Centre for Newfoundland Studies, Memorial University Libraries

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Centre for Newfoundland Studies, Memorial University Libraries CNS collects, preserves, and makes available published materials related to all aspects of Newfoundland and Labrador

The Centre for Newfoundland Studies (CNS) was founded in 1965 by the Memorial University Libraries with the mandate to collect all published materials relating to Newfoundland and Labrador; to offer library services such as a reading room, reference service and reproduction service; to preserve the collection for future generations; and to prepare bibliographies as its contribution to Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) scholarship.

Join us in the CNS Reading Room on November 12th, 5:30pm for the launch of Allison Fizzard's book 'Heaps, Oceans of Love...
10/20/2026

Join us in the CNS Reading Room on November 12th, 5:30pm for the launch of Allison Fizzard's book 'Heaps, Oceans of Love'.

Free parking for the event can be found in lot 1A

On October 17, 1885 the first electric lights illuminated Water Street stores in downtown St. John’s. The Evening Telegr...
10/16/2026

On October 17, 1885 the first electric lights illuminated Water Street stores in downtown St. John’s. The Evening Telegram reports:

“The lighting of the shops and of the streets by electricity was put into operation for the first time in our city on Monday night last, and was universally voted a success. Like the gradual introduction here of other progressive agencies, it marks another step in advancement. It is felt that there is not going back to the use of gas; and those of the business establishments on Water-street which used gas to the exclusion of the new illuminant appeared at a sad disadvantage beside their rivals, whose stores were brilliant with soft mellow radiance of the new light. Gas will, no doubt, continue to be used in lighting passage ways and read and basement warerooms, and even in such places it would “pale its ineffectual fires” provided that suitably small electric lamps could be substituted therefore: but this point of perfection, electric lighting from stations has not yet reached. Hundreds, ay, thousands, saw the electric light for the first time on Monday evening, and crowds in front of the business places where it shone, stopped to gaze and admire the new wonder. In color it resembled somewhat the soft, subdued light of the dawn or the brilliance of a full moon. It was soothing to the eyesight, showed the hues of the fabrics in their natural tints, and beside it the gas-light looked dull, red and smooky [sic].”

The Evening Mercury reports as well, detailing which downtown shops now possessed the new lighting:

“The following shops on Water street have adopted the Electric light: J. J. & L. Furlong’s upper and lower shops, Gear & Co., M. Monroe, Hardware and Dry Goods stores, R. O’Dwyer, C. McPherson, Ayre & Sons, H. M. Gibb & Co.”

The Centre for Newfoundland Studies will be closed today, October 12th, for Thanksgiving Day. We wish everyone a safe an...
10/12/2026

The Centre for Newfoundland Studies will be closed today, October 12th, for Thanksgiving Day. We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday.

On October 9th, 1867 Captain William Jackman rescued 27 people from the Sea Slipper off the coast of Spotted Island, Lab...
10/09/2026

On October 9th, 1867 Captain William Jackman rescued 27 people from the Sea Slipper off the coast of Spotted Island, Labrador during what the Daily News dubbed “the gale of October” and the Evening Telegram later calls “the Great Gale”. Jackman was later awarded the Honorary Silver Medal from the Royal Humane Society for his bravery.

“The recent hurricane on the coast of Labrador will be long remembered amongst us, not only as the occasion of wide-spread disaster and mourning, but for some acts of heroism rarely equalled and perhaps never surpassed in the annuls of noble daring. One of these, and we believe, the most memorable connected with the dreadful visitation, has been brought under our notice by the following letter from Mr. Matthew Warren to the Right Rev. Dr. Mullock, in this place, in the rescue of no fewer than seven-and-twenty lives, which but for his exertions much inevitably have been sacrificed” [St. John’s Daily News Nov 30, 1867, reprint of article from the Newfoundlander].

You can read the complete letter on the DAI: https://collections.mun.ca/digital/collection/sjdailynews/id/10830/rec/9

Read More:
Jackman, William (Capt.) Biography File
Rogues & heroes of the island of Newfoundland - https://mun.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01MUN_INST/tijncv/alma99237490402511
Jackman : the courage of Captain William Jackman, one of Newfoundland's greatest heroes - https://mun.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01MUN_INST/ika3ij/alma99191050502511

Introducing This Week In History. Where we will post an interesting historical event that happened during this same week...
10/02/2026

Introducing This Week In History. Where we will post an interesting historical event that happened during this same week.

Starting with October 1, 1856.

After a failed attempt in 1855, the New York, Newfoundland, London Telegraph Co. were successful in laying a telegraph cable between Newfoundland and Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. The first message was sent over it October 1, 1856. The exchange was reported in the Courier on October 8, 1856.

“We have the great pleasure in announcing the completion of the Electric Telegraph Line through our Island; the first intimation of which has been by message received yesterday afternoon direct from Baddeck, Cape Breton, by William Pitts, Esq., Commission Merchant, transmitted by a mercantile firm there; an answer was promptly returned making them we believe the first messages received and sent through.”

The 1883 map attached shows the cables abandoned as telegraph routes continued to evolve. You can view the map in full on the DAI https://collections.mun.ca/digital/collection/maps/id/34

Read More:
Atlantic Cables. (August 1998). Downhomer, 11(3), 62-63.

The New York, Newfoundland, and London Submarine Telegraph. (1855, October 20). Illustrated London News, 27(766), 478-480. https://collections.mun.ca/digital/collection/cns_article/id/2286

Our reading room display for October is on Politics and Government. I went wide with this one so we've got some politica...
10/01/2026

Our reading room display for October is on Politics and Government. I went wide with this one so we've got some political science textbooks, biographies of politicians, books on Canadian and Newfoundland politics, history books on government in Newfoundland, etc. We'll be back later in October with our annual spooky display for Halloween as well.

Day 30: Our Staff. Last but certainly not least on the favourite things about CNS list is our staff. These are the folks...
09/30/2026

Day 30: Our Staff. Last but certainly not least on the favourite things about CNS list is our staff. These are the folks that make the magic happen day in and day out.

The Centre for Newfoundland Studies will be closed September 30th for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We ...
09/30/2026

The Centre for Newfoundland Studies will be closed September 30th for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We will open again tomorrow at 10am.

We've got a bunch of great novels and travel guides joining the CNS shelves this month.
09/29/2026

We've got a bunch of great novels and travel guides joining the CNS shelves this month.

09/29/2026

CNS was featured on CBC's Weekend AM on Sunday as part of our 60th anniversary celebrations! I, again, can not link it here but feel free to look it up on the CBC site and have a listen.

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St. John's, NL
A1B3Y1

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 7pm
Tuesday 10am - 7pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm

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