As news of the halifax harbour explosion spread, people all over the world acted to relieve the mass suffering it had caused. Dec 04, 2018 guides to records about the halifax explosion. Halifax explosion halifax herald front page canadian. Halifax explosion library and archives canada blog. The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917. Well help you order copies of documents, purchase favourite photographs youve found on the website, or book one of our public meetingrooms. On the morning of december 6 th, 1917, the steamship montblanc, inbound from the atlantic with war material for france, entered the halifax harbour narrows. In addition to the nova scotia historical vital statistics, the nova scotia archives has created various other small databases and indexes that are often useful in family history research. Halifax, canada, halifax explosion remembrance book. Site of the halifax explosion, two days later, december 8, 1917, image via the nova scotia archives. Halifax is and was home to a variety of ethnic and cultural groups, all of which were affected by the halifax explosion. Send stamp for booklet looking eastward, maps, etc.
The ss montblanc collided with the ss imo causing the largest manmade explosion prior to the abomb. The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the. Unearthed firsthand accounts reveal devastation of 1917. New book details 1917 halifax, nova scotia, explosion. On december 6, 1917, the cargo ship imo collided with montblanc, a french vessel loaded with explosives.
Russell and was first performed at the majestic theatre halifax, nova scotia thursday, march 10th, 1927. The halifax explosion of 1945 canada history and mysteries. One of canadas oldest archival institutions, we maintain a strong tradition of client service. The halifax explosion marked the first canadian red cross involvement in disaster relief an activity that would become a core element of the societys work after its mandate was broadened in 1919 to include peacetime involvement. Many first responders were soldiers and sailors from damaged barracks and canadian, british, and united states ships in port. Journalists, record keepers and the 1917 halifax explosion. The brewerys manager and 11 other employees were killed in the halifax explosion. As a result, genealogical research in nova scotia runs deep, includes many cultural threads, and is both challenging and rewarding. Ymca where ernest codman and a team from boston set up an emergency hospital as part of the relief effort for the 1917 halifax explosion.
The official website for the province of nova scotia includes resources for people and business, information on government programs and tourism, news releases as well as links to all government departments and agencies. The list contains only names and no other information. Unearthed firsthand accounts reveal devastation of 1917 halifax explosion. Halifax, canada, halifax explosion remembrance book, 19171918. The nova scotia archives is pleased to host the online version of a project recently completed by the halifax foundation. The halifax explosion devastated the north end of the city, killing nearly 2,000 and injuring 9,000. Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss an event, new release, or important news. Halifax explosion the anatomy of a disaster page 5. His name is on the list of professional researchers for hrm archives. Museum maker the nova scotia archives and the nova scotia museum are pleased to present harry piers. In 1926 he and his wife moved to florida for health reasons where he continued to work parttime in still photography until his death on 9 may 1935. Nova scotia after the halifax explosion, looking toward the harbor. It was the result of an unlikely collision in the narrows of halifax harbour, involving the french ship, mont blanc loaded with tons of wet and dry picric acid, tnt, gun cotton and benzol and the belgian relief vessel, imo, under norwegian registry.
Jan 17, 2019 guides to records about the halifax explosion. Determining the provenance of halifax explosion blast cloud images. Library and archives canada lac holds various records that tell part of the story of the halifax explosion, its aftermath, and the relief work and investigations following the disaster. Halifax explosion remembrance book database, 19171918 open. Virtual exhibit about the explosion and reconstruction by the nova scotia archives and records management. A collision between two ships in halifax harbour in 1917 set off an explosion unrivalled until the atomic bomb. Municipal archives halifax history search archives. Nova scotia archives halifax explosion 1917 online resources.
As christ healed the sick and brokenhearted with his acts of compassion, our present christian response to suffering must be in keeping with christs actions by transforming suffering with meaning. The nova scotia archives acquires, preserves and makes available the provinces documentary heritage recorded information of provincial significance created or accumulated by government and the private sector over the last 300 years. About halifax, canada, halifax explosion remembrance book, 19171918. Out of the photos that ive posted about the halifax explosion, this is the only. While most canadians returned home following ve day, people and. Halifax municipal archives gratefully acknowledges provincial archival development program funding for this project through nova scotia archives and the department of. These photographs form part of a large collection of recreation department photographs series 1021061 documenting recreation activities and facilities throughout halifax. Digital collections of primary source materials about the halifax explosion from the nova scotia archives. Halifax fire remembers comrades lost in the explosion.
The token was adapted for the speaking stage by daisy foster and bernard w. The postdisaster front page portrayed the enormity, the devastation, the human tragedy of the day, says burke. Army and navy personnel worked shouldertoshoulder with civilians on rescue, recovery and reconstruction. Halifax municipal archives is the official repository for historical municipal government records from halifax, dartmouth, bedford and the former county of halifax, and also holds community records from the region. Four women walk from africville following the halifax explosion.
Halifax explosion the anatomy of a disaster page 1. Looking down argyle street from george street in downtown halifax, nova scotia, in december 1917. This is a great opportunity for participants to deeply experience our collections a. Halifax, nova scotia to much of the world, this city is linked to the sinking. Victoria author michael dupuis fascination with the halifax explosion has led to a 194page book, bearing witness. Marriage and death records up to and including 1925 may be viewed at nova scotia archives. Issued one month before the 100th anniversary of the disaster, this stamp commemorates the tragedy and the resilience of haligonians, who rebuilt their city from ashes. During a thick fog in august of 1901 the halifax struck a rock near minots light southeast of boston while on passage from halifax to boston. Transcribe is the nova scotia archives collaborative online workspace where the public can participate in enhancing access to our collections documenting over 300 years of nova scotia history, people, and culture. Information with the image claims the view is to the northeast. Halifax explosion book of remembrance maritime museum of the. Learn more about the multicultural history of the city and the province of nova scotia in these titles. Film holdings from the nova scotia archives, in halifax, nova scotia, canada.
Halifax explosion of 1917 a thick cloud of smoke billowing over halifax and nearby towns, such as africville, in nova scotia, canada, after a munitions ship exploded in the halifax harbour on december 6, 1917. Halifax, canada, halifax explosion remembrance book, 19171918 database online. Protestant orphanage, 1274 barrington street, halifax, nova scotia. The nova scotia archives offers a variety of services to researchers, visitors and the general public. Doors were ripped off houses, trees snapped in two, and windows shattered. Fonds consists of allan james chapmans family history, including an account of the halifax explosion written by his mother annie marguerite daisy chapman, and his grandfather herbert eugene greenoughs poems and essays about working on the nova scotia railways. Devastating images of the accidental halifax explosion, a cataclysm so great that some victims were blinded simply by looking at it. The halifax explosion 1917 nova scotia, canada youtube. New book details the halifax, nova scotia, explosion of 1917. We will continue to monitor the situation and reopen when appropriate. The norwegian ship imo left the protected anchorage of bedford basin, outbound for new york to load food and clothing for the people of occupied.
Want to stay updated on nimbus events in your area. Nova scotia archives halifax explosion 1917 online resources december 6, 1917 is a day indelibly etched in the hearts and minds of the citizens of halifax and dartmouth, nova scotia. On that thursday the norwegian vessel ss imo, carrying belgian relief supplies, and the french freighter ss mont blanc. The writing is not on the post card but on the cardboard backing to which the item is glued along with three other postcards depicting scenes of the halifax explosion. Ss montblanc, a french cargo ship laden with high explosives, collided with the norwegian vessel ss imo in the narrows, a strait connecting the upper halifax harbour to bedford basin. Although the clip does not show the king and queen, it has spectacular images of escort ships and seaplanes accompanying the royal couples vessel on a tour of halifax harbour before heading out. The burialdeath registers for the city of halifax, 18901908, were kept by the city clerk. Century after halifaxs great explosion, city marks anniversary. The first photo is undated, but the absolute earliest date would be 1888, although it is probably a little later than that, perhaps around 1900.
The nova scotia archives also has a colour video clip from 1939 that shows the c. The entire halifax region delights with its impressive array of entertainment, museums, galleries, historic sit. Six relief trains arrived from nova scotia and new brunswick on the day of the blast. An entire neighbourhood was destroyed, thousands killed and injured, thousands more left homeless. The halifax herald the cause of the catastrophe the following excerpt is from a newspaper article published in the halifax herald on december 8, 1917, two days after the explosion. The destruction from the halifax explosion of 1917 can be witnessed almost a century later through images captured in the immediate aftermath of the disaster. The first place to look is lacs thematic guide, halifax explosion. Page 43 of this book reprints a listing of dartmouth residents reported killed by the explosion.
As many as 1,600 people died immediately in the blast, tsunami. Niniskamijinaqik ancestral images by ruth holmes whitehead. Protestant orphanage, 1274 barrington street, halifax, nova scotia 8 19171206 abraham, ivy b. Explore halifax municipal archivess 1,260 photos on flickr. With list of actors who played the cast of characters view more info. Lunenburg by the sea take a second look at this virtual exhibit from 2003 weve added an 88page souvenir booklet, lunenburg by the sea. Halifax, nova scotia, canada is a modern port city teeming with culture and heritage and the perfect place for your next holiday vacation. The blast released an explosive force equal to about 2.
Halifax explosion photos, letters donated for anniversary. The documents are new additions to the collection on the. The halifax explosion remembrance book, an official database compiled in 2002 by the nova scotia archives and records management, identified 1,950 victims. The halifax explosion s untold story of mikmaw communities lost. An online version of the book with all the names, plus additional information, is available from the nova scotia archives. Why there might be a case for reparations because of the. Nova scotia archives and records management halifax explosion 1917 online resources. December 6, 1917, started as a normal day in dartmouth and halifax. The halifax explosion was a maritime disaster in halifax nova scotia, canada, on the morning of dec. Littles illustration of the moment just before the explosion completes the story of a. The halifax explosion occurred on december 6, 1917, when the city of halifax, nova scotia, canada, was devastated by the detonation of the ss montblanc, a french cargo ship that was fully loaded with wartime explosives.
Among the more popular ones available on this website are. The bedford magazine explosion was a conflagration resulting in a series of explosions from july 18 to 19, 1945, in bedford, nova scotia, canada. Municipal archives halifax history search archives halifax. As catholics we are christian disciples committed to follow the way of the lord whose response to suffering was to provide care. Adolphus gaetz 18041873 was a merchant in the town of lunenburg who held many. The halifax explosion remembrance book is the first really definitive listing for those killed in the disaster of 6 december 1917. Most people believe that world war ii ended with v day on 8th may 1945, but the reality was that, after the resolution in europe, war continued in the pacific. To honour and remember this tragic event in halifax s history, archbishop anthony mancini will offer a memorial mass at 12. Uncovering new halifax explosion stories trident newspaper. Nova scotia archives nimbus publishing and vagrant press. Halifax explosion book of remembrance maritime museum of. Archdiocese of halifax yarmouth archives and research.
Nova scotia archives virtual archives, resource guides. It also inaugurated a tradition of red cross disaster relief cooperation across the canadau. Start a quick search above to begin using our fully searchable database containing one million names. The 1917 explosion in halifax that reverberated in boston. Dec 06, 2017 nine firefighters were among the more than 2,000 who were killed in the halifax explosion. City directory 1918 gans list national archives uk hrc.
Unidentified doctor and nurses, in the nova scotia hospital dressing burns on children injured in the 1917 halifax explosion. Dec 18, 20 images from the halifax explosion that happened back in 1917. First world war publicity posters at the nova scotia archives in a world predating radio. Dec 06, 2017 century after halifaxs great explosion, city marks anniversary. During world war ii, the adjacent cities of halifax and dartmouth, provided heavy support for canadas war effort in europe. Dec 05, 2017 other communities affected by the halifax explosion. Collison of 2 ships ignited 3,000 tons of explosives that left 2,000 dead and 25,000 citizens homeless.
The halifax explosion remembrance book is the first really definitive listing for those killed in the. The whole story of the halifax explosion could be attached to graves and gravesites at mount olivet cemetery, mcsweeney said. Aside from the hinch family stone, mcsweeney said there are more than 330 catholic victims of the. Hrm municipal archives historical sources on the halifax explosion detailed documentation of halifax and dartmouths response to the explosion provided through links to digitized copies of the original historical records. Many houses were made of wood, which caught fire after the explosion. Given the concern of covid19 and the recent public health officials guidance, the nova scotia archives will officially close to the public on monday, march 16th, until further notice. All researchers are welcome to view those records either here online, or through requests and visits to the archives. The massive blast that followed resulted in nearly 2,000 deaths and widespread damage. Collection consists of photographs, including panoramas, of nova scotia soldiers in world war i and scenes of the city of halifax immediately after the halifax explosion on december 6, 1917. December 6 marks the 100 th anniversary of the halifax explosion.
The halifax explosion, historys largest explosion before. Nova scotia archives, halifax, nova scotia, canada. The online version features a searchable database with detailed information. Digital images of original records in possession of the nova scotia archives and records management nsarm, halifax. Every name is linked to the original record in digitized form and you can search and view every item freeofcharge. Item consists of souvenir booklet of photographs documenting the bedford magazine explosion of july 1945. While the halifax explosion of 1917 was a calamity, it was not the only major wartime explosion suffered by the locals. Nova scotia archives has released new images revealing a glimpse of halifax moments after an explosion ripped through the city in 1917.
Farther from the harbor, the homes of halifax lay in ruins. Oct 11, 2019 perhaps the most poignant reminder of the tragedy, and the response to it, is the large christmas tree cut every year from the nova scotia woods and erected in central boston a gift of thanks from the people of halifax to a city that provided essential relief and support in the wake of the explosion. Nov, 2016 another scene on campbell road todays barrington street in halifax, nova scotia, before the 1917 halifax explosion. Nova scotia archives halifax explosion book uncovers military ties to epic disaster.
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