Fonds consists of ten diaries kept by James Layton, covering the years 1948-1981, and a Time Book. (Years 1967-1971 are missing.) Layton made brief daily entries in the diaries, noting the weather, activities, social interactions and, occasionally, notable external events. Typical activities included logging, fishing, working on an oyster lease, digging clams, gardening, visiting, reading and writing letters. Times of planting and harvesting the garden, sightings of wildlife, and names of people living nearby or visiting on boats are recorded.
James (Jimmy) George Layton (1897-1990) was born in Camberwell, England. He fought in World War I, was severely wounded when he flung himself on a grenade which had landed in his foxhole, and received a medal for his bravery. In 1920, Layton emigrated to Canada, where he found work in coastal logging camps. Other members of the family, including his parents and seven of his ten siblings, also moved to Canada. At the time of his father's death in 1939, Layton, his parents and three of his brothers were living on Thurlow Island. In the 1940s he moved to the head of Von Donop Inlet on Cortes Island. His float house was drawn up on the beach next to a little islet that was joined to the shore at low tide, where he cultivated a garden and orchard. Layton found work logging and caretaking for local camps active in Von Donop, and helping his brother on his oyster lease. He moved to Lund in 1972, where he passed away at the age of 92.
Custodial History
Diaries were given to Joan Bevington by her cousin Capt. Harrison Layton, the nephew of James Layton, for donation to CIMAS.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of ten diaries kept by James Layton, covering the years 1948-1981, and a Time Book. (Years 1967-1971 are missing.) Layton made brief daily entries in the diaries, noting the weather, activities, social interactions and, occasionally, notable external events. Typical activities included logging, fishing, working on an oyster lease, digging clams, gardening, visiting, reading and writing letters. Times of planting and harvesting the garden, sightings of wildlife, and names of people living nearby or visiting on boats are recorded.
Slide depicts a pile driver and pilings on a barge beside the Whaletown wharf. The houses across the bay near the present site of the ferry dock are in the background.
Slide depicts a pile driver and pilings on a barge beside the Whaletown wharf. The houses across the bay near the present site of the ferry dock are in the background.
Photograph of Pauline Middleton, holding a fishing rod, with Verna Munro standing beside her at the edge of Delight Lake. The far shore of the small lake is clear in the background.
Photograph of Pauline Middleton, holding a fishing rod, with Verna Munro standing beside her at the edge of Delight Lake. The far shore of the small lake is clear in the background.
Photograph of a woman beside the fish scow at the Whaletown dock, holding a large salmon. (ID - Nesta Slater?). With the series of Slater photographs is a paper typed by Gilean Douglas offering other fishing pictures of the "Dorr's" (the name she used for the Slaters in her magazine articles).
Photograph of a woman beside the fish scow at the Whaletown dock, holding a large salmon. (ID - Nesta Slater?). With the series of Slater photographs is a paper typed by Gilean Douglas offering other fishing pictures of the "Dorr's" (the name she used for the Slaters in her magazine articles).
"Mr. Hague in his row boat on Hague Lake. He was very fond of fishing. His boat house is on shore just right of centre of picture." (from May Ellingsen Historic Photographs: Album 2, p. 20) (Also in collection as 2004.005.003.)
"Mr. Hague in his row boat on Hague Lake. He was very fond of fishing. His boat house is on shore just right of centre of picture." (from May Ellingsen Historic Photographs: Album 2, p. 20) (Also in collection as 2004.005.003.)
File contains various local publications: Blue Jay Lake Gardening Partners newsletter, BC Ferries newsletter, Whaletown National Enquirer and SCCA newsletter.
File contains various local publications: Blue Jay Lake Gardening Partners newsletter, BC Ferries newsletter, Whaletown National Enquirer and SCCA newsletter.
