SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Workers' Compensation Board of BC history : working conditions PERIOD COVERED: 1929-1974 RECORDED: North Vancouver (B.C.), 1978-10 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Sidaway, clerk in silicosis division. Recalls commissioners in 1930s. The Help a Little Club. Silicosis claims. Office customs. [TRACK 2: blank.];

CALL NUMBER: T4003:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Workers' Compensation Board of BC : silicosis prevention (tape 1) PERIOD COVERED: 1937-1962 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1978-02-20 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Education. Begins employment Hollinger Mines, Ontario. Background to silicosis becoming recognized as an industrial disease. Methods for measuring dust concentrations. Dust control methods. First dust survey in BC. Circumstances of becoming inspector for WCB of BC. Relations with Department of Mines, methods of dust control in BC mines. TRACK 2: Incident regarding recalcitrant mining company. Description of equipment and routine of inspection work. Travel and working conditions. Relations with mining companies. Recruitment of additional silicosis-prevention inspectors.

CALL NUMBER: T4003:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Workers' Compensation Board of BC : silicosis prevention (tape 2) PERIOD COVERED: 1937-1962 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1978-02-20 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Dust concentrations reduced. Dust control requires co-operation of mining companies. Dust control responsibility transferred to Department of Mines. [TRACK 2: blank.]

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Workers' Compensation Board of BC history : silicosis PERIOD COVERED: 1937-1974 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1978-03-29 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Dr. Kincade's medical training and experience. Provincial Health Department agrees to have traveling tuberculosis clinic examine and certify miners. Symptoms and disability due to silicosis. Board certification policies. Work sources of silicosis. Description of conditions of traveling clinic. Medical Referee responsibilities. Measuring disability. difference between pathological and statutory silicosis. Cure of TB removes much of silicosis problem. Silicosis problem reduced through dust control Origins of aluminum dust therapy. Examination of other lung diseases. TRACK 2: Dr. Vrooman's contribution. Board medical directors discussed. E.S.H. Winn an excellent chairman. Trend toward allowance of claims on "possibility".

CALL NUMBER: T4135:0002 PERIOD COVERED: 1890-1975 RECORDED: Robson (B.C.), 1983-10-13 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Biographical information; came to the Kootenays in 1906; money scare in Nova Scotia; harvest excursion from Pictou County and price; landed in Nelson; Parker Williams hiring hall; Paulsen logging camp; paid $1.00 for job; left Paulsen camp with filer; wages; Winlaw's camp; hand logging; gyppo logging explained; tie and pole camps; camp hours; hours on boats; room and board; food in Paulsen camp; mining and hazards; New Denver mine and conditions; anecdote about quitting New Denver mine; Silicosis; railroad work; Leary's pole yard; Sandon in 1915 and unemployment; labourer's work conditions; prospecting for molibdonite; working boats at Pingston Creek; forced enlistment into the army; lobster fishing off Nova Scotia; Molson Bank, Revelstoke, owned Pingston Creek; working for Leary's on boats; Waldie Lumber Co. in 1931; anecdote about writing exam for skippers ticket; anecdote about colour blindness test. TRACK 2: Colour blindness test; relief in Nakusp; anecdote about being hired by Waldie's; Waldie's mill shut down in winter; part time fork in winter; relief in Nakusp, conditions and pay; [tugboat] "Elco I" in 1916; marriage. [During last 20 minutes of this tape, Mr. Sutherland is referring to photo album.] Building the M.V. "G.O. Sutherland"; Arrow Lakes poles; Beaton; "Elco II"; fuel and drive train; 1914 trip back to Nova Scotia; in charge the "Irene" in 1914; skating on lakes; demise of the "Elco II"; One Big Union membership at Pingston Creek. CALL NUMBER: T4135:0003 RECORDED: Robson (B.C.), 1983-10-13 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Bunks in logging camps; furnished own blankets; One Big Union dues turned in to Trout Lake secretary; anecdote about Trout Lake OBU dues scandal; Seaman's Guild; white sheets in lumber camps; WWII effects on unions; joined union at Waldie's in 1931; Sammy Stewart returning officer; anecdote about Depression years; Waldie's "reasonably honest"; free lumber for community halls; Waldie's camp operations; gyppo logging; Imperial Bank buys Molson's Bank; houseboat on S.S. "Kootenay"; anecdote about selling home during Depression; more discussion of pictures in photo album; stable employment on the CPR; lumber and logging operations that went broke; pay in lumber and shingles one year. [TRACK 2: blank.]

CALL NUMBER: T4007:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Workers' Compensation Board of BC history : silicosis PERIOD COVERED: 1936-1950 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1978-04-19 & 26 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Schooling and jobs prior to joining Board. Responsibilities of silicosis clerk. Tasks involved in organizing silicosis section. Discussion of admissibility of claims. Interprovincial problems;. Discussion of silicosis disability awards. Considerations given to miners. Appeal procedures. Tysoe Report criticism. TRACK 2: Adjudication problems in silicosis. Board efforts successful in reducing silicosis and providing compensation. Mr. Berry's duties in medical aid section. Origins and growth of rehabilitation clinic. Brief descriptions of Dr. Ney, Dr. Murphy, Bert Rutledge, W. Meston. Concept of accident fund as a trust fund. E.S.H. Winn's approach to staff salaries. Salaries were low. Worked overtime without pay. Staff numbers held down, hurts adjudication process. CALL NUMBER: T4007:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Workers' Compensation Board of BC history PERIOD COVERED: 1950-1974 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1978-04-19 & 26 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Feelings about salary level. Role of Medical referee in silicosis claims. Stevenson-Kellogg Report and reorganization of claims department. Functions claims department. Purpose of disability awards unit. Role of supervisors. Advent of medical aid unit. Physiotherapy claims unit. Effect of area office on claims adjudication. Discussion of amalgamation of claims and rehabilitation. Changes in review procedures. TRACK 2: Discussion of Tysoe Report recommendations on review boards. Disagrees with Boards of review established in 1973. Pros and cons of providing reasons for rejection of claims. Discussion of roles of compensation consultant and claims advisory service. Difficulties with hearing loss claims. Succeeding commissioners have impact on claims adjudication. Discussion on health insurance. Liberalization trend in adjudication.

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Jacob Torgerson : retired hard rock miner and Peace River homesteader RECORDED: Burnaby (B.C.), 1972-04-05 SUMMARY: Jacob Torgerson was born in Norway in 1891. Life as a hard rock miner in B.C. at Britannia Beach. Pioneer miner in Northern B.C. and others. Also information about his life in the Peace River country, and about silicosis. How he got silicosis and how the Compensation Board refused to pay him a pension for 17 years.

CALL NUMBER: T1802:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Lindsay Carter : Slocan Valley, 1918-1945 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Carter discusses his childhood: born in Kimberley, B.C. in 1906; moved to Silverton in 1918 with family; effects of influenza epidemic of 1918 on town of Silverton; father worked in mines; silicosis and other lung problems with mining; Mr. Carter's father affected by silicosis, 1943; poor attitude on the part of companies and Workmen's Compensation Board; anecdote about silicosis; family moved to Summit Lake logging camp, 1920. Details about camp life: housing; school; description of logging operations -- pole cutting, railroad, chutes; description of log chute, logging camp, bunkhouse, cookhouse. Forest fire of July, 1925; reports of major early fire, ca. 1870. Most loggers were Scandinavians. Location of other sawmills in Slocan Valley. TRACK 2: Moved to Sandon, 1922. Train and boat schedules, ca. 1925. Railroad accident near Sandon. CPR operated boats on Slocan Lake. Description of S.S. "Slocan", S.S. "Sandon", S.S. "Roseberry". Transportation into Sandon. Stores in Sandon. Trip down Slocan Lake in winter of 1929. Carter ended formal education after grade 8. Mining and mines near Sandon in 1920s and 1930s. Depression in Sandon: Carter on relief during Depression. Origin of miners: eastern Canada, Norway, Italy, Finland and others. Anti-Orientalism in Sandon. Japanese lived in Sandon during WW II. Bunkhouse conditions and anecdotes; cookhouse work and anecdotes.

CALL NUMBER: T1802:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Slocan Mines, 1920s and 1930s RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-01-10 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Carter's work history, 1920s: description of a concentrator and its operation especially the Noble Five concentrator, Cody, B.C; the jobs in a concentrator plant; shifts and hours of work; a major breakdown described, 1930; more on hours of work. TRACK 2: More on Carter's work history: attitudes towards work in a concentrator mill; unpleasant and unhealthy environment in concentrator mill and mines; more on work attitudes; long hours and lack of holidays; social life of miners -- drinking, prostitutes, pool halls, movies, fraternal orders, clubs; Carter a member of Orange Lodge in Sandon; operation of Orange Lodge; role of churches in Sandon; differences between miners and merchants; local government in Sandon; 1929 murder [of miner Sigvald Myklebost] described.

CALL NUMBER: T1802:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): The Great Depression of the 1930s RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-01-30 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Sandon continues the story about the 1929 [Myklebost] murder. Describes Johnny Harris: businessman, character of Sandon. Anecdotes about Johnny Harris. White family described. Silversmith Mine. Sandon prospectors described. Grub stake arrangements. Prospecting. Permanence of Sandon. TRACK 2: Demise of the Sandon Hospital in the 1930s. Questionable practices of the B.C. Security Commission during WW II. The Depression in Sandon and Carter's experiences on relief. "On the tramp" in southeastern B.C.

CALL NUMBER: T1802:0004 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Mining in the West Kootenays and the Great Depression of the 1930s RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-02-04 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: The Great Depression of the 1930s and its effect on Sandon, B.C. The sluggish economic recovery of Sandon during and after WW II. Description of poor working conditions underground. Sandon's hotels. Prostitutes in Sandon. Anecdote about "Big Al" Holmquist. Problems with alcohol among miners. Economic problems of living in Sandon. [TRACK 2: blank; end of interview.]

CALL NUMBER: T4101:0022 PERIOD COVERED: 1927-1945 RECORDED: Nelson (B.C.), 1983-10-19 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Biographical information. Coalhurst Altain 1927. United Mineworkers of Canada and Harvey Murphy. Executive jailed. President's name was Sloan. UMWC breakaway from American union. Worker's unity league. A.E. Smith from Nelson was prominent communist. Early union activities. United Mine Workers of America too over UMSC. Lost 3 brothers and father-in-law in mine explosion in 1935. Mines shut down in late 1929. Worked one day a week in 1930. Moved to Kimberly in 1931. Signs up in prairies saying, "Stay Away from Trail". City of Lethbridge paid to move his family to Kimberly to get them off relief. Elected to WCC. Hardrock mining less dangerous that coal mining. Union activity during the Depression. Met secretary and president of 1917 strike. Workmen's cooperative committee. WCC members always got promoted WCC destroyed. Members destroy WCC. Company refused to recognize Silicosis. "No Silicosis in Sullivan Mine" Meeting with Blaylock, Mr. Prince (IUMMSW) had an office in Vancouver in the late 1930's. Arthur Evans in Kimberly. Contacting Mr. Price. United for a complete defeat of fascism. All union members were Progressive. Evans holds open air meetings in Kimberly. No independent unions in Kimberly. Organised in units of five. Sit down strike in Bralorne and Pioneer. Kimberly raised money for them before they were certified. [TRACK 2: blank.] CALL NUMBER: T4101:0023 RECORDED: Nelson (B.C.), 1983-10-19 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: First bargaining with Blaylock. First contract. Anecdote about Murphy. Negotiating with Blaylock. WCS negotiations. OBU property in Kimberly. 1917 strike with Cominco. CMS officials with guns. Blaylock threatens Fred Henne. Fred Henne as organiser. Henne was a gambler. Henne blamed Drake for everything. John (Noisy) McPeake machinist on the hill. Loud talker. Reminiscences about Murphy. Born in Paris Ontario. Had a heart condition. Hard workers for CP. Anecdote about Murphy speaking. Murphy refused entry to BC. Murphy had to cataract operations. Coal miners to go to Moscow. Murphy fear CMS. Suspicions about Murphy. Bob Kever. Reid Robinson taking bribes. Bob Kever president of Labour Council. Garfield Belenger hard worker. John Osborne, Murphy and him on payroll. LPP members used him. [TRACK 2: blank.]

CALL NUMBER: T4101:0014 PERIOD COVERED: 1925-1945 RECORDED: Glenmerry (B.C.), 1983-08-22 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Biographical information. Started work at Cominco in 1925. Elected to Workmen's Cooperative Committee in 1934. General member for six months, then elected to Secretary. Elected from lead burners. List of full time positions. Benefits of WCC for workers on the hill; pension, coal, wood, Christmas turkey and bonus. Anecdote about Christmas bonus. Dealing with men was hard. Company shares. Company financed housing scheme. Rules of WCC. WCC never had any serious complaints. Lead poisoning. Company farm. Dealing with Blaylock. Blaylock and power. Delegate to War Prices and Trade Board. Anecdote about Blaylock's power. WCC lobbies anti-company union bill. Women on hill during the war. CIO comes to Trail. Slim Evans. Harvey Murphy good organiser. Murphy a "red rabble rouser". Dollar a day and got rid of bonus system. Blaylock would have gotten rid of union if he had lived. Campbell talked to CIO in Seattle. Tried to organise for CIO before he was elected to WCC. WCC met on company time to organise against Mine/Mill. WCC formed ISWU. Secretary of ISWU. TRACK 2: WCC bulletins printed by Trail Ad News. The Ad News owned by Elmer Hall. Anecdote about Hall. Campbell saved Hall's life. WCC intervened if men were fired. WCC on wage raises. Blaylock hated unions so paid good wages. WCC sets up ISWU. Jointed Mine Mill after they were certified. How he was elected to WCC. Mine Mill members on WCC. Turnover causes WCC decline. Anecdote about Blaylock and working conditions. Coal committee. Blaylock and WCC. 1917 strike. Profit sharing. WCC beginnings. Wage board. CALL NUMBER: T4101:0015 PERIOD COVERED: 1927-1945 RECORDED: Glenmerry (B.C.), 1983-08-22 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Workmen's Cooperative Committee on company wage board. Pension calculations. His wages and bonus. Satisfaction of men. Murphy tried to recruit him. Bulletins and Murphy. Elmer Hall and editorial comment. WCC and community chest. Patriotic and welfare society give money for Croatian relief. Blaylock offers company lawyers. Steelworkers organising in 1950. Billingsley remembered well. John ;McPeak took over as organiser. Meetings in Trail with Bert Herridge. Tom Uphill from Fernie. WCC lobbies for liquor law change. Uphill praises WCC. WCC lobbies for Workmen's Compensation changes. Silicosis in mines. Benevolent society payments. WCC medical committee and company medical care. Company helped with hospital maintenance. Work hours before the Depression. single men's hours. Company town. Steady work. Holidays lost during the Depression. Company store and West Kootenay Power's medical plan. [TRACK 2: blank.]

RECORDED: Nanaimo (B.C.), 1984-10-18 SUMMARY: One in a series of interviews about the history of Vancouver Island's coal mining industry and mining communities. TRACK 1: Explosion 1887; gas; Chinese; Cumberland; Dunsmuir; miner's certificate; coa;l dust; shot firing; blown out shot; ventilation; feeders; Sam Robins; gold mine explosion; fire bosses; William Griffiths; Seiriol Williams; silicosis; shotlights; gas committee; Extension explosion ;1909; wages; union; partners; relief days; Yugoslavs. TRACK 2: Timbering; Michaels; Malpass; Martell; Hindmarsh; Nanaimo Herald; newspapers; William Griffiths; Stove family; Cowie; Randall; explosion; 1887; shot firing; ethnic groups; South Wellington No. 5 mine; Archibald Dick; shotlights; coal hustlers; dip of the slope; pillars; cave-in; runners; rope rider; goat; eight hour day; Old Incline.;