Nova Scotia Archives

African Nova Scotian Teaching and Learning

Sound Recordings

Archives are a great place to develop and use your skills of investigation. Archives work to preserve materials in their original context. 'Authentic', 'one-of-a-kind', and 'original' are all words used to describe archival materials. This makes them reliable and valid sources of information, or evidence of the past.

The audio recordings of African Nova Scotian performers, storytellers and tradition bearers were created by folklorist Helen Creighton. Creighton’s work in collecting the songs, stories, and traditions of many Maritime communities over six decades made her one of Canada’s most celebrated folklorists.

Item Reference

London Bridge performed by Children at the Home For Coloured Children at Halifax, Halifax County, Nova Scotia — 17 March 1944

Audio Reel: 5089
Recording number: 633

Rain Rain performed by Children at the Home For Coloured Children at Halifax, Halifax County, Nova Scotia — 17 March 1944

Audio Reel: 5089
Recording number: 635

I Went To Visit A Friend One Day performed by Children at the Home For Coloured Children at Halifax, Halifax County, Nova Scotia — 17 March 1944

Audio Reel: 5089
Recording number: 635

Lazy Bessie performed by Olive Russel and Children at the Home For Coloured Children at Halifax, Halifax County, Nova Scotia — 17 March 1944

Audio Reel: 5089
Recording number: 636

Little Sam performed by Miss Grace Smith at Dartmouth, Halifax County, Nova Scotia
first line of lyric: I'se a roving little darkie all the way from Alabama — 4 April 1944

Audio Reel: 5095
Recording number: 669

Mountains They Will Skip Away performed by Marguerite Letson at Port Medway, Queens County, Nova Scotia
first line of lyric: The mountains they will skip away — 13 July 1949

Audio Reel: 5148
Recording number: 1200

Let Me In The Lifeboat performed by Marguerite Letson at Port Medway, Queens County, Nova Scotia
first line of lyric: Come brother sailors, and don't you fall asleep — 13 July 1949

Audio Reel: 5148
Recording number: 1201

What Harm Has Jesus Done? performed by Charles Owens and Charles Owens and Family at Bridgetown, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia
first line of lyric: Tell me what harm has Jesus done you — June 1953

Audio Reel: 5618
Recording number: 2266

Gospel Train performed by Charles Owens and Charles Owens and Family at Bridgetown, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia
first line of lyric: The gospel train is a-coming — June 1953

Audio Reel: 5618
Recording number: 2267

I Will Pilot Thee performed by  Stevenson and Stevenson Family at Bridgetown, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia
first line of lyric: Sometimes when my faith would falter — June 1953

Audio Reel: 5618
Recording number: 2268

If I Were You I'd Make A Change performed by Charles Owens at Bridgetown, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia
first line of lyric: Tribulation just ahead — June 1953

Audio Reel: 5619
Recording number: 2269

I Dreamed of the Great Judgement Morning performed by Charles Owens at Bridgetown, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia
first line of lyric: I dreamed of the great judgement morning — June 1953

Audio Reel: 5619
Recording number: 2270

Be Careful Little Ears performed by  Owens at Bridgetown, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia
first line of lyric: Be careful little ears what you hear — June 1953

Audio Reel: 5619
Recording number: 2271

I Wrote a Letter to my Love performed by  Owens at Bridgetown, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia
first line of lyric: I wrote a letter to my love — June 1953

Audio Reel: 5619
Recording number: 2272

London Bridge performed by  Owens at Bridgetown, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia
first line of lyric: London Bridge is all broke down — June 1953

Audio Reel: 5619
Recording number: 2273

I'll Be Present When the Roll is Called performed by Charles Owens at Bridgetown, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia
first line of lyric: Sometime I'll stand before the judgement bar — June 1953

Audio Reel: 5619
Recording number: 2274

Welcome Table performed by Charles Owens at Bridgetown, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia
first line of lyric: I'm a-going to climb up Jacob's ladder — June 1953

Audio Reel: 5619
Recording number: 2275

Deep In The Love of Jesus performed by Elaney Boyd and Andrew Stevens at Bridgetown, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia
first line of lyric: In the love of Jesus — June 1953

Audio Reel: 5619
Recording number: 2276

I'll Be With You performed by Charles Owens — 1955

Audio Reel: 5765
Recording number: 2804

Church service at Seaview United Baptist Church, Africville performed by Seaview United Baptist Church Congregationa and Choir at Halifax, Halifax County, Nova Scotia — Mar. 26, 1967

Audio Reel: 6029
Recording number: 4156

Church service at Seaview United Baptist Church, Africville performed by Seaview United Baptist Church Congregationa and Choir at Halifax, Halifax County, Nova Scotia — 21 May 1967

Audio Reel: 6030
Recording number: 4157

[Interview conducted by Marvin Burke with Murray Langford and Buddy Daye] performed by Buddy Daye and Murray Langford — September 11, 1967

Audio Reel: 6031
Recording number: 4158
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While exploring the recordings, you should remain aware that the resource preserves, titles, catagories and language supplied by Helen Creighton, as the creator of the records, as is common in archival practice. The recordings Creighton made are very much 'of their time' and have not been edited. Contemporary users may find some of the language outdated or problematic.

Nova Scotia Archives — https://archives.novascotia.ca/teaching-learning/african-novascotian/sound/audio/

Crown copyright © 2025, Province of Nova Scotia.