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Charles E. Spring fonds
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Letter drafts and notes

File contains Spring's drafts of letters and notes primarily regarding attempts to settle his "Modus Vivendi" claims. Documents include multiple drafts of a June 15, 1937 letter to Gordon M. Grant, barrister and solicitor. File also contains a draft of a letter to Spring's sister Emma. Drafts of letters and notes are often written on the back of envelopes, Spring family correspondence, and ephemera.

Drafts and correspondence

File contains Spring's drafts of letters and documents and notes regarding attempts to settle his "Modus Vivendi" claims, as well as some incoming correspondence. Documents include drafts of memorials and petitions; drafts of letters to Canadian government officials, representatives, and others; notes; and incoming correspondence from E. Harrison, barrister-at-law.

Drafts and working papers

Series consists of drafts, working papers, and support material relating to Charles Spring’s efforts to recoup financial losses as a result of the “Modus Vivendi.” The series includes drafts of letters and documents; notes; newspaper clippings and other ephemera; accountings of losses; declarations, petitions, and memorials; incoming correspondence; a daily log book; a Commissioner of Fisheries Report; and receipts. The series is arranged into subseries based on the creator’s arrangement of material into three separate groupings.

Correspondence 1931-1934, 1937

File contains letters regarding Spring's attempts to reengage the government on the issue of the "Modus Vivendi" claims. The file also includes drafts of letters to Richard Bedford Bennett, Prime Minister of Canada, a draft of a 1934 petition to the Chairman of the Senate Committee of the Pelagic Sealing Treaty of 1911, and a copy of October 6, 1931 clipping from the "Daily Times" and "Daily Colonist" in Victoria regarding settlement of the "Coquitlam" claim. Notable correspondents include Alan Webster Neill, Member of Parliament for Comox-Alberni; D'Arcy Britton Plunkett, Member of Parliament for Victoria; Henry Herbert Stevens, Minister of Trade and Commerce; Alfred Duranleau, Minister of Marine and Minister of Fisheries (Acting); Ian Mackenzie, Member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre; Albert Edward Munn, Member of Parliament for Vancouver North; A.W. Merriam, Private Secretary to the Prime Minister; W. Stewart Edwards, Deputy Minister of Justice.

Draft notebook and correspondence

Notebook contains drafts of Spring's letters and documents and notes regarding attempts to settle his "Modus Vivendi" claims. Documents include drafts of letters to Gordon M. Grant, barrister and solicitor, and J.H. Munro, as well as relevant data, descriptions, and a review of the H. Paxton case. Loose notes, drafts, and ephemera are interleaved throughout the notebook. The file also contains incoming correspondence from J.S Matthews, City Archivist for Vancouver, and Spring's draft reply.

Drafts and notebooks

Subseries consists of drafts of letters and documents, notes, and supporting material regarding sealing claims. Most of the series is made up of lined notebooks. Draft documents include memorials to various Canadian government officials, a draft resolution, relevant data, descriptions, etc. The draft letters are addressed to many of the same Canadian government officials, representatives, and others found in the Correspondence series. Loose notes, drafts, newspaper clippings, and other ephemera are interleaved throughout the notebooks. In addition to newspaper clippings and ephemera, supporting materials include some incoming correspondence. Though the drafts in the notebooks are roughly in chronological order, some gaps occur. The contents of the subseries were received by the archivist in a leather briefcase.

Charles E. Spring fonds

  • RBSC-ARC-1705
  • Fonds
  • 1888-1937

Fonds consists of records spanning the period 1888-1937 relating to Charles Spring’s claims for financial losses as a result of the renewal of the “Modus Vivendi” banning pelagic sealing in the Bering Sea for the 1892-1893 season, and supporting documentation both prepared by and compiled by Spring. Records relating to Spring’s pursuit of his claims include draft and final statements of claim; draft and final petitions, memorials, statements, memoranda, and declarations; incoming and outgoing correspondence; notebooks; accountings and lists of expenses; Pelagic Sealing Commission oaths; reports; newspaper clippings, receipts, and other ephemera; and related notes and documents. Supporting documentation compiled by Spring was generated by the sealing industry, his own sealing enterprise, and as a result of the collapse of his business. These records include ledgers and journals; log books; certificates and licenses; sales, ownership, and insurance documents; receipts and financial documents; reports; court papers and police charges; correspondence and notices; and related notes and documents. The fonds also consists of personal papers not directly related to Spring’s sealing claims, including correspondence, copies and originals of photographs, and other documents.

Spring, Charles E.

Correspondence

Series consists of correspondence related to Spring's attempts to reengage the Canadian government on the issue of monetary settlement for losses sustained due to the renewal of the “Modus Vivendi.” The series includes incoming letters from various government officials to Charles Spring, as well as copies of incoming letters to other parties acting in collaboration with or on behalf of Spring. Incoming correspondence is frequently annotated by Spring with notes or drafts of replies. In addition, the series contains drafts and fair copies of Spring’s outgoing letters and related petitions, memorials, and other documents. The first file of the series contains an index created by Spring of select letters from 1892 to 1928 entitled, "List of letters, referring to correspondence on Modus Vivendi Claims for Season 1892." The letters included in this index are scattered throughout the series files. The correspondence is arranged in chronological order.

Letter and document drafts notebook

Notebook contains drafts of Spring's letters and documents and notes regarding attempts to settle his "Modus Vivendi" claims. Notable correspondents include D'Arcy Britton Plunkett, Member of Parliament for Victoria; King George V; and Gordon M. Grant, barrister and solicitor. The notebook also contains draft memorials to R.B. Bennett, Prime Minister; Alfred Duranleau, Minister of Marine and Minister of Fisheries; Henry Herbert Stevens, Minister of Trade and Commerce; and Edgar Nelson Rhodes, Minister of Finance. Loose notes, drafts, and newspaper clippings are interleaved throughout the notebook. There is a gap between March 1932 and the end of December 1934 and another between January 1935 and June 1937.

Papers and documents concerning the "modus vivendi" sealing claims…

Subseries consists of drafts of letters and documents, notes, and supporting material, as well as final declarations, petitions, and memorials regarding sealing claims. Draft documents include petitions and memorials to various Canadian and British government officials and representatives. The draft letters are addressed to many of the same Canadian government officials, representatives, and others found in the Correspondence series. Supporting material includes incoming correspondence, newspaper clippings, and other related documents. There is no discernible order to the material.

Drafts and clippings

File contains Spring's drafts of letters and documents and notes regarding attempts to settle his "Modus Vivendi" claims. Documents include drafts of letters to Gordon M. Grant, barrister and solicitor, and several newspaper clippings.

Drafts and supporting material

File contains Spring's drafts of letters and documents and notes regarding attempts to settle his "Modus Vivendi" claims, and such supporting material as newspaper clippings. Documents include drafts of memorials and petitions; drafts of letters; a draft of a statement regarding "Kate" and "Favourite;" and notes. In addition to newspaper clippings, the file also contains a House of Commons Debates Official Report from May 6, 1929 and a clipping from the same.

Notes pertaining to modus vivendi sealing claims...

Subseries consists of drafts of letters and documents and notes regarding sealing claims, as well as newspaper clippings. Documents include drafts of multiple letters to Gordon M. Grant, barrister and solicitor. Drafts and notes appear to be in rough chronological order. The subseries also consists of a daily log book for the sloop "Nymphe" and a Commissioner of Fisheries Report for 1913.

Letter and document drafts

File contains Spring's drafts of letters and documents and notes regarding attempts to settle his "Modus Vivendi" claims. Documents include drafts of letters to Gordon M. Grant, barrister and solicitor.

Letter and document drafts

File contains Spring's drafts of letters and documents and notes regarding attempts to settle his "Modus Vivendi" claims. Documents include drafts of letters to Gordon M. Grant, barrister and solicitor.

Letter and document drafts notebook

Notebook contains drafts of Spring's letters and documents and notes regarding attempts to settle his "Modus Vivendi" claims. Notable correspondents include R.B. Bennett, Prime Minister; D'Arcy Britton Plunkett, Member of Parliament for Victoria; Senator J.D. Taylor; Hugh Guthrie, Minister of Justice; W. Stewart Edwards, Deputy Minister of Justice. The notebook also contains drafts of a resolution to a standing committee on pelagic sealing. Loose notes, drafts, and newspaper clippings are interleaved throughout the notebook.

Letter and document drafts

File contains Spring's drafts of letters and documents and notes regarding attempts to settle his "Modus Vivendi" claims. Documents include drafts of statements; drafts of memorials and petitions; drafts of letters to Canadian government officials, representatives, and others; drafts of memoranda; and notes.

Letter and document drafts

File contains Spring's drafts of letters and documents and notes regarding attempts to settle his "Modus Vivendi" claims. Documents include drafts of a narrative of the 1892 sealing season; drafts of memorials and petitions to the various Canadian government officials and King George V.; drafts of letters to Canadian government officials, representatives, and others; accountings of financial losses; and notes.

Correspondence 1929-1930

File primarily contains replies to Spring in response to a memorandum synopsis of the "Modus Vivendi" sent to various officials. The file also includes a draft of a memorial addressed to Sidney Webb, Secretary of State for the Dominions, and a typed copy of a 1895 letter that H. Paxton, owner of the schooner "Wanderer," wrote to Joseph Chamberlain, member of the British Parliament. Notable correspondents include Lucien Cannon, Solicitor General; Hewitt Bostock, Senator from Kamloops; Alan Webster Neill, Member of Parliament for Comox-Alberni; William A. Found, Director of Fisheries; Pierre Joseph Arthur Cardin, Minister of Marine and Fisheries; John Hosie, Provincial Librarian and Archivist.

Letter and document drafts notebook

Notebook contains drafts of Spring's letters and documents and notes regarding attempts to settle his "Modus Vivendi" claims. Notable correspondents include James Horace King, Minister of Soldiers Civil Re-Establishment; Alan Webster Neill, Member of Parliament for Comox-Alberni; Captain H. Paxton; Sidney Webb, Secretary of State for the Dominions; F.A. Pauline, Agent General for British Columbia; Richard Bedford Bennett, Prime Minister of Canada; William A. Found, Director of Fisheries; William Lyon Mackenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada; Captain Walter E. Adams; Senator Andrew Haydon; Wilfred Hanbury, Liberal party candidate; Simon Fraser Tolmie, Premier of British Columbia. The notebook also contains a handwritten transcript of the May 6, 1929 exchange regarding sealing claims in the House of Commons and Spring's response, as well as a draft memorial to Sidney Webb. Loose notes, drafts, newspaper clippings, and other ephemera are interleaved throughout the notebook.

Donald Urquhart documents

File consists of letters and documents relating to Captain Donald Urquhart. The files includes letters to Captain Owen Thomas of schooner "Venture" from an unknown party regarding restrictions on entering the Bering Sea and referencing Captain Urquhart. The files also contains Spring's notes regarding and drafts of letters to Urquhart's family, as well as documents from Customs and Excise, Canada regarding Urquhart's ownership of vessels "Venture," "W.P. Sayward," and "Penelope."

Cereno J. Kelley and Donald Urquhart documents

The series consists of documents relating to Captain Cereno J. Kelley and Captain Donald Urquhart (later the estate of Donald Urquhart), and their involvement in the sealing industry during the period of the “Modus Vivendi” and later. The series also documents the later involvement of Kelley and the estate of Donald Urquhart in pursuing claims for losses as a result of the “Modus Vivendi” and vessel seizures. Documents include correspondence, notes and drafts, proof of vessel ownership papers, agreements and accounts of crew for Urquhart’s schooners, and an account journal for the Urquhart estate.

Correspondence 1928

File contains correspondence relating to the prospects for the settlement of sealing claims under the current government and correspondence with R.E. Gosnell of the Legislative Press Gallery, who agreed to lobby for Spring in Ottawa. Notable correspondents include James Horace King, Minister of Soldiers Civil Re-Establishment; C.H. Gibbons, Vice President, Legislative Press Gallery; Lucien Cannon, Solicitor General; A.M. Manson, Attorney General; Hewitt Bostock, Senator from Kamloops; W. Stewart Edwards, Deputy Minister of Justice; Simon Fraser Tolmie, premier of British Columbia. The file also includes a draft of 1928 memorial to J.H. King requesting an investigation of sealing claims.

Letter drafts notebook

Notebook contains drafts of Spring's letters primarily regarding attempts to settle his "Modus Vivendi" claims. Notable correspondents include Alan Webster Neill, Member of Parliament for Comox-Alberni; Secretary of the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States; R.E. Gosnell, Legislative Press Gallery; A.M. Manson, Attorney General; James Horace King, Minister of Soldiers Civil Re-Establishment. Loose notes, drafts, and newspaper clippings are interleaved throughout the notebook.

English correspondence course material

File primarily contains documents related to an English language correspondence course in which Spring enrolled. Documents include 1921 correspondence with the Sherwin Cody School of English and the course booklet. The file also contains an instructional booklet on how to prepare manuscripts and other documents and ephemera.

Personal papers and photographs

Series consists of personal correspondence and documents, as well as photographs (copies and originals) of Spring and his wife. The series includes correspondence with Spring’s son-in-law and an English language correspondence course, correspondence course booklet, a manual on preparing manuscripts, and other documents and ephemera.

Correspondence 1927

File primarily contains correspondence related to a 1927 petition by Spring and others to William Lyon Mackenzie King requesting the establishment a royal commission inquiring into damages suffered by sealers due to the extension of the "Modus Vivendi." A copy of the petition is also included in the file. Notable correspondents include William A. Found, Director of Fisheries; Alfred Duranleau, Minister of Fisheries; C.H. French, Fur Trade Commissioner; Lucien Cannon, Solicitor General; L.C. Moyer, Private Secretary of the Prime Minister; George Warren, Managing Secretary of the Victoria Chamber of Commerce; W.E. Payne, Executive Secretary of the Vancouver Board of Trade; Alan Webster Neill, Member of Parliament for Comox-Alberni; Hewitt Bostock, Senator from Kamloops.

Correspondence 1917-1926

File contains sporadic correspondence regarding sealing claims from 1917-1918, 1921-1922, and 1925-1926. Notable correspondents include Wilfrid Laurier; Ward Fisher, Deputy Minister of the Naval Service; the Deputy Minister of Justice; Fred A. McGregor, Private Secretary to the Prime Minister; Pierre Joseph Arthur Cardin, Minister of Marine and Fisheries; Thomas Mulvey, Under Secretary of State; R.A. Sargent, barrister.

Personal correspondence

File contains a personal letter from Spring to his son-in-law, Leslie A. Smith, who married Spring's daughter, Loretta.

Papers and vouchers belonging to the schooner "Favourite"…

File contains documents relating to the schooner "Favourite," also called "Favorite." Documents include statements and declarations by Spring regarding "Favourite;" insurance policy; vouchers for expenses incurred by "Favourite;" account and expense sheets, including list of improvements and repairs, provisions purchased, and wages earned; claim to Pelagic Sealing Commission; statement from captain Amos Ellis; and other documents.

Papers and vouchers belonging to the schooner "Kate"…

File contains documents relating to the schooner "Kate." Documents include exhibits to support claim of losses; account and expense sheets, including vessel inventories and lists of repairs and improvements; vouchers for expenses incurred by "Kate;" statements and declarations by Spring regarding "Kate;" insurance policy; related correspondence, a copy of the warning letter from H.M.S. "Daphne" against entering Bering Sea; claim to Pelagic Sealing Commission.

Charles Spring claims and supporting documentation

Series contains material relating to claims for financial losses as a result of the “Modus Vivendi” and supporting documentation prepared and compiled by Charles Spring. Material relates to claims submitted to the 1896-1897 Bering Sea Claims Commission, the 1913-1915 Pelagic Sealing Commission headed by Louis Arthur Audette, and later efforts at settlement. Material includes instructions for submission of claims, drafts of claims and declarations by Charles Spring, statements from vessel captains, crew, and other involved parties, and accountings of losses and damages. Supporting documentation includes material originally used in the course of business during the 1888-1892 sealing seasons, complied by Spring as evidence. Supporting documentation includes ledgers and journals for sealing business accounts; receipts for expenses, including goods and services, duties and fees, repairs and improvements; vessel registries, licenses, insurance policies, and bills of sale; official vessel log books; transcript of court proceedings against the schooner "Winifred,” and other documents. The series also contains court papers, police charges, and related documents resulting from Charles Spring’s debts, as well as a list of court judgements against him and receipts for payment of monies owed following the receipt of the Bering Sea Claims Commission award in 1898. The series is primarily arranged into files by vessel.

Court papers, police charges, and related documents

Files contains writs of summons, subpoenas, orders, writs of fieri facias, default summonses, etc. against Charles Spring issued between 1892 and 1894 for non-payment of monies owned. The papers originate from the Supreme Court of B.C., Exchequer Court of B.C. Admiralty District, County Court of Victoria, Provincial Police Court, etc. Funds were primarily owed to tradesmen for goods and services rendered for Spring's sealing vessels, as well as to crew members for unpaid wages. The file also contains copies of police charges brought against Charles Spring by sealers for non-payment of wages in 1892, a list of court judgments against Spring, and related notes and documents.

Schooner "Henrietta" documents

File contains documents relating to the schooner "Henrietta." Documents include accounts and expense sheets, including an accounting of expenses to outfit the vessel, lists of improvements and repairs, and payments to crew; promissory notes / receipts for advances to the crew.

Petition to Canadian House of Commons

The file contains three copies of a 1914 petition prepared by Spring and brought forth by owners and masters of sealing vessels during the 1892 season. The petition requests an enlargement of the scope of the Pelagic Sealing Commission to include their claims for compensation. One of the copies is signed and two are unsigned. The petition is addressed to the House of Commons of Canada.

Correspondence 1913-1914

File contains letters related to "Modus Vivendi" claims for the schooners "Kate" and "Favorite" and correspondence in response Spring's 1914 petition and memorial to Parliament. Notable correspondents include George Henry Barnard, Member of Parliament for Victoria City; John Douglas Hazen, Minister of Marine and Fisheries; Charles Edmund Kingsmill, Director of Naval Services; Martin Burrell, Minister of Agriculture. The file also includes typed copies of the notice of liability to interruption issued to sealers in March 1892, a copy of a letter received from L.A. Cattaliar, Under Secretary of State, in 1895 regarding the sealers' unsuccessful claims for losses, and estimates of losses incurred during the season.

Charles Spring declaration

File contains typed and handwritten draft copies of the declaration of Charles Spring, with index. Supporting exhibits provide an accounting of monetary losses during the 1892-1893 sealing season.

Property loss declaration drafts

File contains draft declarations by Charles Spring regarding loss of property. Declarations cover losses of City of Victoria lots, a residence on Kingston Street, stores in Ucluelet and Hesquot [sic], and the sloop "Annie."

C. Spring with the compliments of WA Newcombe

File contains the daily log book for the sloop "Nymphe," of which Spring was master. Log covers a sea lion hunting trip from April 23, 1913 through October 4, 1913. The file also contains the Commissioner of Fisheries Report for 1913 in which Charles F. Newcombe and William A. Newcombe summarize the same trip in a report on sea lions on the coast of British Columbia.

Accounting of 1892 season losses

File contains accountings of losses and damages sustained by Charles Spring, W. Walker, owner of the S.S. "Mischief," and H. Paxton, owner of the schooner "Wanderer."

Schooner "Winifred" documents

File contains documents relating to the schooner "Winifred," also called "Winnifred." Documents include typed copies of the title, statements of the captain and a crew member, and notice of vessel detainment; draft declaration by Charles Spring regarding "Winnifred;" documents related to the Bering Sea Claims Commission claims; bill of sale for shares of "Winifred" to Spring; repair and improvement receipts; transcript of the record and proceedings of the United States court case against "Winifred;" and other documents.

Sealing commission oaths

File contains handwritten copies of the oath sworn by those giving evidence to Pelagic Sealing Commission in English, Nootka, and Chinook Jargon, as well as a note regarding the meaning of the word "Nootka."

Correspondence 1895, 1906-1912

File contains letters related to Spring's requests for the appointment of a commission for the final settlement of Modus Vivendi claims. Notable correspondents include Louis-Philippe Brodeur, Minster of Marine and Fisheries; William Templeman, Acting Minster of Marine and Fisheries; A. Johnson, Deputy Minister of Marine and Fisheries; Martin Burrell, Minister of Agriculture; Charles J. Doherty, Minister of Justice; John Douglas Hazen, Minister of Marine and Fisheries; W.T. White, Victoria Board of Trade. File also includes an index created by Spring of select letters from 1892 to 1928, entitled "List of letters, referring to correspondence on Modus Vivendi Claims for Season 1892."

Journal for estate of Donald Urquhart

The file contains a journal recording revenues and expenditures of the Donald Urquhart estate accounts from May 1894 to October 1905, including entries relating to shares owned by Urquhart of schooners "Venture," "Penelope," and "Sayward." Large sections of the journal also contain drafts of stories, notes, and recipes written in a different hand.

Cereno J. Kelley correspondence

File consists primarily of correspondence between Spring and Captain Cereno Jones Kelley that references exchanges of statements, information, and figures relating to claims for vessels "Kate" and "Favourite." The file also includes a copy of Kelley's letter to F.B. Marvin & Co. upon the seizure of the steamer "Coquitlam," and a document regarding the "Modus Vivendi" on C.J. Kelley & Co. stationery in an unknown hand.

S.S. "Mist" documents

File contains documents relating to the S.S. "Mist." Documents include the registry certificate for the vessel, coasting license, and receipts for duties and fees paid.

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