The fonds is arranged into two series, Administrative and Fall Fair, and contains newspaper programs, prize lists, prize tickets, meeting minutes, correspondence, financial statements, entry forms, certificate of incorporation and a brief history on the founding of the fair.
Talk of forming a Bulkley Valley Agricultural Association to oversee the planning of an exhibition began in 1910 (Interior News, May 1910). Various names were used before incorporation, such as: Bulkley Valley Agricultural Association (Interior News, July 27, 1912), Bulkley Valley Agricultural Association and Farmer’s Institute (Omineca Herald, June 7, 1913) and Bulkley Valley Agricultural and Industrial Exhibition Association (Interior News, June 21, 1919). On July 14, 1919, the Bulkley Valley Agricultural and Industrial Association was incorporated under the Agricultural Act. The mandate of the Association was to "advance the interests of agriculture and to hold an annual exhibition of agricultural products at Smithers, and to do all such other things the directors may decide for the advancement of the association, the farmers and farming." The first directors of the Association included A. Kilpatrick (President, Smithers), J. G. Wood (Vice-President, Telkwa), and L.B. Warner (Secretary Treasurer, Smithers), George Oulton (Smithers), A. J. Prudhomme (Telkwa), E. C. Barger (Telkwa) and William S. Henry (Smithers) (Interior News, June 21, 1919). Smithers held its first Fall Fair in Albert Park, September 30th, 1919. After several years the Fair became a three-day event, presenting a wide variety of exhibits including agricultural displays, livestock and logging shows, handicraft and homemaking exhibits, stage shows, and a midway. The Fair continues to this day, having been held every year since 1919 except for 1932-1933, 1938-1945, 1950-1952, and 2020.
Scope and Content
The fonds is arranged into two series, Administrative and Fall Fair, and contains newspaper programs, prize lists, prize tickets, meeting minutes, correspondence, financial statements, entry forms, certificate of incorporation and a brief history on the founding of the fair.
Arrangement
Records were rearranged in September 2016 by Manda Haligowski to better reflect archival standards and to improve accessibility.
Item is a five page document that details climate, soil, crop, settlement, and other information about the Skeena Land Recording Division, specifically the Bella Coola Valley, Skeena River Valley, Naas Valley (sic), Kitimat-Kitsumgallum (sic) Valley, and Lakelse Valley. Includes 1923 Climactic Reco…
Item is a five page document that details climate, soil, crop, settlement, and other information about the Skeena Land Recording Division, specifically the Bella Coola Valley, Skeena River Valley, Naas Valley (sic), Kitimat-Kitsumgallum (sic) Valley, and Lakelse Valley. Includes 1923 Climactic Records (temperature, precipitation) values for Bella Coola, Naas Harbour (sic), Prince Rupert, Stewart, Terrace, and Surf Inlet (Princess Royal Island).
The Agricultural Advisory board and others in Smithers. J. Sealy top row, third from right. Dr. Wrinch top row, far right. Appears to be the Dominion Telegraph Building.
Written on back: "Agricultural Advisory Bd. (& others); July 1919"
Established as an experimental substation in 1938 and an experimental farm in 1955. Located on the old Sproule Farm between Smithers and Telkwa. The directors were W.H. Hicks and K. McBean, and the farm provided information on the major agricultural problems of the area.
Photo of the apple orchard at Gilbert farm. The tree in the middle lasted for many years, while most of the others did not. The Gilberts also grew pin cherry trees in their orchard. In the background can be seen Reiseter Ridge, the deer and moose meadows, and land where Eli Fletcher's pyrite mine w…
The Gilbert farm, located northeast of Smithers, was run by the Gilbert family starting in 1919.
Custodial History
Item was donated to the museum at some point before 2005, when it was scanned. In November 2018, two oral history interviews were held with Ron Gilbert, Janice Gilbert, Tony L'Orsa and assistant curator Erik Holdijk, in which information about the photographs was provided. Photos were formally accessioned and given database entries in May 2020.
Scope and Content
Photo of the apple orchard at Gilbert farm. The tree in the middle lasted for many years, while most of the others did not. The Gilberts also grew pin cherry trees in their orchard. In the background can be seen Reiseter Ridge, the deer and moose meadows, and land where Eli Fletcher's pyrite mine was located.
Notes
Information on photo provided from oral history interview.
A view over the Gilbert Farm, with Hudson Bay Mountain in the background. The building in the foreground was used as a bunkhouse. Photo taken after 1953, when the power lines were installed.
The Gilbert farm, located northeast of Smithers, was run by the Gilbert family starting in 1919. After Frank Gilbert's death in 1951 it was taken over by his son-in-law, John Schroeder.
Custodial History
Item was donated to the museum at some point before 2005, when it was scanned. In November 2018, two oral history interviews were held with Ron Gilbert, Janice Gilbert, Tony L'Orsa and assistant curator Erik Holdijk, in which information about the photographs was provided. Photos were formally accessioned and given database entries in May 2020.
Scope and Content
A view over the Gilbert Farm, with Hudson Bay Mountain in the background. The building in the foreground was used as a bunkhouse. Photo taken after 1953, when the power lines were installed.
The Gilbert farm, located northeast of Smithers, was run by the Gilbert family starting in 1919.
Custodial History
Item was donated to the museum at some point before 2005, when it was scanned. In November 2018, two oral history interviews were held with Ron Gilbert, Janice Gilbert, Tony L'Orsa and assistant curator Erik Holdijk, in which information about the photographs was provided. Photos were formally accessioned and given database entries in May 2020.
Scope and Content
A view of the Gilbert farm, looking west. The building in the foreground is the same one as in P7373 and was used as a bunkhouse.
Notes
Information on photo provided from oral history interview.
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