SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Arthur Lee Clore : the Skeena River region, c.1910 PERIOD COVERED: 1910-1914 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: This interview begins with a long lead in of harbour sounds, misc. sounds and a bell tolling. Arthur Clore speaks about coming to the Skeena country from Ketchikan, Alaska in 1910. He talks a;bout his impressions of Prince Rupert, offers of work, the Kitselas Hotel Bar, George Kerr, Kitselas' importance, Indian battles, the Kitselas townsite c.1910, steamboats -- Foley, Wells and Stewart a;nd qualities of the local inhabitants. He describes a journey from Kitselas to Telkwa and stories of Copper City. TRACK 2: Arthur Clore continues with recollections of the trail to Telkwa, the wreck ;of the "Mount Royal", Kitselas, a Hazelton bank robbery, the Skeena River, sighting "Haley's Comet", memories of Alaska and the volcanic activity of 1913.

CALL NUMBER: T1208:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Bea Williscroft : Hazelton and Telkwa, 1909-1914 PERIOD COVERED: 1909-1914 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1962-03-21 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Beatrice "Bea" Williscroft recalls summer visits to her father (Walter Archer Williscroft) at Hazelton (1909-1912). She talks about childhood memories of Port Essington, the trip up the Skeena River, an incident at Minskinisht, the Skeena riverboats, impressions of their arrival at Hazelton (1909), residents, R.S. Sargent, childhood reminiscences, the Indian cemetery, anecdotes, the atmos;phere of the town, Cataline, an incident with H.H. Little and Hazelton stores. TRACK 2: Bea Williscroft continues speaking about Hazelton, local buildings, hotels and residents. She recalls Bill Wrat;hall -- an area photographer, sports and recreation events, Rev. Field, Mr. Loring, Wiggs O'Neill, practical jokes, roads in the Hazelton area, the Cedar Swamp, her father's responsibilities and road ;work, entertainment and recreation, Telkwa, residents in the Bulkley Valley, Rene Degville, Guy Thorp and the impact of World War I.

CALL NUMBER: T1208:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Bea Williscroft describes the Telkwa area, 1909-1917 PERIOD COVERED: 1909-1917 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1962-03-21 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Beatrice Williscroft continues with her recollections of Rene Degville, the Telkwa area prior to 1917, pack trains and teamsters and cattle drives. She discusses Burns Lake prior to the railway, Francois and Ootsa Lake, Charlie Barrett, roadhouses (20 Mile, 38 Mile, 48 Mile), Michael Shadey, Mooseskin Johnny stories, roadhouses, travelling with her father, entertainment and social life, Telkwa c.1914, Blackjack MacDonell and Hughie McLean. TRACK 2: Bea Williscroft continues with recollections about wildlife, Ernie Moran, Charlie Barrett, Barney Mulvaney, R.S. Sargent, Jim May and social gatherings.

Series consists of a certificate of incorporation, by-laws, declaration and minute book.

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Ernest and Doris Hoops : the Bulkley Valley before World War I PERIOD COVERED: 1899-1914 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1963-02-18 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Doris May Hoops talks about coming to Telkwa from Portland, Oregon in 1912 to do nursing work. She recalls her journey, the stagecoach ride, impressions of Telkwa, the residents, Dr. H.C. Wrinch of Hazelton and nursing at Greenville on the Nass River. Doris Hoops speaks about Telkwa, her early married life, social life, Aldermere and recollections of local residents. Ernest Mostyn Hoops came from Australia to Canada (1899) and was in the Boer War (1901-02). He speaks about his reasons for coming to Canada, his move to Soda Creek in 1904, went to the Hazelton area (1907) to prospect an;d later had a real estate business in Aldermere (1913-1947). He recalls local residents: Jack McNeil, Rev. Stevenson and Charlie Barrett.

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Ernest Heal : early settlement at Aldermere and Telkwa, 1904-1914 PERIOD COVERED: 1904-1961 RECORDED: Telkwa (B.C.), 1961-07-10 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Ernest Heal remembers his family (Fred Heal, father) coming from Hazelton to Telkwa in 1904 with a pack train; his mother was the first white woman at Aldermere. He talks about early settlers; in the area, Aldermere 1906, Jack McNeil, Joe Bourgon, hotels, roads and trails, roadhouses, Mooseskin Johnny, local residents and incidents, Rene Degville (?), prize fights, recreation, first impres;sions of the area and his family's decision to move to Telkwa from Victoria. The North Coast Land Company's activities in Telkwa are mentioned. TRACK 2: Mr. Heal continues with more about Jack McNeil;, Joe Bourgon, the Carl Wakefield family, the Heal homestead, the Telkwa region, pack trails, clearing the homestead, agriculture, an anecdote about the school teacher, pioneer life, supplies and economic life in the region 1904-1961.

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Francis Bell Chettleburgh : Hazelton and Telkwa regions PERIOD COVERED: 1909-1925 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1962-03-26 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Francis "Chet" Chettleburgh speaks about his trip up the Skeena to Hazelton 1909, travelling on the sternwheeler "Port Simpson" from Port Essington, impressions of Hazelton, the Rev. J. Field;, Sealyville (sp), Indian disturbances at Kispiox and Kitwancool, Hazelton residents, the Two Mile "red light district", Barney Mulvaney and George Birnes' mail route, Rev. Tomlinson and the mission at Minskinisht. He recalls Hazelton's hotels, stores, families, recreation, residents, regular visitors, Indians, social life, the Hazelton of 1911, "Cataline" and "Blackjack McDonald". TRACK 2: Francis Chettleburgh continues with recollections about Hazelton. He recalls Sarah Glassey, her "Rabbit Ranch" and her "dining room", the Hudson's Bay Company warehouse -- "Stonehouse" liquor dispensory, names of local packers, Groundhog Valley description and mines, Dick Sargent and Indian workers. He talks about his move to Telkwa, his stores, Rene Degville, Jack McNeil and his hotel, Mike Touhy, Joe Bourgon and Sarah Bourgon (nee Capewell), Charles Orchard, the feelings of brotherhood for men in the country, Eli Culbertson (sp) and a local incident.

CALL NUMBER: T3341:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Early life and career of Dan Ekman PERIOD COVERED: 1926-1957 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1977-12-15 SUMMARY: Dan Ekman discusses: his early years and family background, training and career as a newspaperman in Vancouver, working as a P.R. man for Westcoast Transmission Co., attitudes towards politics.
CALL NUMBER: T3341:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Duties and functions of executive assistant to Premier W.A.C. Bennett PERIOD COVERED: 1957-1960 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1977-12-15 SUMMARY: Dan Ekman discusses the circumstances leading up to his appointment as executive assistant to Premier W.A.C. Bennett and the duties and functions of that position.
CALL NUMBER: T3341:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Working as Executive Assistant to the Premier RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978-08-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Dan Ekman discusses aspects of his job as executive assistant to Premier W.A.C. Bennett. Comments on Bennett's personality and style. Reliance on individuals within the government and delegation of authority. Attitudes towards women. TRACK 2: Bennett's public image and how it evolved. Bill Clancy. The bond-burning ceremony. Take-over of the B.C. Electric Co. Bennett's fascination with secrecy. Relationships with cabinet colleagues.
CALL NUMBER: T3341:0004 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Social Credit politics and election campaigns in B.C. RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978-08-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Dan Ekman discusses the Sommers case, the calling of elections, the 1960 election, a recollection of the events on election night, leaving the position of executive assistant in 1961, relationship with Premier after leaving. TRACK 2: Assumption of position with Westcoast Transmission, Frank McMahon and the 1960 election, starting up his own advertising agency, the Socred government's use; of advertising during election campaigns, the 1963 Fulton challenge, running election campaigns for W.A.C. Bennett.
CALL NUMBER: T3341:0005 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): The decline of Social Credit : the 1972 election RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978-08-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Dan Ekman discusses the public image of W.A.C. Bennett, the paranoid style in B.C. politics, the Malaspina gas line story. TRACK 2: Further comments on the plan for the Malaspina gas line, Clarence Budd, the 1972 election, the question of succession to the leadership of the Social Credit Party. (End of interview).

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Gerard Hamilton Gorges : reminiscences of the Bulkley Valley, 1913 PERIOD COVERED: 1912-1914 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1962-04-12 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Gerard Hamilton Gorges begins this interview speaking about the North Coast Land Company, his journey to Telkwa from England (1912) via the Arrow Lakes, the potential town site of Hubert, the; North Coast Land Company land speculation, Telkwa, Tyhee Lake and Round Lake, land swindlers, early settlers: Jack Seely, the Carr boys and Charlie Barrett, pack trains, "Foley, Welsh and Stewart", freighting, Studebaker wagons, Coal Creek and Alvo von Alvenslaben, Mooseskin Johnny, the Bulkley Valley, Joe Bourgon, Indians, Blackjack MacDonald, "Popcorn Kate", incidents, a "gold rush" at White Sail Lake, more about Blackjack MacDonald and Jack McNeil. TRACK 2: Gerard Georges continues speaking about Jack McNeil and his "businesses" at Aldermere, prostitution, Telkwa, horse races, the Hubert ;town site vs. Smithers as a divisional railway point, Rene D'Egville, and an anecdote about the fur trade.

Magistrate's record books, July 1911 - February 1915; June 1915 - February 1925; March 1925 - May 1930 mostly in the hand of Stipendiary Magistrate, Stephen H. Hoskins. Volume 1 starts in Hazelton and includes a copy of the oath to be taken by reporters and a copy of the "affirmation of witness in Court in lieu of oath"; Volume 2 and 3 are mostly Smithers; Volume 3 contains information relating to Public Works expenditures, 1912-1913.

Travelogue. Scenery and attractions of the area accessible by the highway between Prince George and Prince Rupert. Footage includes: Prince George Airport with passengers boarding airliner; lakeside scenes; lumber mill; harvesting grain near Vanderhoof; Hudson's Bay post at Fort St. James; lake barges and a Beech 18 floatplane (registration CF-BQH) on Stuart Lake; trout fishing on Stuart Lake and Fraser Lake; Burns Lake; Babine Lake; Francois Lake; Ootsa Lake; Binta Lake; Telkwa, and nearby coal mine; Smithers; Moricetown Falls salmon run, with Indians gaffing salmon; Bulkley Canyon; Hazelton; Hagwilget Canyon; totem poles at Kispiox, Kitseguecla, and Kitwanga (plus village and burial grounds at the latter); Terrace, and its pole mill; Lakelse Lake; highway scenes; bald eagles; commercial fishing on the Skeena; Prince Rupert (cruise ship docking, unloading fish, fishing festival, homes and gardens, downtown, airport with amphibious airliner taxiing and taking off).

CALL NUMBER: T0316:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Hugh McLean : reminiscences - the Klondike (1898-1901) and the Bulkley Valley (1907-1914) RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-07-09 & 1961-07-10 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Hugh McLean begins this interview with recollections about a pack train to the Klondike, 1898, the story of an ill-fated homesteader -- Kispiox (1908), George Birnes, Mike Touhy, Barney Mulva;ney, stories about the mail delivery c.1910 and the Tomlinsons of Minskinisht. TRACK 2: Hugh McLean speaks about coming to B.C. (1896), smelter work at Trail, railway and telegraph work, prospecting,; the Klondike (1898), the journey to the Klondike via the Stikine, the ice ladder at Skagway, pack outfit over White Pass, dog sleigh freighting (1898-1901), mining at Atlin, prospecting at Big Bend and Fort McPherson, and Telkwa (1912). He continues with recollections about the Yukon Telegraph Company line, pioneers in the Telkwa area: Archie and Neal McInnes, Bill and Bob Clark, the telegraph l;ine along the Skeena, Smithers, Hubert, the Hanson Tie and Timber Company, Hazelton, Cataline described, Gabe LaCroix, French Canadians, Ed LeBlaux and Jack McNeil.

CALL NUMBER: T0316:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Hugh McLean : the storyteller I RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-07-09 & 1961-07-10 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Hugh McLean relates a story about the movie "Ben Hur" with Len Broughton, one of the chariot drivers and a local character. TRACK 2: Hugh McLean tells anecdotes to a group of children: the cattle and salt in 1931, Indian women and the plank bridge, a small boy and his grandmother, the sage hen -- 1894, the bear story, a story about an trapper at Takla Lake -- Daniel Teegee, the wreck of the "Distributor" and a story about stopping there on a mail run.

CALL NUMBER: T0316:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Hugh McLean : the storyteller II RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-07-09 & 1961-07-10 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Hugh McLean continues the story about an incident along the mail run, a story about wolf dogs at Aklavik on the mouth of the McKenzie River, the police patrol when Hugh McLean was ill during ;the flu of 1918, his collie pup, and a story of Wiggs O'Neill -- "Klootch and Clutch" about a spare boat clutch at Port Simpson. TRACK 2: Hugh McLean continues with stories told to a group of children, "Old Fort Isaac", the bear cub story, the bank robbery at Hazelton (1913) and tall tales: a trapper at Loon Lake, a tabby cat and a Joe Hanson tale. Names of the children in the group: Robin Hood,; Joan Phillips, Alan Phillips, Barbara Small, Pat Mahood, Ann Troback [sp], Tom Stall [sp], Art Hale [sp], Paul Dail [sp], Franklin Hood and Kelda Giddins.

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Jessie Chalmers McInnes : the Bulkley Valley, 1906-46 PERIOD COVERED: 1906-1946 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961? SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Jessie Chalmers McInnes, born Jessie Aiken, wife of Archie McInnes recalls going into the Bulkley Valley from Victoria (1906). She remembers the trip and impressions along the route from Port; Essington: Mosquito Flats, Glentana and Moricetown. She speaks about her life on the homestead (Pioneer Ranch 1906-1946), the stop-over of the pack trains, neighbours, Rev. R.G. McKay, Rev. Stephenson, wild hay meadows, clearing the homestead, her home, farming, Pleasant Valley, Houston, the Dutch settlers, schooling, Telkwa, the annual "Barbecue", local residents, social events, Hubert, ranches ;and pack trains.

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Joseph Coyle : Aldermere, 1906 PERIOD COVERED: 1905-1910 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-12-02 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Joseph Coyle discusses coming from New Jersey to Juneau, Alaska and then to the Skeena (1906) looking for a location for a newspaper business. He describes arriving in Hazelton, meeting John Dorsey, printing the first paper in the Bulkley Valley, local residents, Aldermere, printing land advertisements, bringing in newsprint by pack train, Cataline, the town of Aldermere and residents, Telkwa, McNeil's Hotel and Lem Broughton. [TRACK 2: blank.]

SUMMARY: "In "Bulkley Valley", #17 in the series, Mr. Gerry Gorges talks about real estate speculation in the Bulkley Valley before the coming of the Grand Trunk Pacific, and about the birth of the town of Smithers.

SUMMARY: "Telkwa People", #19 in the series, consists of recollections about Jack McNeill and Rene D'Egville, two of the characters who lived in and around Telkwa before the First World War.

This series consists of wildfire mapping records including fire atlas maps and fire reports from the Prince Rupert Forest District. The records date from 1921-1980. Collectively these records provide a comprehensive image of the amount and extent of forest fires in the area.

The Prince Rupert Forest District was divided into smaller Ranger Districts. These Ranger Districts changed over the years, but included: Burns Lake, Hazleton, Terrace, Prince Rupert, Kitwanga, Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), Ocean Falls, Francois Lake, Smithers, Telkwa, Houston, Pendleton Bay, Kitimat, Lower Post, Topley, Bella Coola, Southbank, Telegraph Creek and Atlin.

Annual fire reports are oversized handwritten tables that provide detailed information on individual fires for the years 1921-1967. The tables list: name of the fire; name of officer in charge; date; district fire number; fire origin; cost of fighting and source of funds; area burned; total area of damage done; amount of merchantable and unmerchantable timber burned; amount of range land burned; amount of property or other damage caused; and the cause of the fire. Possible causes include lightening, recreational activities, railroad clearing, smokers, brush or range burning, construction, industrial activities, incendiaries, miscellaneous known causes and unknown causes. The pages are arranged by year, with one page used per Ranger District. Each year includes a summary sheet with the totals for all Ranger Districts.

Fire atlas maps and overlays show the location and type of fires, as well as the extent of some burned areas. The majority of the maps are forest cover maps which have been annotated or had overlays added with this additional information. Many of the maps have been cut to fit in the bound volume they were originally stored in. This can make it difficult to determine the precise year the maps were created and annotated.

The series also includes one scrapbook of newspaper clippings related to forest fires, fire protection and firefighting for the years 1988-1991. This item was created by the successor of the Prince Rupert Forest District, the Prince Rupert Forest Region.

Ministries responsible for the creation of this series, and their dates of the responsibility, are:
Dept. of Lands (1908-1945)
Dept. of Lands and Forests (1945-1962)
Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources (1962-1975)
Dept. of Forests 1975-1976
Ministry of Forests 1976-1986
Ministry of Forests and Lands 1986-1988
Ministry of Forests 1988-2005

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-07-07 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Richard Carroll, known as Dick, describes arriving into the [Nechako?] area from Vancouver in 1908 on his way to Alaska; he stopped to work on the Grand Trunk Railway at the head of navigation on the Skeena River. He describes people he met at the time, such as prospector Eli Carpenter, who was on his way to a gold rush; his eventual arrival in Burns Lake via the Telegraph Trail in 1909 on his way to Fort George, which he describes as the most remote part of BC at the time. Mr. Carrol outlines the land he staked; working on the railroad; his work as a mail carrier from Telkwa to Williams Lake, including using pack horses for transportation in summer and sleighs in the winter; prices of various goods in Burns Lake at the time; various farmers and goods they sold in the area; the telegraph office in Burns Lake as means of communicating with the Yukon during the gold rush; Mrs. Bessie Wallace as the first white woman to come to Burns Lake in 1909; produce which came from Ashcroft through Quesnel; more on telegraph posts; a story about Barney Mulvaney's wedding and a description of his character; and a description of an Indian raid at Kispiox. TRACK 2: Mr. Carroll describes an encounter with Chinese people; more on George and Bessie Wallace; ranching; and a trip with an explorer to Fort McLeod.

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): French Canadians in Terrace, B.C. : a faller's experiences PERIOD COVERED: 1946-1977 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1977-07-07 SUMMARY: Robert J. Gagnon (faller) was born in Rimouski, Quebec on December 4, 1920. Came to B.C. in 1946. Worked in the woods in Houston. Skidding with horse in Telkwa. In 1953 sawmilling in Smithers, Driftwood Camp. Spring of 1954 came to Terrace, and an earlier visit to Terrace by car during the winter of 1949. Learning English. Working on power line between Kemano and Kitimat in 1952, wages and working conditions. Falling on contract for Columbia Cellulose, "piece work" basis in the North Kalum area before Nass Camp opened up. Mishaps. Equipment used in the woods. Changing to "day rate" for falling. Upkeep of equipment, weather conditions. Attitude. Description of supervisory job (1977). Arrival of wife, living conditions at Blue Gables. Adjustment to Terrace. Purchase on new home on Scott Street (1961).

CALL NUMBER: T1202:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Sarah Bourgon : a working woman on the B.C. frontier, 1913-1914 PERIOD COVERED: 1900-1914 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-07-10 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Sarah Capewell Bourgon, "Nan" describes her adventures as an immigrant to British Columbia in 1912 and her work as a waitress in Vancouver, Prince Rupert and Aldermere in 1913 and 1914. Work as a dressmaker for an upper-class family in England. Reasons for emigrating to B.C. Experiences as a waitress in Vancouver, and the effects of the Depression of 1913. Work as a waitress at the GTP H;otel in Prince Rupert and the circumstances leading to employment at McNeill's Hotel in Aldermere. The journey to Aldermere, 1913. TRACK 2: Continuation of the story of the journey to Aldermere, 1913. First impressions of Jack McNeil and his hotel (The Telkwa) at Aldermere. Work at McNeil's Hotel: Florence, Judge Thorp, Joe Bourgon, Lem Broughton.

CALL NUMBER: T1202:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Sarah Bourgon : life in Aldermere, Telkwa and Hubert, B.C., 1913-1915 PERIOD COVERED: 1913-1915 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-07-10 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Sarah Bourgon describes her adventures as a waitress and maid at McNeil's Hotel in Aldermere in 1914, and her first experiences farming at Hubert, 1915. Town gossips at Aldermere. Jack McNeil;'s character: the departure of Florence, his attitude toward Sarah, and Joe's proposal of marriage. The shivaree. The Party at Black Jack McDonell's Hotel. TRACK 2: Joe Bourgon puts the stories right;. Marriage to Joe Bourgon. Experiences as a farmer's wife at Hubert, 1915. The "Indian Act". Jack McNeil's background. Early settlers around Telkwa: Joe Bourgon, Ernie Morin, the Croteaus, the Wakefields.

CALL NUMBER: T1202:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Sarah Bourgon : life in Telkwa and Hubert, B.C., 1914-1920 PERIOD COVERED: 1914-1920 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-07-10 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Sarah Bourgon describes her adventures as a waitress and maid at McNeil's Hotel at Aldermere in 1914 and life on a farm at Hubert, 1915-1920. McNeil's store at Telkwa. More comments on McNei;l's character: his women, his death, his appearance, his love of dancing. The appearance of Smithers in 1914. More about the journey to Aldermere. TRACK 2: Jack McNeil as a businessman and organizer; of the Telkwa Barbecue; his kindness to old-timers. The hardships of early farmers in the region. Joe Bourgon as handyman. The first sawmill in the region. Judge Thorp.

CALL NUMBER: T1202:0004 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Sarah Bourgon : first Christmas party in the Bulkley Valley, 1915 ; the cow business PERIOD COVERED: 1915-1930 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-07-10 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Sarah Bourgon describes her life as a farmer's wife in the Bulkley 1915-30. The first Christmas party in the Bulkley Valley, 1915. The Round Lake farming community and its old-timers' picnics;. More details about the first Christmas party. The cow business in Telkwa in the 1920's. TRACK 2: Continuation of the story of the cow business.

The sub-series consists of oral history interviews about the history of the Bulkley, Nass, and Skeena regions, as well as the Kitimat area (of the Central Coast region) and Porcher Island (in the Central Coast Islands). As a set, the interviews cover the period from pre-contact to 1972, although the focus in the settlement era prior to the First World War. The communities discussed include: Aiyansh, Aldermere, Greenville, Hazelton, Kispiox, Kitimat, Kitselas, Metlakatla, Minskinisht, Oona River, Port Essington, Prince Rupert, Telkwa, and Terrace