Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Shipping Federation of British Columbia fonds
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- Textual record
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- Source of title proper: Title based on the contents of the fonds.
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Fonds
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Physical description
8.79 m of textual records, 5 reels of microfilm, and other materials
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Shipping Federation of British Columbia (also referred to as the British Columbia Shipping Federation) was an organization overseeing the despatching and supervision of longshoremen in various ports in British Columbia (especially in the Lower Mainland).
It was formed in 1911 as the Ship Owners' Association of British Columbia, with the original charter members being: The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Company, the Lincoln Steamship Company, the Coast Steamship Company, the Northern Steamship Company, the Boscowitz Steamship Company, the Canadian Mexican Steamship Company Limited, the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, the Union Steamship Company Limited, the Bermuda Steamship Company, and the Evans Coleman and Evans Company. The association was registered under the Societies Act in 1916.
The aim of the organization was to promote shipping interests in British Columbia by selecting, training, and making available sufficient numbers of longshoremen. As a result, the Federation began acting as a central despatching and supervising bureau for longshoremen in B.C.
In 1936, an official holding company was formed to represent the interests of the Federation shareholders. The Shipping Federation Holdings Limited was responsible for financing maintenance on the Federation building, purchasing insurance for the Federation, purchasing bonds and other investment securities, and managing the sale of Federation stock certificates.
Throughout its history, the Federation worked with various unions representing longshoremen. The federation first signed a preliminary agreement with the International Longshoremen's Association, a union affiliated with the American Federation of Labour. A full scale longshoremen's strike under this union in 1923 led many workers to join a different union, the Vancouver and District Waterfront Workers' Association. After the 1923 strike, the federation widened its membership, incorporating all wharf and dock operators. The Port of Vancouver experienced another major lonshoremen's strike in 1935, and the federation later signed its first agreement with the International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union.
In the mid 1960s, the Federation was re-organized into the British Columbia Maritime Employers' Association.
Name of creator
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Scope and content
The fonds consists of records created and received by the Shipping Federation, arising from: organizational activities; financial transactions and business of the Shipping Federation Holdings Limited; transactions with Federation member companies, unions, government institutions, suppliers, and other individuals and organizations; and from everyday business activities and special Federation sponsored functions. Records include minutes, correspondence, financial records, reports, regulations, lists, agreements, forms, newsletters, technical drawings, and other records.
Fonds contains six series: 1) Minutes and related records; 2) Vancouver and District Waterfront Workers' Association transactions; 3) Shipping Federation Holdings Limited; 4) Business files; 5) Vessel assessments; and 6) Financial ledgers.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
The fonds was placed on permanent loan to the Archives in 1974 by J. Devine and G.E. McKee of the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association. Additional materials were transferred in 1976 by Leo Barwell of the same association.
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Restrictions on access
Researchers are required to obtain written permission from the donor before viewing these records. To obtain permission, please contact: Michael Leonard, Vice President - Labour Relations, B.C. Maritime Employers' Association. Suite 500, 349 Railway Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6A 1A4. Telephone: 604-688-1155. Fax: 604-684-2397.
Access form required: Yes
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
Series descriptions and file lists are available.
Associated materials
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General note
Add. MSS. 421 has been incorporated into Add. MSS. 279. Citations for these records should therefore refer only to Add. MSS. 279.