Series consists of four bound volumes of documents originating from the British Columbia Provincial Police (specifically the New Westminster
headquarters):

1. General orders #1-390, 1923-1950: Two ledgers of memorandums circulated to the various district headquarters of the BCPP announcing changes in procedure, law, and policy and announcing personnel changes such as promotions, dismissals, reassignments, and deaths in the force. An index exists for general orders 1 through 271, bound in volume 2.

2. Nominal roll and seniority list, 1926-1950: One ledger of nominal rolls, giving names and registration numbers of police officers and other personnel, organized by divisions and districts. Also contains seniority lists, which lists the names and registration numbers of personnel in all districts organized by hierarchy. Updates were sent to the various districts periodically.

3. War circulars, volumes 1-8, 1939-1946: One ledger of circulars issued during World War II, giving special changes to procedure or reporting on relevant changes in law or orders in council which would affect policing during the war. Issues include fire arms possession and registration, status of First Nations people in the forces, rationing and oil supplies, and the registration of “enemy aliens.”

The fonds consists of legal documents collected by John Keenlyside over the last thirty five years. The documents give insight into the formation of British Columbia's legal system when it consisted of two colonies. The legal records (including writs, testimony, judgements, and other court documents) were produced by judges, magistrates, defendants, claimants, and other relevant parties. Some figures of historical significance who created legal records in this fonds are the first judge in BC, the first Attorney General, and BC's earliest clergy, businessmen, and other prominent figures from the colonial period.

This fonds also consists of documents related to the British Columbia Provincial Police force and various Japanese-Canadian and civil rights groups.

Series consists of documents created by civil rights organizations
concerned with Japanese-Canadian rights:

1. Japanese Canadian Committee for Democracy (Toronto, ON) membership application forms (three copies, blank). Forms request name, age, address, occupation, and telephone number, and a membership fee of two dollars.

2. Newsletter of the Citizenship Defence Committee (Toronto, ON) issued on April 25, 1946 by Kunic Hidaka, executive secretary. The newsletter discusses financing for an appeal to the privy council, the engagement of an English barrister for the appeal, the Ontario provincial convention, and time limits on permits and placement allowances.

3. Memorandum issued by the Canadian Committee, World Federation of Democratic Youth (Toronto, ON) on June 22, 1946 concerning deportation and internment of Canadians of Japanese ancestry.

File consists of nineteen documents: last will and testament of J. Wallace; affidavit of J. Dunsmuir; (3) affidavit of A.P. Luxton; approved minutes; statement of claim; affidavit of H.D. Helmcken; affidavit of E. Coyne; affidavit of R.H. Pooley; affidavit of D.M. Rogers; affidavit of defense to claim; affidavit of A. Maclean; affidavit of H.D. Helmcken; affidavit of W. Moresby; affidavit of E. Wallace; minutes of order; order. Case regards the Plaintiff, daughter of A. Dunsmuir, deceased, alleges the fact to be that the said pretended will is not the will of her late father, for he was of unsound mind, memory, and understanding.

Series consists of court documents covering a variety of cases and legal disputes in British Columbia between 1858 and 1891 that represent both major criminal charges as well as minor civil suits. It is comprised of more than 750 case files containing over 1,200 documents relating to such topics as Augustus Pemberton and colonial relations with Chinese and Aboriginal peoples in B.C., possible changes that occurred after the colonies were converged, and the many types of small claims being filed during the period.

Subseries consists of court documents relating to civil cases in British Columbia between 1864 and 1903. The cases comprise a variety of document types, including: judge’s orders; affidavits; writs of summons; correspondence; bills of costs; jury lists; judgments; notices; statements of account; motions; bonds; speakers’ certificates; indentures; agreements; receipts of sale; complaints; notices of intention; mortgages; requests; wills; and subpoenas. As a whole, they are indicative of the development of civil and criminal law in the region at the time, closely reflecting British standards and precedence. Differences did develop, however, as circumstances required.

It is important to note that the time period represented in these cases includes years before and after the colonies were converged on August 6th, 1866. Before the unification, the Colony of Vancouver Island and the Colony of British Columbia were separate entities in which civil suits at the local level were a vital part of the decentralized colonial government. Initially, the mainland was governed from New Westminster, but once they were merged into the new Colony of British Columbia, governance took place in Victoria on Vancouver Island.

Series consists primarily of documents from the colonial era of British Columbia, including material related to early settlers on Vancouver Island, the Fraser River and Cariboo/Yukon gold rushes, and the courts. The bulk of the series consists of correspondence, but also includes commission, coroner’s inquisition, court calendar, deposition, jury list, last will and testament, prospectus, receipt, and subpoena.

Thomas Kay (1868-1909) of Rochdale, England, wrote to his father and brother describing life in the later redevelopment period in the Cariboo. Includes 19
letters.

File consists of seventeen documents: (17) orders of the small debts court.

File consists of 4 documents: Affidavit of J. Cox; Notice of Application for Payment Out; Affidavit of G. Potts; Affidavit of A. Belyea. Regarding the estate of M. Moss, deceased, and the monies that he owed to various parties. The case involved the schooner "Venture" and the schooner "Penelope", which appear to have belonged to the Defendant. The Plaintiffs had recovered a judgement against the Defendant for $12,305.63 and $101.90 for costs which remains unpaid.

File consists of 2 documents: Agreement for Settlement; Affidavit of D.A. Copeland. Regarding the estate of A.A. Copeland. The properties of the deceased were to be sold and paid into court for the support and maintenance of the three infant Defendants.

File consists of 2 documents: Affidavit of Bowker; Exhibit "B" - Account. Regarding the making of a track and the various amounts owed on the work. Exhibit "B" is the Defendant's account of amounts received by him out of the lands in question.

Affidavits of Lung Lui and Goon Gan.

-Lung Lui was being held aboard ss. Victoria pending application for him to be deported from the United States to China. In order that he could be landed at Victoria, a $50 head tax was paid to the Collector of Customs.

File consists of 5 documents: Affidavit of B.H. Drake; Affidavit of J.H. Seeley; Affidavit of N.P. Snowden; Affidavit of A.F. Williams; Affidavit of H. Siddall. Plaintiff was owed $61.50 as receiver of rents on cabins on Humboldt Street in Victoria and in regards to the settlement of the estate of W.C. S. Seeley, the Plaintiff's father.

File consists of eleven documents: (11) affidavits with various amounts of monies owed by the Defendant to Plaintiff, totaling $2,301 in debt and $16.50 taxed costs.

File consists of two documents: (2) garnishee orders. Case regards the Defendant owing the Plaintiff $270.35.

File consists of eight documents: notice to enter an appearance; affidavit of A. Crease; affidavit of service; consent to the order; affidavit of A. Luxton; affidavit of J. Lawson; affidavit of P. Irving; affidavit of W. Grohman. Case regards a dispute arising out of a land claim.

File consists of four documents: affidavit of C. Mason; (2) letters of correspondence; affidavit of C. Bach. Case regards a debt owed by the Defendant to the Plaintiff for $583.13 for brewing materials, sold and delivered (overdue account).

File consists of five documents: (2) affidavit of J. Dunsmuir; affidavit of M. Bate; affidavit of A. Haslan; affidavit of W.A. Pinder. Case regards J. Dunsmuir, proprietor of coal mine in Nanaimo, concerned that the city has plans to erect a post-house quarantine for persons suffering from small pox on or near his proerty.

Receipt issued to Indian Charley for his labour in the amount of $1.50.

File consists of two documents: affidavit of J. Edwards; affidavit of C. Pemberton. Case regards a land dispute, renter in arrears, property was sold, Chinese farmers in dispute over not having their lease renewed.

File consists of one document: plaintiff's costs of action.

File consists of 1 document: Affidavit of T.B. Shoebothan. In regards to seizures made by the Sheriff of property belonging to the Plaintiff, situate on the premises known as the West Bay Saw Mill on Gambiers Island.

File consists of three documents: affidavit of J. Venn; affidavit of H. Cooper; writ of summons.

File consists of two documents: writ of summons; affidavit of service. Case regards Plaintiff claims $200 for an unpaid promissory note.

File consists of one document: affidavit of service of writ.

Warrants; 18 Asian individuals charged; 1891/01/01

File consists of one document: affidavit of F. Wolfender. A statement regarding the current state of affairs in regards to this case.

File consists of one document: affidavit of J. Hett.

File consists of 1 document: Exhibit "A" - Night Message Direct Wire (Telegram). Defendants were travelling as passengers on the steamer "Umatilla". The wire explains that a writ has been issued by the Plaintiff against the Defendants and they are to be attended to at the arrival of the steamer and serviced with this telegram.

File consists of one document: judgment for the Plaintiff in the amount of $1,000.

File consists of one document: certificate regarding land conveyances.

File consists of one document: writ of summons. Case regards the Plaintiff's claims for the sum of $190.64.

File consists of 5 documents: Affidavit of J.D. Carscaden; Assignment Petition; Exhibits "A' and "B", statements of A.M. Nelson and A.W. Presley; Affidavit of Witness Russell; Affidavit of J.A. Russell. A.M. Nelson was entitled to act as trustee for Presley for the benefit of his creditors from which he was then removed and Carscaden was then appointed.

File consists of 2 documents: Affidavit of H.D. Helmcken; Judgement.

File consists of one document: affidavit. Case regards a statement of Chinese interpreter regarding the above named parties.

File consists of two documents: summons; affidavit of E. Irving. Notice to attend in court regarding the debt of $5,780 with interests and costs owed to the Plaintiff.

File consists of 3 documents: Notice of Writ; Order for Substituted Service; Affidavit of Service. Plaintiffs claim $63.14 for goods sold and delivered to the Defendant. The Defendant was from Vernon originally but had since moved to San Francisco.

Indictment for Larceny from a dwelling house at granite Creek/

-Ah Ho is charged with breaking and entering the house of Bruneth and Sebanno and then stealing various possession of platinum and gold from them. Verdict, not guilty.

File consists of 1 document: Agreement. McHugh granted Heard Section 15, Range 5 east in South Saanich for a term of 10 years. The document outlines the terms of agreement.

Indictment of Yung; stealing a pick from CPR; verdict not guilty; Kamloops; 1888/01/01

File consists of 2 documents: Affidavit of J.C. Prevost; Bond on Appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. The Defendant had previously brought about an action against the Plaintiffs for $500 in regards to the settlement of the estate of one Thaddeus Harper.