Archives area 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', 'original' are all words used to describe archival materials. this makes them reliable and valid sources of information, or evidence of the past.

The Nova Scotia Archives Photo Collection brings together thousands of photographs collected over decades – now all available and searchable online.

Government documents relating to early African Nova Scotian settlement patterns have been digitized and are fully searchable in this resource. Many of these documents contain the names and reflect the experiences of Black Refugees who came to Nova Scotia at the close of the War of 1812.

The Nova Scotia Museum was established 150 years ago. View a series of exhibits highlighting the role of Rev. Dr. David Honeyman, International Exhibitions, and the Roots of the Nova Scotia Museum.

Honeyman’s album is a collection of memorabilia from the International Exhibitions consisting of stereoscopic images, carte de visites, and invitations to dinners, as well as documents pertaining to his achievements, involvements and awards.

View items from the Nova Scotia Museum selected by Dr. Rev. David Honeyman to display at the International Exhibitions as representation of Nova Scotia’s rich Cultural and Natural diversity.

The Halifax Mechanics’ Institute was formed in 1831. A Journal, that recorded the meetings of the Institute, and an Inventory, that recorded the objects and specimens presented to the Institute have survived and are digitized here.

The Acadian Cemeteries Research Collection consists of black and white photographic negatives and contact sheets of 60 post-Deportation (after 1764) Acadian cemeteries. Created during eight field trips, this is not a comprehensive collection of all Acadian grave markers. Rather, the photographs represent a sampling of grave stones and monuments dating from 1817 (earliest found) to 2002, selected by Dr. Sally Ross for their physical characteristics, French language inscriptions and historical significance.

Dr. George Buckley practiced as a physician in Guysborough County, Nova Scotia for 69 years. Consists of business records in daybooks and ledgers and photographs of family members, including himself.

April 2018 marks one hundred years of women being extended the vote in Nova Scotia — allowing many women to vote for the first time. In honour of this ‘extension of the franchise to women’, Nova Scotia Archives has digitized 18 petitions from 1918 to create a valuable resource. The names captured here represent a cross-section of Nova Scotia society, men and women from all over and with a variety of occupations (all these areas are searchable in the resource) demonstrating the issue’s importance to ‘regular folk’ – homemakers, tailors, music teachers. We invite you to explore this important piece of our history.

Fascinated by Sable Island? Explore 2600 digitized records describing settlement of the Island, 1801-1867.

Step back in time to explore Col. John Gorham's financial activities in Nova Scotia, 1747-1750 – everything from providing his soldiers with rum and molasses, to attempting a settlement on Sable Island. The account book is a recent and significant acquisition by the NS Archives.

The Nova Scotia Archives and the Nova Scotia Museum are pleased to present 'Harry Piers: Museum Maker' – our first jointly-produced virtual exhibit. Come and explore a selection of the earliest items collected by Mr. Piers in his dual capacity as Keeper of the Public Records and Museum Curator. View Harry Piers: Museum Maker on YouTube.

If you're searching for online information about early land settlement in Nova Scotia, you've come to the right place! A searchable index of land petitions with 11,464 names, linked to 1890 land grant files, digitized in their entirety and just a click away. Includes background information on the land-granting process and a Short Guide to Land Records.

Detailed information about the contents of 34 township books or record collections  documenting the early history and founding families of Nova Scotia's oldest English-speaking communities. Use this database to plan in-depth family or community history research, and visit the Selected Items section to explore original documents digitized for online viewing.

Government Administrative Histories

Calling all those with family links to Yarmouth County! Explore this wonderfully rich research product created by the Argyle Township Court House and Archives, and hosted on this website — a searchable database providing the names of all Roman Catholics baptized, married or buried, 1799-1849, in the predominantly Acadian French township of Argyle.

Background information for over 2000 cemeteries in Nova Scotia for which tombstone data has been transcribed and copies filed at the NS Archives — plus a separate virtual tour of Lunenburg's Hillcrest and Old French cemeteries, two of the oldest in Nova Scotia.

Explore descriptions for nearly 1500 of the earliest records tabled in the House of Assembly, each entry linked to the digitized original document. View citizens' and community petitions asking for everything from economic assistance to new roads, then explore reports, resolutions, financial estimates and more. This is the first installment of our contribution to Democracy 250 Celebrations in Nova Scotia — more to come later this year!

This Resource Guide will help you get started on researching the Built Heritage of Nova Scotia, and then help you to find that next step. You’ll find digitized records along with information about the primary and secondary resources used to trace the history of houses and buildings in Nova Scotia, and the land on which they sit.

At last! An online resource to help researchers identify what church records are held at the Nova Scotia Archives — which communities are represented, what kinds of records are held for individual churches, and date coverage for each. Come and explore a fully searchable database, containing information about the archival records for 510 distinct parishes, congregations and faith communities in Nova Scotia.

An invaluable tool for researching family or community history through alphabetical listings of residents living in the principal cities, towns and rural areas of Nova Scotia at the turn of the last century. We've scanned and made searchable every page in the 1907-08 Directory - all 1556 of them!

Published in 1967, and still the best source available for basic, reliable and easily accessed information about Nova Scotia's cities, towns and villages. Over 2300 entries, searchable by community name or by county. Each entry provides community highlights, including first settlement, first churches, first schools, primary industries, significant events and notable citizens.

Search this database to access the personal names and information contained in 3,340 petitions from Cape Breton Island (1787-1843).

Ever think of using old telephone or city directories in your research? Long after their immediate shelf-life has ended, these published sources live on as significant research tools for family and community history, environmental studies, and for tracking home and property ownership.

Forms part of the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal fonds; search for the appellant and/or respondent in appeal cases heard between 1890 and 1947.

Forms part of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia in Halifax County fonds; search for names and dates of divorce cases heard between 1759 and 1963. In the two centuries following Nova Scotia's first recorded divorce in 1759 nearly 7000 divorce cases were heard by this court.

Search for individuals whose deaths were reported on by the Medical Examiner between 1895 and 1967.

A new research and reference tool for film researchers, cultural historians and anyone interested in 'the movies'! Eastern Eye is a bibliography of film, video and selected television productions, created by, for or about Nova Scotians, 1899-1973. The file includes 'A Brief History of Film in Nova Scotia' and a database of over 2500 film descriptions, plus indexes.