the fonds consists of 357 file folders of mel bartley’s personal files. the files range from mining reports, publications, and claims. there is also an index for the reports, and a mining publications index.

the entire fonds is arranged alphabetically, as one series.

primarily copies of the northwestern ontario prospectors' association (nwopa) newsletter, bearsh't & blueberries, 1997-2004. also assorted issues of the ontario prospectors' association (opa) newsletter, the explorationist, and a small quantity of other documents related to nwopa and opa.

records consist of interviews between peter fergus-moore and various individuals, recorded as part of his work as a freelance journalist. interviewees include:

biljana baker, artist (1 tape)
confederation college film 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 , multiple interviews (1 tape)
roy coran, musician (1 tape)
gloria dowton, magnus theatre (1 tape)
gami, youth arts collective associated with definitely superior art gallery (1 tape)
jorma halonen, history of socialist bookstore in port arthur (2 tapes)
dusty miller, former mayor (1 tape): https://static.scholarsportal.info/lakehead-permafrost/8bf4/b130/4e56/458e/952f/b457/7bad/a0af/peterfergusmoore-96a4f6b9-8db6-44c5-8634-8891c7211291/objects/3dbed0bc-42fb-47ec-b72a-4c43185f2014-tape_5b_dusty_miller.mp3
diane potts, magnus theatre (1 tape)
sleeping giant folk society (1 tape)
norman sponchia, artist (1 tape)
brad stephenson, filmmaker (1 tape)
charles wilkins, author (1 tape)

northwestern ontario prospectors’ association interviews:
moe lavigne, geologist (2 tapes)
northwestern ontario prospectors’ association symposium (1 tape)
ruth petrunka, widow of prospector dave petrunka (2 tapes)
stares brothers (3 tapes)
mel stewart, prospector (2 tapes)

raili margaret (virta) charnesky (1936-2022) was born and raised in port arthur to parents kalle and impi virta, both immigrants from finland. raili worked in the mining recorders office, ontario department of mines, in thunder bay, and became the mining recorder for the ontario ministry of northern development and mines in sudbury and toronto. she retired in 1993 after 40 years of public service.

these records primarily reflect family relationships, particularly the early death of her brother olaf in 1951, and the deaths of her parents kalle (1961) and impi (1983). records include family & genealogical information, photographs, memorial books and sympathy cards.

photographs and documents from the silver islet mine and silver islet store, including ledgers and a chart.

a rich deposit of silver was discovered on silver islet in 1868. a small island at the tip of the sibley peninsula, the mine was built deep below the waterline, and relied on breakwaters and pumps. silver islet was mined until 1884, when pumps failed, and the mine was flooded. the small community built on shore to support the mine is still inhabited.