Documentary. Union officers (John Shibley, Heinz Korn, Al Staley, Art Kilgore) talk about Local 1598 and the Carpenters and Joiners Union . Union "old timers" (John Neilson, Jack Perrin, Reg Babbin) reminisce. The union museum at 2750 Quadra Street, Victoria.

RECORDED: Cumberland (B.C.), 1979-08-14 SUMMARY: One in a series of interviews about the history of Vancouver Island's coal mining industry and mining communities. Arriving in Canada; timberman's helper; wages; Cumberland explosions; Orientals; boarding houses; entertainment; Blacks; ethnic; union; medical; pubs; company train; company houses.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-08-20 SUMMARY: Al Parkin discusses the history of trade unions in the B.C. forest industry, and particularly the role of the so-called "loggers' navy" in union organization on the B.C. coast in the 1930s and 1940s.;

RECORDED: Nanaimo (B.C.), 1979-03-28 SUMMARY: One in a series of interviews about the history of Vancouver Island's coal mining industry and mining communities. Stores; close of mines; beer; death of a miner; gas; 1887 explosion; dentistry; Finns; three babies; mine rescue teams; black lung; W.C.B.; amputations; life span; lodges; hospital Chinese; attitude toward amputation; hatchet man; pneumonia; burn cases; maggots and leeches; recreation; soccer; lacrosse.;

RECORDED: [location unknown], [1976?] SUMMARY: [No content summary available for this interview.];

RECORDED: Nanaimo (B.C.), 1979-05-24 SUMMARY: One in a series of interviews about the history of Vancouver Island's coal mining industry and mining communities. First impressions; Granby; air shafts; strike; WWI; South Wellington flood; Reserve; Senini; Extension mine; Chinese; 1883 explosion No 1; mine smells; mules; into mine; lamps sulphur; Fiddicks; Morden; fun; the Depression; Cumberland; beer; bosses; Lewis dies.

RECORDED: Nanaimo (B.C.), 1979-06-20 SUMMARY: One in a series of interviews about the history of Vancouver Island's coal mining industry and mining communities. Cape Breton; the Depression; flu; to Nanaimo; uses for coal; church; into mine; washers; living conditions; wages; blow out; union; animals; No. 1 explosion; transportation; rope rider; coal left; Chinese; powder works; won't go back; Morden; inside mine; beer; Granby.;

CALL NUMBER: T4101:0017 PERIOD COVERED: 1890s-1975 RECORDED: Warfield (B.C.), 1983-08-17 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Sit down strike in 1938. Joins Mine/Mill. Union history. Steel raid of 1950. Steel blitz. Chairman of grievance committee. Bargaining committee. Arbitration with company over contract. Compulsory check off gained. Steel's opposition to compulsory check off. Joins LPP and CP. MacLean's Pierre Berton story. Berton friend of Ed Benson. Story false. Ran in election as CP candidate in 1950's. LP philosophy. LPP members in Trail. LPP on executive. CCF and union split. Bert Herridge and raid. Canadian autonomy in Mine/Mill. Red baiting in unions. Warrington stopped at border crossing. Steel's complicity and border stopping. How border crossing worked. TRACK 2: Paul Robeson at Peace Arch. Mine/Mill recordings of concerts. Mine/Mill hall opening. Pete Seeger plays. Trail labour centre Building Co. Old Mine/Mill members resist turnover of building. Crown owns building. Tries to form society. Community split over raid. LPP members army. Mine/Mill and compensation. Doctors were company oriented. Dr. Jim Endicott good to union. Compensation system explained. Back injuries. Quit union because of health problems. Morning quit because of merger. Al Reid goes to work for the compensation board. Steel merger vote. Steel and local elections. Warrington at Steel conventions. Autonomy at Steel conventions. Trail resolution on anti-communism. Democracy in Mine/Mill and Steel. Mine/Mill meetings explained. CALL NUMBER: T4101:0017 RECORDED: Warfield (B.C.), 1983-08-17 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Murphy Days explained. 12 hour shifts. Anecdote about Murphy and Mahoney. Anecdote about Al King and arbitration. Story about Newton's Hole. Anecdote about discipline on the hill. Belenger is fired . Strike not raised. Bluebell strike. Murphy hated wildcats. Wildcat during raid. Three guys fired. [TRACK 2: blank.] CALL NUMBER: T4101:0018 PERIOD COVERED: 1945-1975 RECORDED: Warfield (B.C.), 1983-08-17 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Involving workers in outside issues. Columbia River treaty. Bill Muir, editor of Commentator, hired to study treaty. Shop stewards demonstrate against E. Davey Fulton signing treaty. Anecdote about E. Davey Fulton and Seaforth Highlanders. Community organising. History of Mine/Mill. 1917 strike. Democracy and merger. 1972 strike. 1974 bargaining. Kever quits. 1973 Cairnaw raid. Cairnaw stance. Spirit of internationalism. Independence within Steel. Warrington retires. Getting hired. Harvey Murphy fights for pensions. Company pension and vesting rights. Supplementary benefit fund. Cominco. Union benefit fund. Combined pension. Harvey Murphy and pensions. CPP, OAS. Murphy remembered. Holidays bargained for. Murphy Days explained. [TRACK 2: blank.]

RECORDED: [location unknown], [early 1979] SUMMARY: One in a series of interviews about the history of Vancouver Island's coal mining industry and mining communities. Origins; No. 1 cage; protection cage; No. 8 cage, Cumberland; Northfield cage; No. 8 Cumberland; school; running winch; Granby; drilling; blowouts; Longwall; shovels; stall work; WWII; fire boss ticket; shooting; explosions; deaths; Draeger; strikes; housing; hotels; the Chinese; recreation.

CALL NUMBER: T0089:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Alex Fergusson : living on the left - a maritimer in B.C. RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1972-07-11 SUMMARY: Alex Fergusson was born in 1903, and lived in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. He recalls life in Nova Scotia and the Halifax Explosion of 1917. Life in Vancouver. Discusses early jobs and early union associations. Describes life of a migratory worker in the prairies, B.C., and the U.S. Pacific northwest during the early 1920s. Mentions the One Big Union and the Industrial Workers of the World and their activities at the time. CALL NUMBER: T0089:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Alex Fergusson : living on the left - the Wobblies PERIOD COVERED: 1920-1930s RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1972-07-13 SUMMARY: Alex Fergusson discusses his odd jobs on the west coast from B.C. to California. The spread of the Industrial Workers of the World among migratory workers. The tactics used to organize and the resistance put up by the employers. Factions in the movement, the Communist influence and the split in the I.W.W. Conditions and pay on the job and improvements due to Union activity. Primarily concerning 1920-1925, but some talk of the 1930s. CALL NUMBER: T0089:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Alex Fergusson : living on the left - adjusting to disability PERIOD COVERED: 1920s-1930s RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1972-07-18 SUMMARY: Alex Fergusson discusses the changes in his life from a 1924 or 1925 shingle mill accident in which he lost an arm. Difficulty in changing, return to school and job as an executive for the Industrial Workers of the World Union. Return to mill work, the change from physical labour to sales work. Labour and socialist activities in the 1920s and 1930s. CALL NUMBER: T0089:0004 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Alex Fergusson : living on the left - the Depression and after RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1972-07-18 SUMMARY: Alex Fergusson continues recounting activities in the 1930s including the early years of the C.C.F. Activities of the Communists. C.C.F. Quebec convention regarding conscription and the polarity in the C.C.F. Communist philosophy, reasons for participating in a socialist movement.

RECORDED: [location unknown], [1975] SUMMARY: [No content summary available for this interview.];

RECORDED: Nanaimo (B.C.), 1979-06-12 SUMMARY: One in a series of interviews about the history of Vancouver Island's coal mining industry and mining communities. Five Acres; death; class; sounds; origins; Canadian Collieries farm; danger; boy working; temperatures; hikes; tipple; lamps; recreation; Reserve; WWII; transportation; winch hand; pubs; union; No. 10; smell; blacklist; rope rider; sulphur burns.

RECORDED: Nanaimo (B.C.), 1979-06-18 SUMMARY: One in a series of interviews about the history of Vancouver Island's coal mining industry and mining communities. Into mine; soccer; origins; protection cage; mules; wages; blasting; water in No. 1; mining; the Depression; strike.

RECORDED: Nanaimo (B.C.), [1979 summer] SUMMARY: One in a series of interviews about the history of Vancouver Island's coal mining industry and mining communities. Log house; father hurt; winter and summer employment; blacksmith; coal delivery; the Chinese; horses; beer; wages; reserve mine; listening to shots; liked mines; lights go out; mine animals; cage; union organizing; sulphur; strike; Indians; May 24.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-05-15 SUMMARY: [No content summary available for this interview.];

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Reminiscences RECORDED: West Vancouver (B.C.), 1976-04-22 SUMMARY: Born in England; came to Vancouver in 1920; early work; logging camps; on the prairies; joined R. Darlington Co. as a labourer; became tile setter in 1925; in 1926 was secretary of the union, and in 1931, bought into the company; by 1943 he had been able to take over the company; description of how he developed the business; instituted a medical care plan among his employees; first under Blue Cross, the MSA; plan covered doctors and hospital care; by 1944-45 the company was paying the whole premium 4 or 5 dollars a month for a family. Had a unique relationship with his employees, they were good and loyal, and if they got a pay increase, they would try to increase production so the cost to the consumer wasn't increased. Two of them worked for him from 1926 to 1963-64. There were never any major injuries among employees, despite hazardous work of tile laying; done on scaffolding much of the time; company did tile work on many large buildings; inside and outside of the post office, Fairmont Building; BC Hydro building; reasons for success; they complied with WCB regulations; men themselves were careful; regulations were communicated to each employee; two men worked together on the scaffolding and checked each other; he had been 20 and 50 men working for him; depending on the job; his own medical history; operation on his hand; plastic surgery; early days; British army in Afghanistan; having khud races up and down the foothills of the Himalayas; feelings about retirement lodges; his own travels.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-03-12 SUMMARY: [No content summary available for this interview.];

CALL NUMBER: T1858:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Allen H. De Wolf : logger and engineer (part 1) PERIOD COVERED: 1887-1935 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1958-01-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Born in 1887 in Minnesota. Started timber cruising with his father about 1900. Old cruising methods. Becomes B.C. Land Surveyor in 1913. Worked as logging superintendent near Yahk, 1918-19. Building flumes. Became mill superintendent at Merritt. Building and operating a logging railroad in Nicola area. TRACK 2: More anecdotes about logging railroads. Saw demonstration of early crawler tractors, 1920. Economic conditions in the sawmill business. Business slump of 1920s. Economic problems of the town of Merritt.; CALL NUMBER: T1858:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Allen H. De Wolf : logger and engineer (part 2) PERIOD COVERED: 1900-1958 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1958-01-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Financial problems of the forest industry and the town of Merritt, 1930s. Comments on the costs of transporting logs by various methods. De Wolf becomes an engineering contractor. Anecdote about raising money during the Depression. De Wolf's involvement in the eastern forest industry. More on business and finance. Worked for A.S. Nicholson. De Wolf's early experiences in the woods in Minnesota after 1900. Woods working conditions. Logging camp conditions. TRACK 2: Anecdotes about the forest industry in the East Kootenays, ca. 1910. Union activities, especially IWW in the East Kootenays, 1920s. Mills in the East Kootenays, 1910.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1975-04 SUMMARY: TRACK 1 & 2: Alvin Parkin recalls people, places and events in Campbell River and area, ca. 1920-1947. Includes discussion of Campbell River Lodge; surveying and logging work; the IWA and other unions; and strikes; the Sayward Fire of 1938; Captain John Park of the Union Steamships; and the communities of Quathiaski Cove, Alert Bay, Sointula, Port Hardy, and Shushartie Bay.;

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1975-12-18 SUMMARY: Interview with Andrew Waldie about Ginger Goodwin.;

RECORDED: Nanaimo (B.C.), [early 1979] SUMMARY: One in a series of interviews about the history of Vancouver Island's coal mining industry and mining communities. Mr. Adam discusses job security.;

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1979-07-13 SUMMARY: One in a series of interviews about the history of Vancouver Island's coal mining industry and mining communities. Reasons for coming; trip; adjustments; mother; strike; home on Nicol Street; work for girls; Chinatown; helping father; red light district; dancing; strike; marriage; beer parlours; Indians; dogs.

RECORDED: Lake Cowichan (B.C.), 1979-12-08 SUMMARY: One in a series of interviews about the history of Vancouver Island's coal mining industry and mining communities. Family; strike; co-op; houses; companies; family history; Extension; Morden; South Wellington; widows; house burns; education; food; community feeling; explosion No. 1; Extension explosion; Southfield flood; mine conditions; scabs; unions; WeeToo.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1974-09-10 SUMMARY: Born in Norway in 1908; came to Canada in 1927; worked at Great Central Lake for Bloedel, Stewart and Welch; logging camp life; conditions during the Depression; union organisation during the 1930s; strike of 1934; worked for several companies on Vancouver Island; accidents in the woods; started with BCFP in 1946; worked in several coastal camps as foreman and later superintendent; in several BCFP camps on Vancouver Island and the lower coast; problems faced by a logging superintendent in the 1940s and 1950s; changes in logging methods.

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Arne Johnson RECORDED: Sointula (B.C.), 1972-05-04 SUMMARY: Arne Johnson was born in Norway in 1893, and immigrated to Canada in the early twentieth century. He worked as a logger on the B.C. coast until he became a full time secretary for Lumber Workers Industrial Union in 1929. He helped to keep the union alive until it joined the I.W.A. in 1936. Organized loggers on the B.C. coast and led the first big logger strike in B.C. in 1934.

CALL NUMBER: T0542:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Production Superintendent for Canadian Forest Products PERIOD COVERED: 1930-1975 RECORDED: Beaver Cove (B.C.), 1974-07-29 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Art Newman discusses: techniques and skills in hand falling, 1930; predominance of Scandinavians in falling, 1930s; importance of Scandinavians in organizing the IWA; responsibility of the bull buckers in setting prices and contract rates, 1930-1964; the process of setting contract rates and production priorities; becomes a bull bucker, 1946. Talks about problems of the bull bucker: quality, accident prevention, costs and production. Dealing with men. Qualities of a good faller. Differences in falling small and large timber. The faller's "mistake book". Type and frequency of accidents. Coming to Nimpkish, 1946. Accepting responsibilities in the logging industry. The making of a supervisor. TRACK 2: Art Newman discusses: his move to Woss camp, 1946; logging sites surrounding Woss camp 1946-47; life in Nimpkish camp, 1946-60; getting assistance to the camps in emergencies; family life in Nimpkish; recreation and community activities; problems with alcohol; logging methods during late 1940s; sizes of settings, 1940-70s; transition from hand falling to power saw falling, 1935-50; changes in amounts of timber cut per man per day, 1930-75. Talks about his acquisition of logging knowledge. CALL NUMBER: T0542:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Production Superintendent for Canadian Forest Products PERIOD COVERED: 1930-1974 RECORDED: Beaver Cove (B.C.), 1974-07-29 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Reasons for changeover to railway/truck logging from strictly railway logging. Description of Russell Mills. Membership in the IWA, 1942-46. Changes in the IWA union, 1946-74. Communist influence of IWA, 1945-50. [TRACK 2: blank.; end of interview.]

CALL NUMBER: T0065:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Arthur Coutu RECORDED: New Westminster (B.C.), 1972-05-09 SUMMARY: Arthur Coutu was born in 1893 in Manitoba. He farmed in St. Laurent, Manitoba, and describes working conditions. He moved to Maillardville in 1910, and worked at Fraser Mills. Arthur gives a detailed description of jobs (especially as crane operator), of working conditions, wages, bosses, etc., and of early Maillardville, primarily buildings and streets.

CALL NUMBER: T0065:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Arthur Coutu RECORDED: New Westminster (B.C.), 1972-05-09 SUMMARY: Arthur Coutu discusses Fraser Mills, wages, union (the beginning of the I.W.A.), first strike at Fraser Mills in 1931, the attitudes of the millworkers toward the strike, and the condition of Oriental workers. Arthur gives his own personal attitudes towards work, the union, and Maillardville.

CALL NUMBER: T0030:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Arthur Laverdure PERIOD COVERED: 1909-1930 RECORDED: Coquitlam (B.C.), 1972-04-20 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Arthur Laverdure was born in 1900 and came to B.C. in 1909, first contingent. Descriptions of train trip from the east to British Columbia and of early Maillardville. Millworker for Fraser Mills, problems, wages, etc. Description of housing provided by Fraser Mills for workers. Religious education and schooling. TRACK 2: Ethnic groups in Maillardville and working at Fraser Mills. Description of social life in Maillardville. The observance of religious holidays in the Roman Catholic Church. Language problems.

CALL NUMBER: T0030:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Arthur Laverdure RECORDED: Coquitlam (B.C.), 1972-04-25 SUMMARY: Arthur Laverdure discusses Maillardville, WWI, work at mills and as a truck driver, the Depression, the head of unemployed association, relief, attitudes towards WWII, and child raising.

CALL NUMBER: T0030:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Arthur Laverdure RECORDED: Coquitlam (B.C.), 1972-04-25 SUMMARY: Arthur Laverdure discusses Fraser Mills: wages, work, safety, compensation, unions, Chinese, blacklisting. Other jobs outside Fraser Mills including threshing on the prairies, work at a box factory (B.C. Manufacturing), and the Depression.

CALL NUMBER: T0030:0004 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Arthur Laverdure RECORDED: Coquitlam (B.C.), 1972-04-25 SUMMARY: Arthur Laverdure discusses different nationalities in Fraser Mills, employers and employees, differences made between the races, the strike of 1931, food supply, attitudes toward religion, unions, and his personal philosophy on life.

CALL NUMBER: T0030:0005 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Arthur Laverdure RECORDED: Coquitlam (B.C.), 1972-07-21 SUMMARY: Interviewed in French, Arthur Laverdure discusses early days in Maillardville, the arrival of the "Columbiens", and the development of Maillardville. The train trip from Montreal to Fraser Mills. The mill at Fraser Mills in 1909. Problems encountered on arrival in B.C. Building a house in Maillardville.

CALL NUMBER: T0030:0006 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Arthur Laverdure RECORDED: Coquitlam (B.C.), 1972-07-21 SUMMARY: Interviewed in French, Arthur Laverdure discusses early days in Maillardville and the development of Maillardville. The building of the house by his father. Stidies. The first church. Religious holidays. Recreation and amusements. Remedies and superstitions.

CALL NUMBER: T4133:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1984-03-28 & 30 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Birth at Peguis Reserve, Manitoba; early memories of Swampy Cree people at Peguis Reserve; memories of father, Reverend A.W. [Amos William] Mayse; father's tales of the Boer War; fraternizing with the enemy; father emigrated to Canada; worked as a carpenter, became minister; father was in WWI; war wounds; was in Boer prison camp; earlier release by Jan Smuts; YMCA rep in WWI; back to Winnipeg; refused commission in Black and Tans; rural ministry in Manitoba; took salary partly in trade and had first pick of charity clothes; Mr. Mayse hated school; his father was self-taught and had a good library; read everything, including religious material; moved to British Columbia. [TRACK 2: blank.]

CALL NUMBER: T4133:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1984-03-28 & 30 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Living in [Port] Hammond BC; first work experience; father's church in Nanaimo; primitive conditions in the coal mines; clothing and equipment of miners; many beer parlours in Nanaimo; father's popularity; favorite fishing spots; anecdote of hazardous fishing trip; Turner rowboats prized; commercial fishing; early commercial fishing methods and boats; memories of Sointula fishermen; Sointula pukka fighting; Nanaimo miners fished for trout, not salmon; early trout fishing equipment; social consciousness; father never was a union miner; lied to get into army; South Africa; Reverend Mayse went underground in Nanaimo mine accidents; panic in town; miners invited Reverend Mayse underground, managers didn't argue; dynamite misadventure. TRACK 2: Continuation of dynamite misadventure with Rev. Mayse; vegetable garden; powder bosses; Reverend Mayse destroyed cars; pit ponies on islands; Italian miners; soccer important in Nanaimo; library; Millstream Park; rugby versus soccer; holidays with father; Chinese persecuted in Nanaimo; Chinese accused of taking jobs; few Chinese women or children; fight between Chinese and Haida boys; Chinese cooks; idyllic but racist town; Mr. Mayse and friends made a water cannon to frighten Chinese; backfire; collecting cascara bark for money; cruel pranks; fights with air guns and crossbows made from umbrellas; good shot with slingshot; gangs racially mixed; miners lived in southern Nanaimo; some of the cottages still there [as of 1984].

CALL NUMBER: T4133:0003 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1984-03-28 & 30 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Nanaimo childhood; Guy Fawkes day was celebrated as Bonfire night; Hallowe'en destructive; Nanaimo's tamale wagon; miners' children; fishing and writing at Cowichan Bay; Reverend Mayse sided with the workers; holidays at Cowichan Bay; acquiring a dugout canoe; shaman procured canoe by threats; Indian fishing methods; most gear was cedar; old style Cowichan sweaters described; Padre Cook of Cowichan; Queen Victoria medal; John Page and the medal; shaman had grape arbor and soul box; healing and hurting with soul box; rite of boys purification among Cowichans; Wolf Song was stolen from the Haida after the Battle of Sansum Narrows circa 1820 to 1840. Haida blamed for other raids; Haida slaughters and weapons used. Reverend Mayse left Mr. Mayse to his own way on holidays. TRACK 2: 38; pound salmon won prize; Bruce McKelvie; first sale of fiction; principal angry but kept on; Oyster River with Reverend Mayse; memories of old-timer James McIvor; washed ashore from sloop; McIvor ran cattle; threatened loggers; tea with McIvor; McIvor's customs; McIvor angry when offered help; McIvor's nephew visited briefly; tried to buy wife; McIvor fishing with haywire; hated cities; died in Comox in 1940's. Walter Woodiss, Oyster River old-timer, storyteller; tall tale of salmon; Woodiss's feud with a black bear and accidental killing of same; Woodiss's Inn; Percy Elsie "mayor of Oyster River"; fried chicken known as fried seagull; ghost at Comox; WWII airman at Comox rode his bicycle through "Dancing Annie".

CALL NUMBER: T4133:0004 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1984-03-28 & 30 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Indian rancherees; shaman Cultus Tommy; Chinook trade jargon terms; Padre Cook well loved; friend at Cumberland; stories of Ginger Goodwin; Cumberland memories of Ginger Goodwin and hostility to trial and government; Dominion police were hated, man hunters; no shame in evading the draft; met Cougar (Cecil) Smith; Mr. Mayse now lives in Cougar Smith's house; Cougar Smith's peculiarities; Roderick Haig-Brown, great Canadian writer; friendship with Haig-Brown; dam on the Campbell River broke his heart; last meeting with Haig-Brown; last impressions; better known outside Canada; Haig-Brown a fine and pioneering fisherman; fished steelhead. Mr. Mayse disliked high school; paid for clothing with poetry prize won at UBC three years in a row. TRACK 2: Mr. Mayse paid UBC tuition by logging in the summer under a false name; BC loggers and equipment; railroad logging; unions; woods accidents; logged Upper Vancouver Island; logging camp cooks; anecdote of 'foul feeder'; fight between logger and foul feeder; logging camp cook; flunkies, bed makers, logging camp pump tenders; eccentric and proud train men; high riggers; Harold Larson would post on a spar; woods near-misses; spark catchers jobs; bunkhouse moving accident; Paddy the straw boss; Paddy nearly caught in a blast; lemon extract mad man incident; bringing out man lost in the woods; gone mad, tried to escape his friends; wild Great Dane dogs abandoned in woods; harassed spark catchers; Mayse had to shoot one.

CALL NUMBER: T4133:0005 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1984-03-28 & 30 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Great Danes hunted in Pike's Peak area; shot one; partner Paddy Gorman; Paddy attacked by a cougar while snoozing; scraps of loggers songs; never wrote them down, always regretted it; logging; company owners were remote; unions starting camps; decision logging versus writing; went to the Vancouver Province; space writing for Province; offered staff job; clannish and proud reporters; story of ascent of Mount Waddington; two expeditions at once; Mr. Mayse carried homing pigeons in a basket to file the story; rough country; beauty and tragedy of the pigeons; walking out to tidewater hungry; a ghost story at Leefall Point, Mount Waddington, where a climber had fallen to his death. TRACK 2: Worked at the Vancouver Province as Torchy Anderson's junior man; they covered a huge forest fire that threatened Campbell River and Courtenay on Vancouver Island [Sayward fire, 1938]; Torchy was Mr. Mayse's mentor and friend; longshoremen riots; Torchy was fearless; Torchy squealed when angry; his grandfather saw a Sasquatch; the Rum Tum Club and the Sonofabitch Club; creating a story on injured trapper at Mission. Mr. Mayse wrote police constable's report while drunk; cop demoted; Torchy and his wife Marion; moved to Saltspring Island; memories of Province newspaper women in 1930's Vancouver; wild party on Grouse Mountain; Christmas cheer and story of upside down reindeer; camps for single unemployed men; joining the American Newspaper Guild; had BC union card number 3; union's failure; left holding the bag; not fired but put behind the eight ball; refused marrying raise.

CALL NUMBER: T4133:0006 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1984-03-28 & 30 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Mayse quit the Vancouver Province and joined the Vancouver Sun. The Sun was tougher and wilder; front page exclusives as revenge; union succeeded later; hostility to union. Mr. Mayse drafted and discharged for TB scars; army lost files; returned to the Sun as military writer; Mr. Gallagher, an alleged spy; moved to Toronto with no job, $100, a wife and a dog. Selective service twits said there were no jobs; walked into a job at Maclean's. Toronto run of luck; sold short stories to the Saturday Evening Post; break fiction editor of Maclean's; a few good Canadian writers; editor bought fiction; Calvinist, liked gloomy tales, had to trick him; Canadian writers were "cry-babies"; Americans were pros. TRACK 2: Canadian writers resented criticism; Mayse emulated American writers; today's market poor for short stories; in the 1940s and 1950s the stories were not literary but a good product; wrote serials for Saturday Evening Post; later published as novels; approached by an agent; returned to the coast; end of fiction markets; never seen as a serious writer; writing is lonely work; Jack Scott criticized Mr. Mayse's success in the U.S.; considered a move to the U.S.; writer's; work should speak for itself; but book tours are necessary; dislikes writer's grants except for poets; many writers are poseurs; major literary figures in Canada; dislikes commercial versus literary distinction; Mr. Mayse now writes a newspaper column; wrote for "The Beachcombers"; column is a good platform; a lucky and happy man; importance of luck.

RECORDED: Stories Beach (B.C.), 1989-01-12 SUMMARY: In an oral history interview recorded by his daughter, Arthur Mayse discusses an attempt to form the first B.C. local of the American Newspaper Guild at the Vancouver Daily Province, ca. 1937.;