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Silas Tertius Rand, 1810-1889, attended Horton Academy in Wolfville, N.S. and alternated between teaching and following the family trade of bricklaying. In 1834, he was ordained a Baptist minister. Rand's fascination with the Mi'kmaq language led him to work with the Native peoples of the Maritime colonies beginning in 1846. He was especially talented at languages and over the years mastered Mi'kmaq, Malecite, and Mohawk, as well as other languages. Rand studied the customs and language of the Mi'kmaq. He produced scriptural translations in Mi'kmaq and Malecite, compiled a Mi'kmaq dictionary, and collected scores of legends, including the tales of Glooscap. The Rand Collection includes records created by Rand, as well as those about him and his work, such as personal papers, dated and undated manuscripts, publications, photographs, artefacts, and other materials. Some material is written in Mi'kmaq, Latin and Pittman shorthand. Transcriptions of most of the diaries are available. Most all of these records are fragile.

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Title: An Ode on Rum
Date Created: [18-]
Accession Number: D1900.006/3/21
Description: File contains a booklet in which Rand, in English verse, outlines the evils of alcohol.
Type: textual record

Title: An Old Indian Yarn and a True One
Date Created: [18-]
Accession Number: D1900.006/3/19
Description: File contains a story written in Mi'kmaq. 14 pages.
Type: textual record

Title: Autobiographical Notes
Date Created: 1834 - 1847
Accession Number: D1900.006/1/2
Description: File contains a notebook in which Rand recorded information concerning his early life. The first thirteen pages contain holograph notes in Latin, Greek and English on various topics. The...
Show moreFile contains a notebook in which Rand recorded information concerning his early life. The first thirteen pages contain holograph notes in Latin, Greek and English on various topics. The autobiographical notes start on page 14 and end with the following comment by Rand: "I commenced writing this I think Dec. 1834. I have finished it May 5, 1835. Parrsboro." However, twelve years later he added a note written at Charlottetown on October 27, 1847 that indicates that he had been asked to accept a mission in Burma and that he was considering the possibility.
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Type: textual record

Title: A Lecture
Date Created: [18-]
Accession Number: D1900.006/3/23
Description: Item is a booklet containing a lecture Rand delivered to the Nova Scotia Historical Society. The text is entirely in English phonetics. 36 pages. Library envelope in which this manuscript was...
Show moreItem is a booklet containing a lecture Rand delivered to the Nova Scotia Historical Society. The text is entirely in English phonetics. 36 pages. Library envelope in which this manuscript was stored indicated that the lecture was given to the Nova Scotia Historical Society, although there is no indication of this in the text.
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Type: textual record

Title: A Lecture on Education
Date Created: [18-]
Accession Number: D1900.006/3/22
Description: File contains a booklet in which Rand wrote the lecture he delivered to an unidentified group about Education. This is a working copy, with many additions and deletions to the text. 64 pages.
Type: textual record

Title: Beadwork
Date Created: [18-]
Accession Number: D1900.006/4/3/2
Description: 1 object. Item is a piece of red fabric that has a pattern of beadwork on it. The beadwork was found in Dr. Rand's pocketbook. A note, on modern paper and in unknown hand, was in one of the pockets...
Show more1 object. Item is a piece of red fabric that has a pattern of beadwork on it. The beadwork was found in Dr. Rand's pocketbook. A note, on modern paper and in unknown hand, was in one of the pockets of the pocketbook and it stated: " Bead work from a coat made for Dr. Rand by the Indian women."
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Type: object

Title: Biblia Hebraica
Date Created: 1839
Accession Number: D1900.006/4/2/2
Description: 1 v. of textual records. File contains a published version of the Old Testament, written in Hebrew. The frontispiece bears an inscription in ink that states: "Jan. 17, 1878. Silas. T. Rand". The...
Show more1 v. of textual records. File contains a published version of the Old Testament, written in Hebrew. The frontispiece bears an inscription in ink that states: "Jan. 17, 1878. Silas. T. Rand". The front cover, verso, has an envelope glued to it that is addressed to Rand and postmarked October 25 1879. Rand wrote "autograph of C. McAdams" across the edge of the envelope. Rand makes reference to studying the bible in Hebrew in his diary (see file 1/13/11).
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Type: textual record

Title: Diary
Date Created: 1870
Accession Number: D1900.006/1/13/7
Description: File contains a diary in which Rand wrote between 24 August and 11 October 1870, in English. On the last several pages, Rand has written The Legends of the Micmac in Mi'kmaq, English and shorthand....
Show moreFile contains a diary in which Rand wrote between 24 August and 11 October 1870, in English. On the last several pages, Rand has written The Legends of the Micmac in Mi'kmaq, English and shorthand. They are likely the legends that he states, on 6 October, he heard from Susan Christmas.
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Type: textual record

Title: Diary
Date Created: 1877
Accession Number: D1900.006/1/13/12
Description: File contains a diary in which Rand wrote between November and December 1877, in Latin.
Type: textual record

Title: Diary
Date Created: 1866
Accession Number: D1900.006/1/13/6
Description: File contains a diary in which Rand wrote between 14 July and 8 September 1866, in English. During this time period, he traveled through Truro and New Glasgow on his way to the Sixteenth Session of...
Show moreFile contains a diary in which Rand wrote between 14 July and 8 September 1866, in English. During this time period, he traveled through Truro and New Glasgow on his way to the Sixteenth Session of teh Eastern Baptist Association of Nova Scotia in Sydney. He remained in Cape Breton after the meeting and visited communities such as Great Tracadie, Plaister Cover, Ship Harbour, Little Bras D'Or, Sydney Mines, Baddeck, Pirates Cover, Port Hood, Mabou, Whycogamagh, Little Baddeck, and North Sydney, as well as Indian encampments.
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Type: textual record

Title: Diary
Date Created: 1873
Accession Number: D1900.006/1/13/11
Description: File contains a diary in which Rand wrote between 4 September and 31 December 1873, in English. During this time he was at home in Hantsport, NS, but made a few short trips to Coldbrook, Berwick,...
Show moreFile contains a diary in which Rand wrote between 4 September and 31 December 1873, in English. During this time he was at home in Hantsport, NS, but made a few short trips to Coldbrook, Berwick, Canning and Waterville. In 1869, Rand had had a 'break' with the Baptists and had become a member of the Plymouth Brethren. He had arguments about the Brethren's doctrine with Mark Curry of Windsor, NS. On 30 December, Rand makes reference to reading the bible in Hebrew (see file 4/2/2 for his Hebrew bible).
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Type: textual record

Title: Diary
Date Created: 1865
Accession Number: D1900.006/1/13/4
Description: File contains a diary in which Rand wrote between 29 April and 25 May 1865, in English. The last three pages are written in [Mi'kmaq?]. During this time period, Rand was based at home in Hantsport...
Show moreFile contains a diary in which Rand wrote between 29 April and 25 May 1865, in English. The last three pages are written in [Mi'kmaq?]. During this time period, Rand was based at home in Hantsport but made an extended trip to Tremont, Aylesford, Brooklyn, Wilmot, Middleton and Berwick in an unsuccessful search of a teaching position for his daughter Minnie. He also went to Kentville for a week to preach, lecture on Temperance and to visit local Indians. Apparently he and his family were completely out of money, for each day he prayed that money would be sent so he could pay his debts and for the daily necessities. Pages are numbered from 174 to 214, indicating that pages have been lost.
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Type: textual record

Title: Diary
Date Created: 1851
Accession Number: D1900.006/1/13/2
Description: File contains a small bound notebook in which Rand wrote between 1 January and 10 July 1851. Although most pages are headed "Persunal Diari", the whole text is in Pittman shorthand. During this...
Show moreFile contains a small bound notebook in which Rand wrote between 1 January and 10 July 1851. Although most pages are headed "Persunal Diari", the whole text is in Pittman shorthand. During this time period, Rand and his family were living in Charlottetown, PEI. Rand wrote of working on the Micmac Dictionary, translating the Acts of the Apostles and a tract titled 'Poor Sara', and of his lessons in phonography (shorthand) that he felt he was 'becoming skilled at'. He made a trip to Baddeck, Cape Breton in March 1851.
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Type: textual record

Title: Diary
Date Created: 1865-1866
Accession Number: D1900.006/1/13/5
Description: File contains a diary in which Rand wrote between 29 November 1865 and January 1866, in English. During this time period, Rand was traveling a great deal, preaching and soliciting donations for the...
Show moreFile contains a diary in which Rand wrote between 29 November 1865 and January 1866, in English. During this time period, Rand was traveling a great deal, preaching and soliciting donations for the Micmac Missionary Society and visiting any Indians he encountered. He began in Sackville, NB, went to Shediac, Saint John, back to Shediac, Memramcook, Dorchester, Amherst, Great Village, Halifax, and then back home to Hantsport. Later, he traveled around Kings County, Nova Scotia, especially to Canning and Kentville. In January he went to Halifax to present his annual report of the Micmac Missionary Society.
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Type: textual record

Title: Diary
Date Created: 1872
Accession Number: D1900.006/1/13/10
Description: File contains a diary in which Rand wrote between 13 September and 23 November 1872, in Latin.
Type: textual record

Title: Diary
Date Created: 1872
Accession Number: D1900.006/1/13/9
Description: File contains a diary in which Rand wrote between 25 February and May 1872, in Latin.
Type: textual record

Title: Diary
Date Created: 1871
Accession Number: D1900.006/1/13/8
Description: File contains a diary in which Rand wrote between 29 September and 17 November 1871, in Latin.
Type: textual record

Title: Genealogy of the Rand Family
Date Created: [18-]
Accession Number: D1900.006/1/1
Description: Rand used an old book that had been owned by his great-great grandfather in which to record the Rand family history. He glued in additional pages and wrote genealogical notes on those pages. The...
Show moreRand used an old book that had been owned by his great-great grandfather in which to record the Rand family history. He glued in additional pages and wrote genealogical notes on those pages. The book used was titled: Burgess, Anthony, Exposition on the Third Chapter of the First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians, London: Abraham Miller, 1659.
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Type: textual record

Title: Indian Legends in Micmac and English written from the mouth of Susan Bass in PEI in 1847
Date Created: 1847
Accession Number: D1900.006/2/1
Description: File contains a manuscript of legends that were told to Rand by Susan Bass of PEI in 1847. They are written in both Mi'kmaq and English. 17 pages.
Type: textual record

Title: Letter to Rev. David Freeman
Date Created: 1857
Accession Number: D1900.006/1/8
Description: File contains a letter written by Rand, September 3, 1857, to Rev. David Freeman at Halifax, NS. Rand enclosed money for the Micmac Mission that he had raised by giving lectures. Below the address...
Show moreFile contains a letter written by Rand, September 3, 1857, to Rev. David Freeman at Halifax, NS. Rand enclosed money for the Micmac Mission that he had raised by giving lectures. Below the address is a holograph inscription in ink that states: "A letter in the handwriting of Rev. Silas T. Rand D. D. etc. for Acadia College Library, Jeremiah S. Clark, Bay View, PEI, 19th March 1901". This indicates that the letter was donated to Acadia University by Jeremiah Clark although no accessioning information has been found.
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Type: textual record