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Series · [ca.1940-1947]

Part of Ivan R. Kent family fonds

Series forms part of the Ivan R. Kent family fonds and consists of correspondence, clippings, photographs, and a scrapbook. The series includes a journal kept by Donald A. Kent while he was a seaman on the Canadian National Steamship Chomedy from December of 1935 to September of 1936, recording his daily activities, ports, visits to relatives and friends in Halifax including Thelma Baker (possibly Thelma F. (Baker) Slade. Thelma Baker is also mentioned in a letter to his aunt in Jan. 1943), Thelma Kent, and Sam Kent as well as a visit home for Christmas and an entry written to Don from his father, Arch Kent. Also included are three photographs; two of Donald A. Kent by himself in uniform on ship and one with his shipmates gathered around a hawk. In addition, the series includes two letters regarding Donald A. Kent dated May, 1943; one from the Office of the High Commissioner of Canada congratulating him on his decoration and one from the Admiralty informing him that he has received the Distinguished Service Medal for his role in the sinking of a U-Boat by H.M.C.S. Ville de Quebec. Also included is a naval message that appears to be from the BBC news reporting that the British fleet has sunk two enemy submarines and an enemy destroyer in the North Atlantic. It also reports that two enemy supply ships and a submarine have been sunk (presumably by the HMCS Ville de Quebec and HMS Enchantress) as well as other updates, although it appears that part of the report has been censored. In addition, the series contains Vol. 1, No. 4 Easter edition of Corvette, dated March-April, 1943 and featuring HMCS Ville de Quebec on its cover. The series also includes a scrapbook that contains letters from the Kent brothers who were serving in the Navy to their Aunts Jessie and Florence Garrison, as well as souvenirs sent to the aunts and newspaper clippings (including vital statistics) related to the family of Arch and Phebe Kent and other relatives of the Garrisons. Jessie (b.1886) and Florence (b.1895) Garrison were the sisters of Phebe Gertrude (Garrison) Kent.

Seal Island Lighthouse fonds

Fonds · 1895-1898

Local history of Ship Harbour by Clare Palmer

Item · 1938

Accession number: 2013.013

Lighthouse, Fog Alarm, Life Saving Stations, 1913

Item · 1913

88.52

Lighthouse records

Series · 1903-1996

Part of Ivan R. Kent family fonds

Series forms part of the Ivan R. Kent family fonds and includes records created and accumulated by the Kent family during the course of their duties as lighthouse keepers on Kent Island from 1905 to 1950. Records were kept by John, Arch, and Phebe Kent and include lighthouse keepers' diaries from between 1905 and 1950, return of stores journals from between 1906 and 1948, correspondence from between 1908 and 1948, and maps. Entries had to be made in the lighthouse keeper’s diaries on a daily basis, primarily recording the date, weather, wind, time of day that the light was lit, time of extinguishing, length of time for which it had burned, amount of oil used, chimneys, wicks, and remarks of the lighthouse keeper. The return of stores journals were used by the lighthouse keeper on a regular basis to record quantities of materials on hand, quantities of materials received that quarter, expenditures, quantities carried to the next quarter, and requirements for the next year. The journals referred to any materials that the lighthouse keeper might have used, from petroleum reflectors, paint, and lantern blinds to spirits of wine, scissors, and rouge. The correspondence consists primarily of letters to the lighthouse keepers from the Department of Transportation and the Department of Marine and Fisheries. The majority of correspondence is addressed to Phebe G. Kent and regards the completion of return of stores lists, supplies, inquiries from Phebe regarding where to purchase oil and hiring people to do repairs. There are also letters from the Department expressing sympathy for the death of former lighthouse keepers, the appointment of new lighthouse keepers, census forms, and a letter addressing the possible establishment of a rural postal route. Interestingly, one letter is addressed to Mr. P. G. Kent. In addition the series contains two maps. One is an original hand drawn map from 1903 showing boundaries, the John Kent homestead, the lighthouse, and the road. The second is a printed map of the Maritimes Region Lightstations dated April, 1996.