This series contains records presented in a folio form. Each folio is preserved in the same way as it was transferred to LAC. It consists of a file in which are included various textual records and some cartographic material, which are maintained together with metal pins. The folios dated before the 1960's were created by the Title Registration Branch of Canadian National and are called "Permanent Records". In the 1960's, the name of the department changed to the Real Estate Department of CN and the folios were named "Permanent Title Records". The front page of the folios indicates the file number (CN or GTR number), the Division where the land is located, the sub-division, the date filed, the grantor and the grantee, the property concerned, the amount in dollars of the transaction, the area in acres and a list of the documents enclosed in the folio. In this series, there are approximately 10500 folios, which include approximately 7300 accompanying maps (sketches, blueprints and whiteprints).
The folios concern lands where CN was involved in some manner. Most of the time, there is one folio per portion of land whether one or several transactions were made. A typical example would be transactions in which the railway company bought land from individuals, such as farmers, who sold part of their land for the construction of tracks, train stations, buildings or for right of way. The transactions about the construction of train stations often involved the city, village or community concerned.
These folios usually contain a deed of land and sometimes an annotated map that shows the portion of land involved. Many other types of documents may be included in the folio such as: certificate of ownership, statutory declaration, letters patent, power of attorney, notification, land title act, description of property, by-law, quit claim deed, registrar's abstract, agreement, tracing, copy of voucher, memorandum, easement, notice of expropriation, correspondence, tax certificate, bill, plan, conveyance, contract, probate of will, offer to sell, release, expropriation plan, chain of title, Order in Council, crown grant, will, sheriff's certificate, court records, marriage certificate, etc.
Canadian National Railways. Office of the General Manager of Real Estate : The predecessor of the Office of the General Manager of Real Estate for Canadian National Railways was (for the period 1923-1931) the Land Commissioner under the Department of Insurance, Lands, Express, Telegraphs, Colonization, Development and General Matters. This department evolved with different name changes to reflect the changing corporate structure, but the position of Land Commissioner remained a consistent function. A Land and Property Department was established during the period 1942-1950 and from 1951 on, annual reports listed the General Manager of Real Estate under either Officers or Associated Services. RG30 General Inventory.
