Fonds MS-2-742, Boxes 1-46 - Brian Flemming fonds

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Brian Flemming fonds

General material designation

  • Textual record

Parallel title

Other title information

Title statements of responsibility

Title notes

Level of description

Fonds

Reference code

MS-2-742, Boxes 1-46

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)

  • 1925-2002 (Creation)

Physical description area

Physical description

6.45 m of textual records

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

Biographical history

Brian Flemming was born 19 February 1939 to Everett F. J. Flemming and Margaret Meagher. He received a B.Sc. from St. Mary’s University (1959), a LL.B. from Dalhousie University (1962), a LL.M. in Public International Law from University of London, England (1964), and the Hague Diploma in International Law (1964).

Flemming has led a multifaceted career as a lawyer, educator, and author. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s he lectured at Dalhousie and Saint Mary’s universities on the law of international institutions, the law of the sea, and commercial law. He also served as a consultant in international law to U.S. Naval War College from 1968 to 1971, was a senior partner of Stewart, MacKeen & Covert, Halifax, and was made a Queen’s Counsel in 1978.

In the 1970s Flemming became more involved with government. He became an advisor to the Department of External Affairs and the Department of the Environment in 1972 on the subject of marine and environmental conferences. He also served as Principal Secretary and Policy Advisor to Prime Minster Trudeau between 1976 and 1979. In 1974 and again in 1979, Flemming entered the federal elections as a Liberal, losing the 1979 election by a mere fifteen votes. More recently, he served as chairman for the Canada Transportation Act Review Panel in 2000.

In addition to these activities, Flemming has been active in business, publishing, and in various other organizations. He has held directorships at Noranda Inc., VGM Capital, and Brunswick Mining; written a substantial volume of literature related to the law of the sea and international law, as well as article and book reviews; was a member of the executive committee and ultimately the chairman of the Canada Council (1972-1975); and he served as a director of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He has also been involved with artistic organizations such as the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, Neptune Theatre, and the Maritime Conservatory of Music among others.

A recognized community leader, Flemming was awarded the Order of Canada in 1989 for his contributions to law and his volunteer community activities. He also received a honourary doctorate from the University of King’s College in 1991.

Brian Flemming currently resides in Halifax and writes weekly columns for the Halifax Daily News and AOL Canada.

Custodial history

Brian Flemming donated the fonds to the University Archives in September 2002 and June 2003.

Scope and content

Fonds consists of Brian Flemming’s personal and professional papers which reflect his career as a regional and national political figure. The fonds contains both political and personal correspondence, including records created while Flemming worked in the Prime Minister’s Office, and correspondence with prominent Canadians such as Senator Michael Kirby, Paul Tellier, and Peter Bronfman.

The fonds also includes miscellaneous publications, speeches, political material, records of his work on behalf of various organisations, records related to his own business activity, and records related to maritime law and the law of the sea.

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

Arrangement

Arrangement reflects the order of materials when received, with minor alterations to improve accessibility.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

Language and script note

English

Location of originals

Availability of other formats

Restrictions on access

There are no access restrictions on these materials. All materials are open for research.

Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

Materials do not circulate and must be used in the Archives and Special Collections Reading Room. Materials may be under copyright. Contact departmental staff for guidance on reproduction.

Finding aids

Detailed finding aid available onsite.

Associated materials

See also the Canada Council fonds, MS-2-500. Dalhousie University’s Dunn Law Library also has a collection of Brain Flemming’s class notes from his days as a law student at Dalhousie.

For other records relating to maritime law, see the Elisabeth Mann Borgese fonds, MS-2-744.

Related materials

Accruals

No further accruals are expected.

General note

Preferred citation: [Identification of item], Brian Flemming fonds, MS-2-742, Box [box number], Folder [folder number], Dalhousie University Archives, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Alternative identifier(s)

Standard number area

Standard number

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Accession area

Related people and organizations

Related places

Related genres