RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-07-07 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Agnes Neave recalls moving from the Prairies to British Columbia in 1940 after her family became ill with typhoid. She found an advertisement for a small property in Ootsa Lake which ha;d good fishing. She describes her first trip into the area by train and ferry; her first impressions; setting up a three year rental with the option to buy after that; the trek from Burns Lake with h;er whole family and their possessions; establishing themselves at Francois Lake; what life was like there; and the Anglican church at Francois Lake. [TRACK 2: blank.]

CALL NUMBER: T1031:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-11-09 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Arthur Shelford recalls his early life in England and his feeling that city life in London was not for him, so he decided to come to Canada in 1908 on an urge. Mr. Shelford describes the conditions of economic depression upon arriving in Canada at Calgary. Mr. Shelford recalls his experience working on the railroad, including the food they ate and his interactions with the Walking Boss; the relationship between the railroad and the employment agency in Calgary; his decision to walk a few miles up the road to Field which was his first experience in British Columbia, there was no work available, his next job on the railroad which paid a dollar and a half a day which was excellent, his positive experiences with foreigners and how it changed his perceptions of others, the need for gloves to do the work, befriending an English soldier named Tommy Gibson who got him a job working on the road at Banff which paid very well and his experience there, an anecdote about some of his co-workers who got arrested for drinking and one who got out and let the others loose and his boss changed the man's name so he would not get arrested, the scenery around Banff, putting a fire out at Fernie, odd jobs and characters, and an anecdote about when he worked on shingling roofs in winter. TRACK 2: Mr. Shelford describes how he came to Vancouver in 1909 and how much he liked it, the game of real estate, working in a logging camp at Courtenay until a forest fire burned his camp down, getting a job as a fireman for nine months at Powell Lake and the foreman Jim Springer who was a great man, his job as an engineer at the Powell River Pulp Company and a description of the conditions as one of the best jobs he ever had, his brother Jack suggesting that they venture to Northern BC to; acquire land, a journey up the Skeena by river boat and the conditions there and the people whom he met on the trip. Mr. Shelford describes arriving at Hazelton, how Hazelton was a frontier village.

CALL NUMBER: T1031:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-11-09 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Shelford continues by discussing his horses, a trip to Bella Coola to get cattle in 1910 with his brother and what was involved in the trip including building a raft out of rope, characters around Francois Lake including Harry Morgan and other pioneers, more on their journey and a description of places visited and sites seen, leading the cows up the valley, expertise about horses, more on their travels including interactions with the horses and building more rafts. Mr. Shelford discusses the personality of pioneer Irishman Mike Touey, including several anecdotes including one about the three pounds of meat he ate per day and another about his poetry and another about an incident when he retired to Burns Lake and gave up eating meat. TRACK 2: Mr. Shelford continues with more on interesting characters who were in the area around the time Mr. Shelford came in around 1914. Firstly, he discusses the two Oknianski boys who were Polish and they made a living off whip sawing and they also were involved with Hansard in Ottawa which is something Mr. Shelford feels is quite commendable. Secondly, Mr. Shelford discusses and offers anecdotes about Bob, Jim and Kelly Nelson who were known for their hospitality. Thirdly, he discusses the Hinton family who came from London and had hardly spent any time in the country, Mrs. Hinton really missed eating meat, details on the family and people whom the daughters married. Fourthly, a Norwegian man named Jacob Lund and an anecdote about Lund's teeth and a dentist and another Norwegian man named Shorty Mathieson who was a good friend to everyone and had a knack to find an easy way to do things. Fifth , Mr. Shelford discusses the pioneer women whom he believes did not get nearly enough credit. Mr. Shelford offers anecdotes about the contributions of several of these women including Mrs. Bennett who came into Hazelton before the railway, Mrs. George Lawson who came from Scotland, Mrs. Morgan who came in over the Bella.

CALL NUMBER: T1031:0003 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-11-09 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Shelford recalls enlisting in WWI in 1916 and almost being turned down for entry in Hazelton because he had flat feet. He discusses what he did upon returning from the war including how lovely returning to Vancouver was and his travels back up to Houston and continuing work just as he had left off. He discusses the economic conditions of the country after the war, jobs they tried to get some money including shipping cream, the start of the railway tie industry and the profitability of timber to that end, trapping furs, cattle prices, conditions picking up just prior to WWII, the impact of the war in boosting the lumber industry, drawbacks of the lumber industry, the necessity of having to supplement farming with other work, the flood of 1948 by aluminum companies to provide power for the plant at Kitimat and the repercussions on good farming land and relocating settlers, the reaction from the community, details about the Kenny Dam, and compensation. TRACK 2: Mr. Shelford continues with more on the compensation from the aluminum company and how most felt it was quite fair, one man who did not spend the money he was given well and others who did, repercussions on the local economy, the growth of the Ootsa Lake community including the first church, the effect the flood had on the lake itself, the growing tourist industry, pioneering routes by river, general problems of pioneer life and farming, having to walk everywhere because there were no roads until 1915 and that road was very rough.

CALL NUMBER: T1208:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Bea Williscroft : Hazelton and Telkwa, 1909-1914 PERIOD COVERED: 1909-1914 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1962-03-21 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Beatrice "Bea" Williscroft recalls summer visits to her father (Walter Archer Williscroft) at Hazelton (1909-1912). She talks about childhood memories of Port Essington, the trip up the Skeena River, an incident at Minskinisht, the Skeena riverboats, impressions of their arrival at Hazelton (1909), residents, R.S. Sargent, childhood reminiscences, the Indian cemetery, anecdotes, the atmos;phere of the town, Cataline, an incident with H.H. Little and Hazelton stores. TRACK 2: Bea Williscroft continues speaking about Hazelton, local buildings, hotels and residents. She recalls Bill Wrat;hall -- an area photographer, sports and recreation events, Rev. Field, Mr. Loring, Wiggs O'Neill, practical jokes, roads in the Hazelton area, the Cedar Swamp, her father's responsibilities and road ;work, entertainment and recreation, Telkwa, residents in the Bulkley Valley, Rene Degville, Guy Thorp and the impact of World War I.

CALL NUMBER: T1208:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Bea Williscroft describes the Telkwa area, 1909-1917 PERIOD COVERED: 1909-1917 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1962-03-21 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Beatrice Williscroft continues with her recollections of Rene Degville, the Telkwa area prior to 1917, pack trains and teamsters and cattle drives. She discusses Burns Lake prior to the railway, Francois and Ootsa Lake, Charlie Barrett, roadhouses (20 Mile, 38 Mile, 48 Mile), Michael Shadey, Mooseskin Johnny stories, roadhouses, travelling with her father, entertainment and social life, Telkwa c.1914, Blackjack MacDonell and Hughie McLean. TRACK 2: Bea Williscroft continues with recollections about wildlife, Ernie Moran, Charlie Barrett, Barney Mulvaney, R.S. Sargent, Jim May and social gatherings.

CALL NUMBER: T1028:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-07-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Cliff Harrison describes how he came to Ootsa Lake, and the good reputation of the land for agriculture. He discusses his father, who was a miner in the Kootenays and his memories of the; East Kootenays; the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in 1914, his experience working in a Hudson's Bay Company store in Kamloops; work for mining companies; reminiscences of Ootsa Lake in 1912, including ;that there was no doctor; how people had to help each other. He describes a few local characters and early settlers: Harry Morgan, Mike Touhy, Shorty Matheson, Cataline (Jean Caux), Barney Mulvaney, a;nd Skin Tyee, who was also known as Charlie Clutesi. TRACK 2: Mr. Harrison continues with more on local characters Skin Tyee and Florence Hinton. Mr. Harrison then recalls his experiences with Native Indians, and the introduction of aviation to the Ootsa Valley.

CALL NUMBER: T1028:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1966-05-05 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Cliff Harrison recalls how Indians came to have their legends via observations with no evidence, and the Indian legend of "Devil Man"; a story of a man dying of scurvy; and discusses trappin;g and selling fur in Kimsquit Valley. TRACK 2: Mr. Harrison recalls a bear story; anecdotes about what he did for amusement; and traveling through the Interior, including how he traveled.;

CALL NUMBER: T1028:0003 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-07-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Harrison recalls trapping beginning in 1906, including how trappers came to the area; fighting in World War I and coming back to the wilderness in 1919; anecdotes about selling furs in a; fluctuating market; a trapping convention and basket social; Mr. Harrison's recollections of other trappers, including John Mikkelson, Jack and Arthur Shelford, Harry Morgan (who was the first white man in the area), Skin Tyee and Jimmy Morgan. TRACK 2: Mr. Harrison continues discussing trappers such as Jimmy Morgan. He tells a story about mixing flying with trapping, and starting a trend for other trappers learning to fly; miscellaneous events connected to trapping, including almost freezing to death; and impressions and anecdotes about wolverines.

CALL NUMBER: T1028:0004 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-07-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Harrison recalls growing up in the East Kootenay, including what life was like before the railroad; a detailed description of Captain Armstrong, a steamboat captain who navigated the Columbia River; the significance and details on the running of steamboats at that time; logging and wages. Harrison describes his arrival in BC in 1904, including his impressions. Harrison recalls various characters (and elaborates on what life was like at that time): Rufus Kimpton, Jim Brewer and a few more. TRACK 2: Mr. Harrison continues with more characters and events: the opening of the Paradise Mine; real estate promoter Randolph Bruce; "Bugroom"; Mr. and Mrs. Joe Lake; Frank Stoddard, who had a hotel; several stories about blacksmith Sinc Craig,including one where he broke his leg falling into a grave at a funeral; Malcolm Cameron, the first policeman in the area, and how early pioneers were very law abiding, E.J. Scoville, who was the first magistrate and was also a champion speed; skater based out of Wilmer, and Jim McKay, the cattle baron at Athalmer.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1966-09-13 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. May McGrane recalls her childhood in Rossland, including descriptions of the town at that time, a description of Phoenix, and entertainment buildings in Rossland. A trip with saddle horses in 1909 to Ootsa Lake, including details about how they did it and who they did it with. A boat trip to Bella Coola, the Bella Coola Trail, a Norwegian log house, more stories about the Bella Cool;a Trail, trading with Indians and characters around Ootsa Lake including Skin Tyee. TRACK 2: Mrs. McGrane discusses social events and stories of Ootsa Lake. Then, Mr. Dick McGrane describes his various jobs, involvement with labour organizations, reasons for going to Ootsa Lake, prospecting and trapping, and a story about a friend named George Sanneford.

Travelogue. Scenery and attractions of the area accessible by the highway between Prince George and Prince Rupert. Footage includes: Prince George Airport with passengers boarding airliner; lakeside scenes; lumber mill; harvesting grain near Vanderhoof; Hudson's Bay post at Fort St. James; lake barges and a Beech 18 floatplane (registration CF-BQH) on Stuart Lake; trout fishing on Stuart Lake and Fraser Lake; Burns Lake; Babine Lake; Francois Lake; Ootsa Lake; Binta Lake; Telkwa, and nearby coal mine; Smithers; Moricetown Falls salmon run, with Indians gaffing salmon; Bulkley Canyon; Hazelton; Hagwilget Canyon; totem poles at Kispiox, Kitseguecla, and Kitwanga (plus village and burial grounds at the latter); Terrace, and its pole mill; Lakelse Lake; highway scenes; bald eagles; commercial fishing on the Skeena; Prince Rupert (cruise ship docking, unloading fish, fishing festival, homes and gardens, downtown, airport with amphibious airliner taxiing and taking off).

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-07-07 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. James (Jimmy) Jeffrey recalls farming on Vancouver Island in the Cowichan, and the move to Francois Lake in 1911 to preempt land. He describes Ootsa Lake and the surrounding area and the; arability of the land, and various characters of Francois Lake. Then his brother, Robert Jeffrey, recalls mail service with Tom Harris, living on Cowichan River, a trip up the Skeena River, settlers; of Francois Lake, and miscellaneous anecdotes about life and times at Francois Lake. [TRACK 2: blank.]

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-07-17 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. John Kemp recalls his arrival as a HBC man in Canada and his reasons for coming. He offers a description of his journey through BC to Fort Fraser, the first road into the Interior, his impressions of the Nechako valley in 1911, working with the HBC, a description of Fort St. James as it was in 1911, Father Coccola, his impression of Native Indians, and random thoughts including an anecdote about cooking rice. [TRACK 2: blank.]

The series consists of 1146 photographic prints and negatives taken by Harry Jomini between 1951 and 1954. These photographs document the construction of the Kenney Dam, part of the Kitimat Kemano project undertaken by the Aluminum Company of Canada (Alcan). The series includes photographs of the area including Kemano, Burns Lake, Francois Lake, Nechako, Ootsa and Vanderhoof. There are also photographs of individuals and groups living in the community. The prints are almost all numbered, titled and dated and were originally filed in 14 black binders and an envelope of loose photographs and negatives. Jomini visted the construction site on a regular basis from 1951 to 1954 and documented all aspects of the construction. Volume 14 documents the ceremony for the unveiling of the cornerstone by the Minister of Public Works E.T. Kenney on May 10, 1952.

SUMMARY: In "Homesteading at Ootsa Lake", #21 in the series, Arthur Shelford recalls his experiences homesteading and trapping in the Ootsa Lake country with his brother Jack.

SUMMARY: "MIke Touhy", #23 in the series, consists of recollections about Mike Touhy, a well-known pioneer of the Ootsa Lake country, combined with some of the poetry he wrote about the area.

SUMMARY: "Ootsa and Burns Lake People", #22 in the series, mainly features the recollections of Arthur Shelford and Cliff Harrison about some of the characters who lived in the Ootsa Lake country before the First World War.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1981-09-26 SUMMARY: Lulu Beaver was born at Ootsa Lake on February 7, 1911, and attended both Wistaria and Ootsa Lake one-room schools. (Neither of the schools remain standing; the Ootsa Lake school was dynamited and burned by a former school child, and Wistaria was flooded out by Alcan.) She received her teacher training at Victoria Normal School. She taught at: Wistaria, 1933-35; Ootsa Lake, 1942-49; Perot School, ;1949-50 (Jehovah's Witness school); Francois Lake, 1950-51. Lulu tells of her family's arrival at Ootsa Lake in 1905, travelling up the Indian trail from Bella Coola. She recalls homesteading, school stories, teaching at Wistaria and Ootsa, the flooding of Ootsa Lake by Alcan. The Beavers have an interesting museum at Southbank, Francois Lake, with many old artifacts.

The sub-series consists of oral history interviews about the history of the Babine, Nechako, Omineca, Stuart-Takla and Upper Fraser regions, from the 1980s to the mid-20th century. The interviews focus mainly on the areas of Babine Lake, Burns Lake, Fort George (Prince George), Fort St. James, Francois Lake, Ootsa Lake, and Vanderhoof.