Fortress Fonds

The Louisbourg Institute of / L' Institut de Louisbourg de Cape Breton University ~ © 1995-present ~ Louisbourg.info@pc.gc.ca
A Research Site for the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site of Canada operated by the Louisbourg Institute ~
Un site de recherche du lieu historique national du Canada de la Forteresse-de-Louisbourg géré par l'Institut de Louisbourg

FONDS DESCRIPTION AND GATEWAY
FORTRESS OF LOUISBOURG
CAPE BRETON ISLAND, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA

FONDS: GENERAL

Fonds: The whole of the records, regardless of form or medium, automatically and organically created and/or accumulated and used by a particular individual, family or corporate entity in the course of that creator’s activities and functions

The originators of the fonds of Louisbourg were varied, but with few notable exceptions, each entity was a distinct operational section or unit of the Fortress of Louisbourg. Accordingly, with respect to the Archives, wherever possible, it has preserved the resulting natural provenance, based on the originator and original file order, thus maintaining the integrity, through a respect des fonds , of each record, or body of records, as a distinct item from other acquired materials.

Of course, in a broad corporate sense, by ignoring specific organizational activities, a useful, general description of fonds can result:

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FORTRESS OF LOUISBOURG:
GENERAL FONDS

	*Parks Canada, Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site fonds*
	*18th Century-1999.*
	Archival Holdings: Primary, generally meaning unpublished textual and other documentation.
	Library Holdings: Secondary, generally meaning published textual and other materials.

	Efforts on the reconstruction of the French fortress at Louisbourg, Nova Scotia was begun in 1960 by the Canadian federal government. Since 1961, Fortress staff have collected or produced information, on the 18th through 20th centuries, required to meet their operational goals.
	These formats cover a variety of types. One are administrative records of a historical nature. These are records which outline the growth and activities of the Fortress and significant events. As such, they are to be retained, and transferred to the keeping of the National Archives of Canada (NAC) according to NAC schedules.
	Another are operational records, for example, dealing with .... ceremonies and celebrations ... information services ... library services ... buildings construction ... building plans and specifications ... building materials purchased ... furniture and furnishings ... and contracts. These are types of records normally disposed of according to NAC schedules.
	And yet another are research records, a sub-set of operational records, required to meet the needs of historical interpretation.
	*Records continue to be transferred to the archives on a regular basis.*
	Archival Fonds consists of reports, minutes,correspondence, drawings, maps, plans, secondary research information, slides, and photos. The records were used to document progress on the reconstruction, carry out the reconstruction project, research/record supporting information needed for the accurate reconstruction of the fortress and the archeological study of the site. Much of the original order has been preserved.
	*Title based on contents of Archival fonds.*
	Archival Records also consist of 54,000 negatives and transparencies, 6,100 photoprints, 500 maps, and 200 drawings, 250,000 original five by eight research cards (and an even larger collection of original photo shots), 750,000 pages of reproduced microfilmed manuscript material dealing primarily with the 18th century, and 626 standard record boxes. Refer to the Fortress of Louisbourg: Public Database Menu for a complete finding aid.
	Library Records consist of 30,000 published library monographs and serials, 4,900 picture file cards, an audio-visual collection, and a non-circulating rare 18th century published book collection (of which many books have been microfilmed). Refer to the Fortress of Louisbourg: Public Database Menu for a complete finding aid.
	Archival Paper Records: (1) Standard Record Boxes: 634.50 Cubic Feet (2) Original Reports: 192.00 Cubic Feet (3) Original Minutes of Meetings: 58.50 Cubic Feet (4) Original 5 x 8 Card Collections: 324.00 Cubic Feet (5) Original and Reproduced Architectural Drawings: 864.00 Cubic Feet (6) Historical Oversized Materials: 378.00 Cubic Feet .
	Archival Non-Paper Records (1) Microfilm Records: 37.50 Cubic Feet (2) Photo: Historical Maps and Plans: 70.00 Cubic Feet (3) Photo Books: 95.25 Cubic Feet (4) Negative Books: 19.50 Cubic Feet (5) Negative/Slide Boxes: 202.50 Cubic Feet
	*Library Paper Records (1) General Books and Periodicals: 2266.25 Cubic Feet (2) Rare (18th-19th Centuries) Books: 144.00 Cubic Feet (3) Picture File: 31.50 Cubic Feet.*
	*Library Non-Paper Records (1) Audio/Visual Materials: 82.50 Cubic Feet (2) Microfilm: 25.00 Cubic Feet*
	*Archival and Library access by permission only.*
	*Records are in French and English.*

FORTRESS OF LOUISBOURG:
SECTIONAL/UNIT FONDS

Clearly, a general fonds description is useful to researchers wishing to understand the total holdings of the Fortress of Louisbourg, but to serve as a gateway to the records themselves, whether paper or electronic, it falls short. Consequently, there has been devised a Louisbourg Group identifier system, where each organic group contains, among other descriptions, collections, and natural fonds defined by operational provenance (based on originator, related activity, and original order of records).

As of this date, some Louisbourg Groups receive depositions on a regular basis, some only from time to time, and others not at all. Whatever the case, the framework is there, prepared, and ready to receive depositions.

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LOUISBOURG GROUP 1 (Fortress of Louisbourg Aids Series:
Louisbourg Archival Finding
Aids / Holdings Files)

The Archives Collection

Archival Records (future)

LOUISBOURG GROUP 2 (Fortress of Louisbourg Central Series:
Louisbourg Pre-Reconstruction Files)

The Louisbourg Museum Collection

The Louisbourg Museum Records

LOUISBOURG GROUP 3 (Fortress of Louisbourg Central Series:
Ottawa Combined Reconstruction Correspondence
and Work / Research Files)

The Louisbourg Administration Collection

	*Confidential Records (future)*
	*Financial Records (future)*
	*Material Management Records (future)*
	*Miscellaneous Records (future)*
	*Personnel Records (future)*
	*Project Manager and Superintendent Records (future)*

LOUISBOURG GROUP 4 (Fortress of Louisbourg Central Series:
Ottawa Combined Reconstruction Correspondence
and Work / Research Files)

The Louisbourg General Works Collection

	*Historical Reconstruction Maintenance Records*
	*Modern Trades and Services Records*
	*Modern Utilities Records (future)*
	*Technical and Architectural Research Records (future)*

LOUISBOURG GROUP 5 (Fortress of Louisbourg Central Series:
Ottawa Combined Reconstruction Correspondence
and Work / Research Files)

The Louisbourg Historical Resources Collection

	*Artisans Records (future)*
	*Exhibits Records (future)*
	*Furnishings and Textiles Records (future)*
	*Historical Research Records*

LOUISBOURG GROUP 6 (Fortress of Louisbourg Central Series:
Ottawa Combined Reconstruction Correspondence
and Work / Research Files)

The Louisbourg Operations Collection

	*Natural Resources Interpretation Records (future)*
	*Protection Services Records (future)*
	*Visitor Services Records (future)*

LOUISBOURG GROUP 7 (Fortress of Louisbourg Central Series:
Louisbourg Reconstruction Correspondence Files)

The Administration Central Registry Files Collection

	*Administration*
	*Confidential Records*
	*Departmental Joint Council Records*
	*Finance Records*
	*Material Management Records*
	*Miscellaneous Records*
	*Personnel Records*
	*Program Management Committee Records*
	*Project Manager and Superintendent Records*

LOUISBOURG GROUP 8 (Fortress of Louisbourg Central Series:
Louisbourg Reconstruction Correspondence Files)

The General Works Central Registry File Collection

	*Historical Reconstruction Maintenance Records (future)*
	*Miscellaneous Records*
	*Modern Trades and Services Records*
	*Modern Utilities Records*
	*Technical and Architectural Research Records*

LOUISBOURG GROUP 9 (Fortress of Louisbourg Central Series:
Louisbourg Reconstruction Correspondence Files)

The Historical Resources Central Registry Files Collection

	*Artisans Records (future)*
	*Costume Records*
	*Exhibits Records*
	*Furnishings and Textiles Records*
	*Historical Research Records*
	*Historical Resources Interpretation Records (future)*
	*Period Presentation Committee Records*

LOUISBOURG GROUP 10 (Fortress of Louisbourg Central Series:
Louisbourg Reconstruction Correspondence Files)

The Operations Central Registry Files Collection

	*Natural Resources Interpretation Records*
	*Protection Services Records*
	*Restaurant Committee Records*
	*Visitor Services Records*

LOUISBOURG GROUP 11 (Fortress of Louisbourg Central Series:
Louisbourg Reconstruction Correspondence Files)

The Central Registry Files Circulation Collection

Combined Sections Records

LOUISBOURG GROUP 12 (Fortress of Louisbourg Section Series:
Louisbourg Reconstruction Section and Unit Files)

The Administrative Collection

Administration Records

	*Finance*
	*Head of Administration*
	*Project Manager and Superintendent*

General Works Records

	*Head of General Works*
	*Historical Reconstruction Maintenance*
	*Project Engineer*
	*Technical and Architectural Research*

Historical Resources Records

	*Exhibits*
	*Head of Historical Resources*
	*Historical Research*

Operations Records

	*Head of Operations*
	*Protection Services*
	*Visitor Services*

LOUISBOURG GROUP 13 (Fortress of Louisbourg Section Series:
Louisbourg Reconstruction Work / Research Files)

The Administration Collection

	*Confidential Records (future)*
	*Finance Records*
	*Head of Administration Records (future)*
	*Material Management Records*
	*Miscellaneous Records*
	*Personnel Records*
	*Project Manager and Superintendent Records*

LOUISBOURG GROUP 14 (Fortress of Louisbourg Section Series:
Louisbourg Reconstruction Work / Research Files)

General Works Collection

	*Head of General Works Records*
	*Historical Reconstruction Maintenance Records (future)*
	*Maintenance Planner Records*
	*Modern Trades and Services Records*
	*Modern Utilities Records*
	*Restoration Architect Records*
	*Structural Design Team Records*
	*Technical and Architectural Research Records*

LOUISBOURG GROUP 15 (Fortress of Louisbourg Section Series:
Louisbourg Reconstruction Work / Research Files)

Historical Resources Collection

	*Archives Records*
	*Artisans Records*
	*Exhibit Design Team Records*
	*Exhibits Records*
	*Furnishings, Textiles, and Material Research Records*
	*Head of Historical Resources Records (future)*
	*Historical Research Records*

	*Historical Resources Interpretation Records*
	*Library Records*
	*Library Committee Records*

Period Presentation, Furnishings Design, and Standards Teams Records

LOUISBOURG GROUP 16 (Fortress of Louisbourg Section Series:
Louisbourg Reconstruction Work / Research Files)

Operations Collection

	*Head of Operations Records*
	*Natural Resources Interpretation Records (future)*
	*Protection Services Records (future)*
	*Visitor Services Records*

LOUISBOURG GROUP 17 (Fortress of Louisbourg Section Series:
Louisbourg Reconstruction Correspondence Files)

Circulation Collection

	*Administration Records*
	*General Works Records*
	*Historical Resources Records (future)*
	*Operations Records*

LOUISBOURG GROUP 18 (Fortress of Louisbourg Section Series:
Louisbourg Personal Administrative Files)

Administration Collection

	*Administrative Officer Trainee Records*
	*Head of Administration Records*
	*Project Manager Records*
	*Secretary Records*

General Works Collection

	*Engineers Records*
	*Head of General Works Records*
	*Technical and Architectural Research Records*

Historical Resources Collection

	*Archaeologists Records*
	*Exhibits Records*
	*Head of Historical Resources Records*
	*Historians Records*
	*Historical Records Supervisor Records*
	*Interpretive Writer / Editor Records*
	*Senior Historian Records*

Operations Collection

Visitor Services Records

LOUISBOURG GROUP 19 (Fortress of Louisbourg External Series:
External Files)

	*Canadian Parks Service Central Registry Collection*
	*Department of Transport Central Registry Collection*
	*Fortress of Louisbourg Recreation Association Collection*
	*Fortress of Louisbourg Volunteer Association Collection*
	*Louisbourg District Planning and Development Commission Collection*
	*Louisbourg Heritage Society Collection*
	*Private Papers Collection*
	*Secretary of State Collection*
	*Sydney and Louisburg Railway Historical Society Collection (future)*

LOUISBOURG GROUP 20 (Fortress of Louisbourg Joint Series:
Joint Efforts Files)

	*Fortress of Louisbourg Translation Committee Collection*
	*University College of Cape Breton Collection*

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