Fonds consists of correspondence (1928-2001), diaries (1892-1893, 1900-1980 with gaps), notebooks (1940-1944) and photographs (ca1894-2001) documenting rural life in early 20th century Shubenacadie, as well as the experiences of Harry Smith while stationed at a Royal Canadian Air Force base in England during the Second World War.
Most correspondence files relate to Harry Smith, and include letters he wrote to his mom, dad and sister while serving overseas, letters Harry received from friends during and after the War, and letters Harry wrote to his brother Cullen’s son Donne in the 1990s. Some correspondence files are of Cullen and Gwen Smith to their son Donne (1963-1977).
The diaries were kept daily by Watson Smith (1900, 1942-1945, 1949-1951) giving short entries on the weather, jobs being done by different members of family, and whether business was slow or brisk that day; sporadic entries by Cullen (1927, 1958, 1975-1976, 1980) on the weather and visits from family and friends; and daily entries by Jeanetta for all of 1949, and first six months of 1966 on her daily housework, cooking, church attendance and family members’ activities and illnesses. There is also one diary with cryptic one or two-line entries from Thomas B. Lynch, an ancestor of Cullen’s wife Gwen (1892-1893).
The notebooks were written by Harry during WWII and contain technical information on airplanes, names of maintenance crews and pilots, and statistics for their Squadron, as well as jokes, short stories, and comments from bicycling around England on his days off.
Most photographs were taken by Harry and depict pilots, officers and soldiers on and off duty, airplanes, Harry’s accommodations and bicycle while in the United Kingdom. Other photographs include family and places in Shubenacadie such as the family store, churches, and the war monument, Harry’s machine-building projects, and the former Halifax Airport on Chebucto Road.
Watson Smith family