Canada’s History Treasure Chest: The Beaver, Magazine of the North

One of North America’s most famous and longest running companies, The Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) celebrated its 250th anniversary in 1920. Directors of the company elected to honour the occasion in many ways, no doubt, but one of their best ideas was to institute a monthly digest, The Beaver: A Journal of Progress.

The Beaver was a Canadian magazine from the start. Edited by the staff of Hudson’s Bay House in Winnipeg, Manitoba, it featured company and employee news (births, deaths, marriages, accomplishments…), and useful information for employees, many of whom lived in remote posts with limited if any access to more urban conveniences… like hospitals/clinics and fresh groceries. In December of 1923, however, the magazine opened up a bit to the rest of Canada by offering non-HBC members of the population access to subscriptions. Beaver Magazine became a quarterly with the first issue of 1924.

We begin our collection in 1936. By this time (in 1933, actually), the format had changed from digest to magazine size, and the name to The Beaver: A Magazine of the North. The content was notably less HBC insider, but still reflected the company’s role in Canadian history, how events in Canada’s history shaped the company, as well as articles on First Nations and their culture, and on natural history. It also depicted the life and routines of the current traders, especially of those living in remote areas not frequently visited by subscribing readers. Magazines of this period had a section entitled The Service Today, which consisted of strictly HBC news and photographs sent in by HBC families. This is one reason the earlier issues can prove an interesting resource for family historians with kin who worked in the northern HBC posts.

The WWII years are interesting with news of HBC employees who signed up, illustrations in prose and photos of families keeping the home fires burning.

The wealth of historical resources created by the Hudson’s Bay Company over its more than 300 years provided for a unique angle on the development of Canada from its early colonial days to 1970, when its substantial archives were moved from London, England to Winnipeg. Suddenly those resources were made far more accessible to Canadian researchers. The Beaver’s subtle shift toward including historical subjects that are more generally Canadian than purely HBC might become more evident to readers flipping through a collection of 1970s and 1980s issues than to those of us who read them as they arrived in our mail years ago…

In 1994, The Beaver was taken over by Canada’s National History Society, and the fabric of the magazine shifted noticeably to include the broader aspects of Canadian history in general. Sadly, the society decided to change the name of The Beaver in 2010 to Canada’s History, bringing to end an epic in Canadian magazine publishing. But, Canada’s History is still going strong, so perhaps this is more of a Phoenix-type story!

 

Available Stock:

 

 

 

 

1930-1939

Mar 1936 (reading copy) $25.00
Jun 1936 (reading copy) $25.00
Dec 1936 (reading copy) $25.00
Mar 1938 (reading copy) $25.00
Jun 1938 (reading copy) $25.00
Sep 1938 (reading copy) $25.00
Mar 1939 (reading copy) $25.00
Dec 1939 (reading copy) $25.00

 

 

 

 

1940-1949

Beaver March 1940 (reading copy) $25.00
Beaver December 1943 (reading copy) $25.00
Beaver September 1945 $30.00
Beaver December 1945 $30.00
Beaver March 1946 (reading copy) $25.00
Beaver June 1946 (reading copy) $25.00
Beaver September 1946 (reading copy) $25.00
Beaver December 1946 (reading copy) $25.00
Beaver March 1947 (reading copy) $25.00
Beaver June 1947 (reading copy) $25.00
Beaver September 1947 (reading copy) $25.00
Beaver March 1948 (reading copy) $25.00
Beaver September 1948 (reading copy) $25.00
Beaver December 1948 (reading copy) $25.00
Beaver March 1949 (reading copy) $25.00
Beaver June 1949 (reading copy) $25.00
Beaver Sept 1949 Outfit 280 $25.00
Beaver September 1949 $30.00
Beaver December 1949 (reading copy) $25.00

 

 

 

 

1950-1959

Beaver March 1950 (reading copy) $20.00
Beaver June 1950 (reading copy) $20.00
Beaver June 1950 Outfit 281 $20.00
Beaver December 1950 (reading copy) $20.00
Beaver March 1951 (reading copy) $20.00
Beaver June 1951 $30.00
Beaver September 1951 $30.00
Beaver December 1951 (reading copy) $20.00
Beaver March 1952 (reading copy) $20.00
Beaver June 1952 $30.00
Beaver March 1953 (missing front cover) $15.00
Beaver June 1953 (reading copy) $20.00
Beaver Winter 1955 $19.00

 

 

 

 

1960-1969

Beaver Autumn 1961 $14.00
Beaver Winter 1961 $18.00
Beaver Spring 1962 $18.00
Beaver Autumn 1963 $18.00
Beaver Spring 1966 $18.00
Beaver Autumn 1966 $10.00
Beaver Autumn 1966 $18.00
Beaver: Magazine of the North Winter 1966 $13.00
Beaver Spring 1967 $18.00
Beaver: Magazine of the North Summer 1968 $17.50
Beaver Autumn 1968 $10.00
Beaver Autumn 1968 $18.00
Beaver Winter 1968 $10.00
Beaver Winter 1969 $10.00

 

 

 

 

1970-1979

Beaver Spring 1970 $6.75
Beaver: Magazine of the North Spring 1970 $11.50
Beaver Summer 1970 $6.75
Beaver Autumn 1970 $6.75
Beaver Winter 1970 $6.75
Beaver Spring 1971 $6.75
Beaver Summer 1971 $6.75
Beaver Autumn 1971 $6.75
Beaver Winter 1971 $6.75
Beaver Winter 1971 $6.75
Beaver Spring 1972 $6.75
Beaver Autumn 1972 $6.75
Beaver Autumn 1972 $6.75
Beaver Winter 1972 $6.75
Beaver Spring 1973 $6.75
Beaver Spring 1973 $6.75
Beaver Spring 1973 $6.75
Beaver Summer 1973 $6.75
Beaver Summer 1973 $6.75
Beaver Autumn 1973 $6.75
Beaver Winter 1973 $6.75
Beaver Spring 1974 $6.75
Beaver Summer 1974 $6.75
Beaver Autumn 1974 $6.75
Beaver Autumn 1974 $6.75
Beaver Spring 1975 $6.75
Beaver Spring 1975 $6.75
Beaver Summer 1975 $6.75
Beaver Autumn 1975 $6.75
Beaver Winter 1975 $6.75
Beaver Winter 1975 $6.75
Beaver Winter 1975 $6.75
Beaver Winter 1975 $6.75
Beaver Spring 1976 $6.75
Beaver Spring 1976 $6.75
Beaver Summer 1976 $6.75
Beaver Autumn 1976 $6.75
Beaver Autumn1976 $6.75
Beaver Winter 1976 $6.75
Beaver Winter 1976 $6.75
Beaver Autumn 1977 $6.75
Beaver Spring 1978 $6.75
Beaver Spring 1978 $6.75
Beaver Spring 1978 $6.75
Beaver Spring 1979 $6.75
Beaver Summer 1979 $6.75

 

 

 

 

1980-1989

Beaver Summer 1981 $5.00
Beaver Summer 1981 $5.00
Beaver Summer 1981 $5.00
Beaver Autumn 1981 $5.00
Beaver Autumn 1981 $5.00
Beaver Winter 1981 $5.00
Beaver Winter 1981 $5.00
Beaver Winter 1981 $5.00
Beaver Winter 1981 $5.00
Beaver Spring 1982 $5.00
Beaver Summer 1983 314:1 $10.00
Beaver Autumn 1983 314:2 $12.00
Beaver Autumn 1983 314:2 (1991 reprint) $8.00
Beaver Autumn 1983 (1991 reprint) $4.00
Beaver Autumn 1983 (1991 reprint) 314:2 $8.00
Beaver Winter 1983 $5.00
Beaver Spring 1984 $5.00
Beaver Winter 1984/85 $5.00
Beaver Spring 1985 315:4 $10.00
Beaver August/September 1987 $4.00
Beaver October/November 1987 $4.00
Beaver October/November 1987 Vol. 67:5 $10.00
Beaver December 1987/January 1988 Vol. 67:6 $10.00
Beaver December 1987/January 1988 Vol. 67:6 $10.00
Beaver February/March 1988 Vol. 68:1 $10.00
Beaver February/March 1988 Vol. 68:1 $10.00
Beaver February/March 1988 Vol. 68:1 $10.00
Beaver April/May 1988 Vol. 68:2 $10.00
Beaver April/May 1988 Vol. 68:2 $10.00
Beaver April/May 1988 Vol. 68:2 $10.00
Beaver April/May 1988 Vol. 68:2 $10.00
Beaver April/May 1988 Vol. 68:2 $10.00
Beaver Jun/July 1988 $4.00
Beaver June/July 1988 68:3 $8.00
Beaver June/July 1988 Vol. 68:3 $10.00
Beaver August/September 1988 68:4 $8.00
Beaver August/September 1988 Vol. 68:4 $10.00
Beaver August/September 1988 Vol. 68:4 $10.00
Beaver October/November 1988 68:5 $8.00
Beaver October/November 1988 Vol. 68:5 $10.00
Beaver October/November 1988 Vol. 68:5 $10.00
Beaver October/November 1988 Vol. 68:5 $10.00
Beaver December 1988/January 1989 68:6 $10.00
Beaver December 1988/January 1989 Vol. 68:6 $10.00
Beaver February/March 1989 69:1 $8.00
Beaver April/May 1989 69:2 $8.00
Beaver June/July 1989 69:3 $8.00
Beaver August/September 1989 69:4 $8.00
Beaver October/November 1989 69:5 $8.00
Beaver December 1989/January 1990 69:6 $8.00
Beaver December 1989/January 1990 Vol. 69:6 $10.00
Beaver December 1989/January 1990 Vol. 69:6 $10.00

 

 

 

 

1990-1999

Beaver February/March 1990 70:1 $8.00
Beaver April/May 1990 $4.00
Beaver April/May 1990 70:2 $8.00
Beaver August/September 1990 $4.00
Beaver August/September 1990 70:4 $8.00
Beaver August/September 1990 Vol. 70:4 $10.00
Beaver August/September 1990 Vol. 70:4 $10.00
Beaver October/November 1990 $4.00
Beaver October/November 1990 70:5 $8.00
Beaver October/November 1990 Vol. 70:5 $10.00
Beaver Dec 1990/Jan 1991 Vol. 70:6 $4.50
Beaver December 1990/January 1991 70:6 $4.50
Beaver December 1990/January 1992 $4.00
Beaver Feb/Mar 1991 Vol. 71:1 $4.50
Beaver Feb/Mar 1991 Vol. 71:1 $4.50
Beaver February/March 1991 $4.00
Beaver February/March 1991 $4.00
Beaver February/March 1991 71:1 $8.00
Beaver April/May 1991 71:2 $8.00
Beaver Jun/Jul 1991 Vol. 71:3 $4.50
Beaver June/July 1991 71:3 $8.00
Beaver Aug/Sept 1991 Vol. 71:4 $4.50
Beaver August/September 1991 $4.00
Beaver August/September 1991 71:4 $8.00
Beaver Oct/Nov 1991 Vol. 71:5 $4.50
Beaver October/November 1991 $4.00
Beaver October/November 1991 71:5 $8.00
Beaver Dec 1991/Jan 1992 Vol. 71:6 $4.50
Beaver December 1991/January 1992 71:6 $4.50
Beaver Feb/Mar 1992 Vol. 72:1 $4.50
Beaver February/March 1992 $4.00
Beaver February/March 1992 72:1 $8.00
Beaver Apr/May 1992 Vol. 72:2 $4.50
Beaver April/May 1992 72:2 $8.00
Beaver Jun/Jul 1992 Vol. 72:3 $4.50
Beaver June/July 1992 72:3 $8.00
Beaver Aug/Sept 1992 Vol. 72:4 $4.50
Beaver August/September 1992 72:4 $8.00
Beaver October/November 1992 $4.00
Beaver October/November 1992 72:5 $8.00
Beaver Dec 1992/Jan 1993 Vol. 72:6 $4.50
Beaver December 1992/January 1993 72:6 $4.50
Beaver December 1992/January1993 $4.00
Beaver Feb/Mar 1993 Vol. 73:1 $4.50
Beaver Feb/Mar 1993 Vol. 73:1 $4.50
Beaver Feb/Mar 1993 Vol. 73:1 $4.50
Beaver February/March 1993 $4.00
Beaver February/March 1993 73:1 $8.00
Beaver Apr/May 1993 Vol. 73:2 $4.50
Beaver April/May 1993 $4.00
Beaver April/May 1993 73:2 $8.00
Beaver Jun/Jul 1993 Vol. 73:3 $4.50
Beaver Jun/Jul 1993 Vol. 73:3 $4.50
Beaver June/July 1993 73:3 $8.00
Beaver Aug/Sept 1993 Vol. 73:4 $4.50
Beaver August/September 1993 $4.00
Beaver August/September 1993 73:4 $8.00
Beaver Oct/Nov 1993 Vol. 73:5 $4.50
Beaver October/November 1993 73:5 $8.00
Beaver December 1993/January 1994 73:6 $4.50
Beaver February/March 1994 74:1 $8.00
Beaver April/May 1994 74:2 $8.00
Beaver Jun/Jul 1994 Vol. 74:3 $4.50
Beaver June/July 1994 74:3 $8.00
Beaver August/September 1994 74:4 $8.00
Beaver October/November 1994 74:5 $8.00
Beaver Dec 1994/Jan 1995 Vol. 74:6 $4.50
Beaver December 1994/January 1995 74:6 $4.50
Beaver Feb/Mar 1995 Vol. 75:1 $4.50
Beaver Feb/Mar 1995 Vol. 75:1 $4.50
Beaver February/March 1995 75:1 $8.00
Beaver Apr/May 1995 Vol. 75:2 $4.50
Beaver April/May 1995 75:2 $8.00
Beaver June/July 1995 $4.00
Beaver August/September 1995 75:4 $8.00
Beaver Oct/Nov 1995 Vol. 75:5 $4.50
Beaver October/November 1995 75:5 $8.00
Beaver December 1995/January 1996 75:6 $4.50
Beaver Feb/Mar 1996 Vol. 76:1 $4.50
Beaver February/March 1996 76:1 $8.00
Beaver Apr/May 1996 $8.00
Beaver Apr/May 1996 Vol. 76:2 $5.50
Beaver April/May 1996 76:2 $8.00
Beaver Jun/Jul 1996 Vol. 76:3 $4.50
Beaver June/July 1996 76:3 $8.00
Beaver Aug/Sept 1996 Vol. 76:4 $4.50
Beaver Aug/Sept 1996 Vol. 76:4 $4.50
Beaver August/September 1996 76:4 $8.00
Beaver Oct/Nov 1996 Vol. 76:5 $4.50
Beaver Oct/Nov 1996 Vol. 76:5 $4.50
Beaver Oct/Nov 1996 Vol. 76:5 $4.50
Beaver October/November 1996 76:5 $8.00
Beaver Dec 1996/Jan 1997 Vol. 76:6 $4.50
Beaver Dec 1996/Jan 1997 Vol. 76:6 $4.50
Beaver December 1996/January 1997 76:6 $4.50
Beaver December 1996/January1997 $4.00
Beaver Feb/Mar 1997 Vol. 77:1 $4.50
Beaver Feb/Mar 1997 Vol. 77:1 $4.50
Beaver February/March 1997 77:1 $8.00
Beaver Apr/May 1997 Vol. 77:2 $4.50
Beaver Apr/May 1997 Vol. 77:2 $4.50
Beaver Apr/May 1997 Vol. 77:2 $4.50
Beaver Apr/May 1997 Vol. 77:2 $4.50
Beaver April/May 1997 77:2 $8.00
Beaver Jun/Jul 1997 Vol. 77:3 $4.50
Beaver Jun/Jul 1997 Vol. 77:3 $4.50
Beaver June/July 1997 77:3 $8.00
Beaver Aug/Sept 1997 Vol. 77:4 $4.50
Beaver August/September 1997 77:4 $8.00
Beaver October/November 1997 77:5 $8.00
Beaver Oct/Nov 1997 Vol. 77:5 $4.50
Beaver Oct/Nov 1997 Vol. 77:5 $4.50
Beaver December 1997/January 1998 77:6 $4.50
Beaver Dec 1997/Jan 1998 Vol. 77:6 $4.50
Beaver Dec 1997/Jan 1998 Vol. 77:6 $4.50
Beaver Dec 1997/Jan 1998 Vol. 77:6 $4.50
Beaver Dec 1997/Jan 1998 Vol. 77:6 $4.50
Beaver Dec 1997/Jan 1998 Vol. 77:6 $4.50
Beaver Dec 1997/Jan 1998 Vol. 77:6 $4.50
Beaver Dec 1997/Jan 1998 Vol. 77:6 $4.50
Beaver February/March 1998 78:1 $8.00
Beaver Feb/Mar 1998 Vol. 78:1 $4.50
Beaver Apr/May 1998 Vol. 78:2 $4.50
Beaver April/May 1998 78:2 $5.00
Beaver Jun/Jul 1998 Vol. 78:3 $4.50
Beaver June/July 1998 78:3 $5.00
Beaver Aug/Sept 1998 Vol. 78:4 $4.50
Beaver August/September 1998 78:4 $5.00
Beaver Oct/Nov 1998 Vol. 78:5 $4.50
Beaver October/November 1998 78:5 $5.00
Beaver Dec 1998/Jan 1999 Vol. 78:6 $4.50
Beaver December 1998/January 1999 78:6 $4.50
Beaver Feb/Mar 1999 Vol. 79:1 $4.50
Beaver February/March 1999 79:1 $5.00
Beaver Apr/May 1999 Vol. 79:2 $4.50
Beaver April/May 1999 79:2 $5.00
Beaver Jun/Jul 1999 Vol. 79:3 $4.50
Beaver Jun/Jul 1999 Vol. 79:3 $4.50
Beaver June/July 1999 79:3 $5.00
Beaver Aug/Sept 1999 Vol. 79:4 $4.50
Beaver August/September 1999 79:4 $5.00
Beaver Oct/Nov 1999 Vol. 79:5 $4.50
Beaver October/November 1999 79:5 $5.00
Beaver Dec 1999/Jan 2000 Vol. 79:6 $4.50
Beaver December 1999/January 2000 79:6 $4.50

 

 

 

 

2000-2009

Beaver Feb/Mar 2000 Vol. 80:1 $4.50
Beaver February/March 2000 80:1 $5.00
Beaver Apr/May 2000 Vol. 80:2 $4.50
Beaver April/May 2000 80:2 $5.00
Beaver Jun/Jul 2000 Vol. 80:3 $4.50
Beaver June/July 2000 80:3 $5.00
Beaver Aug/Sept 2000 Vol. 80:4 $4.50
Beaver Aug/Sept 2000 Vol. 80:4 $4.50
Beaver Aug/Sept 2000 Vol. 80:4 $4.50
Beaver August/September 2000 80:4 $5.00
Beaver Oct/Nov 2000 Vol. 80:5 $4.50
Beaver October/November 2000 80:5 $5.00
Beaver Dec 2000/Jan 2001 Vol. 80:6 $4.50
Beaver December 2000/January 2001 80:6 $4.50
Beaver February/March 2001 81:1 $5.00
Beaver April/May 2001 81:2 $5.00
Beaver June/July 2001 81:3 $5.00
Beaver August/September 2001 81:4 $5.00
Beaver October/November 2001 Vol. 81:5 $8.00
Beaver December 2001 /January 2002 Vol. 81:6 $8.00
Beaver February/March 2002 Vol. 82:1 $8.00
Beaver April/May 2002 Vol. 82:2 $8.00
Beaver June/July 2002 Vol. 82:3 $8.00
Beaver August/September 2002 Vol. 82:4 $8.00
Beaver October/November 2002 Vol. 82:5 $8.00
Beaver December 2002 /January 2003 Vol. 82:6 $8.00
Beaver February/March 2003 Vol. 83:1 $8.00
Beaver April/May 2003 Vol. 83:2 $8.00
Beaver June/July 2003 Vol. 83:3 $8.00
Beaver August/September 2003 Vol. 83:4 $8.00
Beaver October/November 2003 Vol. 83:5 $8.00
Beaver December 2003 /January 2004 Vol. 83:6 $8.00
Beaver February/March 2004 Vol. 84:1 $8.00
Beaver Apr/May 2004 Vol. 84:2 $4.50
Beaver April/May 2004 Vol. 84:2 $8.00
Beaver June/July 2004 Vol. 84:3 $8.00
Beaver August/September 2004 Vol. 84:4 $8.00
Beaver October/November 2004 Vol. 84:5 $8.00
Beaver December 2004 /January 2005 Vol. 84:6 $8.00
Beaver February/March 2005 Vol. 85:1 $8.00
Beaver April/May 2005 Vol. 85:2 $8.00
Beaver August/September 2005 Vol. 85:4 $8.00
Beaver October/November 2005 Vol. 85:5 $8.00
Beaver December 2005 /January 2006 Vol. 85:6 $8.00
Beaver February/March 2006 Vol. 86:1 $8.00
Beaver April/May 2006 Vol. 86:2 $8.00
Beaver June/July 2006 Vol. 86:3 $8.00
Beaver August/September 2006 Vol. 86:4 $8.00
Beaver October/November 2006 Vol. 86:5 $8.00
Beaver December 2006 /January 2007 Vol. 86:6 $8.00
Beaver February/March 2007 Vol. 87:1 $8.00
Beaver April/May 2007 Vol. 87:2 $8.00
Beaver June/July 2007 Vol. 87:3 $8.00
Beaver August/September 2007 Vol. 87:4 $8.00
Beaver October/November 2007 Vol. 87:5 $8.00
Beaver December 2007 /January 2008 Vol. 87:6 $8.00
Beaver February/March 2008 Vol. 88:1 $8.00
Beaver April/May 2008 Vol. 88:2 $8.00
Beaver June/July 2008 Vol. 88:3 $8.00
Beaver August/September 2008 Vol. 88:4 $8.00
Beaver October/November 2008 Vol. 88:5 $8.00
Beaver December 2008 /January 2009 Vol. 88:6 $8.00
Beaver February/March 2009 Vol. 89:1 $8.00
Beaver June/July 2009 Vol. 89:3 $8.00
Beaver August/September 2009 Vol. 89:4 $8.00
Beaver October/November 2009 Vol. 89:5 $8.00
Beaver December 2009 /January 2010 Vol. 89:6 $8.00