Surveying Southern British Columbia is the final book about BC's eminent surveyor Frank Swannell. From 1901 to 1907 Swannell worked for a leading surveying firm on major projects relating to oil exploration, timber licences, and CPR land grants. Over 150 of Swannell's field photos document his adventures in BC's most remote areas. Letters to his future wife reveal the chal-lenges he faced in launching his career. >>

 

Surveying Northern British Columbia details Frank Swannell's career from 1908 to 1914 when he surveyed a large area of northern BC for the provincial government. The text includes Swannell's photos, journal excerpts, maps, and field book pages. >>

   BC Book Prizes 2005: Surveying Northern British Columbia was one of five finalists for the Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize.

Surveying Central British Columbia narrates the story of Swannell's career in the BC Interior from 1920 to 1928. It features Swannell's diary entries, precisely drawn maps, and historic photos of settlers, First Peoples, and surveyors. >>

   BC Historical Federation 2007: Surveying Central British Columbia received the Second Place book award.

Return to Northern British Columbia: The 1930s was the era of bush planes, packers, and river boats in northern BC. Swannell photographed them and recorded his experiences with some of BC’s most colourful characters, such as One-Arm Brown, a mining speculator; and Skook Davidson, with whom he worked four seasons. Swannell also served as geographer on the ill-fated Bedaux Expedition. >>