Fonds consists of textual, photographic, cartographic, electronic and promotional films/video recordings related to the mining operations of Cassiar Asbestos Mining Corporation (CAMC) and creation of Cassiar townsite. CAMC records primarily consist of records related to mining operations including construction, engineering, daily mining operations, administration of CAMC, tallies of extractions, labour and union activities, corporate events and visits by dignitaries. Townsite records are primarily visual representations of townsite construction, including the creation of health, education and community services including Cassiar's private hospital, school, library, as well as townsite images. Photographs include documentation of natural and man-made landscapes within the Cassiar region of Northern BC. Other holdings include a near complete run of Cassiar's community newspaper.
Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.The Photographic Materials series consists of 6100 photographs, 900 slides and negatives documenting a wide variety of subject areas pertaining to both the operations of Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd., and the company township of Cassiar, B.C. Types of subject areas found within this series include, but are not limited to: mine, plant, labour, and townsite operations at the company towns of Cassiar and Clinton Creek (including community activities associated therein and townsite development); construction of plant and mine buildings ; mines and equipment not owned by Cassiar Asbestos Corporation, but which are believed to have been used for operational research purposes ; aerial photographs ; company exploration of further mineral deposits outside of Cassiar ; official tours ; community images, promotional material ; executive portraits. The Photographic Materials series has been further subdivided into the following 4 subseries: Exploration & Development, Construction, General (Mining) Operations & (Townsite) Community Operations, and Corporate Affairs.
A collection of photographs of the early exploration exhibitions in the asbestos mountains area.
A collection of photographs from the site that Cassiar was being built in the early 50s. Photos depict lumber piles, early camp area, the first buildings, mountains, and the creek.
Along with this collection there are a set of images also from the early Cassiar site mainly depicting a dirt road and various individuals and machinery along it.
Photograph of Cassiar's Chief Geologist Bill Plumb who led many exhibitions for the purposes of Cassiar's outside exploration endeavors. Various photos in this collection depict Bill on some of these exhibitions.
Two large black and white prints of infrared dryers annotated on recto "Thompson Pipe and Steel Company Bulk Material Dryers Van Dorn Iron Works Company" and bearing on verso the ink stamp of a photographer from Cleveland, Ohio.
Six metal storage cases containing primarily slides depicting drill core sections in wooden storage trays. Cases contain inventories of slide images as well as annotations which document the year, drill hole number, and the length along the drill hole from which core sections are taken. In addition to the documentation of drill core sections, the cases contain slides depicting the following subjects: “Representative samples” of drill core fragments, drill core fragments in perspective, “physical characteristics” of the drill cores and the storage trays, the pit mine, a worker in a plaid shirt, close up shots of the geology of the working face, and images annotated “SHOTS OF JADE BOULDER CORE J5-J1”. Five slides originally filed separately and stamp dated “Jul. ‘73” depict what is speculated to be employees working on the diamond drilling project include 2 images annotated ‘R. Dickin Aug ‘72’, ‘I. Oliver Aug ‘73’, ‘S. Zimmer Aug ‘73’, and ‘core shack ’73’. The cases contain 234 7x7cm slides and at least 8 5x5 cm slides which are duplicates of the remaining images. The file also contains a slide strip containing several 7x7 cm slide images.
The file contains eight photographs depicting close up images of three rock samples, some photographed with a ruler for scale. One of the rock samples is speculated to be obsidian and the other two are likely serpentine. The images where originally found in an envelope titled "ROCKS" and are likely dated around 1991.
Included in this file are an five photographs of rocks on a shelf, which may be asbestos sample rocks. There are five accompanying negatives to these photographs and are likely dated around 1977. The photographs and negatives were found in an envelope labelled "Negatives - CIMM Photos."
Additionally two negative strips of geology maps of Canada. These negatives were found in an envelope labelled "Negatives - CIMM Papers, Mining, Planning, Geology."
This collection is proposed Cassiar development for the operating budget in 1979. The photographs are of poster-size presentation information. Topics covered include: operating graph of cost vs. fibre production, productivity rates, waste removal, ore mining cost vs. ton, primary crushing cost vs. ton, ore delivery cost vs. ton transported, stockpile drying and storage cost vs. ton feed, milling cost vs. ton fibre, establishment of funds allocated to townsite, staff, O&T and P&M, three proposed plans for 1979 and the requirements and costs for these proposals.
This file contains photograph from early construction of Cassiar Mine and townsite. Photographs were stapled to inter-office correspondence paper and sent with pages of photo descriptions. Photographs have been removed and rehoused, maintaining original order.
Collection of photographs of the construction of the crushing plant and related services at Cassiar in 1963. The work was contracted out to V.B. Humphrey Construction Ltd based out of North Vancouver. The photographs depict the foundation, installation of machinery, erection of steel frame building, and conveyor system. D.G Garret Foreman was in charge of the project.
Photograph collection of early mill construction. Various annotations note retaining ribs, pouring ribs, pouring retaining walls, the west wall, steel work, transformer house, and furnace pad.
Handwritten annotation on recto of photograph: "RETAINING RIBS JUNE 29/64". Photograph depicts construction workers on and near wooden framework structure extending from base of crusher building. Crane in background against mountainside. Miscellaneous construction equipment and materials throughout.
Handwritten annotation on recto of photograph: "POURING RIBS JUNE 29/64." Photograph depicts construction workers on large wooden framework structure extending from base of crusher building. Ladders stand parallel to structure against mountainside. The boom of a crane is visible in foreground. Miscellaneous construction equipment and materials throughout.
Handwritten annotation on recto of photograph: "POURING FOOTING RETAINING WALL JULY 4/64." Photograph depicts construction workers manually pouring cement into forms laid against mountain wall on high elevation of construction site. Cement is being transported by wheelbarrow. A retaining structure made with wood planks and rebar separates mountainside dirt from cement forms. A bulldozer can be seen in background, as well as a front end loader and back hoe tractor. Building at crusher site also in background.
Handwritten annotation on recto of photograph: "FORMING FOOTING RETAINING WALL JULY 4/64." Photograph depicts construction workers
standing in forms for cement laid against mountain wall on high elevation of construction site. A retaining structure made with wood planks and rebar separates mountainside dirt from cement forms. A front end loader can be seen in midground, near unidentified building. Mountain range in background.
Handwritten annotation on recto of photograph: "RETAINING WALL POUR JULY 9/64." Photograph depicts construction workers among machinery near retaining wall under conveyor of crusher building. Crane stands on left, front end loader and back hoe tractor in foreground on right. Mountainside in background.
Handwritten annotation on recto of photograph: "RETAINING WALL POUR JULY 9/64." Photograph depicts large unidentified machinery in front of the retaining wall under conveyor of crusher building. Boom of crane can be seen in midground on right. Crusher building in background, dirt road in foreground.
Handwritten annotation on recto of photograph: "RETAINING WALL POUR JULY 9/64." Photograph depicts two construction workers standing on retaining wall in foreground. Two other men stand near a crane operating in midground, with its load suspended above men on wall. Crane stands on road between a building and retaining wall, mountain range in background.
Handwritten annotation on recto of photograph: "FOOTING WEST WALL AUG 8/64." Photograph depicts a construction worker near freshly poured cement footings. Building is semi-visible in background on left, tall steel framework behind footings on right. The hard had of a second worker is visible behind footings.
Handwritten annotation on recto of photograph: "WEST WALL FOOTING AUG 8/64." Photograph depicts a construction worker standing on rebar in forms built for cement footings. A front end loader and backhoe tractor can be seen on wood platform above footings. Mountainside in background.
Handwritten annotation on recto of photograph: "FORMING & STEEL WORK AUG 19/64." Photograph depicts construction workers among machinery on high elevation of crusher site. It is believed that a front end loader and concrete mixer stand in this area. Forms for cement made of wood and rebar can be seen in foreground on left, retaining wall on right. Building top and mountain range visible in background.
Handwritten annotation on recto of photograph: "FORMING FOOTING FOR TRANSFORMER HOUSE AUG 20/64." Photograph depicts construction workers standing in forms made of wood and rebar for cement footings. Lumber scattered throughout, mountain range in background.
Handwritten annotation on recto of photograph: "FURNACE PAD AUG 25/64." Photograph depicts construction worker standing on elevated wood platform. Three other men can be seen working in construction area. This location is believed to be under the conveyor to crusher building, retaining wall in midground.
Photographs of miniature models for new mill.
Photograph depicts large square model of the new mill building that was built at the Cassiar plant site in 1970. Model is displayed on green material laid on floor against wall in unidentified room. Machinery modeled inside the structure is colour-coded.
Photograph depicts large square model of the new mill building that was built at the Cassiar plant site in 1970. Model is displayed outdoors on a platform that stands on four saw horses. Machinery modeled inside the structure is colour-coded. Plant buildings and mountains in background.
Photograph depicts large square model of the new mill building that was built at the Cassiar plant site in 1970. Model is displayed on green material set on a platform in snowy area. Machinery modeled inside the structure is colour-coded. Mountain in background.
Photograph depicts large square model of the new mill building that was built at the Cassiar plant site in 1970. Model is displayed on green material set on a platform in snowy area. Machinery modeled inside the structure is colour-coded. Mountain in background.
Photograph depicts large square model of the new mill building that was built at the Cassiar plant site in 1970. Model is displayed on platform draped with green material. Machinery modeled inside the structure is colour-coded.
Photograph depicts extreme close up of colour-coded machinery modeled inside large square model of the new mill building that was built at the Cassiar plant site in 1970.
File contains photographs documenting the construction of Cassiar's new mill building. Photos depict early excavation, foundations, framework, construction of all seven stories, sheeting, siding, and roof tarring. Also included are photos depicting the large model of the mill, as well as construction work done on the tramline. Photos taken inside the mill depict flooring work, and milling machinery including feed chutes, screens, fans, wheelabrators, control panels, electrical panels, conveyor systems, vacuum systems, and the fan-driven air system that transported the fiber. Many photos depict construction workers, building supplies, worksites, and equipment including cranes, bulldozers, tractors, hauling trucks and trailer flatbeds. Some photos depict aerial views from the new mill and feature the plantsite, tramline, mine road, mountains, and valley.
Photographs depict construction of the new mill, each taken from approximately the same distance and featuring two different angles of the building. Construction work progresses from framework to sheeting and siding. Vehicles, piles of building supplies, and a construction trailer are often in foreground, mountains in background. It is believed that these photographs were taken during a labour dispute. Each photo has been annotated on recto with the date and time of day, and some document the number of workers on site. Annotations include: "2 days work", "work gets less & less", "not much for 4 men", "very little done - less than usual low performance", "0° - 20° weather must have thickened their blood".
Photographs depict different construction projects at separate locations in Cassiar. Photographs were originally housed in envelopes with the following annotations: "POLICE STATION. July 15, 1977."; "Aggregates and Concrete (PERMASTEEL)"; "Fibre Storage and Handling"; "Powerhouse Expansion"; "Sewage Collection Plant."; "Sewage Treatment Plant"; "Single Person Accommodations - Site Work."; "Outside Work - Camp Nos. 1,2,3." Photos generally feature the work sites, supplies, vehicles, machinery, and work in progress at each location.
Additional photographs integrated into file include maintenance project on lining of tubes, lining of aspiration hood, and lining of willow fiberizer. Also five photographs of maintenance in the townsite to fix in ground piping.
Images contain technical engineering drawings from the Asbestos Mining Corp. Drawings are primarily of plant buildings and mining and milling equipment, but also include drafts of town site and utilities, (extensive images of water and sewer pipes and septic systems). Microfiche slides are 4.6cm x 3.5cm mounted on 8.3 x 18.2 cm paper cards with systematic puncture marks, presumed to be an antiquated form of computer memory. Slides are numbered ranging from 1001 to 1549 and a drawing number ranging from 1006 to 8008, generally in the format “2017/02/02”. Microfiche are dated 1950- 1976, several are dated “OLD”, and several are undated. All microfilm reels are annotated “CASSIAR ENGINEERING DRAWINGS”.
Photograph depicts crane in Cassiar plant site, steel framework for dry rock storage building in background.
Photograph depicts top of framed building, mountain in background.
Photograph depicts foundation of building in Cassiar plant site. Dump truck on left, steel framed building on right, crane in background.
Photograph depicts corner of steel framed roof of building in Cassiar plant site, mountains in background.
Photograph depicts crane in Cassiar plant site, steel framework for dry rock storage building in background.
Photograph depicts steel materials for framework of dry rock storage building, mountains in background.
Photograph depicts numerous illegible sign posts on dirt road.
Photograph depicts valley and mountain range, speculated to be the Cassiar valley.
Photograph depicts crushed vehicle in wooded area.
Photograph depicts dump truck on hill believed to be in mine area, unknown structure on left.
Photograph depicts crushed vehicle in wooded area, mountains in background.
Photograph depicts wooden building believed to be bunkhouse in wooded area.
Photograph depicts river in wooded area, mountains in background.
Photograph depicts tarp-covered truck, two men on right, mountains in background.
Photograph depicts power poles along dirt road, truck in distance, trees on either side. Building on right of road speculated to be bunkhouse. Mountain slope in background.