume 1 is item GR-1069.II.136 and covers 1906-1910.