Identity area
Type of entity
Secondary Agency
Authorized form of name
Canada. Dept. of the Interior. School Lands Branch
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
- School Lands Branch
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1879-1930
History
The School Lands Branch was established in 1879 to administer lands that were reserved for education purposes under the Dominion Lands Act, 1872. The Act stated that sections 11 and 29 of every surveyed township were designated as school lands. Any revenue generated from the sale of these lands was to finance school construction and the purchase of school supplies.
The rapidly increasing population of the western Canadian territories and the need for federal assistance to help build educational facilities necessitated special legislation by the Canadian government. This law also resulted in the creation of a separate School Lands Branch within the Department of the Interior to administer the terms of the act. The Branch was responsible for arranging public auctions for the sale of school lands, inspecting property, and setting the price for land. The lands could not be sold until a fair market value could be attained; in the interim, the land was often leased for grazing, timber, and/or haying purposes. Monies collected for these purposes were added to the territorial/provincial education endowment.
The School Lands Branch was placed under the direction of Frank Checkley from 1879 to 1918. Initially, the Branch reported to the Minister of the Department of the Interior through the Commissioner of Dominion Lands. In 1909, the Branch reported directly to the Minister. In 1918, the status of the Branch was downgraded to a Division, and it was placed back under the authority of the Dominion Lands Branch, and was renamed the Dominion Lands Bureau. The unit was disbanded in 1930 when the management of natural resources and dedicated Crown Lands in the western provinces was transferred to the provinces. In Saskatchewan, this authority transferred to the Department of Natural Resources, Lands Branch which operated from 1930 to 1944.
Places
Legal status
Functions, occupations and activities
In 1879, the School Lands Branch was established to administer lands that were reserved for education purposes under the Dominion Lands Act, 1872. Sections 11 and 29 of every surveyed township were designated as school lands. Any revenue generated from the sale of these lands was to finance school construction and the purchase of school supplies. The Branch conducted property inspections, determined value, arranged auctions for land sales, and administered leasing arrangements for grazing, timber and haying.
Mandates/sources of authority
Dominion Lands Act (35 Vic., c. 23, s. 22, 1872)
School Lands Act, 1879
Internal structures/genealogy
General context
Relationships area
Related entity
Identifier of related entity
Category of relationship
Dates of relationship
Description of relationship
Related entity
Identifier of related entity
Category of relationship
Dates of relationship
Description of relationship
Related entity
Identifier of related entity
Category of relationship
Dates of relationship
Description of relationship
Related entity
Identifier of related entity
Category of relationship
Type of relationship
Dates of relationship
Description of relationship
Access points area
Subject access points
Place access points
Occupations
Control area
Authority record identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Rules for Archival Description (RAD)
Status
Draft
Level of detail
Dates of creation, revision and deletion
Authority record created on 2016-02-01. Approved . Last modified on 2017-11-29.
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
National Archives of Canada, School Lands Branch administrative history, R190-0-3E.
The Records of the Department of the Interior and Research Concerning Canada's Western Frontier of Settlement by Irene M. Spry, University of Regina Press, 1993.
AMICUS Authorities - no entry found.