The Maclean, Sinclair family, acquired by Nova Scotia Archives in 1953, was described then as "the finest collection of original Gaelic material in Canada." It remains today as one of the country's most significant archival resources for the study of Gaelic literature, music, oral history, folklore and tradition; and the move to capture and preserve these fragile elements of Scottish cultural heritage, as it existed around the turn of the last century.
The items presented below have been selected as evidence of the role played by Alexander Maclean Sinclair in this cultural renaissance. His geographic location-perched on the remote eastern edge of North America between the New World and the Old — mirrored his pivotal role in communicating, sharing, publishing and promoting all things Gaelic.
Many of the cultural themes and trends captured in the image selection below are addressed in greater detail in Michael Linkletter's article, "The Alexander Maclean Sinclair Papers in Nova Scotia Archives ." For researchers interested in exploring this archival collection further, we've also provided a formal archival description, and a browsable list for that part of the holding containing Sinclair's personal correspondence.
Letter from Rev. J.A. MacLellan
Date: 31 May 1905
Reference: MacLean, Sinclair family Nova Scotia Archives MG 1 volume 2660 number 193
Letter from D.C. Fraser, Ottawa, Ont.
Date: 7 August 1899
Reference: MacLean, Sinclair family Nova Scotia Archives MG 1 volume 2660 number 206
Letter from J.G. MacKinnon, Sydney
Date: 12 December 1899
Reference: MacLean, Sinclair family Nova Scotia Archives MG 1 volume 2660 number 209
Letter from D. MacGillivray, Manse of Petty, Inverness, Scotland
Date: 25 May 1906
Reference: MacLean, Sinclair family Nova Scotia Archives MG 1 volume 2660 number 235
"Oran do na 'Lovat's Scouts'"
Reference: MacLean, Sinclair family Nova Scotia Archives MG 1 volume 2660 number 257
Untitled Poem
Date: 13 February 1903
Reference: MacLean, Sinclair family Nova Scotia Archives MG 1 volume 2660 number 275
Letter from Murdoch MacIntyre, West Bay, Cape Breton
Date: 1 March 1886
Reference: MacLean, Sinclair family Nova Scotia Archives MG 1 volume 2660 number 283
Letter from Jessie N. MacLachlan
Date: 20 October 1902
Reference: MacLean, Sinclair family Nova Scotia Archives MG 1 volume 2660 number 290
Letter from Alexander MacDonald, Antigonish
Date: 9 January 1901
Reference: MacLean, Sinclair family Nova Scotia Archives MG 1 volume 2660 number 326
Letter from Donald McMillan, Lake Ainslie
Date: 22 January 1891
Reference: MacLean, Sinclair family Nova Scotia Archives MG 1 volume 2660 number 340
Letter from C.R. Morison, Isle of Mull
Date: 5 July 1894
Reference: MacLean, Sinclair family Nova Scotia Archives MG 1 volume 2660 number 398a
"Oran"
Reference: MacLean, Sinclair family Nova Scotia Archives MG 1 volume 2660 number 427
Letter from D.D. McDonald, Alexandria, Ontario
Date: 9 March 1906
Reference: MacLean, Sinclair family Nova Scotia Archives MG 1 volume 2660 number 428
Gaelic song, "Aighean Don Nau Gobnai"
Reference: MacLean, Sinclair family Nova Scotia Archives MG 1 volume 2660 number 429
Letter from James Allan McMillan
Date: 28 June 1904
Reference: MacLean, Sinclair family Nova Scotia Archives MG 1 volume 2660 number 432
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