Title and statement of responsibility area
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Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1939-1975 (Creation)
- Creator
- J.P. Messervey
Physical description area
Physical description
225 photographs: slides, negatives, black & white, colour (2 boxes)
3 film reels (18 minutes): 16mm., sound and silent, colour.
16 film strip negatives: black and white. (1 box)
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
John Perham “J.P.” Messervey (1890-1982), mining engineer and government administrator, was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada October 6, 1890 to Albert Frederick Messervey and Miriam Louise (Perham) Messervey. A graduate of Nova Scotia Technical College, J.P. Messervey joined the Nova Scotia Department of Public Works and Mines in 1922 and became Deputy Inspector of Mines in 1936. He directed rescue operations at the Moose River mine disaster that same year. From 1947 to 1958, Messervey was Deputy Minister of Mines, retired in 1958. Messervey wrote 3 pamphlets on minerals in Nova Scotia, taught mining at the Nova Scotia Technical College in Halifax, NS (dates unknown), and was involved in creating films for training miners. He married Hilda Louise Massey (1913-1997) in 1965. He died in Halifax on September 6, 1982.
Custodial history
The records were found in the former home of J.P. Messervey at 6046 Cherry Street, Halifax, NS and donated to Nova Scotia Archives by the new homeowner, Dang Phonchareon, in 2018.
Scope and content
Fonds consists of colour slides of Nova Scotia places (both urban and rural), street parades, mines and oil drilling rigs (1944-ca.1975); a few photographic negatives of Saint John, New Brunswick and the Joe Howe parade in Halifax (1975), and staff of the Department of Mines (1947); a set of 16 film strips (photographic negative) of “Mining Methods” by Messervey, likely used by him in teaching mining (no date); and 3 film reels.
Two of the film reels were produced by Messervey for the Department, the first “Mine Rope Tester” (2 minutes) shows a man operating a machine (ca.1950s), and the second one “Spring Tonic” (11 minutes) shows a fishing trip at Tangier Grand Lake (ca. late 1940s) created as a promotion to tourists. It includes captions for the silent scenes and gives the names of the hunters and cameramen at the end. The third reel is of the Royal Visit of George VI and Elizabeth “the Queen Mom” of United Kingdom (5 minutes) showing decorated Halifax streets, the royal party’s arrival at Halifax Citadel grounds with crowds around and ends with the royal steam ship leaving Halifax Harbour (1939).
Notes area
Physical condition
Some slides warped.
Colour films in cold storage for preservation.
Immediate source of acquisition
Arrangement
Organized by photographic format: slides, negatives, film.
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See Nova Scotia Archives’ Services page for information on copying, reproduction, and use of materials.
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General note
Records are attributed to J.P. Messervey as they were found in his home and relate to his known activities.
General note
Image is a passport portrait of J.P. Messervey at age 79. Taken by Maurice Crosby Photography in Halifax NS in 1969. (Reference: 1997-254/005 no.8)