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2023.8.13 · Item · 1958-1961
Part of Willard Freer Diary Digital Collection

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
2023.8.13.1 · Item · 1958-1961
Part of Willard Freer Diary Digital Collection

Summary of the diary transcript 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
2023.8.14 · Item · 1962-1963
Part of Willard Freer Diary Digital Collection

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
2023.8.14.1 · Item · 1962-1963
Part of Willard Freer Diary Digital Collection

Summary of the diary transcript 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
2023.8.15 · Item · 1964-1966
Part of Willard Freer Diary Digital Collection

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
2023.8.15.1 · Item · 1964-1966
Part of Willard Freer Diary Digital Collection

Summary of the diary transcript 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
2023.8.16 · Item · 1967-1969
Part of Willard Freer Diary Digital Collection

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
2023.8.16.1 · Item · 1967-1969
Part of Willard Freer Diary Digital Collection

Summary of the diary transcript 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
2023.8.17 · Item · 1970-1972
Part of Willard Freer Diary Digital Collection

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
2023.8.17.1 · Item · 1970-1972
Part of Willard Freer Diary Digital Collection

Summary of the diary transcript 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
2023.8 · Collection · 1942-1972

Willard Freer, a packer and guide in remote northern BC, kept a daily diary from 1942 to 1975 that provides a detailed record of life in northern BC and southern Yukon Territory. This collection consists of digital replicas of Willard Freer's diaries from 1942 to 1975, along with accompanying transcripts created by Jay Sherwood, who authored a book about Freer's life.

Excerpts describing the Freer Diaries from "Kechika Chronicler: Willard Freer's Northern BC & Yukon Diaries, 1942-1975" by Jay Sherwood (2023), pages 14-17:

In a letter that [Willard Freer] wrote in 1935, he stated that he had started keeping a diary when he left home. Unfortunately, his early diaries have been lost. In the summer of 1939, while Freer was away working, the BC Provincial Police investigated his neighbour Frank "Shorty" Weber as a suspect in a local murder. The police seized Freer's diaries from his trapping cabin as potential evidence. Freer wrote to the police requesting the return of his diaries, but he never received them. Fortunately, Freer had made copies of his diaries for the summers of 1932 and 1934. His diary for 1934 is particularly important because he was a member of the Bedaux Expedition.

Freer's existing diaries begin in the spring of 1942, when he was still living in the Ingenika River valley, and continue until 1975. The notebook for 1950 and 1951 is missing, and the January to September 1961 section has been removed. ...
Throughout his adult life, Freer wrote a daily journal. The entries are usually brief and direct, with minimal philosophizing. They are often repetitive, describing daily routines. However, the cumulative narrative of Freer's diaries provides a rare look into the history of one of British Columbia's most remote areas.

The pantheon of people recorded in Freer's diaries include many notable individuals who lived and worked in the Kechika River valley and along the Alaska Highway. Willard's journals provide details about specific events in the lives of these people. There are many references to the famous bush pilots Stan Bridcut and George Dalziel. He notes several prospectors who are well-known in northern BC and Yukon.

Willard's work involved extensive travel through northern BC and Yukon. His diaries provide details about the locations he visited. In particular, Freer kept an important record of travel on the Davie Trail between Fort Ware and Lower Post. For every overnight trip he made, Freer recorded the campsite he used, and the amount of time he spent travelling each day.

During the 1940s and 1950s, the Kaska and Kwadacha Tsek'ene still followed their traditional yearly rounds in the Kechika drainage. Freer's diaries detail the lives and routines of numerous Indigenous people over many years. Some of them are mentioned over a hundred times in Freer's diaries. By all accounts, Willard had good relationships with the Indigenous people. In the remote northern BC and Yukon region, where there were few people, working co-operatively was important.

Willard lived and worked at Skook Davidson's Diamond J Ranch during most of the 1940s and at intervals in the 1950s, so his journals provide considerable information about Skook and life at the ranch.
...
Freer's diaries contain considerable information about daily life in the lodges along the Alaska Highway.
...
Freer was involved in many important projects in northern BC and Yukon. He was a member of the famous 1934 Bedaux Expedition. Freer was a packer for BC and federal government survey crews for several summers; worked on the British Columbia-Yukon Boundary Survey for four years; was employed on Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) crews for several years; and spent three field seasons on the BC government's Forest Inventory program. Willard also packed for a couple of large mining exploration companies and was a hunting guide for Robin Dalziel and other guide outfitters.

Freer's diaries can also be used to monitor events like the weather and snowfall. In the winter, when he lived at Skook's ranch or at his cabin, he recorded the temperature in the morning, at midday, and in the evening. He also noted snowfalls. Willard recorded the date that the Kechika froze over in the fall, and when the ice melted off the river in the spring. He also noted his first observations of birds in the spring.
...
The diaries of Willard Freer, which chronicle over thirty years of life in northern BC, are a unique account, providing a gateway to many of the people who lived there and some of the important events that occurred.

Freer, Willard Melvin