Collection MG 19.19 - James Bryson (J.B.) McLachlan Collection

Original Digital object not accessible

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

James Bryson (J.B.) McLachlan Collection

General material designation

  • Textual record

Parallel title

Other title information

Title statements of responsibility

Title notes

Level of description

Collection

Reference code

CA BI MG 19.19

Edition area

Edition statement

Edition statement of responsibility

Class of material specific details area

Statement of scale (cartographic)

Statement of projection (cartographic)

Statement of coordinates (cartographic)

Statement of scale (architectural)

Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • 1744-1941, predominant 1904-1936 (Accumulation)
    Accumulator
    McLachlan, James Bryson

Physical description area

Physical description

104 textual records. -- 3 artifacts.

Publisher's series area

Title proper of publisher's series

Parallel titles of publisher's series

Other title information of publisher's series

Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series

Numbering within publisher's series

Note on publisher's series

Archival description area

Name of creator

(1869-1937)

Biographical history

James Bryson McLachlan (J.B.) was born February 9, 1869 in Ecclefechan, Scotland to farm labourers, Esther Bryson and James McLachlan. At age 10, McLachlan left school to work in the Coltness Iron Company Lanarkshire mines with his father, but remained home-schooled by his mother who taught Calvinist religious literature. Later, McLachlan would identify as Baptist, and later again Presbyterian and United. Catherine (Kate) Greenshields and McLachlan were wed in 1893 by a Baptist minister and had 4 children before emigrating to Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia in 1902, where McLachlan worked in the Princess colliery. Carrying with him the knowledge and experiences of poor mine conditions and worker wages from Scotland, McLachlan became a local union leader and established himself as a prominent voice for workers’ rights in Nova Scotia coalmines.

Shortly after his arrival, he became a local in the Provincial Workmen’s Association (PWA). He was elected secretary-treasurer of District 26 United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) in 1909; UMWA dissolved in 1915 and re-established in 1919, but McLachlan continued his role as a UMWA officer between 1916 and 1918. During this period, McLachlan moved to a farm on Steeles Hill, Glace Bay, in 1913. McLachlan’s involvement in these unions granted the opportunity for him to play a significant role as a leader in the Cape Breton mining strikes of the 1920’s. This four year struggle fought for employee control, liveable wages, and eight-hour work days. During these strikes, McLachlan was convicted of seditious libel in 1923 and was released in 1924. In 1933, he became president of the Worker’s Unity League, a position he held until 1936.

Beyond union representation, McLachlan formed the first Cape Breton local of the Socialist Party of Canada in 1907 and in Sydney Mines in 1909. In 1916, he was a Socialist candidate for the House of Assembly, and represented Cape Breton’s Independent Labour Party in 1917 and 1918 as president. Until 1936, he was also a member of the Communist Party of Canada. In addition to his political affiliations, he was editor for Maritime Labour Herald until 1926 and the Nova Scotia Miner from 1929-1936. McLachlan died at the family farm at Steeles Hill on November 3, 1937, and is buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Glace Bay with his wife, Kate (d. 1939).

Custodial history

Scope and content

Collection consists of artifacts, two volumes of Karl Marx, a child's cap, and a block of salt; McLachlan's personal library of books that he owned consisting of socialist, communist, religious, and labour material; and textual records that include poetry, notes, correspondences, and one journal. The material spans between 1744 and 1941, and consists of records from Scotland, England, and Canada. The material in this collection shows McLachlan's interest and involvement with labour movements and his desire to improve conditions for the working class in Cape Breton.

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

Arrangement

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

    Location of originals

    Availability of other formats

    Restrictions on access

    Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

    Finding aids

    Associated materials

    Accruals

    General note

    Alternative identifier(s)

    Standard number

    Standard number

    Access points

    Subject access points

    Place access points

    Name access points

    Genre access points

    Description record identifier

    Digital object (External URI) rights area

    Digital object (Reference) rights area

    Digital object (Thumbnail) rights area

    Accession area