Series contains records created by Oland and Son Limited between 1867 and 1989. Series also contains records created by Oland and Son Limited that deal with subsidiary companies such as A. Keith and Son Limited and Oland's Brewery Limited. Series is broken into 13 Sub-Series: Administrative, Beer Production, Blueprints and Maps, Brewing and Industry Associations, Company History, Correspondence, Financial, Labour and Employee Relations, Legal, Marketing and Advertising, Photographs, Public Relations, and Sales Department.
Administrative Sub-Series contains records created by the executives of the company or created for the company by business partners and subsidiaries. Sub-Series includes annual reports, director's reports, various operational and business reports, meeting minutes, surveys, proposals, and memorandums. Records in the Administrative Sub-Series may deal with A. Keith and Son Limited, Oland's Brewery Limited, or other subsidiaries of Oland and Son Limited. Beer Production Sub-Series contains records created by the production and bottling departments. Sub-Series includes brew books, yeast books and logs, production reports and inventories, statistical reports, bottling reports, logs, and reports on beer production. Reports in the Beer Production Sub-Series may deal with A. Keith and Son Limited and Oland's Brewery Limited.
Blueprints and Maps Sub-Series contains designs of factory equipment and buildings, and maps outlining proposed developments or land holdings. Blueprints were primarily created by the company that manufactures the equipment or the contractor working on construction projects.
Brewing and Industry Associations Sub-Series contains records generated through Oland and Son's affiliation with various brewing and industry associations including the Brewers Association of Canada, Dominion Brewing Association, and Nova Scotia Brewers Institute. Sub-Series contains industry and market reports, meeting minutes, training manuals, publications, and correspondence. Correspondence with brewing associations is also filed in the Correspondence Sub-Series.
Company History Sub-Series contains materials relating to the general history of Oland and Son and its affiliated companies. Sub-Series includes scrapbooks and written transcriptions of the history of Oland and Son.
Correspondence Sub-Series contains correspondence between Oland and Son Limited and its affiliaited companies or its business partners. Correspondence is wide ranging and deals with company management, finances, production, sales, marketing and advertising, public relations, and the general activities of the company. Correspondents include Oland and Son's barristers and solicitors, contractors, consultants, government departments, sales agents, manufacturers, charities, and other groups who corresponded with the company. Sub-Series also contains personal correspondence of Robert T. Merchant, R.D. Mussett, and Bruce Oland. Correspondence is generally filed by the name of the correspondent, except where the original file was labelled by subject.
Financial Sub-Series contains financial records created by or for Oland and Son Limited. Sub-Series contains financial statements, cost statements, general ledgers, journals of production costs, comparative balance sheets, statements of investments, and other records documenting the financial position of the company. Financial records dealing jointly with Oland and Son Limited and some or all of its affiliated companies are also included. Sub-Series also contains financial records created by brewing companies acquired by Oland and Son or the Oland Family, including the Halifax Breweries and Army and Navy Brewery.
Labour and Employee Relations Sub-Series contains records involving labour management and negotiations, personnel management, hiring, and the company pension plan. Sub-Series contains meeting minutes, correspondence, reports, labour agreements, pension plans, valuations of pension plans, lists of employees, and other records involving the workforce of Oland and Son. Sub-Series may also contain records relating to the workforce of subsidiary companies.
Legal Sub-Series contains legal agreements, deeds, statements, resolutions, and other legal records created by or for Oland and Son Limited. Sub-Series contains the bound sale agreement between Oland and Son and John Labatt Limited.
Marketing and Advertising Sub-Series contains records from the Sales Department involving the marketing and advertising operations of the company. Many records deal jointly with Oland and Son Limited and its subsidiaries, including A. Keith and Son, Oland's Brewer's Grain and Yeast, and Oland's Brewery Limited. Sub-Series also contains materials relating to the marketing of the Bluenose II. Sub-Series contains marketing reports, budget proposals, advertising proofs, advertising contracts, schedules, advertising copy, and memorandums and correspondence regarding the marketing activities of the company.
Photographs Sub-Series contains photographs of factory equipment, sponsored sports teams and events, delivery trucks, company employees, and the general activities of the company.
Public Relations Sub-Series contains records relating to Oland and Son's public relations activities, including charitable donations, sponsored sports teams, and tours and receptions at the breweries. Sub-Series also contains "What's Brewing at Oland's," a bi-monthly publication produced by the company for its employees and their families.
Sales Department Sub-Series contains records created by the Sales Department. Sub-Series includes sales reports, sales analyses, expense reports, market studies, memorandums and correspondence regarding sales and packaging materials, samples of sales orders, monthly sales reports sent to various brewing associations and government liquor commissions, and customer complaints about beer and bottle quality. Some sales reports deal jointly with products created by Oland and Son and A. Keith and Son.