The Dalhousie University Archives and Special Collections (DUASC) is pleased to announce that it has received a grant from the Provincial Archival Development Program (PADP) to process and provide access to historical photographs from the Maritime Telephone and Telegraph (MT&T) fonds (MS-4-180).

Telephone switchboard room. Photograph from the MT&T fonds (MS-4-180)

The fonds – one of the largest in the university’s business archives – contains correspondence, legal and financial records, company reports, manuals, telephone directories, publications, and other materials created by the company.  The company’s records are a trove of primary source material on the development of communication systems in 20th century Nova Scotia.

Of particular interest is a collection of over 7,000 photographs that document the former company’s personnel, infrastructure development, and general activities over its nine decades of existence.   This collection of photographs will be the focus of the PADP project (here is the job posting!), which is jointly funded by the Dalhousie Libraries and the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, and Heritage.

Earlier this year, DUASC applied for funding from the National Archival Development Program (NADP) to provide access to the MT&T textual records – over 70 metres of material.   We received preliminary confirmation from the Canadian Council of Archives (CCA) that our application was successful, but were stunned to find out that the program was eliminated by the federal government without notice.   That project would have created two full-time, temporary positions and significantly reduced our backlog.   We are disappointed that the textual records will continue to remain inaccessible to the Dalhousie community, but are thrilled that we will be able to fully process this collection of historical photographs.   Check our Facebook page later this week for a sample of what’s to come!

MT&T employee. Photograph from the MT&T fonds (MS-4-180)