The DEW Line Project

DOCUMENTS

General Resources

For a list of articles, books, and archival collections with materials related to the DEW Line, please consult P.W. Lackenbauer, Matthew Farish, and Jennifer Arthur-Lackenbauer, The Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line: A Bibliography and Document Resource List (Arctic Institute of North America, 2005). This document contains copies of the Exchange of Notes (May 5, 1955) Between Canada and the United States Of America Governing the Establishment of a Distant Early Warning System in Canadian Territory; a useful overview (The DEW Line Story in Brief) published by Western Electric Corporation around 1960; and a list of DEW Line sites.

For a short overview, see Peter Grier, "A Line in the Ice," Air Force Magazine (Feb. 2004), 65-69.

As this study proceeds, we will be posting digital copies of archival materials for other researchers. If you have materials to contribute to this website, please contact the research team at pwlacken@uwaterloo.ca

Published Primary Sources

Documents on Canadian External Relations contains a wealth of documentary evidence on Canadian-American relations and the Canadian arctic for the period 1946-59. You can either browse the subject heading for each volume (there is usually a subject header for "Relations with the United States" and subheadings that relate to themes such as "Sovereignty in the Arctic," "Defence Planning," "Continental Defence," "DEW Line," etc.) or you can do a general search by keyword. http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/department/history/dcer/browse-en.asp

Joint Chiefs of Staff Historical Division. Chronology of JCS Involvement in North American Air Defense, 1946-1975.

C.L. Grant, The Development to Continental Air Defense to 1 September 1954. USAF Historical Studies No. 126.

Ralph Allen, Will the DEWLine Cost Canada its Northland? Maclean's (1956).

C.J. Marshall, North America's Distant Early Warning Line Geographical Magazine 29/12 (1956).

Leslie Roberts, The Great Assault on the Arctic Harper's Magazine 211/1263 (Aug. 1955).

Unpublished Primary Sources

J.D. Ferguson, "A Study of the Effects of the Distant Early Warning Line upon the Eskimo of the Western Arctic of Canada." A report submitted to Northern Research Coordination Centre, Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources, April 1957.

Larry Wilson's DEW Line website also contains valuable testimonies from former DEW Line employees, as well as technical details on operations. http://www.lswilson.ca/dewline.htm

Selected Archival Documents

J.L. to Minister (of External Affairs?), Canadian Sovereignty and the DEW Line, LAC, RG 25, vol. 5928, file 50210-C-40 pt. 8

"Northern Insurance," Winnipeg Free Press, LAC, RG 25, vol. 5928, file 50210-C-40 pt. 9.2

"Tender Pride Up North," Oregonian, LAC, RG 25, vol. 5928, file 50210-C-40 pt. 8

Department of Defense, Office of Public Information, Specially Trained U.S. Army Troops Land Radar Fence Supplies in Arctic, LAC, RG 25, vol. 5926, file 50210-C-40 pt 5.1

G. Ignatieff, Under-Secretary of State for External Affairs, to Ernest de Mayer, Counsellor Embassy of the US, Eskimo Issues, LAC, RG 25, vol. 5928, file 50210-C-40 pt 7.2

Secretary of State for External Affairs to Head of Post, Washington, Canadian Participation in the Distant Early Warning Line, LAC, RG 25, vol. 5926, file 50210-C-40 pt 2.1

DEW Line Order 30-44 Personnel: Canadian Eskimo Plan, LAC, RG 24, acc. 1983-84/049, vol. 272, file S-300-114-80/9 pt. 2

Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources, Vocational Training for Eskimos, LAC, RG 24, acc. 1983-84/049, vol. 272, file S-300-114-80/9 pt. 1

W.P. Farley, NSO, DEW Line, Eastern Region, to Chief, Arctic Division, Common Law Wives of Eskimo Employees Working on DEW Line, LAC, RG 85, vol. 745, file A207-5

J.M. Needham to Ted White, Eng. Branch, LAC, RG 24, vol. 632, file 207-3 pt. 4

C.M. Bolger, Chief of the Arctic Division, to Jameson Bond, Cambridge Bay, Holidays for DEW Line Eskimos in Southern Canada, LAC, RG 85, vol. 674, file A207-2 pt. 2

Minutes of a Meeting Held Between the Federal Electric Corporation and Departments of the Government of Canada, LAC, RG 29, vol. 2874, file 851-1-10 pt. 2

Joint Planning Committee to Chiefs of Staff Committee, Report to the Chiefs of Staff Committee by the Joint planning Committee, DHH 80/22

"Indignity In DEW Agreement," Toronto Telegram, LAC, RG 25, vol. 5928, file 50210-C-40 pt. 8

William H. Dumsday, Director of Public Relations, to Mr. Kreutzweiser for the Minister, DEW Line - Security clearance, LAC, RG 25, vol. 5928, file 50210-C-40 pt. 8

Secretary of State for External Affairs to Cabinet Defence Committee, Distant Early Warning System, DHH 90/2

Statement of Conditions to Govern the Establishment of a Distant Early Warning System in Canadian Territory, LAC, RG 25, vol. 5926, file 50210-C-40 pt 4.1

R.G. Robertson, Deputy Minister, Department of Northern Affairs, to Jules Leger, Under-Secretary of State for External Affairs, DEW Line Publicity, LAC, RG 25, vol. 5926, file 50210-C-40 pt 5.2

R.G. Robertson, Deputy Minister, Department of Northern Affairs, to A.G.L. McNaughton, Chairman, Canadian Section, PJBD, DEW Line Publicity, LAC, RG 25, vol. 5926, file 50210-C-40 pt 5.2

Visitor's Guide, LAC, RG 29, vol. 2873, file 851-1-10 pt. 1

J.L. to the Minister, Canadian Participation in the Distant Early Warning Line, LAC, RG 25, vol. 5926, file 50210-C-40 pt. 2.1

Memorandum to the Minister, Operation and Maintenance of the DEW Line, LAC, RG 25, vol. 5926, file 50210-C-40 pt. 4.1

Lt. Col. W.A. Todd, Executive Secretary, Joint Security Committee, to Secretary, Chiefs of Staff Committee, Application of US Security Regulations to Canadians in Canada, DHH 80/21

J.A. Hildes, Director Arctic Medical Research Unit, Defence Research Board, Report on Visit to DEW-Line Sites, LAC, RG 24, acc. 1983-84/049, box 1126, file 700-80/9

John S. Willis, M.D., D.P.H., Chief, Northern Health Division, Indian & Northern Health Services, to G.Y. Loughead, Coordinator of the DEW Line, Office of the Deputy Minister, DND, Medical Arrangements - DEW Line, LAC, RG 24, acc. 1983-84/049, box 1126, file 700-80/9

P.E. Moore, M.D., D.P.H., Director, Indian and Northern Health Services, to G.Y. Loughead, Chairman, DEW Line Co-ordination Committee, DND, DEW Line Medical Emergencies, LAC, RG 29 vol 2873 File 851-1-10 pt 1

Commander, Millitary Sea Transportation Service, Pacific area and Commander Task Force Five, to Commander, Military Sea Transportation Service, MSTS Arctic Operations 1955, Post-Operation Report, LAC, RG 24 Acc 1983-84/049 Box 943 520-100-80/9 Pt. 4

Jean Lesage, Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources, The Distant Early Warning Line Sealift 1955, LAC RG 24 Acc 1983-84/049 Box 943 520-100-80/9 Pt. 4

Estimated Costs (Untitled document), LAC, RG 24 Acc 1983-84/049 Vol 105 File 096-100-80/9 Pt. 4

A.J. Boxer, NSO, report, LAC, RG 85 Vol 2271 File A1009-11 pt. 7

Report on Observations Made While Accompanying the D.E.W. Line Sealift – 1955, LAC, RG 85 Vol 2271 File A1009-11 pt. 7

Vincent W. Farley, Attorney, to R.G. Robertson, Honourable, Deputy Minister, Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources, Project 572 (D.E.W. Line), LAC, RG 25, vol. 5928 50210-C-40 pt 6.2

Director to Administrator of the Mackenzie, DEW Line Housing, LAC, RG 85 Acc. 1985-86 Vol 3 File A207-3 Pt 8

Federal Electric Corporation, Plan for the Employment of Eskimos in Canada, LAC, RG 29 vol 2873 File 851-1-10 pt 1

Meeting in Connection with Construction of Permanent Eskimo Housing in the Canadian Arctic Coastal Area and Related Eskimo Subjects, LAC, RG 29 vol 2873 File 851-1-10 pt 1

Various documents, LAC, RG 24, acc. 1983-84/049, Box 271, file 300-100-80/9 pt. 2

F.R. Miller, Deputy Minister, Department of National Defence, Security Policy Statement: Distant Early Warning Line, LAC, RG 25, vol. 5928, file 50210-C-40 pt. 6

R.D. Van Norman, NSO, Report on the Distant Early Warning Line: Eastern Section, LAC, RG 85, vol. 2271, file A1009-11 pt. 3

DEW Line Coordinating Committee Progress Reports

Minutes of the 1st Meeting
Progress Report No. 1
Progress Report No. 3

Progress Report No. 4

Progress Report No. 5

Progress Report No. 6
Progress Report No. 7
Progress Report No. 8
Progress Report No. 9
Progress Report No. 10

Progress Report No. 11
Progress Report No. 12
Progress Report No. 13
Progress Report No. 14
Progress Report No. 15
Progress Report No. 16
Progress Report No. 17
Progress Report No. 18
Progress Report No. 19
Progress Report No. 22