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Babine Bonanza Mining and Milling Company Ltd.
- Date Range
- 1907-1934
- Collection
- Cronin Family fonds
- Description Level
- Sous-fonds
- GMD
- cartographic material
- graphic material
- textual record
- Scope and Content
- Series includes financial records, correspondence, legal documents, mining reports, newspaper clippings, cartographic materials and photographs. Financial records include payrolls, inventories, supplies lists, receipts, statements, sales of goods and land and tax forms. Legal documents include affi…
- Collection
- Cronin Family fonds
- Description Level
- Sous-fonds
- GMD
- cartographic material
- graphic material
- textual record
- Creator
- James Cronin
- Rose Cronin Andersen
- John T Cronin
- Fonds No.
- SF1
- Accession No.
- 1985.1
- Physical Description
- 70 cm of textual records
- 2 photographs
- 16 cartographic materials
- Date Range
- 1907-1934
- History / Biographical
- The original holdings of the Babine Bonanza Mining and Milling Co. (BBM&M Co.) consisted of five two post, non-crown-granted claims: Homestake, Bonanza, Lucky Strike, Babine Chief and Bulkley Pioneer (lots 1859, 1861-1864 respectively). They are alternately described as being located on one: the east slope, and two: the north slope of the Babine Mountains at 5000 feet above sea level.
Originally located in July 1906, by J. Dibble and M. J. Brewer, the claims were bought in 1907 by Cronin and Charles Theis. At some point a sixth claim was acquired: Eureka, lot 1860. The original five claims were given crown-granted status on April 8, 1911. Afterwards, the Eureka claim was also crown-granted. Over the years, BBM&M Co. staked several other claims, none of which were ever given crown-granted status.
In 1909, BBM&M Co. was incorporated and on September 27, 1909, both the first stockholders’ and directors’ meetings were held. At the stockholders’ meeting, James Cronin, Charles Theis, M.J. Brewer, A.H. MacNeill and William Huntley were elected as the first directors of the company. While at the directors’ meetings the following officers were elected: James Cronin, President; Charles Theis, Vice President; and William Huntley, Secretary. Development work continued sporadically until 1923, the last year that Cronin worked the mine himself. The mine wasn’t very prosperous and impeded by reduced access, weather conditions and funds. Following this, the company and the mine underwent a period of uncertainty.
By 1923, work at the mine had reached the stage which necessitated a large capital outlay for the purchase of heavy machinery, including such items as a concentrating mill. This situation, coupled with Cronin’s failing health, appears to have prompted the BBM&M Co. into making a concentrated attempt to sell the mine. Cronin had the most mining knowledge of all the investors, and most deferred to Cronin in matters which required such expertise.
The terms set down by the BBM&M Co. were firm and barely negotiable, and asking price ranged from $360,000 to $400,000. During this time, James Cronin passed away, thereby increasing the reasons for selling the mine. Thousands upon thousands had been expended on the min over the years with no return and engineers who surveyed the mine claims felt the land was not worth the risk. This left Annie Cronin with shares in a company that would continue to cost the family money. The burden of continuing the attempt to sell the min fell to Rose Cronin Andersen, John T. Cronin and Charles Theis. Eventually, they modified their stand to accept reasonable investment deals.
Finally, in 1928, an agreement was made to bring in a new investor, Anglo London Mining Corporation, with Managing Director, Grant Mahood. The deal proposed that the BBM&M Co. capitalization would be raised to 2,000,000 shares with 865,000 shares being retained by those already holding stock in the company. Anglo London would then hold 1,020,000 shares. The finalized negotiation saw that Anglo London would acquire 679,000 shares from the BBM&M Co. treasury at a cost of $300,000 that was to be spent on developing the property. A block of 86,000 shares were to be put up by the Cronin’s and Theis, giving Anglo London control of fifty-one percent of the company.
Almost immediately, the BBM&M Co. began having issues with Mahood and Anglo London. The contract provided a clause whereby a minimum payment was specified, without stating that more than the minimum ever had to be paid at one time. Taking advantage of what the BBM&M Co. came to see as a loophole, only the minimum was ever paid. In the first year of the contract, a confrontational attitude was adopted between companies.
In June of 1929, the Anglo London Corp. attempted to change its name to the Babine (Cronin) Mines, Ltd. The BBM&M Co. refused permission for the Cronin family name to be used. Shortly, thereafter, in August 1929, Anglo London adopted the name Babine Bonanza Metals, Ltd. However, the new name did not ease the tension between companies, as BB Metals was now regularly behind in its payments and was often in debt for supplies and the company payroll. When the situation did not improve, the BBM&M Co. began inquiring in the possibility of cancelling the Mahood/BB Metals contract. They also consulted lawyers on the questionable legality of Mahood locating his own claims next to BBM&M Co. holdings. Finally, at a stockholders’ meeting in November 1930, they voted to break the contract.
In 1934, the Babine Bonanza Mining and Milling Co. filed a lawsuit against the Omineca Silver King Mines, Ltd. The controversy arose after a claim that had been staked by James Cronin was allowed to lapse due to improper filing of the appropriate papers following the death of Cronin. Although the BBM&M Co. relocated the claim and filed the papers accordingly, they only learned of their error when Omineca Silver King Mines Ltd. also filed a claim that overlapped the BBM&M Co.’s Speculator claim. Accidentally, the claim was re-staked under the name of Windy, which overlapped the Speculator and another claim -- the Contention. The two claims (Rex and Rex No. 1) of Omineca Silver King Mines Ltd. Overlapped all three of the BBM&M Co.’s claims. While the judgement is not found in the Cronin Family fonds, a copy obtained from the Provincial Archives in Victoria shows the Omineca Silver Kings Mine Ltd. won the judgement and BBM&M Co. lost those three claims.
While the records within the Cronin Family fonds only reflect all years before 1934, Babine Bonanza Mining and Milling Co. (then Cronin Babine Mines Ltd., 1948; New Cronin Babine Mines Ltd., 1956; Kindrat Mines Ltd., 1966; Hallmark Resources Ltd., 1972) was still active until January 26, 1977, when it was voluntarily liquidated.
- Scope and Content
- Series includes financial records, correspondence, legal documents, mining reports, newspaper clippings, cartographic materials and photographs. Financial records include payrolls, inventories, supplies lists, receipts, statements, sales of goods and land and tax forms. Legal documents include affidavits, bills of sale, contracts, crown-grants, deeds and licenses. Cartographic materials depict areas in B.C., plans and workings of various mineral claims, and include sketches.
- Type of Record
- Archival Description
Less detail
British Columbia Department of Lands and Forests fonds
- Date Range
- 1949-1964
- Collection
- British Columbia Department of Lands and Forests fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- GMD
- cartographic material
- graphic material
- Scope and Content
- Collection consists of aerial survey photographs of the Skeena/Bulkley Valley region from the Department of Lands and Forests and the Department of Lands, Forests and Water Resources. Roll numbers:
Box 1 (1960-1965): BC 4267, 4269, 4277, 4278, 4281, 4340, 4341, 4342, 4342, 4343, 4349, 4110, 4134, 2…
- Collection
- British Columbia Department of Lands and Forests fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- GMD
- cartographic material
- graphic material
- Creator
- BC Ministry of Forests
- Fonds No.
- GF9
- Accession No.
- 2019.30
- Date Range
- 1949-1964
- History / Biographical
- BC government air photographs of the Skeena/Stikine region (Prince Rupert to Smithers).
- Scope and Content
- Collection consists of aerial survey photographs of the Skeena/Bulkley Valley region from the Department of Lands and Forests and the Department of Lands, Forests and Water Resources. Roll numbers:
Box 1 (1960-1965): BC 4267, 4269, 4277, 4278, 4281, 4340, 4341, 4342, 4342, 4343, 4349, 4110, 4134, 2830, 4088, 4089, 4090, 4091, 4092
Box 2 (1949-1960): BC 2819, 2818, 1019, 1021, 1022, 2558, 2559, 2674, 2625, 2113, 2179, 2181, 2182, 2183, 2184, 1941
Box 3 (1949-1960): BC 2787, 2788, 2789, 2790, 2795, 2800, 2801, 2802, 2220, 2219, 1651, 1596, 1620, 1887, 1002, 1003, 1020, 1001, 1006, 1007, 1651, 1691, 1692, 1695, 1825, 1847, 1884, 1885
Box 4 (1953-1957): BC 1587, 1595, 1592, 1584, 1583, 1582, 1579, 1432, 1594, 1419, 1417, 1586, 1585, 1584, 1591, 1588, 2220, 2221, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1937, 1940
Box 5 (1954-1958): BC 1904, 1905, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 2223, 2226, 2413, 1914, 2414, 2415, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1906
Box 6 (1949-1957): BC 1586, 1595, 2222, 1939, 1020, 1015, 1017, 1047, 1023, 1025, 1024, 1018, 1148, 1149, 1191, 1209, 1020, 1214, 1215
Box 7 (1950-1960): BC 2820, 2822, 2821, 2823, 2806, 2824, 2803, 2804, 2806, 2811, 2812, 2813, 2815, 2816, 2676, 2677, 2678, 2679, 2080, 2682, 2681, 2687, 2709, 2786, 1255, 1254, 1252, 1349, 1377, 1253, 2221
Box 8 (1949-1954): BC 1016, 1015, 1014, 1013, 1912, 1008, 1009, 1010
Box 9 (1958-1963): BC 2416, 2555, 2556, 2554, 2553, 2417, 4109, 4159
Box 10 (1954-1964): BC 1942, 1943, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2107, 2417, 2530, 2531, 2668, 2669, 2670, 2671, 2672, 2673, 4154, 4411, 4164, 4165, 4166, 4167, 4208, 4209, 4210, 4260, 4261, 4262
- Subject Access
- British Columbia Department of Lands and Forests
- Geographic Access
- Bulkley Valley
- Skeena River
- Reproduction Restrictions
- Air photos are available to order from the BC Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management as high-resolution digital files.
- Type of Record
- Archival Description
Less detail
Business Records
- Date Range
- [1896-1935]
- Collection
- Ronald C. Campbell-Johnston sous-fonds
- Willard D. Tompson fonds
- Description Level
- Series
- GMD
- textual record
- graphic material
- cartographic material
- Scope and Content
- Records primarily pertain to a multitude of mining companies and groups Campbell-Johnston compiled reports for in a number of mining divisions across British Columbia, including: Groundhog Mountain Coal Lands, Omineca, Kamloops, Nelson, Slocan, Yale, New Westminister, Quatsino, Vancouver, Similkame…
- Collection
- Ronald C. Campbell-Johnston sous-fonds
- Willard D. Tompson fonds
- Description Level
- Series
- GMD
- textual record
- graphic material
- cartographic material
- Fonds No.
- PF9 SF1
- Series No.
- S1
- Accession No.
- 1985.6
- 1985.25
- 1990.113
- 1990.135
- 1990.140
- 1990.209
- Physical Description
- 74 cm of textual records
- 178 photographs
- cartographic materials
- Date Range
- [1896-1935]
- Scope and Content
- Records primarily pertain to a multitude of mining companies and groups Campbell-Johnston compiled reports for in a number of mining divisions across British Columbia, including: Groundhog Mountain Coal Lands, Omineca, Kamloops, Nelson, Slocan, Yale, New Westminister, Quatsino, Vancouver, Similkameen, Osoyoos, Portland Canal, Queen Charlotte Islands, Alberni, Nicola and Comox.
- Type of Record
- Archival Description
Less detail
Canadian National Railways fonds
- Date Range
- 1920-1979
- Collection
- Canadian National Railways fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- GMD
- textual record
- graphic material
- architectural drawing
- cartographic material
- Scope and Content
- Records within this fonds relate to the functions of the Canadian National Railways’ operation in Smithers, B.C. Records include directories, blueprints, forms, timetables, maps, booklets, and Amateur Athletic Association treasurer records.
- Collection
- Canadian National Railways fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- GMD
- textual record
- graphic material
- architectural drawing
- cartographic material
- Fonds No.
- GF2
- Accession No.
- 1981.61
- 1983.6
- 1987.16
- 1992.9
- 2004.63
- 2009.67
- 2009.69
- 2010.2
- 2010.9
- 2016.26
- 2017.6
- 2018.2
- 2018.89
- 2020.35
- Physical Description
- 7 cm of textual records
- 20 photographs
- 6 maps and architectural drawings
- Date Range
- 1920-1979
- History / Biographical
- The Canadian National Railways was created by the Canadian government in 1918. The company amalgamated several Canadian railways that had become bankrupt, including the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway which Smithers was established on. The Smithers station transferred over to the Canadian National Railways after 1922.
- Scope and Content
- Records within this fonds relate to the functions of the Canadian National Railways’ operation in Smithers, B.C. Records include directories, blueprints, forms, timetables, maps, booklets, and Amateur Athletic Association treasurer records.
- Type of Record
- Archival Description
Canadian National Railways fonds
Less detail
Chamber of Commerce fonds
- Date Range
- [1950s?]-2002
- Collection
- Chamber of Commerce fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- GMD
- textual record
- graphic material
- cartographic material
- Scope and Content
- This fonds contains records created by the Chamber of Commerce to help promote Smithers and its businesses. These include magazines, pamphlets, a novelty paper placemat, a claim map, a copy of the All Seasons Bulletin newsletter, a publication entitled “The Kids Came Back,” 6 photographs from the 1…
- Collection
- Chamber of Commerce fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- GMD
- textual record
- graphic material
- cartographic material
- Creator
- Smithers Chamber of Commerce
- Fonds No.
- GF10
- Accession No.
- 1996.153
- 2017.83
- 2018.2
- 2018.5
- 2020.15
- 2020.34
- 2020.36
- Physical Description
- ~3.5 cm of textual records; 1 placemat; 1 map; 6 photographs (colour)
- Date Range
- [1950s?]-2002
- History / Biographical
- The Smithers Chamber of Commerce began as the local Board of Trade, officially changing its name to the Chamber of Commerce in 1929. Its role was to promote and protect the interests of the Smithers business community. During the Great Depression, the Chamber played a key role in the establishment of the Experimental Farm, having petitioned Ottawa for years before the request was officially granted in 1938. It considered dam construction on the Bulkley River in 1945, but this never came to fruition. A Junior Chamber of Commerce was created in 1949.
Today’s Chamber of Commerce offers a wide range of services, including relocation packages, e-mail distribution, photocopying, mail service, and maps, to both its members and the community as a whole. In partnership with the Smithers Visitor Centre, it plays a significant role in attracting new businesses to the Bulkley Valley. On its website it maintains a directory of Smithers businesses, as well as links to other community organizations and resources.
- Custodial History
- Item from 1996.153 was donated by Glenn Norton on October 28, 1996. Item from 2017.83 was transferred from the Penticton Archives on April 18, 1998. Items from 2018.2 and 2020.15 were found in collections and added to the Chamber of Commerce fonds in 2018 and 2020 respectively. Items from 2018.5 were donated by Geri Britton on February 28, 2018. Item from 2020.34 had previously been in the museum’s reference files, but was accessioned and added to fonds in August 2020. Items from 2020.36 were found in collections in October 2020, in a box of photos that had been sent to the Interior News prior to 2003 and transferred to the museum at an unknown date.
- Scope and Content
- This fonds contains records created by the Chamber of Commerce to help promote Smithers and its businesses. These include magazines, pamphlets, a novelty paper placemat, a claim map, a copy of the All Seasons Bulletin newsletter, a publication entitled “The Kids Came Back,” 6 photographs from the 1999 Business Achievement Awards, and a folder entitled “Smithers: A Town For All Seasons,” containing a variety of advertisements, pamphlets, and similar documents.
- Geographic Access
- Smithers, B.C.
- Type of Record
- Archival Description
Chamber of Commerce fonds
Less detail
Cronin Family fonds
- Date Range
- 1907-1934
- Collection
- Cronin Family fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- GMD
- cartographic material
- graphic material
- textual record
- Scope and Content
- Fonds primarily illustrates the Cronin Family’s involvement in mining and timber endeavours, such as the Babine Bonanza Mining and Milling Company Ltd., Lardo Mine and Pen D’Oreille Timber Lands records. The Babine Bonanza Mining and Milling Company Ltd records span 1907 to 1934, depicting James Cr…
- Collection
- Cronin Family fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- GMD
- cartographic material
- graphic material
- textual record
- Creator
- James Cronin
- Rose Cronin Andersen
- Niels Andersen
- John T Cronin
- Fonds No.
- PF11
- Accession No.
- 1985.1
- 2017.4
- Physical Description
- 88 cm of textual records
- 4 photogrpahs
- 18 cartographic materials
- Date Range
- 1907-1934
- History / Biographical
- James T. Cronin was born in Bantry, Ireland, 1851, and left home before the age of 20 to arrive in New York in 1870. He married Annie and had four children: Mae (Seehorn), Evelyn (Shine), Rose (Andersen) and John.
After arriving in New York, Cronin travelled west to Nevada where he worked various jobs in mines, including machine man, shift boss and foreman. In the late 1870’s, Cronin spent time prospecting in British Columbia’s Cassiar country, and even went north to the Klondike. However, because of the harsh living conditions and non-existent modes of transportation, Cronin left B.C. and returned to the United States. In 1893, Cronin returned to Canada to work in the Kootenay region. Cronin and Father Cocola (a Roman Catholic missionary), with the help of Peter an Indigenous man, located St. Eugene Mine in Moyie, B.C. This mine and others in the Rossland, B.C. area, were incorporated under the Canadian Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company, where Cronin worked as Managing Director of the Company’s mines. In the early 1900s, Cronin moved further north into British Columbia’s Omineca District and Babine Mountains. In 1907, he acquired a group of claims then known as the “Dibble Group” from J. Dibble and M. J. Brewer and with Charles Theis and several others, forming the Babine Bonanza Mining and Milling Company, Ltd in 1909. Two of Cronin’s children, John and Rose, took interest and became involved in Cronin’s new mining company.
Fifteen years prior to Cronin’s death, he moved back to Spokane, Washington, yet continued to be heavily involved in his mining company. In 1923, Cronin was riding his horse when it stumbled and fell, injuring Cronin. It is believed this fall contributed to Cronin’s death and he passed away at age 72 on March 3, 1925. After Cronin’s death, both John and Rose continued to be heavily involved with the company and filled positions of Secretary and Treasurer, respectively, on the Board of Directors.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds primarily illustrates the Cronin Family’s involvement in mining and timber endeavours, such as the Babine Bonanza Mining and Milling Company Ltd., Lardo Mine and Pen D’Oreille Timber Lands records. The Babine Bonanza Mining and Milling Company Ltd records span 1907 to 1934, depicting James Cronin’s involvement with the company, Rose Cronin Andersen and John T. Cronin’s involvement, their merger with Anglo London Mining Corporation (Babine Bonanza Metals Ltd.) and the lawsuit with Omineca Silver King Mines Ltd. The Lardo Mine records reflect James Cronin’s time mining in the Kootenay region from 1906-1912, and the time after Cronin’s death when Rose Cronin Andersen worked to sell the claims. The Pen D’Oreille Timber Lands [expand] Additionally, there are the personal records of Rose Cronin Andersen and the records of Niels Andersen’s (Rose Cronin Andersen’s husband) auto-repair shop, Cambridge Garage.
- Arrangement
- No original order exists. Records are artificially arranged.
- Type of Record
- Archival Description
Less detail
Dirk Septer collection
- Date Range
- [1910-1997]
- Collection
- Dirk Septer collection
- Description Level
- Fonds
- GMD
- textual record
- graphic material
- cartographic material
- Scope and Content
- Fonds depicts Dirk Septer's research interests, including the dissolution of Walcott, B.C. and a diamond drill located near Coal Creek. Records include biographical information on residents, newspaper clippings, correspondence, hand written notes, photographs, and a sketched map of Walcott, B.C.
- Collection
- Dirk Septer collection
- Description Level
- Fonds
- GMD
- textual record
- graphic material
- cartographic material
- Fonds No.
- C3
- Accession No.
- 1991.226
- 2004.63
- Physical Description
- 6 cm of textual records
- 9 b&w photographs
- 4 colour photographs
- 8 b&w negatives
- 12 colour slides
- 1 map
- Date Range
- [1910-1997]
- History / Biographical
- Born and raised in the Netherlands, Dirk Septer moved to Canada in 1973 after serving in the Royal Netherlands Air Force. He is an aviation historian and photographer who focuses on the West Coast and the Canadian Arctic. Dirk has published many articles in aviation magazines in and was the lead investigator in the television documentary Lost Nuke, which first aired on the Discovery Channel in 2004. Dirk is a former director and vice president of the Bulkley Valley Museum Society and now lives on Cortes Island, BC. For more detailed information, see finding aid.
- Custodial History
- Records were collected by Dirk Septer while researching local history and donated to the Archives in the 1990s. They appear to have been given a new accession number when being arranged in 2004.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds depicts Dirk Septer's research interests, including the dissolution of Walcott, B.C. and a diamond drill located near Coal Creek. Records include biographical information on residents, newspaper clippings, correspondence, hand written notes, photographs, and a sketched map of Walcott, B.C.
- Arrangement
- Records were arranged rudimentarily in 2004 by Jane Young and fully described in February 2017 by Manda Haligowski.
- Type of Record
- Archival Description
Less detail
Joseph Allen L'Orsa map and photograph collection
- Date Range
- 1915-[1998?]
- Collection
- Joseph Allen L'Orsa map and photograph collection
- Description Level
- Fonds
- GMD
- graphic material
- textual record
- cartographic material
- architectural drawing
- Scope and Content
- Records reflect Joe L’Orsa’s interest in mining, environmentalism, and local history. Records consist of maps (including Axel Elmsted’s hand drawn maps), architectural drawings, photographs, a report entitled “The Social Effects of Rapid Growth: A Northern Sickness,” and a written history of the Ba…
- Collection
- Joseph Allen L'Orsa map and photograph collection
- Description Level
- Fonds
- GMD
- graphic material
- textual record
- cartographic material
- architectural drawing
- Creator
- Joseph L'Orsa
- Fonds No.
- C7
- Accession No.
- 2018.24
- 2000.45
- Physical Description
- 66+ photographs, 49 maps, 4 architectural drawings, 5 cm textual records
- Date Range
- 1915-[1998?]
- History / Biographical
- Joseph (Joe) Allen L’Orsa (born March 4, 1939) was a prominent figure in the Bulkley Valley, best known for his environmental activism. He is credited with starting the area’s first environmental group, “Citizens Against Pollution,” which later became known as SPEC (Society for Pollution and Environmental Control). L’Orsa was instrumental in establishing Babine Mountains Provincial Park, and recorded both settler and Witsuwit'en (Wet’suwet’en) histories of the mountain range. He was also active in the Farmer’s Institute, the Hospital Society, and the Smithers Community Services Association, and ran for a seat on the School Board in 1978. Every Christmas he organized and local Christmas musical event which eventually became known as the Joe L’Orsa Coffeehouse, or simply ‘The Joe.’ In his later years L’Orsa worked as a constituency assistant, first for Bill Goodacre and then for former MLA Jackie Pement. He passed away on April 20, 1999 in Smithers, B.C. The Joe L'Orsa Cabin in Babine Mountains Provincial Park was named after him. For more detailed information, see finding aid.
- Custodial History
- Maps and photographs were collected and created by Joe L’Orsa and eventually passed down to his daughter, Nicole L’Orsa. She donated them to the Bulkley Valley Museum in 2018.
- Scope and Content
- Records reflect Joe L’Orsa’s interest in mining, environmentalism, and local history. Records consist of maps (including Axel Elmsted’s hand drawn maps), architectural drawings, photographs, a report entitled “The Social Effects of Rapid Growth: A Northern Sickness,” and a written history of the Babine Mountains recreation area. They have been arranged in three series: Maps and architectural drawings (S1), textual records (S2), and Photographs (S3).
- Geographic Access
- Smithers, B.C.
- Bulkley Valley
- Type of Record
- Archival Description
Joseph Allen L'Orsa map and photograph collection
Less detail
Ronald Campbell-Johnston sous-fonds
- Date Range
- [1896-1935]
- Collection
- Willard D. Tompson fonds
- Ronald C. Campbell-Johnston sous-fonds
- Description Level
- Sous-fonds
- GMD
- textual record
- graphic material
- cartographic material
- Scope and Content
- Sous-fonds is arranged into one series: Business records. Records were created in the course of Ronald C. Campbell-Johnston’s time as a geologist in mining exploration. Records include reports, brochures, maps, sketches, and photographs.
- Collection
- Willard D. Tompson fonds
- Ronald C. Campbell-Johnston sous-fonds
- Description Level
- Sous-fonds
- GMD
- textual record
- graphic material
- cartographic material
- Creator
- Ronald C. Campbell-Johnston
- Fonds No.
- PF9 SF1
- Accession No.
- 1985.6
- 1985.25
- 1990.113
- 1990.135
- 1990.140
- 1990.209
- Physical Description
- 74 cm of textual records
- 178 photographs
- 41 cartographic items
- Date Range
- [1896-1935]
- History / Biographical
- Ronald C. Campbell-Johnston was born September 18, 1863 in England to Robert Alexander Campbell-Johnston and Frances Palliser. He was married to Amy Ellen Chadwick Merry and had a daughter Amy Campbell-Johnston, born November 27, 1886. Around 1989, Campbell Johnston and his family immigrated to Canada to work as a geologist in mineral exploration, providing reports on mining and mineral claims for various claim holders. Campbell-Johnston passed away October 29, 1929 at the age of 66, in Vancouver, BC.
- Scope and Content
- Sous-fonds is arranged into one series: Business records. Records were created in the course of Ronald C. Campbell-Johnston’s time as a geologist in mining exploration. Records include reports, brochures, maps, sketches, and photographs.
- Type of Record
- Archival Description
Less detail
Rose Cronin Andersen
- Date Range
- [1911-1932]
- Collection
- Cronin Family fonds
- Description Level
- Series
- GMD
- textual record
- graphic material
- object
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of correspondence, essays, a home study course in letter writing, one unidentified photograph and two Roman Catholic pendants given to Rose from the Monastery of St Clare in Omaha. Correspondence primarily depicts the sale of land left to Annie Cronin, Rose’s mother, after her fathe…
- Collection
- Cronin Family fonds
- Description Level
- Series
- GMD
- textual record
- graphic material
- object
- Creator
- Rose Cronin Andersen
- Fonds No.
- PF11
- Series No.
- S4
- Accession No.
- 2017.4
- Physical Description
- 7.5 cm of textual records
- 1 b&w photograph
- 2 artifacts
- Date Range
- [1911-1932]
- History / Biographical
- Rose Cronin Andersen was born in 1892 in Washington. In 1923, she married Niels Andersen in Spokane, Washington and together they had three children: Cronin Andersen, Rosemarie Andersen (Hoss) and John Andersen. After the passing of her father, James Cronin, Rose took a very active role on the Board of Directors of the Babine Bonanza Mining and Milling Co. as Treasurer, as well as taking care of all her father’s assets on behalf of her mother (to whom all assets were left to).
- Custodial History
- Found in collection in January 2017.
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of correspondence, essays, a home study course in letter writing, one unidentified photograph and two Roman Catholic pendants given to Rose from the Monastery of St Clare in Omaha. Correspondence primarily depicts the sale of land left to Annie Cronin, Rose’s mother, after her father’s death, as well as personal correspondence.
- Type of Record
- Archival Description
Less detail
Scrapbooks
- Date Range
- 1994
- Collection
- Smithers 1994 B.C. Winter Games Society fonds
- Description Level
- File
- GMD
- textual record
- graphic material
- object
- Scope and Content
- File contains a large brown scrapbook with attached scrapbook pages outlining the highlights of the Winter Games in Smithers. Scrapbook contains newspaper clippings, photographs, pins, a medal, and Winter Games pamphlets.
- Collection
- Smithers 1994 B.C. Winter Games Society fonds
- Description Level
- File
- GMD
- textual record
- graphic material
- object
- Fonds No.
- AF11
- File No.
- File 1
- Accession No.
- 1995.15
- Physical Description
- 133 colour photographs
- 15 b/w photographs
- 2 pins
- 1 medal
- Date Range
- 1994
- Scope and Content
- File contains a large brown scrapbook with attached scrapbook pages outlining the highlights of the Winter Games in Smithers. Scrapbook contains newspaper clippings, photographs, pins, a medal, and Winter Games pamphlets.
- Geographic Access
- Smithers, B.C.
- Type of Record
- Archival Description
Less detail
Sheila Peters fonds
- Date Range
- 1988-2018
- Collection
- Sheila Peters fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- GMD
- electronic record
- sound recording
- textual record
- graphic material
- cartographic material
- Scope and Content
- Fonds reflects the writing and recording activities of Shelia Peters. Arranged into 5 series: 1. Digital items, 2. Research and drafts, 3. Publications, 4. Ephemera, 5. Maps
- Collection
- Sheila Peters fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- GMD
- electronic record
- sound recording
- textual record
- graphic material
- cartographic material
- Other Title Info
- based on contents
- Creator
- Sheila Peters
- Fonds No.
- PF31
- Accession No.
- 2019.8
- Physical Description
- 9 optical character discs (CDs) containing 51 .mp3 files and 1 PowerPoint
- 5cm textual records
- 1cm ephemera
- 1 Word Document
- 3 maps
- Date Range
- 1988-2018
- Publication
- Creekstone Press
- CICK Smithers Community Radio
- History / Biographical
- Sheila Peters was born in Powell River, BC in 1953. After graduation from Carleton University with a Bachelor of Journalism in 1976, she made her way to a job at the Interior News in Smithers, where she met R. Lynn Shervill, a journalism graduate from the University of Western Ontario. (Lynn grew up in London.) They married in 1978 and lived in Driftwood Canyon, where they raised their two sons, for most of the next 42 years. Lynn wrote Smithers: From Swamp to Village which was published in 1981 to celebrate Smithers 50th anniversary. Previously he worked at several Canadian newspapers and the Banff Centre for the Arts. Both were active environmental and social justice campaigners (Telkwa Foundation, Amnesty International, Driftwood Foundation, Smithers Human Rights Society).
In 1998, Creekstone Press was founded and has published 21 books to date. Both Lynn and Sheila are involved in the whole publishing process, which features regional writers in a variety of genres.
Sheila started publishing her writing in the mid-nineties. Her poetry and fiction has appeared in many Canadian journals. Tending the Remnant Damage (Beach Holme 2001) is a linked collection of short stories; Canyon Creek: A Script (Creekstone 1998) tells the story of the eviction of a Witsuwit'en (Wet’suwet’en) family from its homesite near Smithers; weather from the west is a collection of poetry published in collaboration with images by visual artist, Perry Rath; A Taste of Ashes is a novel set in both Smithers and Guatemala; Shafted is a mystery set in Smithers; The Bathymetry of Lax Kwaxl is a chapbook of sonnets published by Leaf Press. She has also been a regular contributor to Northword, a regional arts and culture magazine. From 2015 to 2018 she hosted In the Shadow of the Mountain, a CICK radio show featuring (mostly) local and regional writers. In 2018, she began a series of essays (including some from Lynn) about the Driftwood watershed to celebrate their 40 years living beside the creek. They’ve been published on her blog at www.sheilapeters.com.
She also participated in installations, performance, and art projects:
- "Marginal" (poetry) performed in Tribute to the Babines (audio-visual Driftwood Foundation production), Smithers, 1990
- "A Height of Land" (one-act play) produced in Smithers and Hazelton, 1992
- “an open drawer” – an interactive installation of artifacts, poems, and photographs shown in “A Stitch in Time” at the Smithers Art Gallery, May/June 2001
- “Beetles probes 1, 2, and 3” (poems) accepted for display in Red and Blue Beetle Art in Vanderhoof, June, 2007 and subsequent tours.
- “I taught myself to drive” Joint installation with photographer Virginia Pohl at 5314: a Celebration of Connection and Nurturing at the Smithers Art Gallery plus 50 handmade chapbooks April 2009
- “still waters” (poetry) installed at Driftwood Canyon Provincial Park June 2010
- “Pine Cycle” (poetry) words for a choral composition by Diane Berry to be premiered in Victoria in February 2012.
Sheila and Lynn moved to Powell River in 2019.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds reflects the writing and recording activities of Shelia Peters. Arranged into 5 series: 1. Digital items, 2. Research and drafts, 3. Publications, 4. Ephemera, 5. Maps
- Arrangement
- Items do not have an original arrangement.
- Geographic Access
- Driftwood, B.C.
- Smithers, B.C.
- Type of Record
- Archival Description
Less detail
Simpson Family fonds
- Date Range
- 1905-1983
- Collection
- Simpson Family fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- GMD
- textual record
- graphic material
- cartographic material
- Scope and Content
- This fonds contains written records, maps, photographs and a painting created by and/or related to Donald and Mary Simpson of Smithers, in particular their mining operations on Hudson Bay Mountain. It includes correspondence, reports, maps, and claim records regarding the Victory and Empire mines, …
- Collection
- Simpson Family fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- GMD
- textual record
- graphic material
- cartographic material
- Fonds No.
- PF36
- Accession No.
- 2020.39
- 1983.17
- 1983.56
- Physical Description
- 3 cm of textual records, 4 maps, 42 photographs, 1 painting
- Date Range
- 1905-1983
- History / Biographical
- Donald Cameron Simpson was born in Scotland in 1871 and immigrated to Canada with his family at age 14. In the early 1900s he and his brother James began working on the Victory and Empire mining claims on Hudson Bay Mountain. He married English immigrant Mary Smith (b. 1871) in 1915 and they moved to Smithers shortly afterwards. The couple continued to operate their mines throughout the 1920s and the first half of the 1930s. Donald died in 1936 and Mary moved to Vancouver in 1954, where she died four years later. The Empire claim was sold, but the Victory claim remained in the family until 2019.
- Custodial History
- Items in accession 2020.39 were in the ownership of the Simpson family for many years before being donated by Elizabeth Cameron, granddaughter of James Simpson, on October 2nd 2020. They were entered into the newly-created Simpson Family fonds on October 6th 2020.
The photocopied memoirs from accession 1983.56, as well as photographs P1290-P1292 (1983.17) and P3984-P3989, were retroactively added to the Simpson Family fonds on October 6th. The memoirs had originally been donated by Cameron Bordon in 1983 and were part of the BVM discrete item collection. Photographs P1290-P1292 had been donated by the Cameron family in 1983.
- Scope and Content
- This fonds contains written records, maps, photographs and a painting created by and/or related to Donald and Mary Simpson of Smithers, in particular their mining operations on Hudson Bay Mountain. It includes correspondence, reports, maps, and claim records regarding the Victory and Empire mines, a handwritten mineral information reference book, several poems and a story written by Donald Simpson, memoirs and a painting by Mary Simpson, a 1945 Municipal Land Assessment and 1958 Demolition Agreement for the Simpsons’ home, and photographs of the Simpsons, their extended family, and their mining claims.
- Arrangement
- The fonds has been arranged into three series: S1) Mining Records, containing documents and maps relating to the Victory and Empire Mines, S2) Personal Materials, containing records relating to the Simpsons’ home as well as personal writings and art by the Simpsons, and S3) Photographs, containing photos of the Simpsons, their extended family, and their mining claims.
- Geographic Access
- Hudson Bay Mountain
- Smithers, B.C.
- Type of Record
- Archival Description
Less detail
Town of Smithers
- Date Range
- 1967-2020
- Collection
- Town of Smithers fonds
- Description Level
- Series
- GMD
- textual record
- graphic material
- cartographic material
- architectural drawing
- Scope and Content
- This series contains documents created by, or for, the Town of Smithers since its incorporation in 1967. These include flyers/pamphlets, newsletters, correspondence, a program for the inaugural meeting of Smithers Town Council, items from Smithers’ 60th and 75th anniversaries (program, letters, gue…
- Collection
- Town of Smithers fonds
- Description Level
- Series
- GMD
- textual record
- graphic material
- cartographic material
- architectural drawing
- Creator
- Town of Smithers
- Fonds No.
- GF4
- Series No.
- S2
- Item No.
- P7723-P7733
- Accession No.
- 1983.12
- 1988.8
- 1999.239
- 2012.16
- 2012.17
- 2017.22
- 2017.41
- 2017.71
- 2018.2
- 2018.19
- 2020.9
- 2021.12
- Physical Description
- 5.5 cm of textual records, 43 maps/plans, 34 colour photographs
- Date Range
- 1967-2020
- History / Biographical
- Smithers was officially incorporated as a town in 1967, having been designated as a village since 1921. It remains town status as of 2020. The Town of Smithers is governed by the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Town Council, and is made up of several departments including: the Department of Recreation, Parks, and culture, the Fire Department and Emergency Services, the Prevention and Community Safety Department, the Administration and Human Resources Department, the Works and Operations Department, the Development Services Department, the Finance Department, and the Bylaw Enforcement and Animal Control Department.
- Custodial History
- This series was created by Holly Peterson in July 2020 as a complement to the pre-existing Corporation of the Village of Smithers fonds, created by Manda Haligowski circa 2016-2018.
- Scope and Content
- This series contains documents created by, or for, the Town of Smithers since its incorporation in 1967. These include flyers/pamphlets, newsletters, correspondence, a program for the inaugural meeting of Smithers Town Council, items from Smithers’ 60th and 75th anniversaries (program, letters, guestbooks, photographs), Smithers land plots, Central Park Building renovation and Central Park redevelopment plans, and cemetery maps.
- Geographic Access
- Smithers, B.C.
- Notes
- Of the photographs, 11 have been assigned P numbers and scanned as a representative sample of the collection, while the remaining 23 have been deliberately left unnumbered and unscanned. They are still available upon request for those interested.
- Type of Record
- Archival Description
Less detail
Town of Smithers fonds
- Date Range
- 1922-2020
- Collection
- Town of Smithers fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- GMD
- textual record
- graphic material
- cartographic material
- architectural drawing
- sound recording
- Scope and Content
- This fonds contains records created by or relating to the municipal governing body of the Town, formerly Village, of Smithers. These include documents such as financial reports, assessment rolls, a scavenging ledger, land lot tax assessments, a voters’ list, bylaws, programs, pamphlets, newsletters…
- Collection
- Town of Smithers fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- GMD
- textual record
- graphic material
- cartographic material
- architectural drawing
- sound recording
- Creator
- Town of Smithers
- Village of Smithers
- Fonds No.
- GF4
- Item No.
- P7723-P7733
- Accession No.
- 1975.107
- 1981.6
- 1983.10
- 1983.12
- 1983.14
- 1988.1
- 1988.5
- 1988.6
- 1988.8
- 1988.9
- 1988.10
- 1988.12
- 1990.172
- 1999.239
- 2007.3
- 2009.50
- 2012.16
- 2012.17
- 2017.22
- 2017.36
- 2017.41
- 2017.71
- 2018.2
- 2018.19
- 2020.9
- 2021.12
- Physical Description
- 27.5 cm of textual records, 72 cartographic and architectural records, 34 colour photographs
- Date Range
- 1922-2020
- History / Biographical
- The town of Smithers was established in 1913. The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTP) selected the swampy, flat area at the base of Hudson Bay Mountain as the divisional point for the railroad and the development of the town followed. Smithers grew very quickly and by 1914, it boasted two newspapers, banks, hotels, businesses, many residences, and a main street running six blocks north of the railroad tracks. In 1921 it was incorporated as British Columbia’s first village. Over the following decades, the small community continued to grow and expand, receiving town status in 1967. Today it serves as the regional center for the Bulkley Valley. The population as of 2016 was 5,351.
- Custodial History
- Series 1 was created circa 2016-2020 by Manda Haligowski. Arrangement of the fonds was completed by Holly Peterson in July 2020.
- Scope and Content
- This fonds contains records created by or relating to the municipal governing body of the Town, formerly Village, of Smithers. These include documents such as financial reports, assessment rolls, a scavenging ledger, land lot tax assessments, a voters’ list, bylaws, programs, pamphlets, newsletters, building specifications, and records from special events such as Smithers’ anniversaries. There are also many cartographic and architectural records, such as maps of Smithers and its Cemetery; blueprints, fire protection plans, and proposed renovations for Central Park Building; and plans for projects such as a new sewage system and the redevelopment of Central Park.
- Arrangement
- This fonds has been arranged into two series, reflecting two stages in the development of Smithers as a municipality: S1, Corporation of the Village of Smithers, which contains items dating from the village’s incorporation in 1921 until 1966; and S2, Town of Smithers, which contains items dating from after the town’s incorporation in 1967.
In addition, 14 maps and plans (1988.1.1, 1988.6.1, 1988.13.1, 2017.41.15, 2017.41.17, 2017.41.18, 2017.41.19, 2017.41.21, 2017.41.22, 2017.41.23, 2017.41.25, 2017.41.30, 2017.41.33, and 2017.41.34) were undated and as such have not been sorted into any series, instead remaining as loose items within the fonds. These are primarily cemetery plans, with some land plot maps and one set of proposed plans for the Smithers courtyard front porch.
- Geographic Access
- Smithers, B.C.
- Type of Record
- Archival Description
Less detail
Travel guides and maps
- Date Range
- [1940-1970]
- Collection
- BVM discrete item collection
- Description Level
- Item
- GMD
- cartographic material
- graphic material
- Scope and Content
- Travel guides/maps that mention Smithers and the Bulkley Valley, and contain advertisments for local businesses. One brochure/map titled "Welcome to the Beautiful Bulkley Valley Yellowhead 16 West" printed and published by See-Moore Printing Ltd. is specific to Smithers and the Valley only.
Walcott, B.C.
- Date Range
- [1910-1991]
- Collection
- Dirk Septer collection
- Description Level
- Series
- GMD
- textual record
- graphic material
- cartographic material
- Scope and Content
- Series includes research conducted by Septer regarding the town Walcott, B.C., which eventually dissolved. Septer was especially interested in the closure of the Canadian National Railway station, the Walcott school and the post office. Records include deeds and titles, correspondence, sketches, no…
- Collection
- Dirk Septer collection
- Description Level
- Series
- GMD
- textual record
- graphic material
- cartographic material
- Fonds No.
- C3
- Series No.
- S1
- Accession No.
- 2004.63
- Physical Description
- 5 cm of textual records
- 1 map
- Date Range
- [1910-1991]
- Scope and Content
- Series includes research conducted by Septer regarding the town Walcott, B.C., which eventually dissolved. Septer was especially interested in the closure of the Canadian National Railway station, the Walcott school and the post office. Records include deeds and titles, correspondence, sketches, notes, maps, photographs, and newspaper clippings, most of which are photocopies.
- Type of Record
- Archival Description
Less detail
Willard D. Tompson fonds
- Date Range
- [1896-1967]
- Collection
- Willard D. Tompson fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- GMD
- cartographic material
- textual record
- graphic material
- Scope and Content
- Fonds primarily reflects the business activities of Tompson while working as a geologist for Lost Resources Mining Syndicate, relating to the review of Ronald C. Campbell-Johnston’s mining claims.
- Collection
- Willard D. Tompson fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- GMD
- cartographic material
- textual record
- graphic material
- Fonds No.
- PF9
- Accession No.
- 1985.6
- 1985.25
- 1990.113
- 1990.135
- 1990.140
- 1990.209
- Physical Description
- 76.2 cm of textual records
- 178 photographs
- 41 cartographic items
- Date Range
- [1896-1967]
- History / Biographical
- Willard Dudley Tompson was born November 26, 1926 in Mexico, Missouri. He served with the U.S. Army, stationed in Berlin from 1945 to 1946. Tompson moved his family to Vancouver in 1962 to pursue a career as a geologist in mineral exploration. In 1974, he relocated to Smithers, BC. By 1999, Tompson was Vice President of Telkwa Gold Corporation and retired to Vernon, BC in 2001. Tompson passed away on January 30, 2015.
- Custodial History
- The papers of Ronald C. Campbell-Johnston, and his daughter Maisie Armytage Moore, were collected by Tompson during his contract with Lost Resources Mining Syndicate to investigate the mining claims of Campbell-Johnston.
- Tompson bought the papers of Francis Bell Chettleburgh at an estate sale. Since, these records are not related to Tompson or his work, they have been separated and arranged under their own fonds (see: PF10).
- Scope and Content
- Fonds primarily reflects the business activities of Tompson while working as a geologist for Lost Resources Mining Syndicate, relating to the review of Ronald C. Campbell-Johnston’s mining claims.
- Fonds is arranged into two sous-fonds:
- 1. Ronald C. Campbell-Johnston
- 2. Amy Campbell-Johnston Hurley
- Records include reports, correspondence, maps, pamphlets and photographs.
- Related Material
- Francis Bell Chettleburgh fonds (PF10)
- Type of Record
- Archival Description
Less detail
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