A sample of adult community case files. These are case files opened by a probation officer for adult offenders who are completing their sentences or dispositions in the community. The file documents diversion, parole and probation (6 files).

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.

CALL NUMBER: T0675:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Angela McDairmid was born in Princeton before it was known as Princeton; she discusses her earliest memories; where the house was; several anecdotes about her mother and her youth; her father; floods; her family history; her father's arrival in Victoria in 1858; the gold rush on the Fraser River; the pack trains; the area around Princeton as she remembers it; more stories. Susan Louise Moir was her mother, and she discusses her life; her parents' early married life; the first settlers in Princeton; gold mining in Granite Creek; John Chance and other prospectors; how Princeton got its name. TRACK 2: Mrs. McDairmid continues by describing the first mines in the area; the Hope Trail; some characters; Chinese workers who worked for her father; stories; some characters whom she remembers.

CALL NUMBER: T0675:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. McDairmid continues with stories about the land around Princeton, some bodies that were found, building a bridge, a shooting among Indians, the Allison town site, Judge Haynes, Indian boat races at the river, potlatches, a shooting, the killing of a Nicola Indian, Merritt as a coal mining town, Dr. Tuttle's hanging, superstition among the Indians. Finally, she discusses her father giving the copyright to his stories to her sister. [TRACK 2: blank.]

Series contains an annual return (1 page) pursuant to the Coal Mines Regulation Act of the Middlesboro Colliery, Nicola Valley Coal and Coke Company. Shows number of persons employed, methods of ventilation and extraction, depth of shafts, and total quantities of fresh air.

This series consists of land and mineral tax records related to the Nicola, Merritt and Ashcroft area from 1900-1952. The records were likely created by the Government Agents working in those locations, who acted as Tax Assessors and Collectors.. There is also one record of water rights for the Nicola and Yale area and one register of water licence applications. The majority of records relate to the sale of mineral claims or land as a result of the failure to pay taxes.

Records include tax sale deeds of land, various tax sale of land forms, tax sale certificates, redemption receipts, tax sale papers, and some correspondence. There are also related tax related records from the Court of Appeal and Court of Revision. These record the appellant, date, description of property, reason for appeal, evidence heard and decision.

Footage. 12 reels of film (varying in length from 20 to 100 feet) showing different locations. Vancouver Airport, where crowd greets a Lancastrian aircraft [133, 102A]; English Bay sailing [102A]; Whytecliff Lodge (Horseshoe Bay) seaside resort activities [108]; Alpine Inn at Christina Lake [18]; Jones Lake fishing and mountaineering [209]; Cherry Creek cattle round-up [94]; Merritt sawmills, businesses and nearby coalmine "Middlebora" [45]; Harrison Lake Sasquatch celebration [120A]; haying at The Willows farm (Fraser Valley?) [58]; Coldstream Ranch (?) dairy cattle [14C]; Okanagan Lake sternwheeler "Sicamous" at Penticton and shots of Incola Hotel (pre-1935), and Westbank-to-Kelowna car ferry [175]; Herbert Arm (?) government dock and nearby mountaineering, wild flowers, and a semi-abandoned mine [103A-B).

The series consists of a letterbook containing crime reports produced or collected by Sergeant John William Hooker during the course of his duties as a British Columbia Provincial Police (BCPP) officer while posted to Coquitlam, Grand Forks, Nelson, Smithers, Prince George, Clinton, Ashcroft, Spence’s Bridge, Merritt, and Kamloops between 1932 and 1944. The records cover a variety of crimes and social issues—particularly in small, rural communities. In addition to generic social issues, the records from Grand Forks (file 3) relate primarily to Doukhobors, and include reports on the settlement of Gilpin.

The majority of the reports were produced by Hooker. Some supplemental records (copies), such as an inquest, inward correspondence in relation to particular cases, and a reason for judgement are interfiled with the crime reports.

The records are arranged chronologically and by detachment location. The records do not capture all crime reports filed in a particular district, but were likely selected by Hooker. Some of these files have been labeled in pencil “Personal file.” The records consist primarily of crime reports on standard BCPP letterhead. Each report contains the district, detachment, and the date, as well as an overview of the case and persons involved.

Some of these records may also be available in GR-1388: Correspondence and other material created by the British Columbia Provincial Police Force of the Yale district. John William Hooker's personnel card, which provides details of the service of constables, including marital status, date of first appointment, station, and various postings, can be found in GR-0091, vol. 30-31.

CALL NUMBER: T1704:0062 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Dave Barrett: Election call RECORDED: [location unknown], 1975-11-03 SUMMARY: Premier David Barrett calls 1975 general election, 3 November 1975.; CALL NUMBER: T1704:0063 - 0064 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Dave Barrett: Campaign speech RECORDED: Clinton (B.C.), 1975-11-12 SUMMARY: Premier David Barrett campaign speech, Clinton, 12 November 1975 (part 1 & 2).; CALL NUMBER: T1704:0065 - 0066 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Dave Barrett: Campaign speech RECORDED: Merritt (B.C.), 1975-11-13 SUMMARY: Premier David Barrett, campaign speech, Merritt, 13 November 1975 (part 1 & 2).; CALL NUMBER: T1704:0067 - 0068 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Dave Barrett: Campaign speech RECORDED: Duncan (B.C.), 1975-11-17 SUMMARY: Premier David Barrett, campaign speech, Duncan, 17 November 1975 (part 1 & 2).; CALL NUMBER: T1704:0069 - 0070 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Dave Barrett: Campaign speech RECORDED: Fort St. John (B.C.), 1975-11-18 SUMMARY: Premier David Barrett, campaign speech, Fort St. John, 18 November 1975 (part 1 & 2).; CALL NUMBER: T1704:0071 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Dave Barrett: Campaign speech RECORDED: Mackenzie (B.C.), 1975-11-19 SUMMARY: Premier David Barrett, campaign speech, Mackenzie, 19 November 1975.; CALL NUMBER: T1704:0072 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Dave Barrett: Announcement of Northern Railway development programme RECORDED: Terrace (B.C.), 1975-11-20 SUMMARY: Announcement of northern railway development program, Terrace, 20 November 1975; includes comments by Gary Lauk and Graham Lea.; CALL NUMBER: T1704:0073 - 0074 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Dave Barrett: Campaign speech RECORDED: Kitimat (B.C.), 1975-11-20 SUMMARY: Premier David Barrett, campaign speech, Kitimat, 20 November 1975 (part 1 & 2).; CALL NUMBER: T1704:0075 - 0076 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Dave Barrett: Campaign speech RECORDED: Prince Rupert (B.C.), 1975-11-21 SUMMARY: Premier David Barrett, campaign speech, Prince Rupert, 21 November 1975 (part 1 & 2).; CALL NUMBER: T1704:0077 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Dave Barrett: Campaign speech RECORDED: Castlegar (B.C.), 1975-11-24 SUMMARY: Premier David Barrett, campaign speech, Castlegar, 24 November 1975.; CALL NUMBER: T1704:0078 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Dave Barrett: Campaign speech RECORDED: Castlegar (B.C.), 1975-11-25 SUMMARY: Premier David Barrett, campaign speech, Castlegar, 25 November 1975.; CALL NUMBER: T1704:0079 - 0080 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Dave Barrett: Campaign speech RECORDED: Nelson (B.C.), 1975-11-25 SUMMARY: Premier David Barrett, campaign speech, Nelson, 25 November 1975 (part 1 & 2).; CALL NUMBER: T1704:0081 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Dave Barrett: Campaign speech RECORDED: Powell River (B.C.), 1975-11-26 SUMMARY: Premier David Barrett, campaign speech, Powell River, 26 November 1975.; CALL NUMBER: T1704:0082 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Dave Barrett: Campaign speech RECORDED: Campbell River (B.C.), 1975-11-27 SUMMARY: Premier David Barrett, campaign speech, Campbell River, 27 November 1975.; CALL NUMBER: T1704:0083 - 0084 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Dave Barrett: Interview by Vancouver Province RECORDED: Campbell River (B.C.), 1975-11-27 SUMMARY: Premier David Barrett is interviewed by Vancouver Province reporters Alex Young and Bob McMurray, Campbell River, 27 November 1975 (part 1 & 2).; CALL NUMBER: T1704:0085 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Dave Barrett: Campaign speech RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1975-11-28 SUMMARY: Premier David Barrett campaign speech, Vancouver, 28 November 1975.; CALL NUMBER: T1704:0086 - 0087 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Dave Barrett: Campaign speech RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1975-11-29 SUMMARY: Premier David Barrett campaign speech, Victoria, 29 November 1975 (part 1 & 2).;

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-06-29 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Fred Irwin was born in Lower Nicola; his mother's family was named Woodward, and they were from Ontario; Mr. Irwin's mother came out in 1874. His father taught at the first school in Lower Nicola; he describes his father's life and most of the early settlers; a description of the town and houses when he was a child; cattle farming; French Canadians in the area; farmers; Merritt; churches; Nicola Lake; and where the settlers came from. TRACK 2: Mr. Irwin offers several anecdotes about things that happened to him in his youth; the gold rush in the Klondike and its effect on the community; a few members of the community; and events in Kamloops.

CALL NUMBER: T0663:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-07-01 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Lily S. Priest describes the first public school in Merritt, which began on 2 April 1908; she discusses her husband and how they first came to Canada from England on their honeymoon; she tells the story of how they wanted to buy land to have a fruit ranch, came to Merritt and liked the people there; she was a school teacher and the community really wanted one at the time. She taught forty children; she tells stories about the children; Edith Paige; Johnny Hoglund, who threatened to shoot her and was expelled; a description of the school and how it was run; anecdotes about characters in the area; an experience drinking bootleg gin. TRACK 2: Mrs. Priest continues with the gin story; Lucky Todd who was a prospector; coal mines at Middlesborough; more about people in the area; miners; Mr. Gerrard who owns the mine now; she describes Merritt as it was when she arrived, and its growth in subsequent years; the CPR; the other railway lines; coal shipping; doctors in the area, a mysterious murder; Lawrence Guichon; ranches in the area; parties and Mr. Clisbie.

CALL NUMBER: T0663:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-07-01 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Priest tells a story about an Indian who passed out on a horse after a two-day July 1 celebration, and how they took a picture of him; Chinese people in the early days. [TRACK 2: blank.]

RECORDED: [location unknown], [196-] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Louis Lobsinger came from Bruce County, Ontario, where his family had two farms. He describes the story of how he came to BC to visit his sister in the Nicola Valley, and was hired as a printer who eventually bought out his boss. The paper was the Nicola Herald, and he changed the name to the Merritt Herald. He describes a coal miners' strike in 1909; Mrs. Priest, who was the first school teacher in 1905; dances; in 1914 railroads changed from coal to oil and there was a depression in Merritt, until the saw mill opened in 1924; then in the 1930s the depression hit; various jobs he held; how he paid off debts; ranchers; the Cootley family; the 1934 stampede; his move to Williams Lake in 1952, and all the changes he saw there; the coal mines at Merritt; the cowboy/miner relationship; people passing through on their way to Fort George in 1909; finally he discusses the end of coal mining in Merritt. [TRACK 2: blank.]

Amateur film. May Day celebrations at Kamloops in 1928. Scenes from road trips along the Merritt road, along the highway to Shuswap Lake, and along the Monte Lake route to Vernon area.

This series consists of by-laws from the City of Merritt from 1911-1957. By-laws number 3-346 and are certified copies which were deposited in the Merritt Court Registry. Please note that some numbers may be missing from this series.

The series consists of grants of letters of administration created by the County Court of Merritt, and County Court of Yale holden at Merritt between 1913 and 1978. Typical records include the name of the deceased and the date and place of death, as well as the name of the appointed administrator and their relationship to the deceased.

Some volumes may include letters of administration by the Official Administrator, wills annexed or succession duty forms annexed.

The series consists of volumes of grants of letters probate created in both the County Court of Merritt and the County Court of Yale between 1916 and 1974. Records typically include the name of the execut-or/rix and to whom administration of the estate was granted, and are similar in content and form to grants of letters of administration. The granting of letters probate represents one step in probating the estate of a deceased individual, and grants authority to the executor or executrix to proceed with administering the estate.

The majority of the records were filled out on Court forms 161 and 162. Some letters in volumes 1 and 2 have Succession Duty papers attached. Volume 2 includes some copies of wills annexed. The records are arranged chronologically by grant date and are not indexed.

The series consists of one volume of a naturalization index maintained by the County Court. The entries date from between 1913 to 1973. Typical entries include name, address, occupation and nationality of applicant, as well as the date the application was filed, the date of the applicant's hearing, whether the application was approved or rejected, whether or not citizenship papers had been mailed out, the citizenship certificate number, and any additional remarks.

Entries are arranged alphabetically by surname. The series is covered by Court Services ORCS 53200-20.

The series consists of original plaint and procedure books (1912-1961) and case record cards (1977-1986) from the Merritt County Court registry. The records relate to a variety of civil matters and can include the names of the parties and their solicitors, dates of proceedings, and reference numbers for locating orders and judgements. Case cards may also include an estimated number of trial days, as well as whether or not the trial was by jury.

The records are arranged by case number. Indexes are available for all plaint and procedure books except for volume 1 of box 1 (cases 1/1912 to 74/1914). A nominal file list is available for the case records cards; see available finding aid. The records were scheduled for full retention under Court Services ORCS (schedule 100152) 53200-20.

This series consists of various timber tenures created by the Merritt Forest District and its predecessors from 1958-1985. Tenures include timber sale licences (TSL), timber sale harvesting licences (TSHL), forest licences (FL) and their associated cutting permits (CP).

Records may regard the issuance, evaluation, administration, monitoring, planning, replacement, cancellation, deletion and extension of these timber tenures. The files may consist of applications, ministry approvals, copies of the permit or licence, revisions, correspondence, legal documents, annual reports, operations information, development plans, charts, procedures, audits, reviews, and maps.

The ministries responsible for creating these records, and the years that they were responsible, are:
Dept. of Lands and Forests (1955-1962)
Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water (1962-1975)
Dept. of Forests (1975-1976 )
Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)

The series consists of original civil orders and judgements created between 1951 and 2000 by the Merritt Supreme Court and County Court registries. Orders are the formal expression of the ruling of the court and judgements are the final orders issued in a case. Records relate to a variety of civil matters including divorces, probates, foreclosures, and some adoptions.

Records are arranged by volume and folio number as assigned by the court registry. Orders and judgements are interfiled. The records were scheduled for full retention under Court Services ORCS (schedule 100152) 51400-25.

The series consists of one cause book dating from 1921 to 1970 and case cards dating from 1977 to 1986. The cause book includes a nominal index inserted in the front cover which covers cases from approximately 1941 to 1970. Both the cause book and case cards typically include the names of plaintiff, defendant and their solicitors, the case number, the date of the case, and details of proceedings.

Records are arranged by case number.