Item T1150:0001 - 0002 - Agnes Russ and Grace Stephens interview : [Orchard, 1962]

CALL NUMBER: T1150:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Early days of Queen Charlottes (mostly Skidegate) 1849-1910 by Grace Stephens and Agnes Russ RECORDED: Skidegate (B.C.), 1962-09-10 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: In these interviews, Grace Stephens translates and speaks for her mother, Agnes Russ. Grace Stephens describes the early life of her mother. Agnes Russ's father was an American (Hubbs) who ma;rried the Chief's daughter, she was raised by her grandparents in Masset (1859), attended Thomas Crosby's Girls' Home, married and returned to Skidegate interpreting for the first Methodist Missionary;. Grace Stephens grew up in Skidegate, married and farmed in Sandspit. She talks about early settlers, the missionaries, schooling, Skidegate and Masset villages, the destruction of totem poles, Bill ;Reid, the visit of Emily Carr, her childhood, the village at Kloo and Gold Harbour, her father (Amos Russ), details about the construction of canoes, the canoe ceremonies and travel to Port Essington.; TRACK 2: Grace Stephens speaks about the Anglican missionaries on the northern and the Methodists on the southern part of the Queen Charlotte Islands, the Tennant family and the dogfish oil refinery; (1880's), Haida hereditary chiefs, land ownership and an elected council. [a long pause in the tape] Grace Stephens translates for her mother, Agnes Russ, who is speaking in Haida. Mrs. Russ speaks a;bout the Haida people's respect for one another and their code of behavior, early memories of Masset, life in her grandfather's house, slaves, a recollection of a total eclipse of the sun, her family';s land ownership, and the Haida stories of the flood.

CALL NUMBER: T1150:0002 track 1 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Early days of Queen Charlottes (mostly Skidegate) 1849-1910 by Grace Stephens and Agnes Russ RECORDED: Skidegate (B.C.), 1962-09-10 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Grace Stephens continues to translate for Agnes Russ. Some of Agnes's family have gone to Alaska and the southern end of the island. She speaks about her marriage, her husband's slaves, and ;the Haida potlatch, and she sings one of her grandfather's songs. [See also AAAB1277.] Agnes Russ speaks about trade, her longevity, Rev. Duncan and Rev. Crosby, the Methodist mission in Masset, Mark MacGregor, Mr. Freeman, Captain Oliver, Bishop Ridley, Rev. William Duncan, and Port Simpson. She recalls the visit of Judge O'Reilly coming to survey the reserves, the amalgamation of other villages ;at the Skidegate reserve, the effects of World War One, and wildlife on the island. [TRACK 2 is a separate interview done by Bob Fortune; see AAAB1276.]