Beaton Institute

About Us

The Beaton Institute is the official repository for historically significant records of Cape Breton University. Additionally, the Institute is a cultural heritage archive mandated to preserve the social, economic, political, and cultural history of Cape Breton Island. It is a centre for local, regional, national and global research and strives to promote inquiry through innovative academic and public programming initiatives.

SEE INSIDE

The Beaton Institute

The Beaton Institute is located in CE-267 (Student, Culture, & Heritage Centre), adjacent to the Cape Breton University Art Gallery and the Mi’kmaq Resource Centre. The Institute is wheelchair accessible, and parking is available with a $1.00 per day charge.

Hours of Operation

Please note: the archive will be temporarily closed from May 4-29, 2026 to facilitate critical collections work. Research and reference service will not be available during this time. We will reopen on Monday, June 1, 2026. We apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for your understanding.

Monday to Friday: 9:00am to 12:00pm; 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Reference service is closed for lunch daily (12:00pm to 1:00pm).

It is recommended that Cape Breton University students, faculty, and members of the public contact us (beaton@cbu.ca; 902-563-1329) in advance to discuss research needs or requests, or to book an appointment for onsite research.

Our microfilm scanner must be booked before use; two-hour time slots are available. Email beaton@cbu.ca in advance of your visit for more information.
Final retrieval of material is set at 3:30 pm.
The Beaton Institute is closed when Cape Breton University is closed for holidays or campus closures. If you are planning a visit, please review the Important Dates calendar: https://www.cbu.ca/current-students/important-dates/