Showing 6 results

Archival description
Stephen D.R. MacNeil
CA BI 77-474-608 · Item · ca. 1890

Item is a photograph of Stephen D.R. MacNeil, a bard from Benacadie.

Jonathan G. MacKinnon fonds
CA BI MG 15.19 · Fonds · 1918

A. Two typed copies of “Old Sydney: Sketches of the Town and its People in Days Gone By. Gift of Carl Neville and John Campbell.

B. 1. Letter to Kathryn Poole, 1932.

  1. Notebook and diary, 1916-1932, containing genealogical information on the MacKinnon and Chisholm families; Gaelic poetry; extracts from a diary kept by Sheriff John Ferguson, 1831; history of Sydney Forks; events at St. Andrew’s Church, 1850-1878; Cornish language vocabulary and Lord’s Prayer in Cornish; Acts of Incorporation for Trustees of the following churches: MacLean’s Free Church, Indian Rear, 1856, Whycocomagh Village Presbyterian Church, 1892, Whycocomagh Parish Presbyterian Church 1893, Stewartdale Cemetery, Whycocomagh 1895; Historical notes on Whycocomagh; August Gale of 1873; Minutes of meeting of Comunn nan Gaidheal 1929; account of the “Nith” leaving Skye with immigrants for Cape Breton. Photostat, 107 pages.
  2. [Highland Scots in Cape Breton] pp. 81-125, being an account of their arrival, schooling, culture, religion and superstitions. Typescript, 44 pages.
  3. Miscellaneous material: Excerpts from The Highland Scots, 16 pages. “The Gaelic Language” [by Jonathan MacKinnon], 6 pages. Gaelic hymn and prayer, 2 pages; Gaelic broadcasts, 1 page; poetry about Cape Breton, 1 page. “The nineteen”, St. Andrew’s Church, Sydney, 1912, 1 page. Printed and typescript.
  4. Scrapbook of letters of sympathy and clippings on the death of J. G. MacKinnon, 1944. .5cm. Obituary in Gaelic by John Lorne Campbell in An Gaidheal, January 1950.
  5. Papers concerning Mac-Talla, a weekly paper published in Gaelic by J. G. MacKinnon. Typescript and printed,8 pages. Presented by his niece, Mrs. E. W. Poole, Whycocomagh.

C. “Sydney’s First Big Fire” by J. G. MacKinnon [in: Cape Breton Post, 25 July 1959]. Presented by Dr. M. A. MacLellan, Antigonish

MacKinnon, Jonathan Gillis
Gaelic Songs
CA BI MG 6.43 · Fonds · 20th century

Fonds consists of Gaelic poetry, songs, hymns and a letter. Creator is unknown.

A. Notebook of handwritten Gaelic songs believed to be the songs of Ewen MacKinnon, otherwise known in Iona as "Bodach a'Bhidse".
B. Gaelic translation of the hymn “The Old Old Story.” Hexatonic scale adapted to regular musical store by unknown person. Original, 2 pages.
C1. Song "Chuir Mi Cul ri Iollaraidh" (with English translation) [n.d.] Original, 2 pages. Presented by Mr. & Mrs. John MacKenzie, Mira Gut.
C2. Song: “Bheir a Nall am Botal Dhu” [sic] (local composition) Original, 2 pages. Presented by John Allan MacNeil, Grand Narrows.
C3a. "Mi'm Shuidhe M'Onar" by Scottish bard Sorley Cameron. The name “Neil MacDonald” is penciled on the manuscript but not definite that he is the author. Original, 8 pages.
C3b Humourous song [untitled] also written in Cape Breton. Signed by Neil Macdonald but he was not the author. Also 2 fiddle tunes with musical notation, one stating that it is from Bill Lamey. Original, 5 pages.
C4. Song (untitled) likely of Cape Breton origin. Typescript, 1 page.
D. Letter written in Gaelic from Crows Nest to a friend in Inverness County, 1915. Original, 1 page. Presented by John Neil Beaton, Port Hood, 1984.

CA BI T-311 · Item · 1971
Part of Sound and Moving Image Collection

Item is an audio recording of a BBC Glasgow program with John MacPherson exploring Gaelic culture and language throughout Cape Breton Island.

Among the Gaels in Nova Scotia: MacMillan, Hector S e Ceap Breatuinn Tir Mo Ghraidh

MacPherson, John (BBC) Glasgow (Scotland) Gaelic in Nova Scotia

MacEachern, Mrs. Creignish (N.S.) Song in praise of the Island of Cape Breton

MacPherson, John Glasgow (Scotland) Account of Gaelic place names in Cape Breton

Kennedy, Florence Dunvegan Interviewed with John MacPherson

MacDonald, Dan R. Mabou (N.S.) Bonnie Lass of Head Lake

MacPherson, John Glasgow (Scotland) Milling Frolic

MacDonald, J.L. Et al Boisdale (N.S.) Hug ho ran o robha ho, nighean donn Bhoidheach

MacPherson, John Glasgow (Scotland) Gaelic Revival in Cape Breton

Beaton, Sister Margaret Sydney (N.S.) Address to her friends in the Highlands and Islands

MacPherson, John Glasgow (Scotland) We're the children (you brought from Scotland) sorry to leave? Mr. MacPherson replied that there wasn't one dry eye when he took the children back to Scotland

    Mi'kmaw song and dance

MacEachern, Bessie Creignish (N.S.) Gaelic song

MacMillan, Hector Song in praise of the Island of Cape Breton

MacPherson, John Glasgow (Scotland) Closing message to people of Cape Breton

MacPherson, John Alick
CMH 86-46-86-46 LEB/SAY-Ac-5 · Item · 1986
Part of Inverness County Dance Project

Item is a sound recording of an interview with Owen Dan Gillis about his life, qualities of a good step-dancer, publicity for dances, travel to dances, the calls, dance prohibition, etc. Interview with Donald Hughie MacDougall about his life, dancing with pipes, house parties, weddings, Canadian Legion dances, Jigging tunes, Gaelic song-dances or games.

Canadian Museum of History
Dr. Thomas Carter fonds
MG 21.39 · Fonds · 1970-1979

The fonds consists of images and sound recordings of the Beaton and Kennedy family in the Broad Cove. The recordings feature John Beaton playing the fiddle, while family is heard speaking with Tom Carter about various topics pertaining to Cape Breton. There is a change in language between English and Canadian Gaelic from individuals on the recordings. The fiddle playing is Scottish-Canadian in style, while some are Scottish fiddle music. The recordings include small conversations between reels and songs, descriptions and origins of the music’s is also discussed. The photographs are of the Beaton family house and farm, highlighting rural life in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. The photos also show the boarder Broad Cove community and Inverness county.

Carter, Thomas Dr.