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 |
Audio Reel: 5095 Recording number: 669 |
|
Mountains They Will Skip Away performed by Marguerite Letson at Port Medway, Queens County, Nova Scotia |
Audio Reel: 5148 Recording number: 1200 |
|
Let Me In The Lifeboat performed by Marguerite Letson at Port Medway, Queens County, Nova Scotia |
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 |
Audio Reel: 5618 Recording number: 2266 |
|
Gospel Train performed by Charles Owens and Charles Owens and Family at Bridgetown, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia |
Audio Reel: 5618 Recording number: 2267 |
|
I Will Pilot Thee performed by Stevenson and Stevenson Family at Bridgetown, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia |
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 |
Audio Reel: 5619 Recording number: 2269 |
|
I Dreamed of the Great Judgement Morning performed by Charles Owens at Bridgetown, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia |
Audio Reel: 5619 Recording number: 2270 |
|
Be Careful Little Ears performed by Owens at Bridgetown, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia |
Audio Reel: 5619 Recording number: 2271 |
|
I Wrote a Letter to my Love performed by Owens at Bridgetown, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia |
Audio Reel: 5619 Recording number: 2272 |
|
London Bridge performed by Owens at Bridgetown, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia |
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 |
Audio Reel: 5619 Recording number: 2274 |
|
Welcome Table performed by Charles Owens at Bridgetown, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia |
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 |
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 |
return to African Nova Scotian Teaching and Learning Resources
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.