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Item consists of a typewritten report together with three earlier complete or partial drafts of this report “A. H. Phipps Memoirs of Charles E. Bedaux Sub-Arctic Expedition 1934” along with original notebook which includes 11 pages of handwritten notes about the expedition.

File consists of the following items:

• "Mac" by D.L. Surveyor
• "Knox (Mac) McCusker: Dominion Land Surveyor" by E.L. Rutherford, V.C. Brink, R.S. Silver and M.Z. (Smokey) Neighbour
• Excerpts from Men and Meridians by Don W. Thomson
• Article re: Knox McCusker written on the occasion of his death (April 14, 1955)
• "McKusker (sic) to open up Blueberry Mountain Area" (Alaska Highway News, June 8, 1950)
• "McCusker was surveyor, big game guide….also rancher and trail blazer"
• "Knox Freeman McCusker" written on the occasion of his death (The Canadian Surveyor, July 1955)
• "Veteran Surveyor - Alaska Highway Stories"
• Memories of Knox McCusker by his oldest niece Betty (McCusker) Rutherford
• "Veteran Surveyor prefers horses for long bush treks" by Eric Young (Edmonton Journal)
• Eulogy for Knox McCusker read by Stanley D. Seif at Burch Presbyterian Church in Fort St. John, B.C.
• Eulogy for Gwendolyn Dorothy McCusker (July 1997)
• "Tropical Valley No Myth: amazing story of woman who lived there" by Thomas A. Wayling (Vancouver Sun)
• Photocopy of section of map: "Topographical sketch map showing route traversed by the Bedaux Sub-Arctic Expedition 1934 through the Rocky Mountains" (by Frank Swannell, March 27, 1935)
• Memories of Knox McCusker by Bill McCusker, his oldest nephew
• "There is always a reason; destiny made it a date. The corridor of the Alcan didn’t just happen" (Fort St. John publication)
• Article on Knox McCusker (ALS News, Winter 1983)

File consists of the following articles and speeches written by Knox McCusker:

• "Reminiscences of Knox McCusker" (63 typewritten pages)
• "Back and Beyond the Peace" by K.McCusker (taken from the Toronto Star Weekly Saturday May 5, 1928) – retyped
• "The Alaska Highway" by Knox F. McCusker, D.L.S. (The Canadian Surveyor, July 1943)-photocopy
• Mr. McCusker's speech (5 pages)
• “Tropical Valleys of B.C.” (4 pages)
• "The president has called me an old old surveyor…" speech written by K. McCusker
• "In the early days of my career in the Surveying profession…" written by K. McCusker

Summary of the diary of Willard Freer, April 1, 1942 to October 20, 1942:

• April 1-May 30, 1942: Trapping cabin along the Ingenika River
• May 30-June 16, 1942: In the Finlay River area, Freer sold furs to the HBC at Fort Grahame and helped portage supplied through Deserters Canyon for Del Miller and priest
• June 17-October 13, 1942: Employed with the United States Army in Northern BC, packing and outfitting for the survey crews of the Alaska Highway in the areas of Deserters Canyon, Fort Ware, Sifton Pass, and Fox Pass
• October 13-20, 1942: Journey to Skook Davidson's Diamond J Ranch

Summary of the diary of Willard Freer, April 1, 1946 to September 30, 1947:

• March 27-April 15, 1946: Fort St. James, working with Hendry Kinniburgh
• April 15-May 3, 1946: Took the Greyhound bus from Prince George to southern BC to visit family (Keremeos, Penticton, Cawston)
• May 3-5, 1946: Travelled with family to Wenatchee, Washington to see a flower show
• May 6-11, 1946: Returned with family to Cawston, BC
• May 12-14, 1946: Return trip north to Fort St. James on the Greyhound bus via Keremeos, Ashcroft, Quesnel, and Prince George
• May 15-28, 1946: Preparing for summer work in Fort St. James
• May 28-September 4, 1946: Departed from Fort St. James for employment with Emil Bronlund and the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Co., packing through the Omineca District up to Thutade Lake
• September 9-October 25, 1946: Return trip to Diamond J Ranch
• October 26, 1946-May 27, 1947: Diamond J Ranch
• May 27-June 17, 1947: Travel to the British Columbia-Yukon Boundary Survey and preparations for work
• June 18-October 11, 1947: Head packer for the British Columbia-Yukon Boundary Survey

Summary of the diary of Willard Freer, January 1, 1943 to December 31, 1943:

• January 1-May 19, 1943: Working at Diamond J Ranch with Craig Forfar
• May 19-30, 1943: Trip to Fort Ware
• May 30-June 30, 1943: At Fort Ware, preparing for packing BC Government triangulation survey trip to surveying location and waiting for Skook Davidson to arrive with horses purchased from Jim Beattie
• June 18-July 13, 1943: Travel to surveying location
• July 15-August 17, 1943: Taking care of case camp while survey crews in field
• August 17-26, 1943: All crews working together
• August 27-October 23, 1943: Return trips between Fort Ware and Diamond J Ranch
• October 23-December 31, 1943: Diamond J Ranch

Summary of the diary of Willard Freer, January 1, 1944 to September 30, 1944:

• January 1-May 27, 1944: Diamond J Ranch
• May 27-June 6, 1944: Travel to Lower Post
• June 6-18, 1944: Waiting for C.H. Ney, land surveyor for the Dominion Geodetic Survey
• June 19-August 28, 1944: Packing for the Dominion astrofix survey
• August 28-September 7, 1944: Lower Post
• September 7-24: Return trip to Diamond J Ranch
• September 28-[October 21], 1944: Fort Ware trip to pick up food and machinery left after the Bedaux expedition

Summary of the diary of Willard Freer, January 1, 1952 to February 17, 1954:

• January 1-March 18, 1952: Visiting family in Penticton and Washington state
• March 18-April 3, 1952: Working at Christy's Lodge at Lower Post
• April 4-May 20, 1952: Kechika River valley
• May 20-June 18, 1952: Travel to Omineca District
• June 19-August 22, 1952: Packer for Northwestern Explorations in Omineca District
• August 22-29, 1952: Travel to Mooseskin Johnny Lake via Telkwa
• August 29-September 22, 1952: Packer for Northwestern Explorations at Mooseskin Johnny Lake
• September 22-October 27, 1952: End of summer activities and travel to Christy's Lodge
• October 27, 1952-February 28, 1953: Working at Christy's Lodge at Lower Post
• February 28-April 8, 1953: Diamond J Ranch and Kechika River valley
• April 8-29, 1953: Working at Christy's Lodge
• April 29-May 13, 1953: Travel to Fort St. James and visit with friends in Fort St. John
• May 14-September 29, 1953: Packer for Northwestern Explorations
• September 29-October 28, 1953: Work at Kennco's warehouse in Fort St. James
• October 29-November 13, 1953: Travel to Lower Post via Prince George and Dawson Creek
• November 14-December 22, 1953: Working at Christy's Lodge
• December 23, 1953-March 31, 1954: Kechika River valley

Summary of the diary of Willard Freer, January 1, 1954 to December 31, 1957:

• January 1-March 31, 1954: Kechika River valley
• April 1-June 3, 1954: Working at Christy's Lodge in Lower Post
• June 3-September 14, 1954: Working for Northwestern Explorations around Mile 1117 on the Alaska Highway
• September 15-30, 1954: Travel to Fort St. James and preparations for trip to Diamond J Ranch
• September 30-November 15, 1954: Trip to Diamond J Ranch with Clem Reierson
• November 16-December 31, 1954: Kechika River valley with Clem Reierson
• January 1-February 12, 1955: Kechika River valley and trip to Lower Post with Clem Reierson
• February 12-March 12, 1955: Alaska Highway
• March 12-May 25, 1955: Kechika River valley
• May 25-June 1, 1955: Trip to Lower Post
• June 1-July 11, 1955: Lower Post waiting for Emil Bronlund and his Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company of Canada Ltd. (CMS) crew
• July 11-August 16, 1955: Packing for Emil Bronlund
• August 17-September 11, 1955: Lower Post and trip to Diamond J Ranch
• September 11-23, 1955: Trip to Lower Post
• September 24-October 1, 1955: Lower Post
• October 2-15, 1955: Return trip to Diamond J Ranch
• October 16, 1955-May 17, 1956: Kechika River valley
• May 17-26, 1956: Trip to Lower Post and preparation for packing
• June 5-September 21, 1956: Packing for Northwestern Explorations' Flat Lake mineral claims
• September 21, 1956-February 18, 1957: Lower Post
• February 18-May 27, 1957: Kechika River valley
• May 27-July 3, 1957: Alaska Highway
• July 3-September 4, 1957: Packing for Continental Mining in Yukon
• September 4-October 13, 1957: Alaska Highway
• October 13-26, 1957: Travel to Freer's cabin at Horneline Creek
• October 26-December 9, 1957: Kechika River valley
• December 10-18, 1957: Trip from cabin to Lower Post
• December 18-31, 1957: Lower Post

Summary of the diary of Willard Freer, January 1, 1958 to December 31, 1961:

• January 1-March 11, 1958: Lower Post
• March 11-May 26, 1958: Kechika River valley
• May 26-June 3, 1958: Trip to Lower Post
• June 4-July 15, 1958: Lower Post
• July 15-July 27, 1958: Work for George Midgley in the Dease Lake area
• July 28-August 5, 1958: Travel to Denetiah Lake
• August 5-September 6, 1958: Packer for Geological Survey of Canada
• September 6-14, 1958: Travel in Kechika River valley
• September 14-October 8, 1958: Hunting guide for Amos Alec
• October 8-15, 1958: Watson Lake
• October 15-26, 1958: Travel to Freer's cabin on Horneline Creek
• October 26-December 31, 1958: Freer's cabin
• January 1-March 4, 1959: Kechika and trips to Lower Post
• March 4-June 5, 1959: Freer's cabin
• June 6-September 3, 1959: Packer for Geological Survey of Canada
• September 6-16, 1959: Travel and return to Freer's cabin
• September 17-October 3, 1959: Hunting guide for Robin Dalziel and return to Freer's cabin
• October 3-December 31, 1959: Freer's cabin
• January 1-May 27, 1960: Kechika River valley
• May 27-September 11, 1960: Work for Geological Survey of Canada as packer and boatman
• September 11-December 31, 1960: Alaska Highway and Fireside, BC
• October 1-December 31, 1961: Alaska Highway and Fireside, BC

Summary of the diary of Willard Freer, January 1, 1962 to December 31, 1963:

• January 1-March 8, 1962: Alaska Highway and working at Fireside, BC
• March 8-May 3, 1962: Kechika River valley
• May 3, 1962-March 7, 1963: Alaska Highway and working at Fireside, BC
• March 7-June 2, 1963: Kechika River valley
• June 2-December 31, 1963: Alaska Highway, working at Fireside, and boat trips up Kechika River

Summary of the diary of Willard Freer, January 1, 1964 to December 31, 1966:

• January 1-March 28, 1964: Working at Fireside
• March 28-June 8, 1964: Living at his cabin in Kechika Valley and engaging in fur trading
• June 8-July 3, 1964: Working at Fireside and Alaska Highway
• July 3-27, 1964: Preparing for hunting trips, working for Robin Dalziel
• July 27-September 6, 1964: Packer and hunting guide for Robin Dalziel
• September 6-14, 1964: Travel back to Freer's cabin in Kechika Valley
• September 14-27, 1964: Worked on fencing and clearing trails
• September 28-October 5, 1964: Raft trip to Fireside down the Kechika River
• October 5-17, 1964: Work at Fireside and trip back to Kechika
• October 18, 1964-June 18, 1965: Kechika River Valley
• June 18-July 24, 1965: Watson Lake and Canadian Geological Survey watchman, Mile 130, Cantung
• July 25-August 4, 1965: Preparing for work, Fireside and Kechika Valley
• August 4-September 14, 1965: Packer and hunting guide for Robin Dalziel
• September 15-30, 1965: Return to Kechika Valley cabin and errands
• September 30-October 29, 1965: Bringing Gordon Toole's horses to Kechika River valley to winter
• October 30, 1965-July 2, 1966: Kechika River Valley
• July 2-15, 1966: Watson Lake and Fireside
• July 15-August 11, 1966: Preparation for hunting trips
• August 11-October 2, 1966: Hunting guide and packer for Skook Davidson
• October 2-12, 1966: Freer's cabin in Kechika River valley
• October 12-December 31, 1966: Working at Fireside, BC

Summary of the diary of Willard Freer, January 1, 1967 to December 31, 1969:

• January 1-5, 1967: Working at Fireside, BC
• January 6-May 25, 1967: Freer's cabin in the Kechika River valley
• May 25-June 1, 1967: Fireside, BC
• June 1-17, 1967: Working for a government water resources project
• June 17-July 23, 1967: Freer's cabin in the Kechika River valley
• July 24-31, 1967: Preparing for hunting trips
• August 1-September 26, 1967: Hunting guide and packer for Skook Davidson
• September 26-November 15, 1967: Diamond J Ranch and Freer's cabin in the Kechika River valley
• November 15, 1967-August 18, 1968: Working at Fireside along the Alaska Highway
• August 18-September 26, 1968: Packer and hunting guide for Earl Boose
• September 26-November 30, 1968: Kechika River valley and Alaska Highway
• December 1, 1968-January 11, 1969: Trip to Dawson Creek and Peace River District
• January 12-February 1, 1969: Watson Lake
• February 1-June 6, 1969: Freer's cabin in the Kechika River valley
• June 6-December 31, 1969: Alaska Highway and trips on the Kechika River

Summary of the diary of Willard Freer, January 1, 1970 to December 31, 1972:

• January 1-March 25, 1970: Working at Fireside, BC
• March 25-September 5, 1970: Kechika River Valley
• September 5-12, 1970: Fireside, BC
• September 12-29, 1970: Medical trip to Fort Nelson
• September 29-October 13, 1970: Preparations and trip to Kechika River Valley
• October 14-31, 1970: Fireside, BC
• November 1-13, 1970: Medical trip to Edmonton
• November 14, 1970-February 19, 1971: Working at Fireside, BC
• February 19-June 22, 1971: Kechika River Valley
• June 22-July 25, 1971: Working at Fireside, BC and trip to Fort Nelson
• July 25-August 4, 1971: Medical trip to Edmonton
• August 4-October 24, 1971: Working at Fireside, BC
• October 24-November 4, 1971: Medical trip to Edmonton
• November 4, 1971-April 22, 1972: Working at Fireside
• April 22-August 17, 1972: Kechika River valley
• August 17-September 12, 1972: Medical trip to Edmonton, visit to Fort Nelson, and return by bus to Fireside
• September 12-25, 1972: Preparations and travel up the Kechika River to Freer's cabin
• September 25-December 31, 1972: Kechika River Valley

Summary of the diary of Willard Freer, July 1, 1945 to March 31, 1946:

• June 3-7, 1945: Trip to Thutade Lake as a packer for Emil Bronlund, mining engineer for Consolidated Mining and Smelting
• June 7-October 5, 1945: Thutade Lake
• October 5-12, 1945: Trip to Fort Ware
• October 14-26, 1945: Return trip to Diamond J Ranch
• October 27-December 31, 1945: Diamond J Ranch
• January 1-February 25, 1946: Diamond J Ranch
• February 25-March 3, 1946: Trip to Fort Ware
• March 3-13, 1946: Fort Ware
• March 13-26, 1946: Fort Ware to Fort St. James
• March 27-April 15, 1946: Fort St. James, working with Hendry Kinniburgh

Summary of the diary of Willard Freer, May 1, 1948 to October 29, 1948:

• May 1-27, 1948: Spring at Diamond J Ranch, with supply visits from bush planes
• May 27-June 6, 1948: Trip to Lower Post and preparation for work
• June 7-October 1, 1948: Head packer for the British Columbia-Yukon Boundary Survey
• September 26-October 18, 1948: Return trip to Diamond J Ranch
• October 18-29, 1948: Diamond J Ranch

Summary of the diary of Willard Freer, October 1, 1942 to December 31, 1943:

• October 1-13, 1942: Employed with the United States Army in Northern BC, packing and outfitting for the survey crews of the Alaska Highway in the areas of Deserters Canyon, Fort Ware, Sifton Pass, and Fox Pass
• October 16-29, 1942: Journey to Kechika River and Skook Davidson's Diamond J Ranch
• October 30-December 31, 1942: Working and establishing residence at Skook Davidson's Diamond J Ranch
• January 1-May 19, 1943: Working at Diamond J Ranch with Craig Forfar
• May 19-30, 1943: Trip to Fort Ware
• May 30-June 30, 1943: At Fort Ware, preparing for packing BC Government triangulation survey trip to surveying location and waiting for Skook Davidson to arrive with horses purchased from Jim Beattie
• June 18-July 13, 1943: Travel to surveying location
• July 15-August 17, 1943: Taking care of case camp while survey crews in field
• August 17-26, 1943: All crews working together
• August 27-October 23, 1943: Return trips between Fort Ware and Diamond J Ranch
• October 23-December 31, 1943: Diamond J Ranch

Summary of the diary of Willard Freer, October 1, 1944 to July 1, 1945:

• September 28-October 21, 1944: Fort Ware trip to pick up food and machinery left after the Bedaux expedition
• October 22-December 31, 1944: Diamond J Ranch
• January 1-May 26, 1945: Diamond J Ranch
• May 26-June 1, 1945: Trip to Fort Ware
• June 3-7, 1945: Trip to Thutade Lake as a packer for Emil Bronlund, mining engineer for Consolidated Mining and Smelting
• June 7-October 5, 1945: Thutade Lake

Summary of the diary of Willard Freer, October 1, 1947 to April 30, 1948:

• October 1-11, 1947: Head packer for the British Columbia-Yukon Boundary Survey, travel to Lower Post
• October 11-21, 1947: Return trip to Diamond J Ranch
• October 21, 1947-May 27, 1948: Off season at Diamond J Ranch, with supply visits from bush planes

File consists of the following materials:

• Letter to Vernon C. Brink from the National Archives of Canada re: Knox McCusker holdings (March 1, 1999)
• Photocopy of article: "Living Landscapes: Exploring the wilds of northeaster BC" by Ross Peck and Brian Apland
• Some materials for an article on Knox McCusker, D.L.S.
• Material about the life of Knox Freeman McCusker
• Letter to Mrs. Rutherford (Oct. 5, 1999) re: access to interview of Knox McCusker by Frank Willis
• Accession information print-out re: interview of Knox McCusker by Frank Willis in 1954
• National Archives of Canada accession information print-out re: Dominion Land Surveyor Diaries, 1881-1930
• Mary Henry / Knox McCusker "Team" (April 19, 1998)
• Letter to Mrs. Rutherford from George Ungar re: background information on Knox McCusker