Series consists of central registry files created and/or maintained by the Unemployment Relief Commission. This material relates to the relief measures undertaken by the federal government particularly during the period 1930 to 1942. The records include correspondence with municipalities, provinces and other government departments and agencies. Considerable attention is given to relief legislation and the resulting programs such as the Single Men's Unemployment Relief Camps, Farm Relief Schemes, Resettlement programs, etc. There are numerous files containing relevant statistical information about these operations as well as contracts for relief projects and Settlers' Accounts which itemize aid given to resettlement participants. Most of these records have file numbers and were organized according to the original filing system. However, a large portion of this material had no file numbers and was organized by subject. A number of these files relate to particular events, individuals or organizations. Medical records of individuals injured during the Regina Riot of 1935, information about the transient problem and unrest in the camps are examples of some of these topics. There are also files relating to work of Humphrey Mitchell when he was Director of Labour Transference for the Department. Other files deal with the National Employment Commission, the National Registration Branch, the National Unemployed Workers Association, the Canadian Defence League and the Workers' Unity League. Photographic material consists of one portrait of Joseph Sirois, Chief Commissioner of the Unemployment Insurance Commission from 1940-1941.
There are also the office records of the Commissioner of Unemployment Relief, Harry Hereford, consisting of bound volumes containing copies of legislation, orders in council, memoranda of agreement between the federal and the various provincial governments concerning unemployment relief, as well as sample forms, statistics concerning relief and summaries of relief projects undertaken by the Department of National Defence and other federal departments. These bound volumes are arranged by year (1931-1936) and each volume is indexed. Photograph included in this series is one portrait of Joseph Sirois, Chief Commissioner of Unemployment Insurance Commission, 1940-1942.
