RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-06-29 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Adeline Genier came to BC from Ontario in 1892; she describes her trip out west; her husband was Gilbert Genier, an electrician who got work from Sturgeon Falls to Vancouver working for the CPR. She was married in Kamloops in 1892 after her bout with mountain fever. The power house was built in Kamloops at this time. She mentions several people who worked on the power house and what was involved in learning how it worked. Her husband ran the power house for seven years until the family moved to Heffley Creek to buy a ranch. When the Klondike rush began they opened a stopping house for the two pack trains which came through; eventually sold it and the ranch and built a school at Heffley Creek. She is the mother of nine and she talks about how successful her life was. She describes the people and ranches at Heffley Creek and her family's values. She discusses recreation such as baseball. They moved to Barriere and she tells the story of how the town was named. TRACK 2: She describes Louis Creek and how it was named; the reserve and the roads going to and from the town. The Indians and how good neighbours they are. Anecdotes about Indians; how the children grew up with music; more anecdotes.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1963-03-14 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Fred Bears describes how his father, John Henry Bears, came from California to BC for the gold rush in 1875 and settled in Hope. He also tells about platinum in Granite Creek, people who struck it rich, anecdotes about packers, prospectors, teaching people to mine, gold at Hills Bar, staking claims, the Hudson's Bay post run by 'Old Man Yates' who ran a small store, freighting cattle along the Fraser River, details about their route before the turn of the century, and Bill Bristol. TRACK 2: Fred Bears continues with his stories about Bill Bristol. Al Bears describes what Bill Bristol looked like, and that he came from England. Al goes on to discuss his life, where he went to school, the people who lived in Hope when he was young (there were only six families and they made their living off horses and packing); Luke Gibson; and the trails through Hope. Fred Bears then tells anecdotes about prospecting in the area and the clothes people wore.

CALL NUMBER: T1200:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Alan Benson : the Hazelton area, 1923-1961 PERIOD COVERED: 1923-1961 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-07-12 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Alan Benson recalls coming to Hazelton (1923), his first impressions of the area, old-timers including: "Happy Turner", George Birnes, "Dutch" Cline and Dave Wiggins [sp?], changes in Hazelton (1923-61), the physical situation of the three Hazeltons, the railroad and New Hazelton. TRACK 2: Alan Benson talks about methods for getting supplies to the north country; taking the steamer to Hazelton onto Babine, the schooner to the headwaters and across the portage to Stuart Lake. (Tape sound quality is poor, stops and varies). He describes packers and pack trains, repacking at Two Mile, trails, bridges, an Indian bridge over Babine River, Second Cabin and a story about a trip to Second Cabin to apprehend an insane man.

CALL NUMBER: T1200:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Alan Benson : packing, pack trains and the Skeena country, 1923-1961 PERIOD COVERED: 1923-1961 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-07-12 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Alan Benson describes the pack trains and packing methods used by George Birnes, the aparejos Mexican pack rigging, packing a horse or mule, a typical day on the pack train, the horse wrangler, carrigudor [sp?] and stevedore, freight loads, qualities of a pack horse or mule and Poison Mountain. He talks about the photographic work of Howard Innis who studied the Skeena River country, the National Film Board later used his work to make the "Skeena River Trap Line" and "People of the Skeena". The Babine River Slide (1952) is also discussed.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1984-03-12 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: 1905 attempt by Thomas E. Price (H.A. Price's father), along with George Randall, to climb Garibaldi; heavy forest fires turned them back and the two men walked by to Moodyville, North Vancouver, following the Squamish River. In 1906, Atwell King, Arthur Dalton, David Grey and Thomas Price attempt to climb Garibaldi; group climbed to within 300 feet of the summit, but had to stop because of soft slushy snow; next day, the party found that King was snow blind, so they returned to Squamish and thence to Vancouver by steamer. In 1907, first successful ascent of Garibaldi is made; two of the 1906 climbers plus four other men make up the party. T.E. Price couldn't join the party as he had to write a make up exam for McGill University. In 1908, second ascent of Garibaldi was made with T.E. Price. Description of the work T.E. Price carried out as a member of the Garibaldi Park Board. Brief description of H.A. Price's first trip into Garibaldi Park, Black Tusk area, as an 8- or 9-year-old boy. Brief account of successive trips made by H.A. (Alex) Price into Garibaldi Park between 1930 and 1940. One change noted in the park during this time was the construction of Taylor Cabin. Description of H.A. Price's duties as a "packer's flunky" for Garibaldi Park Board packer Alex Munro. Account of T.E. Price's detailed log of the trail from Cheakamus River to Black Tusk Meadow; Alex Munro's expertise as a fly fisherman recounted; an account of H.A. Price's walk from Garibaldi station to Squamish to catch the steamer to Vancouver. TRACK 2: Continuation of trip from Garibaldi station to Squamish; Alex Munro's horse-breaking show.

RECORDED: [location unknown], [196-] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Alex Wylie discusses hiking near Hinton in 1905 with some traders as he moved to BC; moved to Alberta from Scotland; describes the fort at Edmonton; he describes how he became a packer in 1907; Swift Ranch; pack trails near Quesnel; a man named Swift; the Northern Territories as he remembers them; the CPR; and Fort George. [TRACK 2: blank.]

CALL NUMBER: T0314:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-07-23 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Alfred Joseph Drinkell tells some stories about the history of the Dog Creek area of the Cariboo, from 1860 to 1914. Drinkell discusses his arrival in BC in 1911. He describes the ranches he worked at around Ashcroft, Joseph Smith's place, and his financial problems and life before he came to BC. He tells anecdotes about Judge Begbie. He tells a story about Samsome, a local doctor, and the legendary packer Jean Caux ("Cataline").

TRACK 2: Drinkell relates the story of Cataline's last trip and describes many trails in the area. He speaks of Joy Sim, a Chinese doctor, and pioneer medicine. He discusses some of Cataline's packers: Robbins, Wiggins Dan Smith, and the first settlers in the area. He describes the Hudson's Bay Trail, freighting, roads in the area, stories about Phil Grinder of Jesmond, a local school teacher, and educated people.

CALL NUMBER: T0314:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-07-23 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Drinkell describes the early days of Ashcroft, the Chinese in the area, two anecdotes: the Wright of the Dog Creek Ferry and the Stobie of the Gang Ranch. He offers the background of the Gang Ranch and describes cattle drives, the Duke Of York, a Barkerville bartender, and local Indians.

TRACK 2: Drinkell discusses cowboys, social life and Christmas. Then he mentions Indian-White relationships and a story about Indians and the law. He discusses the Chilcotin and Shuswap Indians, problems with the reserve system, Chinese settlers in the Dog Creek area, and the importance of Chinese in the area. Finally, Drinkell tells the story of five Indian women who killed themselves over a white man, and how nails and gold dust were used as money.

RECORDED: [location unknown], [1955?] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Alice M. Earley talks about coming into the Cariboo from Victoria in 1884; the journey by steamboat, train, and horse-drawn wagon to Quesnel, where she had been hired to teach. The Conco;rd stages. She describes Quesnel in the 1880s: the town; the fur traders; pack trains; the Klondike gold rush of 1898; the telegraph line; a plot by the Chilcotin [Tsilhqot'in] people; Barkerville; Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie; the school teacher; coins; prices and automobiles of a later era. [TRACK 2: blank.]

RECORDED: [location unknown], [1967?] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Andy Christensen begins by discussing preparations for the visit of Lord Tweedsmuir to the park named after him (ca. 1937). The rest of the interview consists of Christensen's recollections about the development of ranching around Anahim Lake including the establishment of his own ranch (1930) and trading post. His recollections include packtrain routes from Bella Coola as early as 1914, the beauty and wildlife around Anahim Lake, fur trading with the Indians, his partner Adolf Shilling, and the story of Pemberton's effort to start a ranching empire. Others mentioned are his brother Helmar Christensen, Chief Squinas (sp?), Stanley Dahling, Chief Anahim and Lester Dorsey. [TRACK 2: blank.]

CALL NUMBER: T0675:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Angela McDairmid was born in Princeton before it was known as Princeton; she discusses her earliest memories; where the house was; several anecdotes about her mother and her youth; her father; floods; her family history; her father's arrival in Victoria in 1858; the gold rush on the Fraser River; the pack trains; the area around Princeton as she remembers it; more stories. Susan Louise Moir was her mother, and she discusses her life; her parents' early married life; the first settlers in Princeton; gold mining in Granite Creek; John Chance and other prospectors; how Princeton got its name. TRACK 2: Mrs. McDairmid continues by describing the first mines in the area; the Hope Trail; some characters; Chinese workers who worked for her father; stories; some characters whom she remembers.

CALL NUMBER: T0675:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. McDairmid continues with stories about the land around Princeton, some bodies that were found, building a bridge, a shooting among Indians, the Allison town site, Judge Haynes, Indian boat races at the river, potlatches, a shooting, the killing of a Nicola Indian, Merritt as a coal mining town, Dr. Tuttle's hanging, superstition among the Indians. Finally, she discusses her father giving the copyright to his stories to her sister. [TRACK 2: blank.]

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Fort St. James, 1862-1914 PERIOD COVERED: 1862-1914 RECORDED: Williams Lake (B.C.), 1976-10-04 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Ann A. Rottacker discusses her background: born 1896 in Fort St. James; father, Alexander C. Murray, was the Hudson's Bay Factor; details about father. Fort St. James described: domestic; details; fur trade; relations between Indians and A.C. Murray. Elementary school in Fort St. James. Mrs. Rottacker at school in Victoria for four years. Mrs. Rottacker spoke Carrier as a child. Father A.G. Morice described. Cataline (Jean Caux) described. Travel. Father was at Fort St. James from 1862 to 1914. TRACK 2: Father travelled by snowshoe from Lower Fort Garry to Fort St. James in 1862.; Mrs. Rottacker sings briefly in Carrier. Kitchen garden at Fort St. James described. More on childhood. Route travelled between Fort St. James and Victoria in about 1905. Details of diet. HBC "open house" for Indians described. Clothing described.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Antoine Boitano talks about some aspects of the Cariboo, from 1880 to 1910. He discusses his family background, his father Augustine Boitano, the packer Jean Caux ("Cataline"), his father's pack train, ranches of the Chilcotin in 1890s, Jackass Mountain, freight wagons, the Koster family, an incident with a mule, race horses, the annual ball at Clinton, and music. Mr. Boitano plays the fiddle for the interviewer. [TRACK 2: blank.]

RECORDED: [location unknown], [196-] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Arthur Fisk recalls his arrival in Portage La Prairie from England in 1908; working with the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad in the kitchens; details on how the railroad was built; a description of laying tracks, and scows. TRACK 2: Mr. Fisk continues discussing scows, mule trains, the Canadian Northern [?] and Grand Trunk Pacific Railways, Fort George in 1914, the connecting of the G;rand Trunk Pacific in 1914 at Fort Fraser, and various characters and anecdotes.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-04 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Ben Fellows discusses his life and experiences in logging and other fields. Logging work and logging camps at Duncan, Cowichan, and Elk River. Ran a pack train at Upper Campbell Lake. Work on the Prairies, including coal mining in Saskatchewan. Travelling to B.C. Local characters. TRACK 2: Gold River. Changes in logging equipment and machinery. Logging camp conditions. Breaking horses. His philosophy.

CALL NUMBER: T0826:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-08-04-& 06 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Ployart recounts his grandparent's settlement in the Courtenay area in the 1870s. He describes his early life; Comox; Courtenay; Cumberland; the Indian settlement; life on his family's farm. Later he became a logger and trapper. TRACK 2: Mr. Ployart continues with a description of his work on a fishing boat; and in a logging camp. He describes his reunion with his father in Alberta; the purchase of farm equipment; and his trek to the family's homestead. He recalls his time as a rancher; his trip to Vancouver; his time as a steam engineer; a successful logging operation.;

CALL NUMBER: T0826:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-08-04-& 06 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Ployart describes some of his logging and trapping experiences in the Courtenay area; operating a pack train for the government survey parties and CPR surveys; anecdotes of some mainland inlet settlers. TRACK 2: Mr. Ployart discusses the weather and storms common to the mainland inlets; a tugboat trip to Prince Rupert; boating incidents.

SUMMARY: Talk by naturalist Dan McGowan about transportation and pack horses.;

Amateur film footage. The beginning and middle of this film reel contain shots taken from trains leaving or arriving in Vancouver on the CPR main line. The balance of the reel includes: views along the Kettle Valley Railway; activities at the rail station of Coquihalla and nearby Lil-Joe Lodge; CPR steam locomotives 3628 and 3652; Sperry Rail Services rail detector car SRS 130; clearing of land, horse logging, and construction of log buildings for the lodge; a pack train; and row boats and trout fishing on the Coquihalla Lakes.