Series consists of manuscript and microfiche copies of National Historic Sites reports, and maps and plans relating to historic sites and monuments. Representing the research projects and studies of the parks' historians and archaeologists, as well as contract researchers, the reports relate to various national and historic parks, sites, plaques and monuments owned by Parks Canada, as well as to general interpretive studies of historical events and themes. There are three main report types: shorter, interpretive reports, studies and papers drafted for the Historic Sites and Monuments Board; archaeological and historical studies for the actual development of particular sites; and general historical and material culture studies to be used in the interpretation of these sites. A few of the reports, usually in much reduced and edited form, are published by Parks Canada in Canadian Historic Sites: Occasional Papers in Archaeology and History and in the History and Archaeology Series.
Canadian Parks Service. National Historic Sites : In 1955 the National Parks and Historic Sites Division was divided into the National Parks Service and the National Historic Sites Division. In response to the recommendation of a study under-taken by the Organization Division of the Civil Service Commission, the National and Historic Resources Branch was renamed the National and Historic Parks Branch. During the fiscal year 1967-1968, the branch was divided into seven units, one of which was the National Historic Sites Service (Operation and Research) (Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Annual Report 1967- 1968, p. 110). In January 1967, Peter H. Bennett was appointed Assistant Director of the National Historic Sites Service (TB 651749, 3 March 1966; Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Annual Report 1966-1967, p. 6; W.F. Lothian, A History of Canada's National Parks, vol. 2, p. 23). The name was changed to the National Historic Parks and Sites Branch of Parks Canada in 1973 and then again in 1990 to National Historic Sites, Canadian Parks Service.