Introduction

The Fortress of Louisbourg is one of Parks Canada's National Historic Sites. Located in south-east Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, the fortress was reconstructed in the 1960s. The battles fought at Louisbourg by the English, the French, and the Americans determined the course of history in North America. The siege of 1745 is recognized as a key event in history.

In 2011, Parks Canada downsized its inventories and, as a result, its library was decommissioned and transferred to Cape Breton University in a Memorandum of Understanding. The material numbers over 30,000 items and includes books, rare books, AV material, and archival material.

The purpose of this blog is to showcase some of the treasures from the Fortress of Louisbourg Library that are now housed at Cape Breton University. The bulk of books have been integrated in the general collection at CBU Library, whereas the rare books and archival material are now a part of the Beaton Institute, the main repository for rare documentary material on Cape Breton Island.