Provincial Archives of Nova Scotia

Provincial Archives of Nova Scotia
Name	Provincial Archives of Nova Scotia
Established	1857
Location	Halifax, Nova Scotia
Type	Provincial archives
Collection size	millions of items
Owner	Government of Nova Scotia

Provincial Archives of Nova Scotia The Provincial Archives of Nova Scotia is the central archival institution preserving the documentary heritage of Nova Scotia and the historical records of institutions and individuals associated with the province. Located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the archives holds manuscripts, maps, photographs, government records, and audiovisual materials that document connections to figures and events such as John Cabot, Edward Cornwallis, Joseph Howe, Samuel Cunard, and the Canadian Confederation era. The institution supports research into subjects including Acadian Expulsion, Mi'kmaq people, Halifax Explosion, World War I, and World War II through primary sources and outreach.

History

Established in the 19th century during a period of archival development alongside institutions like the Public Archives of Canada and the Nova Scotia Archives Commission, the archives evolved from early record custody practices associated with the Government House (Nova Scotia), the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia, and municipal repositories in Halifax County, Cape Breton County, and Kings County. Influenced by figures such as Joseph Howe and contemporaries in archival reform like Sir Frederic Kenyon and Sir Hilary Jenkinson, the institution expanded collections during the tenure of provincial archivists comparable to leaders at the Library and Archives Canada and provincial counterparts in Ontario and New Brunswick. The archives’ holdings grew through transfers from the Nova Scotia Museum, donations from families such as the Cunard family and the Hartlen family, and acquisitions connected to events like the Lunenburg Campaign and the activities of the Royal Canadian Navy in the North Atlantic.

Collections and Holdings

Holdings span textual records, maps, photographs, audiovisual items, architectural drawings, and private papers relating to prominent individuals and organizations such as Edward Cornwallis, Evangeline (Longfellow poem), Alexander Keith, Glooscap (legend), and shipping lines including the Cunard Line and the Intercolonial Railway. Major fonds include records from the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia, the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, municipal governments of Halifax Regional Municipality, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Truro, Nova Scotia, and church bodies like the Anglican Church of Canada and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Halifax–Yarmouth. Collections document the Acadian Expulsion, Loyalist migrations after the American Revolutionary War, the Fenians, the Home Rule movement in Nova Scotia, and labour movements involving unions such as the United Steelworkers and the Canadian Labour Congress. Photographic and cartographic series include material linked to explorers like Captain James Cook, the North Atlantic Fisheries, the Maritime provinces shipbuilding industry, and the Halifax Explosion aftermath.

Facilities and Services

The archives operates a reading room, climate-controlled storage, and conservation laboratories comparable to those at the National Archives of the United Kingdom and provincial counterparts in British Columbia and Quebec. Facilities support microfilm readers, digital workstations, and audiovisual playback for formats documented by institutions such as the International Federation of Film Archives and the Association of Canadian Archivists. Onsite services include reference assistance aligned with standards from the Canadian Council of Archives, reproduction services used by researchers studying figures like Lucy Maud Montgomery, Thomas Raddall, Mayann Francis, and organizations including Nova Scotia Power and Halifax Regional Police.

Access and Use

Public access policies reflect principles similar to those adopted by Library and Archives Canada and comply with provincial privacy statutes such as the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Nova Scotia). Researchers consult holdings related to legal cases in the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, genealogical resources tied to the Ships of the Canadian Navy, and family papers of settlers connected to the Planters (Nova Scotia) and United Empire Loyalists. Access procedures support academics from institutions like Dalhousie University, Saint Mary's University (Halifax), Acadia University, St. Francis Xavier University, and Cape Breton University, as well as independent scholars investigating icons like Alexander Graham Bell, Sir John A. Macdonald, Robert Stanfield, and events such as the First World War and Second World War campaigns involving Nova Scotian regiments.

Digitization and Preservation

Digitization initiatives parallel projects at Library and Archives Canada, the Digital Public Library of America, and regional programs in the Maritime provinces. The archives digitizes manuscripts, maps, and photographs connected to the Halifax Explosion, Mi'kmaq treaties, and maritime disasters like the sinking of SS Atlantic (1873) and SS Mont-Blanc (1917), using preservation standards informed by bodies such as the International Organization for Standardization and the National Archives and Records Administration. Conservation work addresses deterioration of media formats including nitrate film, magnetic tape, and acid paper, and collaborates with partners like the Canadian Conservation Institute and university laboratories at Dalhousie University.

Governance and Funding

Governance falls under provincial oversight, with administrative models comparable to the Archives of Ontario and reporting relationships akin to departments responsible for cultural heritage in Nova Scotia. Funding combines provincial allocations, grants from organizations such as the Canada Council for the Arts and the Heritage Canada Foundation, and private donations from foundations like the Macdonald Stewart Foundation and corporate donors including CIBC and Scotiabank in sponsorship or endowment roles. Advisory boards include representatives from academic institutions like Dalhousie University, cultural groups such as the Nova Scotia Museum and Acadian Federation of Nova Scotia, and professional bodies including the Association of Canadian Archivists.

Outreach and Education

Public programs include exhibitions, school curricula partnerships with boards like the Halifax Regional Centre for Education, lectures featuring historians tied to Nova Scotia Historical Society, and collaborations with cultural festivals such as the Halifax International Busker Festival and AfroNova Scotia Music Centre. Educational resources support research into figures like Lucy Maud Montgomery, Evangeline (Longfellow poem), Edward Cornwallis, and events like the Acadian Expulsion and the Halifax Explosion. Partnerships extend to genealogical societies, museums including the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, and community archives representing African Nova Scotians, Mi'kmaq people, Acadian communities, and immigrant groups from Ireland, Scotland, England, Germany, and Portugal.

Category:Archives in Canada Category:Culture of Nova Scotia Category:Buildings and structures in Halifax, Nova Scotia