Huge cache of Canadian history hits U.K. auction block - How Will LAC Respond?

Canada.com Photo

A treasure trove of Canadian History is going on the auction block in England very soon. More than 200 years old, these historical documents have been stored in wooden chests owned by Sir John Sherbrooke.

An extensive collection of letters, maps and other original artifacts left to posterity by Sherbrooke,the Nova Scotia governor who conquered Maine during the War of 1812 and later served as Canada’s governor general, is to be sold on June 19, 2013 in a major Bonhams auction of rare books and manuscripts.

There is no question of the importance of these documents. The question is what will Library and Archives Canada (LAC) do now? LAC has been plagued by unrest, budget cuts and yes, even scandal. Chief Archivist Daniel Caron resigned suddenly after his exhorbitant personal expenditures on LAC money (including Spanish lessons) were discovered.

According to Canada.com  "The estimated value of the Sherbrooke papers is between $160,000 and $230,000 — coincidentally close to the $170,000 spent by LAC’s recently resigned national archivist, Daniel Caron, in travel and other expenses over the past two years."

Caron is gone, LAC is in turmoil with staff cuts, budget cuts and pressure to find a new Archives head. Will they be able to step up to the plate and purchase this rare and important part of Canadian history? 

Read the story at Canada.com