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Description found in Archives

Title

Canadian Citizenship Branch sous-fonds [textual record].

Sous-fonds consists of

3 lower level description(s)

Arrangement structure

Show Arrangement Structure

Sous-fonds part of

Department of Citizenship and Immigration (1950-1966) fonds [textual record, graphic material] (R223-0-7-E)

Bilingual equivalent

Sous-fonds de la Direction de la citoyenneté canadienne [document textuel]

Date(s)

1941-1966

Place of creation

Canada

Extent

3.35 m of textual records

Language of material

English
Added language of material: French

Scope and content

Sous-fonds consists of records created and or maintained by the Canadian Citizenship Branch and its predecessors.

Conditions of access

Textual records

32: Restricted by law

Archival reference no.

R223-13-5-E

Former archival reference no.

RG26

Terms of use

Additional name(s)

Canada. Canadian Citizenship Branch. Canadian Citizenship Branch.

Biography / Administrative history

The Citizenship Branch had its origins in the Nationalities Branch of the Department of War Services (1942-44). The Branch arose from the recommendation of a small group of senior federal officials that measures be taken to encourage positive participation in the war effort by potentially alienated groups of recent immigrants. Although the Nationalities Branch's responsibilities included promoting Canada through a number of means (the ethnic press, educational materials, speeches, etc.), it appears that the Branch's main function was to provide information on Canada's war effort to the ethnic press.

In 1945 the Branch was reorganized, re-named the Citizenship Division, and formally transferred to the Department of the Secretary of State on 1 November of that year. Its mandate was broadened at that time to encompass wider educational and granting programs. The Branch was responsible for promoting knowledge of Canada, language training and ethnic studies, and the integration of both Native people and new immigrants into mainstream Canadian life. During that time regional offices of the Branch were established.

In 1950, with the creation of the Department of Citizenship and Immigration, the Branch was transferred to the new Department, effective 18 January 1950 (C.S. 1949, 2nd Session, C. 16), and was renamed the Citizenship Branch. At that time, it was responsible for the promotion of knowledge about Canada -- its society, institutions, culture and languages -- among Canadians and especially among recent immigrants. In order to accomplish these goals, the Branch undertook a number of educational, training, and community development initiatives.

At the dissolution of the Department in 1966, the Branch was returned to the Secretary of State (C.S. 1966, C. 25). Its successor, the Multiculturalism Directorate, continued as part of the Secretary of State until 1993, when it was transferred to the newly-created Department of Canadian Heritage.

Additional information

Source of title

Annual Report of the Department of Citizenship and Immigration for the Fiscal Year ending March 31, 1952 and Organization of the Government of Canada, 1958

Related materials

Some early subject and personnel files created by the Nationalities Branch, as well as detailed histories of the office, are found in the Public Records Committee series (MIKAN 134483, RG35-7, volumes 12-16), a part of the National Archives of Canada fonds. Further Nationalities Branch subject files are in the Department of National War Services fonds (MIKAN 277, RG44, volumes 35-36 and more recent accessions). A few records dated before 1966, received from the Citizenship Branch of the Department of the Secretary of State, are in the records of the Department of the Secretary of State of Canada fonds (MIKAN 14, RG6-F). The personal papers of staff members held at the NA include those of Robert England fonds (MIKAN 105429, MG30-C-181), the Tracy Philipps fonds (MIKAN 102006, MG30-E-350) and the Vladimir Julian Kaye fonds (MIKAN 106958, MG31-D-69).

Source

Government

Other system control no.

0FD135

MIKAN no.