The Roman Bittman and Marily Belec Bittman Fonds is separated based on Roman and Marilyn’s projects and business under these series:
Series 1 – 11
Series 1: Program environment
Series 2: Anglosea Guides
Series 3: NAAF Business – National Aboriginal Achievement foundation
Series 4: Man Alive
Series 5: Agenda and Journals
Series 6: Awards
Series 7: Roman Files
Series 8: Family History
Series 9: NSFDC – Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation
Series 10: APTN – National Indigenous Television Network
Series 11: Mobius Productions
Series 1: Program environment
The first Roman Bittman and Marilyn Belec Bittman collection series is from the National Film Board (NFB) Program Environmental—a research film funded in 1974. The series consists of research notes, conceptual analysis, and the proposed working plan for other films to be produced by the National Film Board.
Series 2: Anglosea Guides
The second series consists of documents used in research and support of the documentary Anglosea. The files include research notes and other supporting documents. Records include the Anglosea Scheduling for Scriptwriting overseas (with additional written information), correspondences, schedule of visits on board Baltic and Oresund Ferries, and schedule of the Programme of Mr. Roman Bittman’s visit to the Arab Maritime Transport Academy. It also includes various business cards from the Ministry of Canada, transportation companies from Canada and international business cards (mainly Arab countries). The documents also contain guidebooks of the area and a navigation booklet for the teachers and students for the St. Lawrence seaway. The International Maritime Lecturers Association approved both manuals.
Series 3: NAAF Business – National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation
The National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation (NAAF) is a charitable organization dedicated to raising funds to deliver programs that provide the tools necessary for Aboriginal peoples, especially youth, to achieve their potential. The Foundation has awarded more than $37 million in scholarships and bursaries to more than 9,800 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students nationwide. Roman Bittman produced the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation Awards show, and he also served as the organization’s interim CEO.
The series contains business cards of various government offices and businesses involved in supporting the NAAF. It includes the NAAF Five-year plan 2006-2010 as Roman Bittman’s acting CEO; it also consists of the verbatim of what he said and has comments to his plan. The series contains the planning and description of the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards. Business records includes the schedules for the Ottawa Meetings of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation with John Watson, Mark Wilgen, Dahlia Stein, Jascha Jabes, Rick Hansen, and Pat Martin MP. Email correspondence on various business proposals and Roman Bittman assuming acting CEO duties. Lastly, the series also consists of financial documents for the NAAF.
Series 4: Man Alive
The fourth series focuses on the writings of Thomas Merton. Merton was an influential American Catholic author of the twentieth century. His autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain, has sold over one million copies, and he wrote over sixty other books and hundreds of poems and articles on topics ranging from spirituality to civil rights, and the nuclear arms race. The collection contains audio tapes of the interview and writings of Thomas Merton for Roman Bittman’s production, Man Alive. The tapes are titled Letter of Bernaro to Robert – Peter the Venerable letter of Defense; Race situations – St Basil Ascetical Discourse; Abelard and his Lark of Spiritual Insight; Silence and Makins signs; Poetry and Song; Chinese thought; and other tapes based on Thomas Merton travels.
Series 5: Agenda and Journals
The fifth series contains the agendas and journals that once belonged to Roman Bittman. His journals write of his personal life, but mostly his work, such as his research on Thomas Merton, his trip to Norway, sea battles in WWII and NATO. The agendas consist of meeting schedules, films he worked on, the contact information of his colleagues, and his travel and shooting schedules of various locations, such as his trip to Prince Edward Island, Miami, and Washington, DC. It also includes the agenda that belonged to Marilyn Belec, with her daily schedule and contact list of her colleagues.
Series 6: Awards
The sixth series consists of awards that Roman Bittman won during his extensive career and honoured after his death. Awards for his short films, early films and documentaries include the Screen awards, CFTA film awards, Family Life Film award, Banff International, American Film Festival and many more national and international Film Festival awards. It also includes the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards, which he attended and wrote a message in the award booklet. After his death, many people in the entertainment and the Indigenous community came together to celebrate, honour, and recognize Roman Bittman’s life works. Many include speeches on his achievements, tribute letters, and people sending in letters to various awards nominating him after his death.
Series 7: Roman Files
The seventh series consists of Roman Bittman’s files for researching various films, company correspondences, and corporate financial papers. Documents consist of research and proposals for the potential work of the Pilgrimage sent by Roman Bittman when he was a part of Marilyn Belec Bittman’s company, Mobius Media Corporation. Furthermore, he spent his time at CBC News before becoming a producer of the documentary series The Nature of Things. The seventh series also includes his travel documents and souvenirs. His academic and personal documents include his personal poem and writings; his Ryerson University (now called Toronto Metropolitan University) letters and photos of Ryerson class reunion, touring Ryerson’s new Rogers Communications Centre with his old classmates.
Series 8: Family History
The eighth series focuses on the research done on Roman Bittman’s family history and lineage. Documents include Roman Bittman’s Genealogy Chart. Roman Bittman’s aunt, Sarah Norjard, researched papers he collected in 1992. Research notes contain photography of Sarah and Roman with family, articles from the Record-Gazette and his Métis card. It also includes his family connections towards the Bourassa and St. Germain families, two notable family members in their province’s history.
Series 9: NSFDC – Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation
The ninth series contains his development in the Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation (NSFDC). Documents include press releases from the NSFDC from the board of directors’ appointments and letters from various media companies such as Screen Star group and Mobius media production—project letters for the plans to build and operate the province’s first full sound stage. It also includes a discussion on Roman Bittman’s contract as he served as President of the Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation but was later dismissed in 1996 after the NSFDC board rejected his financing plans for the sound stage.
Series 10: APTN – Aboriginal Peoples Television Network
The tenth series of the fonds contains documents of Roman Bittman’s involvement in the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN). Bittman was an early advisor to the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network which was launched in 1999 as the first national Indigenous broadcaster in the world. Since then, the network has become a global leader in programming that celebrates the rich diversity of Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island and beyond. The documents include the Aboriginal Broadcast Talent Directory book from the Centre for Aboriginal Media (CAM), press clippings on Roman Bittman establishing the National Aboriginal Television Network and business cards from various production companies, government cards, finance, and Hotel cards. Lastly, it includes the APTN Board of Directors/AGM Meeting and conference binder that provided investors and producers information on the APTN mission and the agenda for the APRN Teleconference meeting.
Series 11: Mobius Productions
The last series within the fonds is Roman and Marilyn Belec Bittman’s career and work in Mobius Media Productions. Marilyn Belec Bittman was president of the independent production firm, Mobius Productions, and Roman was a partner. Documents entail their correspondences on their various films and productions—government letters from the Ministry of Skills Development, Labour Canada, and other partners. Lastly, it includes corporation magazines and financial works such as Mobius Productions guide to film titles and price lists.
