Promotional film. The story of two of North America's historic building materials -- red cedar shingles and hand-split shakes. Beginning with the dawn of the industry, the film traces the evolution of shingles and shakes to the present, interspersed with discussion of logging, manufacture, and contemporary applications. (COFI catalogue description)

Television stock shots

Promotional film. "The story of two of North America's most historic building materials, Western Red Cedar shingles and hand-split shakes. Interspersed with logging, manufacturing and contemporary application sequences, [the film] traces evolution of shingles and shakes from the dawn of the industry to the present day." (COFI catalogue description)

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-06-17 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Clare Chamberlin describes the road leading into Gibsons Landing in 1902; coming from Bellingham to make more money cutting wood for shingle bolts; details about logging; who would buy the shingle bolts; his first impressions of Gibson's Landing; logging at Wilson Creek; a description of Roberts Creek including the people who lived there; a man named Jacob Hintsa and other characters; details about minister J.S. Woodsworth and the founding of the CCF party; a discussion about communism. [TRACK 2: blank.]

RECORDED: [location unknown], [197-] SUMMARY: An oral history interview with Harold P. Carpenter and Syd A. Barton. They discuss the history of the Huntting-Merritt Shingle mill, which became a division of Canadian Forest Products in 1948. Barton; joined Huntting-Merritt as a shingle packer in 1927, and worked as a foreman and later in sales, retiring around 1970. Harold Carpenter joined the company as assistant sales manager and became Sales Manager in 1934. [No content summary is available for this interview.]

CALL NUMBER: T0773:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-03-17 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Dick Whiteside recalls his parents, Helen and Guy Whiteside, and their arrival in BC in 1888; they homesteaded in Surrey, [at?] Pike and Yale Roads. He talks about the school at Tynehead in; 1900; subdivision of the homestead, today known as Fleetwood; his father's work as a fisherman in the Sunbury district; Port Mann; the land boom of 1913; Surrey Centre; the family homestead; clearing; land; logging; McNair and King Shingle Mill; other mills in Surrey; Jimmy Robson; South Westminster; Murphy's Dairy; Kennedy; Indian reserve; Johnny Wise. TRACK 2: Mr. Whiteside continues with recollections of Johnny Wise and his hotel, the Clarendon; Brownsville Hill; the Green Timbers area; the New Westminster Market; Murrayville; peddlers, Kidd & Israel; stoves; roads; Surrey Centre; John Churchland; settlers in Surrey Centre; Reverend Bell.;

CALL NUMBER: T0773:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-03-17 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Whiteside talks about Cloverdale; the Boothroyd family; Alec Matheson, a constable and blacksmith; Joe Drinkwater; Harry Bose; Tynehead; Port Kells; recreation; Crescent Beach, known as Blackie's Spit; farming; roads and trails; D.M. Robertson; Tynehead Nurseries; the Boothwell family. [TRACK 2: blank.]

CALL NUMBER: T0158:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): J.C. Getchell : a shingle worker in B.C. - recollections of Vancouver (1904-1930s) PERIOD COVERED: 1904-1930s RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1973-03-03 SUMMARY: J.C. Getchell was born in 1881 and discusses his memories as a shingle worker and the Great Depression.;

CALL NUMBER: T0158:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): J.C. Getchell : a shingle worker in B.C. - Vancouver and the Depression PERIOD COVERED: 1904-1930s RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1973-03-03 SUMMARY: J.C. Getchell discusses Vancouver in 1904 through the 1930s, as well as the Great Depression.;

CALL NUMBER: T0158:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): J.C. Getchell : a shingle worker in B.C. - mining in Lynn Valley RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1973-03-30 SUMMARY: J.C. Getchell discusses the early 1900s in British Columbia and the Prairies; mining in Lynn Valley; False Creek; the Second Narrows Bridge; and Whalley Road (1911).;

CALL NUMBER: T1387:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): George Ellerbeck - 1 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1974-11 SUMMARY: TRACK 1 & 2: George Ellerbeck discusses the history of the Stave Lake Cedar shingle mill, which became a division of Canadian Forest Products in 1943. He joined the mill as a shingle packer in 1939, and in 1974 was Assistant Supervisor and Personnel Supervisor. [No content summary is available for this interview.]

CALL NUMBER: T1387:0002 item 1 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): George Ellerbeck - 2 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1974-11 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: The George Ellerbeck interview continues for the first half of track 1.

CALL NUMBER: T1387:0002 item 2 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Stan Douglas - 1 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1974-11 SUMMARY: TRACK 1 (item 2) & TRACK 2: Stan Douglas discusses the history of the Stave Lake Cedar shingle mill from about 1934 to 1967. [No content summary is available for this interview.]

CALL NUMBER: T1387:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Stan Douglas - 2 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1974-11 SUMMARY: TRACK 1 & 2: Continuation of the Stan Douglas interview.

CALL NUMBER: T3720:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Hong Len Jung : Chinese at work in B.C. : shingle mill worker PERIOD COVERED: 1898-1920 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1980-06-04 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Describes background: born in Yen Ping, Kwantung, China, 1898; immigrated to Canada 1912 on merchant's visa. Description of voyage to Canada on Empress of India: living conditions, food, fellow passengers, gambling on board, staff sell "black-market" food. Description of Immigration Building in Vancouver: detention in the building for one month, "graft" by Chinese interpreter. Stayed with father in Nanaimo, where his father owned large dry goods grocery store. Went to public school for 3 months but his father removed him from the school because he was worried Hong Len would not return to China if he had too much education. Work as a houseboy in Shawnigan Lake District. Father sold business in Nanaimo and went into managing gambling houses. Refers to the murder of a white woman by her Chinese houseman; after this, no Chinese can get work in Victoria (ca. 1914). Went back to China to marry; marriage arranged by parents. Returned to Canada and soon worked in a shingle mill. [TRACK 2: blank.]; CALL NUMBER: T3720:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Hong Len Jung : Chinese at work in B.C. : shingle mill worker PERIOD COVERED: 1920-1960 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1980-07-16 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Describes third trip home to China (1921-22), daughter was born; fourth trip home to China, second daughter was born; fifth trip home to China, purchased more property and business; sixth trip home to China, married a second wife in hope of producing a son. Present (second wife) left for Hong Kong after Chinese Civil War, 1949. Jung applied for Canadian citizenship and sent for his two "paper" sons and wife to come over. Purchased house on Gore Street. Wife worked as a farm day labourer and at the fish canneries. Shingle mill in 1950s had very little work for him; he was earning only $200-$300 a month. In 1954, purchased "paper son" papers and sent for nephew. In 1957 purchased 1st hotel/rooming house. Describes visit to village in mainland China, first since Communist take-over. Speaks of his father and grandfather, their work in Canada, and their subsequent retirement to China. Speaks of the domination of the shingle mill trade by Chinese of the Toy San and On Ping District. TRACK 2: Started in shingle mill in 1915. Talks about his work at the shingle mill: wages; accommodations; food; workmen's compensation and accidents at work; racial mix of workers; distance of mill from town. Saved money for trips to China and sending remittance home by dividing and budgeting wages into four equal portions. Unionization of shingle mills. Teamwork of shingle bolt cutter, sorter and piler. Comparison of wages earned by shingle mill workers, lumber mill workers and restaurant workers. CALL NUMBER: T3720:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Hong Len Jung : Chinese at work in B.C. : shingle mill worker PERIOD COVERED: 1918-1949 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1980-07-16 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Worked 6 days a week at shingle mill. Leisure activities after work. Kept room in Chinatown even when out of town or in China. Soup lines in Chinatown during Depression. Description of "fong"; rooming/commune style of living. Victoria CCBA send destitute Chinese back to China at this time. Talks of head tax, poll tax, lasting until 1949. Description of voyages back to China on CPR Empress lines and Blue Funnel lines. Description of the Chinese Theatre and the Cantonese Opera company. Member of the Hung Ming (Triad) Society in China before he came to Canada, member of the Chinese Freemason in Vancouver. Active in Vancouver as a member of the Jung Family Association, Yen Ping Locality Association. In 1918, he listened to Sun Yet Sun speak. Was involved with Freemasons as executive and organizer. Purchased $1000 worth of Kuomingtang bonds. Sent money home to China via San Francisco during Sino-Japanese War. Voted in every election in Canada when Chinese were re-enfranchised. TRACK 2: Speaks of Tong fights between Kuomingtang Society and the Chinese Freemasons: explains the differences between the two fractions. Discusses mortgaging of Freemasons in Vancouver; buildings in Victoria and collection of money for the revolt against the Manchus. Speaks of Christian faith, Chinese ancestral worship, and his views of both. The Chinese were not as badly off during Depression as white community. Prosperous Chinese in Vancouver purchased homes outside of Vancouver Chinatown (prior to 194(). Chinese businessmen bringing "false" wives to Canada, and selling these women to other businesses, or into marriage. Looking after the "dead"- Ching Ming commemorates the dead. CALL NUMBER: T3720:0004 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Hong Len Jung : Chinese at work in B.C. : shingle mill worker RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1980-07-17 SUMMARY: [No summary is available for this interview.]

CALL NUMBER: T1856:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): The Gordon Gibson story (part 1) PERIOD COVERED: 1904-1940 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1960 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Gordon Gibson describes his early life as a logger, especially on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Work for the Munitions Board during the First World War. The Gibson family's involvement in the shingle industry, logging and in the pilchard industry, all on the West Coast. The Gibson's accidental entry into the shipping industry. Anecdotes about the SS "Malahat". TRACK 2: More about the "Malahat", especially on the Queen Charlottes. The Gibsons begin to prosper. More about the "Malahat". CALL NUMBER: T1856:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): The Gordon Gibson story (part 2) PERIOD COVERED: 1916-1957 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1960 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Getting into the forest industry in the 1930s and 1940s. Logging shows on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The Gibson family's business deals. Description of early camp conditions. TRACK 2: The construction of Jeune Landing logging camp. Changes in loggers' lifestyles. CALL NUMBER: T1856:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): The Gordon Gibson story (part 3) PERIOD COVERED: 1948-1960 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1960 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Gibson recalls a 1948 speech by his brother Clarke to the Truck Loggers Association. Discussion of the development of forest policy in B.C. TRACK 2: Continuation of the discussion of forest management policies. Discussion focuses around the situation in Quatsino Sound. CALL NUMBER: T1856:0004 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): The Gordon Gibson story (part 4) PERIOD COVERED: 1948-1960 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1960 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Continuation of the discussion of forest management policies in B.C. Discussion of the 'Sommers Case': how Gibson got into politics; disagreements with the East Asiatic Co.; early discussions with Sommers; money to Coalition for campaigning funds; the Lord Commission; involvement of Gordon Wismer. TRACK 2: The Sommers Case (cont'd): connection between FMLs and Coalition campaign funds; more on the Lord Commission; Gibson's resignation and the Lillooet by-election; the Sturdy-Eversfield connection; Sturdy's presentation of evidence to the Sloan Commission; Eversfield and Sturdy visit Bonner; the RCMP (Butler) Inquiry. CALL NUMBER: T1856:0005 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): The Gordon Gibson story (part 5) PERIOD COVERED: 1948-1960 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1960 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Continuation of a discussion of the Sommers Case: the RCMP (Butler) Inquiry; Johnny Fairburn incident; Britannia Beach story; Liberal Party opposed Gibson; speculation about the amounts involved; philosophical implications. Orchard gives his side of the story. Further discussion of forest management policies. TRACK 2: More on forest management policies and matters of political philosophy. (End of interview)

CALL NUMBER: T1883:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Robert G. McDonald : B.C. Manufacturing Company, 1911-1951 (part 1) PERIOD COVERED: 1911-1951 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-03-01 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: McDonald born in Ontario. To B.C. in 1911. First job in a Vancouver shingle mill. McDonald's brother's company, B.C. Manufacturing Company, 1911. Various jobs, 1911-13. Joined his brother in B.C. Manufacturing Company, 1913. Mills and mill owners on the Fraser River. Box manufacturing. Details on the manufacture and sale of box shook. Takeover of Westminster Shook Mills by McDonald Brothers. TRACK 2: Anecdote about L.M. Crandall, later general manager of E.B. Eddy Match company. Grades of lumber. "Jap squares". Purchased Maple Ridge Lumber Company. The purchase of logging interests in the Salmon River area from Dewey Anderson. Acquired Forest Management License, ca. 1948. Sold out to Powell River Company, 1951. Details about sawmill equipment. The demise of the open log market. Log brokers. Small upcoast loggers.

CALL NUMBER: T1883:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Robert G. McDonald : B.C. Manufacturing Company, 1911-1951 (part 2) PERIOD COVERED: 1911-1951 RECORDED: [location unknown], [1961-03-01?] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Continuation of the story of the demise of the open log market, ca. 1942. Anecdote about an old logger in the Salmon River area. Anecdote about Eustace Smith. The origin of the McLean boom. Story of buying a trucking firm. (End of interview)

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Manager, Log and Chip Supply, BC Forest Products RECORDED: [location unknown], 1975-04-15 & 25? SUMMARY: Starting in the 1930s in a shingle mill; joining BCFP in 1946 as one of the first head office employees; log supply difficulties; trading logs between companies; transporting logs to mills; development of log barge; chip delivery to pulp mills; Sommers case; log market.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1963-02-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Jack Bothwell recounts the early Bothwells that pre-empted in the Tynehead area in 1884; early settlers; roads; shingle and sawmills; lumbering; transportation; New Westminster; community life; dances; churches; the Reverend Bell; farming life; Dr. Fred Sinclair; Alec Matheson. TRACK 2: Mr. Bothwell continues by discussing circuit ministers; Alec Matheson; community life; logging; shingle mills; the Anderson family; D.M. Robertson; "Hop Lee" at Cloverdale; hunting.

The item is a reel of educational film. Shows the drying, planing, grading and sorting of lumber, the manufacture of shingles, hog fuel (a sawmill by-product), use of the Ross carrier lumber loader, and lumber being loaded onto ships. Mainly shot at the sawmill of the Victoria Lumber and Manufacturing Co. Ltd. at Chemainus, BC.

Public access. Retired shingle worker Bill Higgins discusses the history of the shingle industry in the Alberni Valley.

The fonds consists of administrative and operational records of the Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau. The records are comprised of bound minute books of executive and general staff meetings, corporate compliance and business operations records, marketing campaigns, advertising proofs and photographs, bound newspaper clippings, advertisement photographs, and production proofs.

The fonds has been arranged in the following series:
MS-3233: Minute books
MS-3234:Business administration and marketing records
MS-3235: Marketing and production photographs
MS-3236: Newspaper clippings
MS-3237: Advertising proofs and scrapbooks