This fonds consists of records created, accumulated and used by Prentice G. Downes relating mainly to his travels by air, rail, boat, and canoe through northern Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta and the Northwest Territories between 1936 and 1947.

The types of records included are Downes' detailed handwritten journals; correspondence; Downes' 1941 draft of Sleeping Island; material relating to Cree culture and traditions; published and unpublished articles; and photographs.

The fonds also includes the first and second volumes of Distant Summers: P.G. Downes' Journals of Travels in Northern Canada, 1936-1947, edited by R.H. Cockburn. Reproductions of Downes' original photographs made for publication purposes in 1996 or later are included.

No series assignment has been applied to the records in this fonds.

01 to 20: Views of Pike Lake Provincial Park, including: Children playing in lawn sprinklers (01); the park's nature centre (02); beach activities (03 to 07 and 15 to 18); the park's bath house (08); visitors picnicking (09 to 12); the park's concession area (13); children playing on swings (14); and the entrance to the park (19 to 20). 21 to 25: Views of the North Saskatchewan River at Langham. 26 to 29: Views of the Borden Bridge and of the Borden Bridge Campground. 30 to 34: Views of the Laird Yellowhead Campground, located near North Battleford. 35 to 40: Exterior views of L & M Wood Products at Glaslyn, including the shop's buildings and lumber yard, as well as nearby grain elevators. 41 to 42: Views of a fire prevention highway sign featuring the character "Scorcher", as seen along Highway 4, south of Meadow Lake. 43 to 164: Views of Meadow Lake Provincial Park, including: the park's entrance (43); Jeanette Lake, located within the park (44 to 48); camping and swimming at Flotten Lake, located within the park (48 to 54); camping, swimming, beach activities, fishing and canoeing at Greig Lake, located within the park (55 to 73); fishing for trout in Dennis Creek, located within the park (73a to 76); picnicking at First Mustus Lake, located within the park (77 to 79); camping at Matheson Lake, located within the park (80 to 84); fishing on Second Mustus Lake, located within the park (85 to 87); fishing on Mustus Lake, located within the park (88 to 90); a camper truck travels on a paved road just inside the entrance to the park (91 to 92); canoeing, kayaking, swimming and water-skiing on Kimball Lake, located within the park (93 to 105); a pet fox, belonging to a man, located near the Goodsoil entrance gate to the park (106 to 108); rapids on Waterhen River, located within the park (109 to 115); entry gate to the park, located north of Goodsoil (116); fishing on Pierce Lake, located within the park (117 to 123); children roasting marshmallows and wieners over a campfire at Matheson Lake, located within the park (124 to 125); the moon shining over Vivian Lake, located within the park (126); view overlooking Makwa Lake, located within the park (127); recreation area at Makwa Lake (128); teepee located on the way to Steele Narrows, within the park (129); camping at Steele Narrows Provincial Historic Park and view of the cairn marking Steele Narrows National Historic Site of Canada (130 to 139); Upper Tullibie Lake, located within Meadow Lake Provincial Park (140); camping at Jumbo Lake, located within the park (141 to 147 and 149 to 152); bath house at Jumbo Lake (148 and 154); trees blown over in a cottage sub-division at Jumbo Lake (153); Jumbo Beach and Jumbo Lake (155); fishing on Makwa River, located within the park (156 to 160); exterior views of Hugh's Cabin at Raspberry Lake (161 to 164). 165 to 168: Exterior views of a sawmill at Green Lake. 169 to 170: Views of a campsite at Green Lake. 171 to 173: Fishing on Cowan River. 174: Upstream from the dam on Cowan River. 175 to 177: Picknicking at Cowan River. 178 to 195: Views of Emma Lake and its adjacent public areas, including: boating on the lake (178 to 179, 191 to 193); children playing at the playground (180 to 184); water-skiing on the lake (185 to 186); view overlooking the lake, possibly at dusk (187 to 190); and loons on the lake (194 to 195).

Poorman Reserve. Old Chief's house of Ed Poorman, man in doorway; a modern home, and the school. Fall.

A DVD copy of silent, colour 8 mm film footage, taken by Meyer Brownstone, of a pow wow ceremony taking place at a location in the Qu'Appelle valley of Saskatchewan (possibly Piapot First Nation). Includes images of tepees, pow wow dancing and spectators looking on.

01 to 02 - A public health nurse sits on the edge of a bed instructing a woman with two young children, sitting on a bed across from her, about infant feeding. 03 - A public health nurse stands with a woman and child at the doorway of a home on Moosomin Reserve. A Canada, Department of National Health and Welfare, Indian Health Service car is parked next to the home. 04 - A mother holds a small child and two other children stand by while Mrs. I.M. Welna, Public Health Nurse, gives a polio inoculation to the baby.

01 to 03: Views of an experimental plantation site, established in 1963 and administered by the Forestry Branch of the Saskatchewan Department of Natural Resources, located at Section 7-20-14-W3, and identified as Saskatchewan Landing Park. 04 to 06: Views of the scalp irrigation plantation project, established in 1964 and located at Section 7-20-14-W3 for the Saskatchewan Department of Natural Resources at Saskatchewan Landing Park. 07 to 08: Views of the scalp irrigation plantation project, established in 1964 and located at Section 27-19-15-W3 for the Saskatchewan Department of Natural Resources at Saskatchewan Landing Park. 09: Exterior view of the Smart house, part of the Smart ranch, located at 5-20-15-W3. Part of the property will be flooded. 10: Fortman's ranch building and corrals, located in the Saskatchewan Landing district. 11: Egland ranch, located in the Saskatchewan Landing district. 12 to 13: Views of a teepee ring, located at 1-20-16-W3 in the Saskatchewan Landing district. 14: Overall view of the Maple Creek Trans-Canada Campsite, featuring (L to R): pump house; three lavatories; and a shelter. 15: Main building at the Maple Creek Trans-Canada Campsite, with plantation in foreground. 16: Camp kitchen at the Maple Creek Trans-Canada Campsite. 17: Lavatory at the Maple Creek Trans-Canada Campsite. 18: Maintenance building and garage at the Maple Creek Trans-Canada Campsite.

Items are four photographs depicting scenes from the William Robert Bell farm:
(1) Item is an image of the round stone barn, portable wooden granaries, sulky plows, and a wagon. Standing on proper left of image is a man wearing a dark jacket, identified as William Robert Bell. Two additional subjects are visible in image, but are unidentified; first subject is position between the portable granaries and the second is in the doorway of the barn.

(2) Item is an image of a horse and six men in front of the stone headquarters house on the Bell farm. Lone figure positioned on proper left of image is identified as William Robert Bell.

(3) Item is an image of a First Nations young woman with a wooden barn on the proper left of the image.

(4) Item is an image of First Nations man standing in front of a teepee (tipi), with an additional teepee on either side of the image. Beside the teepee on the proper right of image is a Red River cart.

Scenic views of various parks, natural landscapes and buildings throughout southeast, east central and central Saskatchewan. 01 to 04: Children play on monkey bars at a playground within Katepwa Provincial Park. 05 to 15: Children playing on the beach at Katepwa Provincial Park. 16 to 23: Children play at the playground within Katepwa Provincial Park. 24 to 31: Children playing on the beach at Echo Valley Provincial Park. 32 to 35: Children play at a playground within Echo Valley Provincial Park. 36 to 47: Hikers enjoys views from a lookout point within Echo Valley Provincial Park. 48 to 53: Children play at a playground within Echo Valley Provincial Park. 54 to 58: Views of the lake from a lookout point within Echo Valley Provincial Park. 59 to 70: Children explore the natural surroundings and play at the beach near Pasqua Lake within Echo Valley Provincial Park. 71 to 72: Children playing at a playground within Echo Valley Provincial Park. 73 to 75: Children playing on the beach, and swimming and boating in Echo Lake. 76 to 82: Children hiking the Pasqua Lake hills within Echo Valley Provincial Park. 83 to 91: Children explore the natural surroundings and play at the beach near Pasqua Lake within Echo Valley Provincial Park. 92 to 94: Exterior views of a Ukrainian Orthodox church at Nipawin. 95 to 99: Exterior views of the Veregin Doukhobor Prayer Home, and its veranda, located at Veregin. 100 to 103: Grain elevators at Kamsack. 104: Children playing at the playground within Duck Mountain Provincial Park. 105 to 109: Visitors enjoying the beach and water at Madge Lake, Duck Mountain Provincial Park. 110 to 115: Campers enjoy a barbecued meal at Duck Mountain Provincial Park. 116 to 118: Visitors enjoying the beach and water at Madge Lake, Duck Mountain Provincial Park. 119 to 126: A field of canola in the Kuroki district. 127: Exterior view of the Church of the Holy Apostles Saints Peter and Paul, located at Kuroki. 128: Close-up view showing a pattern of dried, cracked mud on the ground. 129: Cattle standing in a field. 130 to 134: Nipawin Regional Park and the suspension bridge located within. 135 to 141: Views of the South Saskatchewan River and trees along its banks. 142 to 145: A field of canola in the Kuroki district. 146 to 148: Exterior views of St. Mary (Dormition) Ukrainian Orthodox Church, located at Nipawin. 149 to 150: Views of the South Saskatchewan River. 151 to 153: Suspension bridge within Nipawin Regional Park. 154: Distant view of three grain elevators in the Nipawin district. 155: Swimmers enjoying Waskesiu Lake. 156, 158 to 159: A paddle steamer on Waskesiu Lake. 157: Exterior view of the Skyline Motel at Waskesiu Lake. 160 to 163: Views of Waskesiu Lake as seen from a motor boat. 164 to 165: A woman and girl look at wildflowers in Prince Albert National Park. 166 to 173: Golfing the golf course at Waskesiu Lake, Prince Albert National Park. 174: Trees in Prince Albert National Park. 175 to 177: Children hiking within Prince Albert National Park. 178 to 189: Golfing the golf course at Waskesiu Lake, Prince Albert National Park. 190 to 209: Camping and relaxing within Prince Albert National Park. 210 to 211: Band Shell at Waskesiu Lake, Prince Albert National Park. 212 to 213: Camping within Prince Albert National Park. 214 to 221: A family walks a nature trail within Prince Albert National Park. 222 to 224: A family stands on the shore of Waskesiu Lake within Prince Albert National Park. 225 to 232: People paddling canoes on Waskesiu Lake. 233: People enjoying the beach at Waskesiu Lake. 234 to 237: Two boys swim with inflated inner tubes on Waskesiu Lake. 238 to 239: Children playing at the playground within Prince Albert National Park. 240: Beach area at Waskesiu Lake. 241 to 246: Children playing at the playground within Prince Albert National Park. 247 to 249: People enjoying the beach at Waskesiu Lake. 250: People paddling a canoe on Waskesiu Lake. 251 to 253: People fishing from the shore of Waskesiu Lake. 254 to 255: Marina at Waskesiu Lake. 256 to 258: Seagulls on the marina at Waskesiu Lake. 259 to 261: People paddling a canoe on Waskesiu Lake. 262 to 263: People diving off a diving board into Waskesiu Lake. 264 to 266: Sightseers ride a paddle steamer on Waskesiu Lake. 267: A person rests on the edge of a motor boat at the Waskesiu Lake marina. 268 to 270: People horseback riding along a trail within Prince Albert National Park. 271: Lawn bowling in Prince Albert National Park. 272 to 273: Camping within Prince Albert National Park. 274 to 276: Red fox at Waskesiu Lake. 277 to 279: Views of Waskesiu Lake from the shore. 280 to 285: Golfing the golf course at Waskesiu Lake, Prince Albert National Park. 286 to 290: People enjoying the beach at Waskesiu Lake. 291 to 296: Interior views of the Batoche Museum. 297: Exterior view of St. Antoine de Padoue Church at Batoche. 298: Exterior view of St. Antoine de Padoue Church rectory at Batoche. 299 to 300: Exterior views of St. Antoine de Padoue Church at Batoche. 301 to 306: Views of the St. Antoine de Padoue rectory, as seen from the church's bell tower. 307: St. Antoine de Padoue cemetery, as seen from the church's bell tower. 308 to 309: Interior views of the Batoche Museum. 310 to 318: Indigenous adults dressed in traditional clothing, standing in front of a teepee at Batoche. 319: Cars and tents in a field for an event at Batoche. 320 to 325: A man stands in a field of bearded wheat, north of Saskatoon. 326 to 328: A field of canola, north of Saskatoon. 329 to 330 : An abandoned water well pump in a field, north of Saskatoon. 331: A wagon wheel in a field, with a barn in the distance. 333 to 337: Aerial views of a farm in the Saskatoon district. 338 to 339: Aerial views of freight rail yards at Saskatoon. 340 to 348: Aerial views of Saskatoon. 349 to 351: Aerial views of the University of Saskatchewan campus at Saskatoon. 352 to 367: Aerial views of Saskatoon. 368 to 374: Visitors near Batoche read the interpretive panels pertaining to the Battle of Duck Lake. 375 to 378: Aerial views of a farm located north of Saskatoon. 379 to 390: Interior views of exhibits at the Western Development Museum, Saskatoon, which depict life in Saskatchewan as it was in the pioneer era. 391 to 396: Aerial views of the Potash Company of America mine located near Saskatoon. 397 to 402: Aerial views of the Cominco Ltd. potash mine located in the Vanscoy-Delisle area. 403 to 411, 414: Interior views of exhibits at the Western Development Museum, Saskatoon. 412 to 413: Aerial views of Saskatoon.

Five Sioux Indians (probably Wahpeton) pose for a photograph in front of a tepee at their camp, Prince Albert district, NWT. Omani, Walkman, [Hanyetumani?], and Nightwalking are listed beneath the photograph in the album.