Fonds consists of records created and/or maintained by the Department of the Secretary of State of Canada and its predecessors. Researchers are cautioned that unprocessed textual records and records in other media are not reflected in this description. Photographic material consists of a photogravure (and two copy prints) of Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Philip, signed by both as well as reproductions of drawings of famous canadians in their youth. Audio-visual material can be found in the series entitled Miscellaneous audio-visual material from the Department of the Secretary of State, as well as the lower level descriptions of the Citizenship Sector series.
Canada. Dept. of the Secretary of State of Canada : The Department of the Secretary of State was established at Confederation and assumed the responsibilities of the Pre-confederation Provincial Secretary which was primarily concerned with civic and cultural affairs,. An Act (31 Vic., Cap. 42) was passed in 1868 confirming these responsibilities. In 1873, the short lived post-Confederation Secretary of State for the Provinces was partially absorbed by the Department of Secretary of State which became responsible for conducting official correspondence with the provinces.
Originally the official channel of communication between the Dominion of Canada and the government of Great Britain, the Department also had the responsibility for state and ceremonial occasions from its inception. Early responsibilities included management of Indian and Crown Lands, and the duties of the Registrar General. At various times the Department has been responsible for the RCMP, the Public Service Commission, State Protocol, Patents, Copyrights, Trade Marks and Industrial Designs, Elections, Government Printing and Stationery, the Custodian of Enemy Property, and Arts and Culture. It has also been responsible for Citizenship and Naturalization, Multiculturalism, Education support, and the application of the Official Languages Act. Although many changes in the responsibilities of the Secretary of State have occurred, its primary functions of communication and registration remained unaltered since Confederation.
The Secretary of State reported directly to parliament during its lifetime on its own behalf and on behalf of numerous cultural bodies including the Canada Council, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and the Public Service Commission (including the PSC Advisory Council on the Status of Women). In 1993, the functions of the Secretary of State, where they continued, became the responsibility of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
