Consists of three series. Series A: Canadian Collieries (Dunsmuir) Limited papers collected by Buckham; Series B: Buckham's official papers produced in his employment by the Geological Survey of Canada, and the British Columbia Public Service; and Series C: Buckam's private papers. Maps transferred to Map accession M845025. Alexander Fraser Buckham was born in Edmonton, Alberta on April 29, 1914. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in mining engineering from the University of Alberta in 1935 and Master of Science in geology from the same university in the following year. From 1936 to 1939 he worked on a Doctorate in Geology at the University of Wisconsin, however he never completed work on this degree, as he returned to Canada to join the Geological Survey in the summer of 1939. He remained with the Geological Survey for ten years specializing in the coal resources of western Canada. This work resulted in his being offered the position of Chief Geologist with Canadian Collieries (Dunsmuir) Limited (C.C.(D)L.) at Cumberland, B.C. in 1949. He remained with Canadian Collieries (Dunsmuir) Limited until the shut-down of Vancouver Island operations in 1960. He then worked with the Government of British Columbia. In this capacity he advised in the restoration of Barkerville and did geological work in connection with construction of main roads. Mr. Buckham had a keen interest in local history as well as geology. This resulted in his preserving many Canadian Collieries (Dunsmuir) Limited records from destruction and building a historical and geological archives parallel to his career. A list of publications transferred to the Northwest Library Collection is available at the end of this finding aid.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Marriott recounts the arrival of her family in the Comox area, beginning with her great uncle, William Duncan, in 1862. Other members of the Duncan family followed, established a store, ;farmed, and named the community Sandwick. Mrs. Marriott discusses her memories of the Duncan family; churches; the Willemar family; and other Comox Valley residents. [TRACK 2: blank.]

CALL NUMBER: T0826:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-08-04-& 06 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Ployart recounts his grandparent's settlement in the Courtenay area in the 1870s. He describes his early life; Comox; Courtenay; Cumberland; the Indian settlement; life on his family's farm. Later he became a logger and trapper. TRACK 2: Mr. Ployart continues with a description of his work on a fishing boat; and in a logging camp. He describes his reunion with his father in Alberta; the purchase of farm equipment; and his trek to the family's homestead. He recalls his time as a rancher; his trip to Vancouver; his time as a steam engineer; a successful logging operation.;

CALL NUMBER: T0826:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-08-04-& 06 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Ployart describes some of his logging and trapping experiences in the Courtenay area; operating a pack train for the government survey parties and CPR surveys; anecdotes of some mainland inlet settlers. TRACK 2: Mr. Ployart discusses the weather and storms common to the mainland inlets; a tugboat trip to Prince Rupert; boating incidents.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Marriott describes the building of the first road from Coal Harbour to Hardy Bay in 1923. He recalls his early impressions of the Courtenay area; logging; early settlers; farming; local characters. [TRACK 2: blank.]

SUMMARY: Report by Laurie Dillabaugh and Gordon Downie (?) about natural disasters and the earthquake in Courtenay, British Columbia.;

CALL NUMBER: T1881:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Charles H. Grant : logging and milling in the Cumberland area, 1889-1902 PERIOD COVERED: 1889-1902 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Grant born in 1889 [actually 1881]. Father a Conservative associate of Robert Dunsmuir and Richard McBride. Father started a mill for Union Colleries. The story of the beginning of Union Mines (Cumberland). Father built mining camp at site of Union Mines. Operation of handloggers described. The introduction of saws as a tool for falling. Old-time falling methods. Building skid roads described. Logging and milling for his father. Methods of hauling with horses and oxen on skid roads. TRACK 2: More on hauling methods. Horses and oxen compared for hauling logs. Old bull punchers described. Humane and inhumane treatment of oxen and horses in the woods. More on skid road hauling methods. Sawmilling methods. A special order for long timber from England. CALL NUMBER: T1881:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Charles H. Grant : the Courtenay area, 1900-1943 PERIOD COVERED: 1900-1943 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Continuation of the story of the special long timber order. Logging camp conditions. Food in the camp. Early Comox settlers. Speculation as to the origin of Garry Oak. Story of the Riverside Hotel, Courtenay. Grant ran the hotel for a year, ca. 1902. Worked on coastal boats for a time. Was a government agent and tax collector for provincial government. Anecdotes about tax collecting. (End of interview)

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Wood recounts his father's [Reverend James Wood] early years in BC as a Methodist minister and circuit rider in Ladner, Clinton, Lulu Island, Vernon, Revelstoke, Kaslo and Kamloops. He speaks of his youth in various BC communities; his schooling; farming; work in Big Eddy Sawmill; teaching at the North End School on Saltspring Island in 1906; and meeting his wife. TRACK 2: Mr. Wood continues by describing his early life in 1911; employment at Courtenay; Courtenay Electric Light Company; Cumberland; and his work as Courtenay Waterworks Superintendent in 1922. He recalls his exploration and discovery of the Forbidden Plateau area; the formation of the Courtenay Mountaineering Club; publicizing the recreational potential of the area in 1927; building the lodge; the origin of the name; description of vegetation and wildlife of the area; the future of the land.

Television stock shots

Plaint and procedure books (some indexed). From 1957 includes Speedy Trials.

Television stock shots

Cause books for civil cases.

Divorce cause books.

This series consists of probate or estate files from the Supreme Court of Courtenay from 1949-2007. Files are arranged by file number which are assigned in the order probates are filed with the court. Note that different filing systems were used over time.

The series consists of original wills created in the Courtenay Supreme Court registry between 1986 and 1987. The wills are arranged by probate number, which can be found by using the index associated with GR-2994. The wills would have been sent to the Central Probate Registry in Victoria when the letter of probate was issued.

Container 831717-0004 contains a handwritten list of the wills and corresponding numbers.

The records were scheduled for full retention under Court Services ORCS (schedule 100152) 51460-30.