What's an archives?

Well you try to preserve original material for as long as possible, hopefully for 500 years. If you are an institutional archives as we are in Judique, you have to follow certain rules 1) to be open to the public, 2) have training through the Nova Scotia Council of Archives and 3) have written polices about preservation, collection and providing access to the material.

We are presently renewing our policies and hope to get our list of materials in the Refernce Library and Special Collections on-line before long. Our theme is the Celtic Music of Cape Breton Island and we are working to preserve the douments and records pertaining to the music of the people.

If you have an old audio recording of your grandparents who sang songs, made poetry, or played the fiddle or piano; or if you have pictures of people enjoying the music at a wedding, birthday, confirmation or any community event, we'd like to help preserve the pictures and the story they tell.

Have you visited your archives today?

Hi Janet,

We're still working on getting the photograph collection organized and it's themed toward our music and music events of the past...and present because in 50 years time, that will be the past.

We'd love to preserve more old photos before the oldest generation passes on because sometimes families dont' realize how important their photos are in recording the history of the music in the community and how the music was part of many aspects of our lives. Graduations, weddings, funerals, birthdays, dances, house parties.....