A respected authority on oral history and African history, James Morrison has made lasting contributions to his province and to the field of historical research. He has had an enduring impact on Nova Scotia's multicultural heritage through his volunteer work with the Pier 21 Society and Museum. There, he contributed to the development of educational programming and exhibitions, many of which are based on the stories of families and individuals who emigrated to Canada, landing at Pier 21 in the Halifax port. He also developed the first Canadian university course in oral history and has written many books chronicling Nova Scotia's history.