Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
General material designation
- Graphic material
- Textual record
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
Level of description
Repository
Reference code
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)
Physical description area
Physical description
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
Administrative history
The Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia (WFNS) is a non-profit charitable organization established in 1975 to foster creative writing and the profession of writing in the province of Nova Scotia. Its mandate is to provide advice and assistance to writers at all stages of their careers; to encourage greater public recognition of Nova Scotian writers and their achievements; and to enhance the literary arts in both regional and national culture. Membership is open and advocacy available to both professional and developing writers.
The WFNS is administered by an Executive Director and an Executive Committee. The Executive Director is hired by the Federation and is responsible for the day-to-day operations and business of the Federation. He/she works closely with the Executive Committee and various work groups and special committees.
The Executive Committee are elected by the membership and serve two-year terms. They serve the purpose of a board of management with the traditional responsibilities of officers of a non-profit service organization, and are responsible for the policies and general management of the Federation.
The self-governing Nova Scotia Writers' Council, the Federation's professional wing, comprises about one-third of the Federation's membership and deals with policy issues arising from and affecting the publishing industry. The self-governing and self-administered Nova Scotia Dramatists' Co-op is made up of the Federations' playwrights and screenwriters.
The Federation also serves writers and readers in the community, publishers, editors, teachers, librarians, and representatives of the book industry.
The Federation continues to augment and improve its advocacy and public relations efforts and programmes (including the development and administration of major book awards for the Atlantic region), and to work in concert with other regional and national writers' and publishers' groups for the benefit and growth of the industry.
The Nova Scotia Recreation Department provided the initial funding under its program for assistance to cultural associations.
Custodial history
Scope and content
The Archives of the Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia consists of records created by the administration, members, and affiliates of the Federation. It includes a wide variety of materials including administrative records, audio/visual material, correspondence, financial records, meeting agendas and minutes for a variety of groups and committees, photographs, promotional and press material. The records refer to the adminstration and functions of the Federation, as well as its relationships with its members, government departments, and other writing, publishing and cultural groups.
Materials are mainly in English, with a small number in French. See individual Series descriptions for detailed scope and content notes.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Arrangement
The fonds is arranged by theme rather than by format. Efforts were made to preserve the original order of the records, but much of the arrangement was created and applied by the archivists. The fonds is arranged into 10 series:
Administrative records
The Canada Council
Cultural Federations of Nova Scotia
Membership files
Nova Scotia Department of Culture, Recreation, and Fitness
The Nova Scotia Writer's Council
Photographs of members and events
Portfolios
Records regarding external organizations
Subject Files
Some series are further divided into sub-series. Files within each series or sub-series are listed chronologically, unless otherwise specified.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script note
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
Finding aid
Associated materials
Atlantic Publisher's Association, MS-2-682
Barkhouse, Joyce, MS-2-646
Bird, William R., MS-2-367
Canadian Book Information Centre, MS-2-621
Choyce, Lesley, MS-2-596
Cook, Gregory M., MS-2-720
Halifax Science Fiction Society, MS-2-341
Kerslake, Susan, MS-2-662
Morrissey, Donna, MS-2-753
Pottersfield Portfolio, MS-2-684
Pottersfield Press, MS-4-254
Raddall, Thomas Head, MS-2-202
Thurston, Harry, MS-2-691
Wilson, Budge, MS-2-650