A postcard of the “Ill-fated Titanic”, circa 1912 (e004155512_s1)

One hundred years later, the sinking of the Titanic continues to fascinate and captivate people as perhaps the most famous sea-faring disaster in modern history.  The Titanic was billed as the most grandiose and extravagant ship ever built; it was the pride of the White Star Line. “Not even God himself could sink this ship”, claimed one employee at its launch.  Nonetheless, on its maiden voyage, the Titanic hit an iceberg off the coast of Newfoundland and sank on April 14, 1912.  More than 1500 lives were lost.

Did you know?

Within Library and Archives Canada’s collections you can find some interesting records about the Titanic . In fact, over the next few days, The Library and Archives Canada Blog will help you discover some of these records, which deal directly with the sinking of the Titanic and subsequent rescue activities.  These records can be found in our archival government records collection:

• Records of the Governor General’s Office, RG 7, Series G.21, File 8018, Microfilm Reel T-2295 -Loss of S.S. Titanic , 1912.
• Records of the Department of Justice, RG 13, Series A-2, Vol.172, File 1912-692, Department of External Affairs – Official letters sent by Titanic, April 1912.
• Records of the Department of Agriculture, RG 17, Vol. 1166, Docket 221220, Department Of External Affairs, Ottawa – Cable From High Commissioner Re: Official Letters on “Titanic”, Date of Docket: 1912/04/16
• Records of the RCMP, RG 18, Series A-1, Vol. 425, File 244-12 – Official letters on wrecked steamship Titanic – Duplication of.
• Records of the Department of External Affairs, RG 25, Vol. 241, File ME-4-62: Titanic – Lord Mersey’s Report, 1912
• Records of the Department of External Affairs, RG 25, Vol. 252, File P-1-55: Titanic -Representation to the Court of Inquiry, 1912.
• Records of the Department of External Affairs, RG 25, Vol. 304, File S-7-37: Titanic -Survivors of, 1912
• Records of the Department of External Affairs, RG 25, Series A-3-a , Vol. 1123, File 1912447: Official Correspondence Lost In Sinking Of “Titanic” To Be Replaced, 1912
• Records of the Department of External Affairs, RG 25, Vol. 1123, File 1912-485: Facilities for Mr. Maurice Rothschild Re Identification of Bodies of Titanic Passengers, 1912.
• Records of the Department of External Affairs, RG 25, Vol. 1123, File 1912-560: Investigation into the Sinking of Titanic, 1912.
• Records of the Department of External Affairs, RG 25, Series B-1-b , Vol. 252, File : P-1-55 Privy Council Office (Canada) – Titanic – Representations – Court of Inquiry, 1912
• Records of the Department of External Affairs, RG 25,Series B-1-b, Vol. 304, File S-7-3 7, Secretary of State (Canada) – Titanic – Survivors of – Committee for Relief of, 1912.
• Official Correspondence Lost in Sinking of “Titanic” to be Replaced, RG 25, Records of the Department of External Affairs, Series A-3 -a , Volume 1123, file 1912447 : Official Correspondence Lost in Sinking of “TITANIC” to be Replaced.  
• Marine Branch RG 42, Vol. 200, File 32769, Report of a Formal Investigation into the circumstances attending the sinking of the Titanic, 1912-1925.
• Department of Immigration fonds, RG 76, Reel T-4706, Manifest of Passengers from the SS Titanic, arriving at New York on 18 April 1912 aboard the SS Carpathia.

Stay tuned for more information on the Titanic over the next week, as we help you discover Library and Archives Canada’s collection.

Questions or comments? We would love to hear from you!