• Search Tips
• Census Records
• Land Records
• Court Records
• Immigration Records
• Church Records
• Education Records
• Cartographic Records
• H.B.C.A. Records
    • Introduction
    • Fur Trade - General
    • Fur Trade - Pre 1821
    • North West Co. to 1821
    • Fur Trade 1821-1892
    • Fur Trade 1892-1987
    • Search Tips
• Aboriginal Records
• How to Contact Us
• Questions & Answers
• Picture References

The Fur Trade 1892 - 1987

After Rupert's Land was incorporated into the Dominion of Canada in 1870, the HBC had to survive in a western Canada that was becoming increasingly urbanized and agricultural. It diversified into land sales and retail stores, but continued the fur trade. Administrative changes were part of the attempt to adapt to new circumstances.

Commissioner's Office Records

Title: Abstracts of Servant's Accounts

Ref: D.33 / 1 - 22
Microfilm: 3M250 - 3M252
Dates: 1892 - 1923
Content: Organized by category of person - officers, post managers, clerks, servants, etc., giving information such as name, district or post served, capacity, years of service, date contract expires, wages etc.
Finding Aids: yes
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: none

Title: Lists of Pensioners

Ref: D.38 / 49 - 50
Microfilm: 3M275
Dates: 1894 - 1924
Content: Can include: name of employee; residence; parish of origin; authorization of pension; account from which pension is drawn; amount of pension; remarks or terms, date of death.
Finding Aids: yes; arranged alphabetically by name of  employee.
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: none

Title: Fur Trade Character Reports for Clerks and Postmasters

Ref: D.38 / 55
Microfilm: 3M276
Dates: 1897 - 1910
Content: Annotated personal comments appear for a number of employees. Some comments are highly personal and sometimes derogatory and would be considered unacceptable by today's labour standards so must be considered in their historical context.
Finding Aids: yes; arranged alphabetically.
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: none

Title: Fur Trade Engagement Register for Servants & Clerks

Ref: D.38 / 56
Microfilm: 3M277
Dates: 1887 - 1906
Content: Gives information such as: name, residence, years of service, position, place and date of initial employment, contract expiry date, wages and remarks.  This series continues in RG 3/40A.
Finding Aids: yes
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: none

Title: Fur Trade & Saleshop Engagement Register

Ref: D.38 / 57
Microfilm: 3M277
Dates: 1898 - 1912
Content: Includes name, age, number of years of service, capacity, where stationed, date hired, terms of engagement, wages and general remarks (i.e. mainly pertaining to retirement or termination).  This series continues in RG 3/40A.
Finding Aids: yes
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: none

Title: Register of Applications for Employment with the HBC

Ref: D.38 / 51 - 52
Microfilm: 3M275
Dates: 1884 - 1909
Content: Includes name, address, position sought, date of application and any noteworthy references or related experience.
Finding Aids: yes
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: none

  [To Menu]

Canadian Committee Office Records, 1917 - 1970

Title: Officers' & Servants' Ledgers

Ref: RG2 / 47
Microfilm: not filmed
Dates: 1925 - 1970
Content: Continuation of Series A.16. Contain interest bearing accounts of employees. Accounts are in alphabetical order by name of employee.
Finding Aids: Each volume has an index.
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: none

Title: Officers' & Servants' Ledgers

Ref: RG2 Series 50 (4 volumes)
Microfilm: not filmed
Dates: 1917 - 1937
Content: Continuation of Series A.16.  Contain interest bearing accounts of employees. Accounts are in alphabetical order by name of employee.
Finding Aids: yes
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: none

  [To Menu]

London Office Records, 1891-1919

Correspondence between the Commissioners in Winnipeg and the HBC Head Office in London, 1891-1919, was filed by subject. This filing system was not adopted until 1911, but much of Commissioner C.C. Chipman's correspondence was incorporated into the files. There are three main divisions in the system - Fur Trade, Stores and Land.

Title: Officer's & Servants' Private Accounts

Ref: A.12 / FT 216 / 1
Microfilm: 815 - 816
Dates: 1891 - 1919
Content: Statement of Commissioned Officers' outstanding balances as documented in the Ledgers.
Finding Aids: yes
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: none

Title: Deaths of Pensioners

Ref: A.12 / FT 221 / 1
Microfilm: 816
Dates: 1894 - 1918
Content: Letters from Winnipeg informed Head Office of such details as: dates of retirement; amount of pension; capacity; duration of pension; death of pensioner; total amount of pension paid; request for grant to family in cases of hardship.
Finding Aids: Yes
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: none

Title: Estates of Deceased Employees

Ref: A.12 / FT 225 / 2
Microfilm: 817
Dates: 1893 - 1918
Content: Letters and documentation from Fur Trade Commissioner's office in Winnipeg to the London Secretary.
Finding Aids: yes
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: none

Title: Apprentice Clerks

Ref: A.12 / FT 303 / 1
Microfilm: 831
Dates: 1884 - 1909
Content: Letters from the Fur Trade Commissioner's office in Winnipeg to the London Secretary (includes requests for personnel, notifications of resignations, applications for employment, medical evaluations etc.).
Finding Aids: yes
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: none

Title: Pensions and Allowances

Ref: A.12 / FT 334 / 1
Microfilm: 848 - 849
Dates: 1892 - 1920
Content: London Inward correspondence from the Fur Trade Commissioner (with recommendations for pensions and allowances)
Finding Aids: yes
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: none

Title: Allowances to Retired Officers

Ref: A.12 / FT 334 / 2
Microfilm: 849
Dates: 1914 - 1917
Content: London Inward Correspondence from the Fur Trade Commissioner.
Finding Aids: yes
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: none

Title: Retirements, Resignations & Dismissals

Ref: A.12 / FT 337 / 1
Microfilm: 850
Dates: 1917 - 1919
Content: London Inward Correspondence from the Fur Trade Commissioner.
Finding Aids: yes
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: none

Title Staff Files

Ref: A.12 / FT 340 / 1 - 5
Microfilm: 850-853
Dates: 1890 - 1915
Content: London Inward Correspondence from the Fur Trade Commissioner.
Finding Aids: yes
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: none

  [To Menu]

British Apprentices

The practice of recruiting fur trade employees in Britain continued until the1980's, with major interruptions during the Depression and war years. Young men were selected as apprentice clerks for training as post managers. Employees were also hired in Canada and Newfoundland.

Title: Correspondence Files

Ref: A.92 / 37 / 1 - 39
Microfilm: 1108 - 1111
Dates: 1922 - 1932
Content: Arranged in chronological blocks (e.g., 1922-1932) and then alphabetically by name of correspondent.  Include letters of application from young men, sometimes accompanied by letters from parents.
Finding Aids: yes
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: none

Title: Dossiers

Ref: A.102 / 147 - 208
Microfilm: not filmed
Dates: 1922 - 1946
Content: Arranged by subject or alphabetically by name of each apprentice. Many letters were written by George Binney, who was responsible for recruitment (1927-1930).
Finding Aids: yes
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: none

Title: Correspondence with Headmasters of Public Schools

Ref: A.102 / 158
Microfilm: not filmed
Dates: c. 1925 - c. 1935
Content:  Correspondence between George Binney and headmasters from British public schools and grammar schools pertaining to recruitment of apprentices for the company.
Finding Aids: yes
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: none

Title: Apprentices Not Hired

Ref: A.102 / 149 - 152
Microfilm: not filmed
Dates: 1914 - 1917
Content: Evidence of unsuccessful candidates who had applied to work for the Hudson's Bay Company. These men were rejected for a variety of reasons: too old, poor qualifications, lack of business experience, poor handwriting etc. Each application includes a photograph of the candidate. The reason for rejection is stated at the bottom of the application.
Finding Aids: yes
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: none

Title: Apprenticeship Clerks Progress Cards

Ref: A.34 / 5
Microfilm: not filmed
Dates: 1919 - 1926
Content: Progress cards for those selected in Scotland, compiled from reports contained in London Inward Canadian Committee letters.
Finding Aids: yes
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: none

Title: Apprentices - Northern Stores

Ref: A.102 / 209 - 212
Microfilm: not filmed
Dates: 1971 - 1972
Content: Letters of inquiry for employment, recruitment and selection. Arranged alphabetically.
Finding Aids: yes
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: Papers from 1971-1972 are not open to the public since they are held under the thirty year rule to protect the privacy of Hudson's Bay Company Employees.

Fur Trade Department Records

Although a separate Fur Trade Department was created in 1910, it took some years for the Department to establish its own record-keeping and personnel functions.  The first Departmental accountant was not appointed until 1925, the first personnel officer until ca. 1938.

Title: Fur Trade Character Reports on Clerks & Postmasters

Ref: RG3 / 11A / 1
Microfilmed: not filmed
Dates: 1911 - 1912
Content: Records from the Fur Trade Commissioner's Office. Include basic information as well as personal commentaries or evaluations.
Finding Aids: yes
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: none

Title: Fur Trade Directories

Ref: RG3 / 11B / 1
Microfilm: not filmed
Dates: ca. 1910, ca. 1912
Content: Records from the Fur Trade Commissioner's Office. Include basic information as well as personal commentaries or evaluations.
Finding Aids: yes
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: none

Title: Reports on Apprentice Clerks

Ref: RG3 / 11C / 1
Microfilm: not filmed
Dates: 1922 - 1932
Content: Records from the Fur Trade Commissioner's Office. Include basic information as well as personal commentaries or evaluations.
Finding Aids: yes
Type of Material: textual
Access Conditions: none

  [To Menu]