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The daily journal kept by Douglas Musgrave Rourke, first husband of Louise Rourke and an accountant working at the Fort Chipweyan Hudson's Bay Company Fur Trading post, from January 1, 1926 to January 7, 1927. The journal accounts each days events, including weather, business conditions, the arrivals and departures of government agents, HBC traders, RCMP, Indigenous peoples, and other visitors.

The journal is preceded by a page of comments by Louise Rourke and a carbon typescript of a short biography of Louise Rourke. The journal also contains three additional pages included as memoranda, with detailed notes.

Place: Saltcoats, Assiniboia

From: Alf, T.A.P. [Thomas A. Patrick]

To: Miss Marion Griffith, Byron, Ontario, Canada

Delivery: registered Canadian Post, via London, postmarks

Details: 11pp + envelope, note on envelope “240” and “246”

Notes: Alf tells of a party he attended, an abscessed knee he treated, his good opinion of Bishop Anson of Qu’ Appelle, and an eyebrow he sutured. Alf enjoys teaching and is pleased to also be paid for it. He is unhappy at the unexpectedly high taxidermy bill for the mounting of a pelican. Alf had news of the death by consumption of his cousin, Mary Ann Hobbs, and it is expected that her father and sister will also pass soon. Alf has arranged to rent a house owned by Mr. Fisher, with plans to live in one bedroom while sub-renting part to Mr. and Mrs. Lauder and part to Mr. Cumming. A suit Marion selected for him arrived and Alf is very pleased with it. Writing again later, on returning from Crescent Lake to treat Mr. Kent, Alf believes the man to die soon and will not be charging the family as they are in financial straits.

Place: Byron [Ontario]

From: Marion [Griffith]

To: Alf / T.A. Patrick, M.D., Saltcoats, Assiniboia, N.W.T.

Delivery: Canada Post, postmarked

Details: 10 pp + envelope, note on envelope “No. 236”

Notes: Marion writes to her fiance, Alf [Dr. Thomas A. Patrick]. Her Grandpa is doing poorly. He surprised Marion by giving her and her sister Annie a gift of $175.00 the morning after speaking with his doctor. She finishes writing the letter while in Strathroy. She received Alf's photograph and is surprised that he grew a moustache. Marion and Annie continue to make plans to move to Saltcoats in the near future.

Five miscellaneous letters and two printed prayer cards acquired with the Rev. John Smithurst Correspondence collection. Thirteen envelopes and enclosures addressed to Rev. Smithurst for which no matching letters are found in this collection.

Place: Byron [Ontario]

From: Marion [Griffith]

To: Alf / T. A. Patrick, M.D., Saltcoats, Assiniboia, N.W.T.

Delivery: Canada Post, postmarked

Details: 4 pp + envelope; note on envelope “No. 239,” envelope is bordered in black

Notes: Marion writes to her fiance, Alf. Her Grandpa died at 3 p.m. She describes it as a relief as he suffered so much.

As Alf asked to set their wedding date as Saturday, February 22 in his letter, Marion explains that it is too soon for her to be ready to travel to Birtle and Saltcoats. She asks Alf if February 28th would work as a compromise.

Place: Byron, Ontario

From: Marion [Griffith] and M.J. Griffith

To: Alf / T.A. Patrick M.D., Saltcoats, Assiniboia, N.W.T.

Delivery: Canada Post, postmarked

Details: 8 pp + envelope banded in black; note on envelope “No. 241;” and a page banded in black

Notes: Marion writes to her fiance, Alf [Dr. T.A. Patrick]. She is recovering after being ill for several days. She is otherwise making progress on the packing to move to Saltcoats and marry Alf.

A second item in the envelope is a sheet of lined paper, folded in half, first page banded in black. It is a letter from Marion's mother, Mrs. M.J. Griffith, to her soon-to-be son-in-law. She and her husband, James, give their blessing to the upcoming marriage.