This fonds contains selected records relating to the family and career of George Ramsay, 9th Earl of Dalhousie and his career in the colonies of British North America, copied in two formats: microfilm, 1789-1839, and transcripts, 1746-1836. The order of the documents on the microfilm reflects their original arrangement, as preserved at the National Archives of Scotland, while the transcripts follow an essentially chronological order for the manuscript material designated volumes I to XXIII, then separate sequences for maps and plans and for printed works in volumes XXIV-XXV.
Some 680 bound volumes, bundles and files records relating to Dalhousie's terms as governor of Nova Scotia and Lower Canada, and his travels through British North America, form 14 series, some of which include items dated before and after his service in British North America. The first two series are the largest: letterbooks recording civil and military correspondence sent, 1816-1828; and letters, memoranda, reports and other documents received , 1789-1834 (see reels A-525 to A-532). Next follow documents relating to public finances and commerce, 1812-1829; documents concerning relations with the USA, 1819-1828; military and naval records, 1813-1830; documents relating to agriculture, forestry and communications, 1815-1828; ecclesiastical matters, 1818-1828; education, 1818-1828; Indians and the Indian Department, 1817-1828 (see microfilm reels A-532 to A-535). These are followed by Addresses to the Earl, 1817-1828; personal journals, documents and accounts, 1816-1836; printed materials, 1819-1833 and notes on printed works; plus maps and plans, 1822-1839 (see reels A-535 to A-538 and A-581). Correspondence with imperial authorities is concentrated in the first two sseries; some correspondence exchanged with officials and individuals within the colonies appears scattered amongst the subject-oriented series.
The selection criteria which guided the transcriptions resulted in a less comprehensive range of copying. However, researchers may find some items included in the transcriptions were not subsequently microfilmed. Certain printed works (volume XXV) acquired with the transcripts were subsequently transferred to the Archives Library, thence to the National Library of Canada collection, while reproductions of selected maps and plans (volume XXIV) were transferred to the cartographic collection (and have not yet been reconnected to this fonds.)
In addition to the cartographic material found within the microfilmed selections, the fonds includes a photographic reproduction of a print depicting the 9th Earl of Dalhousie, by an unknown artist.
