The series consists of photographs taken by or collected by the Bureau of Mines, where they were compiled into 30 photograph albums. Some of the albums, or parts of the albums, were compiled at the end of the year's work and were intended by the Provincial Mineralogist to document his annual summer field work throughout the province.

Many of the photographs were published each year in Department bulletins and in the Annual Report of the Minister of Mines. There is a coding in the albums which indicates that a photograph was used in the Annual Report. For example, “R1925 - A182” signifies that the photograph was used in the 1925 Annual Report of the Minister of Mines on page A182. Each Annual Report of the Minister contains narrative descriptions of the field trips taken by the Provincial Mineralogist and other Bureau of Mines staff, so it is possible to trace the relationship each year between these field trip narratives and the photographs.

W. Fleet Robertson (Provincial Mineralogist from 1898 to 1925) took some of the photographs. Beginning ca. 1906, Harold T. Nation was an assistant to the Provincial Mineralogist, and travelled with him on his summer field trips, taking photographs, compiling many of the photo albums and indexing them. Exceptions were the years 1914-1917, when Nation served in the military in Europe, after which he returned to his former position. Others from the Bureau of Mines who contributed to the creation of the albums include: W.A. Carlyle, (W. Fleet Robertson's predecessor as Provincial Mineralogist); J.D. Galloway (Robertson's successor); Herbert Carmichael (an Assistant Mineralogist); and Newton W. Emmens. They took photographs or directed that photos be taken to document their work in the field. Many photographs are labeled “B.C. Bureau of Mines” but the photographer is not identified.

Some of the albums, or parts of albums, appear to have been compiled, not an annual basis, but at a later date, and were labeled “miscellaneous.” They relate to the mining industry, geology, mineralogy, and local culture, but are not related to the annual field trips. The Provincial Mineralogist's office collected some of these from private sources including mining companies and miners. Professional photographers whose work is found in the albums include: R.J. Hughes (Trail, BC), Hughes Bros. (Trail, BC), Joseph F. Spalding (Fernie, BC), Carpenter & Co. (Rossland, BC), Carpenter & Millar (Rossland, BC), The Dominion Photo Company (Vancouver), Richard H. Trueman (R.H. Trueman & Co., Vancouver), E.F. Tucker, and Leonard Frank. There are a small number of photos taken by Charles Camsell of the Geological Survey of Canada, 1911, so it is possible others were taken by federal government employees.

Subjects include a very wide range of industrial and cultural activities and geographic features. These include: mines and mining operations and equipment; mining camps, prospectors, miners' houses, powder magazines, first aid teams, fire brigades, mine rescue squads and stations; immigrant workers; refineries, smelters, coke ovens, concentrators, brickyards, slag dumps and tailings; railways and rail trestles; boats, scows, ships, and dredging; landscape and terrain features including rivers and mountain ranges; mining industry towns, schools, hospitals, hotels, churches, government offices and wireless offices; First Nations activities and culture, including totem poles, grave sites, and villages; whaling and whaling stations; horse pack trains, Hudson's Bay Company posts; and conferences and congresses attended by Bureau of Mines staff.

Many of the photos are annotated with directions for the printing/publication process. Many are pieced together to create panoramas. Some albums have accompanying individual indexes and some have been indexed in the master alphabetical index.

Container No. Photograph Album
001302-0001 -- Bureau of Mines photographs miscellaneous album, H.T. Nation [album misc. B] ca. 188-?-1919
001302-0002 -- Bureau of Mines D : photographs ca. 189-?-1917
001302-0003 -- B.C. Bureau of Mines [E] miscellaneous photographs compiled from October 1927
001302-0004 -- 1895 Bureau of Mines
001302-0005 -- 1896 Bureau of Mines
001302-0006 -- Bureau of Mines, 1897-1898
001302-0007 -- Bureau of Mines photos 1898, 1899, 1900
001302-0008 -- Dept. of Mines, 1901, 1899-1901
001302-0009 -- Bureau of Mines 1902
001302-0010 -- Bureau of Mines, 1903, Victoria, B.C., 1903-1904
001302-0011 -- Photographs : 1905
001302-0012 -- Peace River and other trips in 1906 by W.F. Robertson and H. Carmichael, 1906
001302-0013 -- 1907 Bureau of Mines, Victoria B.C., 1906-1907
001302-0014 -- 1908 photos by Bureau of Mines, Victoria B.C., 1908-1909
001205-0001 -- Bureau of Mines photos collected during 1909
001302-0015 -- Odd photos collected in the Provincial Mineralogist's office, entered Nov. 1910
001302-0016 -- Summer trip of the Provincial Mineralogist to the Bulkley and Telkwa Rivers and the Slocan Mining Division, 1911; 1934
001302-0017 -- Provincial Mineralogist trip to Cassiar, 1912, 1911-1912
001302-0018 -- Photos for 1913 report, taken by W.F. Robertson, B.G. Forbes, W.M. Brewer, J.D. Galloway
001302-0019 -- Photographs taken in 1914
001302-0020 -- Dept. of Mines album 1915
001302-0021 -- Photographs : Dept. of Mines album 1916
001302-0022 -- Photographs : Bureau of Mines 1917-1918-1919
001302-0023 -- Photographs : Bureau of Mines 1920-21
001302-0024 -- Photos received at the Bureau of Mines during 1921 & 1922, compiled by Harold T. Nation
001302-0025 -- 1923 current photos, Bureau of Mines, 1920-1925
001302-0026 -- Dept. of Mines album : photos 1925 continued, 1926, 1925-1926
001302-0027 -- Bureau of Mines photographs 1926 (continued), 1927, 1922-1928
001302-0028 -- Bureau of Mines, Victoria, B.C. misc. photos, compiled by Harold T. Nation, 1927 [misc. album C], 1895-1927
001302-0029 -- Bureau of Mines photographs, 1926-1930, 1966
001302-0030 -- Dept. of Mines album 1930, [ca. 1930-1936]

The series consists of photographs (lantern slides and a few glass or flexible negatives) created by the offices of the Bureau of Mines and the Dept. of Mines between ca. 1900 and 1953. The photographs depict all aspects of Bureau activities including surveys and inspections. Many of the glass negatives were taken by W.F. Robertson and H.T. Nation of the Bureau of Mines and were often used for annual reports and other publications. The bulk of the photographs are glass lantern slides, either made from Bureau of Mines photographs or copied from other sources. Photographer Edgar Fleming took or copied many of the photographs for the Department. These slides show mines and mining operations and equipment; mining camps, first aid teams, refineries, smelters, coke ovens, concentrators, railways and rail trestles; boats, landscape and terrain features including coast, rivers and mountain ranges and aerial views. There are also a significant number of maps and technical drawings.

Occasionally other photographer initials M.S.H., S.S.H. and W.H.M. are noted on the slides. There are 63 slides of South African mines and general views, 23 slides of the Alcan Kemano project from 1953 and various portraits scattered throughout the series, as well as ca. 115 aerial views from the 1930s, many with their own numbering scheme.

The series also includes an additional 38 glass lantern slides from the 1920s, alienated from the main run of lantern slides and transferred separately. Most of these slides were made of photographs taken by Edgar Fleming for the Bureau of Mines but also include some slides of maps and technical drawings.

Records of Britannia Mining and Smelting Company and related companies, including annual reports, correspondence, accounting records, exploration reports, engineering plans, leases, contracts and agreements. The related companies include: Britannia Copper Syndicate, Britannia Smelting Company, Chelan Copper Mining Company, El Potosi Mining Company, Howe Sound Company, Howe Sound Exploration Company, Howe Sound Power Company Also included are records of Barbara Theatres and Britannia Beach Community Club.

The series consists of film footage shot by Allan Hatch DeWolf, mainly in the East Kootenay Region of British Columbia. Subjects include: construction and operation of B.C. Spruce Mills' 14-mile-long Moyie River flume near Lumberton, ca.1925; construction of the Mammoth Mine concentrator at Silverton; a portable McKowan Mill cutting Ponderosa pine in the Kamloops or Nelson Forest District, ca.1934; logging sled (colour); tie-cutting operation with portable mill; trucking, unloading and scaling of logs; Cranbrook Dominion Day parade, 1927; family and friends at play, etc. Also includes the four-reel title A BIG GAME HUNT IN BRITISH COLUMBIA (1926).

Amateur film footage. The Britannia Mine, ore train and mill, Britannia Beach, BC.

The item consists of three reels of promotional film.
Reel one: Captain Vancouver's monument, entrance to Vancouver harbour, the Lions, ship approaching, Siwash Rock, boathouse at harbour entrance, freighter passing, view of ships, piers and buildings. HMS "Hood" and HMS "Repulse" in the harbour. Pan over downtown section of Vancouver. Making hemp rope in factory. Woman making woolen products on loom. Huge herd of cattle on a flat prairie. Stockyards. Tank car unloading oil. Mattresses being made. Plants along the waterfront. Apple trees in the Okanagan; apples being picked, packed and stored. Cars on the Pacific Highway. Bathers on a crowded beach. Cars and people entering Stanley Park. Mine and ore cars; concentrators; milling of ore. Trail smelter, ore cars and silver ingot.
Reel two: Coal cars in freight yard. Waterfall and powerhouse. Sports fishermen. Fishermen hauling in salmon-filled seine nets. Dumping herring into ship's hold. Man sitting astride giant tuna. Shots of mountain goat, white-tailed deer, mountain sheep, and giant brown bear (dead with hunter atop it). Trapper and dog team in front of cabin. Seals diving and swimming. Douglas firs being cut, felled, topped and yarded. Dumping logs from train at mill. Tug towing log raft. Sawing logs into lumber. Making furniture. Loading lumber onto ships. Three-masted whaler in harbour. New freighter tied up. Shot of original Vancouver wharf and new Ballantyne Pier. Cargo cranes. Loading cargo onto ships. Cars lined up on pier for shipping.
Reel three: Workers completing CPR pier at Vancouver; tug hauling a section. Passenger ship "Empress of Asia" arriving in port . . . Steam engine ploughing prairie. Men seeding from horseback. . . .Threshing wheat. Horses haul wheat to elevators. Freight train crossing prairie, then in the Rockies. . . Vancouver freight yards and grain elevators; one elevator being built. Waterfront with ships tied up. . . . Loading wheat into ship's hold. Freighter and passenger ship leaving harbour. . ." (Colin Browne)

This series consists of press releases, articles, speeches and other public reports created from 1932-1943. The majority of the records were created by the Minister of Mines and Deputy Minister of Mines. The records relate to all aspects of the departments work and mining in BC generally. This includes: statistical reports on provincial mining production outputs, particularly coal; the history of mining in BC; the history of the Dept. of Mines; announcements and comments on the opening or closure of mines; biographical information of department executive; considerations on the future of mining in BC; and the discussion of various issues impacting the mining industry.

The item is a reel of film footage consisting of ten short reels of varying length assembled onto one roll. It mainly depicts subjects related to Consolidated Mining staff and operations across Canada. Notes (from original film boxes): 1. Sulphur experiment. 2. Quebec 1933 or 1934. 3. Montreal and Quebec, [19]34 -- "only fair". 4. Flin Flon 1934. 5. Edmonton to Fort Rae by plane -- [19]35 or 36. 6. Trip to Great Bear and back, 1935 or 1936. 7. Vancouver and Big Missouri, 1937. (black & white) 8. Kimberley football and Montgomery's and Lindsay's, 1934. 9. Chemists in Trail; Trail picnic 1937. 10. Ed Montgomery, P. Wetmore in N.S. [Nova Scotia?] -- Bingay's house in Vanc[ouver] -- Tadanac Hall, also Sir Colin Fraser.

The item is an industrial film print made ca. 1977 from footage originally shot between 1934 and 1936. The compilation shows the company's mining, smelting and related operations in southeastern British Columbia including: the Sullivan Mine and concentrator at Kimberley; a power plant on the Kootenay River; the Trail smelter; and the fertilizer plant at Warfield.

SUMMARY: Interview with Mr. Pike, Manager of Columbia Tungsten Company Limited Mine at Wells, British Columbia, by John Barnes, about: natural resources, tungsten, mining process, industry, mining. Including sounds from mine during the crushing process.

SUMMARY: Interview with Eric Johnson, Mill Superintendent of Island Mountain Mine, by John Barnes, about: industry, gold, description of refining process; natural resources, gold, including sounds from operation of mining process with crusher, noon whistle, "grizzly", scoop of ball mill, top of ball mill, swish of return to mill of oversize, general noise, clatter from under ball mill, water coming out of mill, overall sound from door.

SUMMARY: Interviews with Bob McElhaney, Mine Surveyor for Cariboo Gold Quartz Mine, and Bob Willen, drill sharpener for Cariboo Gold Quartz Mine, by John Barnes, about: industry, mining, gold; natural resources, gold, mining process; including sounds from mining process with ore trains, drilling, and sharpening of drills.

Industrial film. A comprehensive look at mining in B.C., made to attract employees to the industry. Shows prospecting, core sampling; mine interiors, including the Sullivan mine (with electric trains); train (with steam locomotives) taking ore to smelter; smelter operations (including lead and zinc refining and production of fertilizer from smelter by-products); Bralorne mine; open-pit coal mine at Corbin; discussion of safety and health care for miners; amenities provided for the comfort of miners in mining camps, and for their families at larger camps.

The item is an industrial film demonstrating the integrated nature of the various Cominco operations. Cominco's operations in Trail and Kimberley are discussed from the viewpoint of various Cominco employees. Includes footage of: Sullivan Mine; refining and smelting processes for lead, zinc, silver; power plant on Kootenay River; research and development; use of metals refined; manufacture of fertilizer from smelter emissions; mine exploration and prospecting across Canada; facilities, accommodations and recreational activities [e.g. hockey, Kimberley Dynamiters, etc.] in communities around the plants. Also includes sequences on a fertilizer plant in Calgary (Alberta Nitrogen Dept.) and mining at Yellowknife, N.W.T.

Footage. A selection of miscellaneous footage from various films produced by Parry for the Mining Association and some of its member companies. Includes footage of Boyles Brothers (manufacture of diamond drills); BC Research labs; Cominco labs and smelter; geological surveys; "Kimberley smelter" (?); Nickel Plate mine at Hedley (abandoned buildings); oil refineries and tank farms; Phoenix mine; Pine Point; Similkameen Mining Company operations; Sullivan Mine; Trail; various unidentified mills and mine operations; Western Canada Rolling Mines (steel mill); Western Mines (construction of mill and other facilities).

CALL NUMBER: T0345:0001 RECORDED: New Denver (B.C.), 1965-05-19 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Alexander Harris describes prospecting and mining in the Arrow and Kootenay Lakes area in the 1890s. His father, Joseph Harris, came to Slocan in 1896, established a ranch or farm that supplied vegetables and fruit to the mining camps. Alexander Harris' account includes stories about mining camp life, Orientals, travel on Arrow Lakes, and individual miners: Carpenter, Seighton, Monty; Davis, Martin Fry and Johnny Harris.

TRACK 2: He tells about the naming of mining towns in the area: New Denver, Three Forks, etc. The high school for the area was located on his father's ranch. He describes local culture, social activities, sports, as well as mining techniques, locating ore and equipment.

CALL NUMBER: T0345:0002 RECORDED: New Denver (B.C.), 1965-05-19 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Rock drilling techniques and competitions are discussed. Mr. Harris continues his description of mining methods, ore extraction, transportation to the mills, such as aerial trams, use of horses, processing of ore at the mills, shipping and tailings. A Welsh choir on tour in Canada went bankrupt in the Slocan area and the men worked in the mines at Silverton and New Denver area to earn some money.

TRACK 2: This tape continues with discussions of the New Denver town site, buildings, water transportation, early roads, the Japanese evacuation, Slocan Lake, also known as Lucerne, the Valhalla Range, and New Denver's growth. Wildlife was depleted during the early years of these communities. Mr. Harris speaks about an early trip to the Kokanee Glacier, 1919; Theo Rankin, a local teacher; and his father and mother.

Industrial film. The life of the miner and the mining community at the Boss Mountain Mine. Miners and their wives talk about their background, their work and their feelings about living in a remote BC town. Shows the mining of molybdenite and the responsibilities of the mine superintendent, engineer, metallurgist, geochemist and other key personnel.

The item is a composite print of an industrial film from 1966. It consists of an overview of the mining industry of British Columbia and the Yukon. Sequences include: prospecting; claim staking; the use of helicopters; core sampling; construction of mine access roads; planning the mining of an ore body; lead-zinc mining operations in the Sullivan Mine; processing of ore by crushers, ball mills and flotation cells; residential scenes in mining towns (Fraser Lake, Pine Point, Ashcroft); Cominco smelter at Trail; contribution to steel industry (pig iron and coke); training of mining technicians at BCIT; role of the BC & Yukon Chamber of Mines, including its Prospectors' Mining School; Vancouver and Port Moody dockside scenes showing concentrates, coal and ingots being loaded.

The item consists of an industrial film made by Lew Parry Productions in 1966 for the Mining Association of British Columbia. It contains an overview of the mining industry of British Columbia and the Yukon. Sequences include: prospecting; claim staking; the use of helicopters; core sampling; construction of mine access roads; planning the mining of an ore body; lead-zinc mining operations in the Sullivan Mine; processing of ore by crushers, ball mills and flotation cells; residential scenes in mining towns (Fraser Lake, Pine Point, Ashcroft); Cominco smelter at Trail; contribution to steel industry (pig iron and coke); training of mining technicians at BCIT; role of the BC & Yukon Chamber of Mines, including its Prospectors' Mining School; Vancouver and Port Moody dockside scenes showing concentrates, coal and ingots being loaded.

The item is a print of an industrial film by Lew Parry. It contains an overview of the mining industry of British Columbia and the Yukon. Sequences include: prospecting; claim staking; the use of helicopters; core sampling; construction of mine access roads; planning the mining of an ore body; lead-zinc mining operations in the Sullivan Mine; processing of ore by crushers, ball mills and flotation cells; residential scenes in mining towns (Fraser Lake, Pine Point, Ashcroft); Cominco smelter at Trail; contribution to steel industry (pig iron and coke); training of mining technicians at BCIT; role of the BC & Yukon Chamber of Mines, including its Prospectors' Mining School; Vancouver and Port Moody dockside scenes showing concentrates, coal and ingots being loaded.

Industrial film. An overview of the mining industry of British Columbia and the Yukon. Sequences include: prospecting; claim staking; the use of helicopters; core sampling; construction of mine access roads; planning the mining of an ore body; lead-zinc mining operations in the Sullivan Mine; processing of ore by crushers, ball mills and flotation cells; residential scenes in mining towns (Fraser Lake, Pine Point, Ashcroft); Cominco smelter at Trail; contribution to steel industry (pig iron and coke); training of mining technicians at BCIT; role of the BC & Yukon Chamber of Mines, including its Prospectors' Mining School; Vancouver and Port Moody dockside scenes showing concentrates, coal and ingots being loaded.

The item consists of outs and trims from the film "Salute to Tasu". Depicts operation of Wesfrob Mine at Tasu, Queen Charlotte Islands, BC.

The item consists of a silent, 16 mm A-roll colour picture of an industrial film made in 1967. It depicts mining activity at the Wesfrob Mine and domestic life in the community of Tasu, Queen Charlotte Islands, BC. Wesfrob, owned by Falconbridge Nickel Mines, acquired the property in 1956, and in 1964 began construction of the mine, mill, townsite and shipping facilities. The mine produces black magnetite iron ore. In addition, the item includes two sound tracks.

The item consists of a colour picture of an industrial film made in 1967. It depicts mining activity at the Wesfrob Mine and domestic life in the community of Tasu, Queen Charlotte Islands, BC. The film shows opening ceremonies at Tasu including H.J. Fraser, the president of Falconbridge welcoming guests.

The item consists of an industrial film made in 1968. It depicts mining activity in BC's Highland Valley by the Alwin Mining Company. Includes every step, from the planning and construction phase to domestic life of the miners. The item also includes a separate magnetic sound track and titles.

Industrial film. The mining industry of B.C. and its impact on the province's economic life. The film "pinpoints the intensive search for new ore bodies and the development of giant new mines in all areas of the province." The development of an open-pit mine is traced from initial surveys through construction to actual production. Also includes shots of various mines throughout B.C.; interior of Sullivan mine; scenes in smelter (Cominco at Trail) and steel mill; coal train en route and unloading at Roberts Bank; uses of metals made from B.C. minerals.

The item consists of an industrial film made by Lew Parry Productions for the Mining Association of British Columbia in 1970. It depicts the mining industry of B.C. and its impact on the province's economic life. The film "pinpoints the intensive search for new ore bodies and the development of giant new mines in all areas of the province." The development of an open-pit mine is traced from initial surveys through construction to actual production. Also includes shots of various mines throughout B.C.; interior of Sullivan mine; scenes in smelter (Cominco at Trail) and steel mill; coal train en route and unloading at Roberts Bank; uses of metals made from B.C. minerals.

Out-takes. The growth and development of Giant Mascot Mines Ltd. -- especially the Giant Mascot Mine near Hope, which re-opened in 1971 after a serious fire. Includes mine and concentrator operations, lab tests, planning of future work, etc. Also shows the company's geological survey and test drilling operations in the area and in the Northwest Territories. Vancouver scenes include shots inside the Vancouver Stock Exchange.

Industrial film. The growth and development of Giant Mascot Mines Ltd. -- especially the Giant Mascot Mine near Hope, which re-opened in 1971 after a serious fire. Includes mine and concentrator operations, lab tests, planning of future work, etc. Also shows the company's geological survey and test drilling operations in the area and in the Northwest Territories. Vancouver scenes include shots inside the Vancouver Stock Exchange.

Out-takes. "Current and projected activities in the field of pollution control and land reclamation . . . a factual presentation of the mining industry's concern for the environment and the methods it adopts to prevent pollution and to reclaim mining areas." Shot at mine sites throughout B.C. These outs include operations of Bethlehem Copper, Brenda Mines, Endako Mines, Giant Mascot, Kaiser, and Lornex, at such locations as Brenda, Granisle, Highland Valley, Ioco, LeRoi mine, Phoenix, Trail, etc.