The item is a reel of b&w documentary film. "Mr. J.B. Munro, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, beside some beehives. Mr. Helmer, manager of Nicola Lake Ranching Co., shaking hands with visitor at a gate. Herd of purebred shorthorn bulls, cowboys working bulls. Steers in a field ready for shipping. Men look at Shorthorn bulls imported from England and a British Columbia bull. Clydesdale stallion. Pigs walking through a stream. Nicola Lake. At Guichon Ranch, a cowboy in chaps plays at being a wild west gunman and fires his pistol off until arrested by a man with a car. Cars leaving Guichon Ranch bound for Douglas Lake. Chuckwagon hauled past camera by four horses. Pan Douglas Lake, quarter horses feeding on the range. Pan across Douglas Lake Ranch buildings from a hill. Meeting of the British Columbia Shorthorn Breeders' Association at Douglas Lake Ranch, posing. Mr. Ward, manager, and Alex Davie of Ladner parading past camera. Members proceed to lunch. Three cars drive through a swollen creek -- 'A cure for squeaky wheels.' Members look over stock, including a Shorthorn bull imported from England. Group of members including Mr. and Mrs. Ward. Herd of purebred Shorthorn corns with calves. Shot of a roundup -- a cowboy and a calf. Stray cattle. Chapperton Lake and surrounding country -- pan. The film ends with the following admonitions: 'The Provincial Department of Agriculture is organized for the benefit of the farmer and the welfare of the province. The department is yours. Make use of it.' and 'On behalf of the farming industry we welcome the new settler. It is your duty as a neighbour to help him.' (Colin Browne)

The fonds consists of correspondence, agreements, minutes, financial records, notes on cattle shipping and other miscellaneous material of the Douglas Lake Cattle Company.

The records include: correspondence, 1880-1973; agreements, minutes, financial records, 1884-1916; correspondence of managers with stock associations; notes on cattle weights, shippings, etc.; notes made by Nina Woolliams for her history of the Douglas Lake ranch and a typescript of the manuscript.

The item is a film reel of out takes from the 1970s. It contains extensive footage of cattle being rounded up and herded at the Douglas Lake Ranch. A very large herd is seen in both long shot and extreme close-up, often in falling snow. Several mounted cowboys escort the herd.

Amateur film. Port Moody: train station; crowds dressed up, dignitaries on train, RCMP in red tunics, speeches. Street scenes: log houses, mud streets, wooden church; car being pulled out of the mud by horse and cart. Douglas Lodge: Douglas Lake, boat trip, swimming, Indians at the Lodge. RCMP Musical Ride (b&w and colour). Airport (Abbotsford?): airplanes, trick flying, parachuting. Parade (appears to be in Vancouver): floats, bands, etc.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-06-27 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Gerard E. Guichon describes his grandfather, Joseph Guichon, as a packer for Cataline in the 1870s; his grandparents ranch on the road to Douglas Lake; their property and store at Quilchena; his grandmother's family and Douglas Lake homesteaders; and a description of his grandfather and father. TRACK 2: He continues with a description of ranching at Douglas Lake in the past and present; the hotel and store at Quilchena in 1908 and 1910; running the bar; transportation in the area; the CPR; cattle markets; and a story about a murder in Barkerville.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-02-07 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Thomas describes coming to Canada from Gloucester, England, when he was 16, in 1891. He headed for Edmonton, then Spences Bridge when his money ran out, and got a lift to the Nicola in a buggy. He describes the railway trip to Edmonton but was detoured to Nicola Lake. He describes old timers at the Douglas Lake Ranch, a man named Graves, his experiences at Douglas Lake and its life style, and several anecdotes. He describes the town of Nicola Lake and his life there. Next he describes Princeton, prospectors coming from Rossland to the area including Jack Budd, Bill Miner, and a miner at Granite Creek named Robert Stevenson. More on Princeton. [TRACK 2: blank.]

CALL NUMBER: T0406:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-06-28 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. J. Douglas Palmer describes how his father came to Douglas Lake in 1873; the first settlers there; the McRaes, the Murrays, the Douglas family; the story of how Douglas Lake was founded by Frank Ward of the Bank of BC; the first owners; how a monopoly on cattle was the impetus for the founding of Douglas Lake; Joe Payne was the first manager of the cattle; over 18,000 head of cattle; hard winters; the Nicola Valley and how the grass is good for raising cattle; the Cariboo gold rush and the old timers; the first settlers; he describes his family; William Frederick Palmer was his father, James Palmer was his grandfather; he tells the story of his grandfather who was a prospector who settled in the Nicola Valley in 1873 at Rock Creek; ranches in the area of Nicola where J. Doug Palmer was born; his mother was born in Pickershill, England, she came to Canada when she was thirteen; he discusses his mother; more on his grandfather's character and life; it was through him that the three McLean brothers were hung, his grandfather was a lawman; he tells the story of the McLean brothers in 1879, and how on Dec 6 his grandfather met the brothers; more on cattle feeding. TRACK 2: Mr. Palmer continues with more on how the seasons affect cattle; grasses; he tells the story of his father's early life; his school days in Victoria; Davie Fulton, setting up his business; anecdotes about the Nicola Road around 1909; Jim Madden, who was a caretaker; young calves; flanking; more on Madden's life and character; a family named Fraser from Nova Scotia who helped raise J. Doug Palmer near Stump Lake; the area around Stump Lake.

CALL NUMBER: T0406:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-06-28 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Palmer discusses the winters of 1877 and 1878 and the loss of cattle; other people such as Joe Payne who were in the area at the time of his father; rough characters; anecdotes about people in the Nicola Valley; Bill Miner as a very likable person, and a Robin Hood figure; fugitives; Chaperone Lake; cattle dealers; Joe Cootley who was the cow boss of Douglas Lake Cattle Company; and Joe Payne. TRACK 2: Mr. Palmer discusses a hotel built in 1908 in Stump Lake; prohibition; anecdotes about some characters in the area; a story about a bull, more anecdotes.

The item is a composite print of a travelogue from 1964. It depicts a film journey retracing the 1862 route of the Overlanders from Jasper to Kamloops, showing the attractions along the way: wildflowers; wildlife; a snowmobile trip to Columbia Icefield; cattle ranching at Douglas Lake Ranch; Mt. Robson and Wells Gray Provincial Parks, and the three-day summer rodeo at Kamloops. Also scenes of trail riding, fishing, boating and swimming.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1979-09-17 SUMMARY: Lorna Woodman (age 25) tells of her one-room school at Big Creek. Her childhood on a farm. Her love of teaching and reasons for wanting to teach in a one-room school. Taught at Bear Lake (1976-77), Douglas Lake (1977-79), and Big Creek (1979-80). She also attended a one-room school near Merritt.;

CALL NUMBER: T0421:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], [196-] SUMMARY: TRACKS 1 & 2: Mr. Talbot Bond discusses his life: born in London, emigrated to Douglas Lake, BC, in 1903; a description of the trip across Canada; anecdotes about ranching at Douglas Lake.

CALL NUMBER: T0421:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], [196-] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Douglas Lake Ranch and its neighbours are described; anecdotes about cowboys; the McLean brothers; cattle drives to Kamloops; a description of Kamloops in 1905; repetition of the story of his emigration and the mail service. [TRACK 2: blank.]