Archives de la Compagnie des Prêtres de Saint-Sulpice de la Province Canadienne

Montreal

The Archives de la Compagnie des Prêtres de Saint-Sulpice de la Province Canadienne collect and preserve the records of the Company of Priests of Saint-Sulpice. These records date back to the mid-17th century and showcase the early colonization of Quebec. The archival holdings of the Company are made up of approximately one kilometer of textual documents, 75,000 iconographic documents, and nearly 8,000 maps and charts. Much of the Company’s archives have been microfilmed and are available at various institutions, including the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, Library and Archives of Canada, and the University of Montreal. Some of the Company’s materials have been digitized and are available via Le Réseau de Diffusion des Archives du Québec.

Archives de l’Archidiocèse de Québec

Quebec

The Archives de l’Archidiocèse de Québec is the official repository for the Archdiocese of Quebec. Its maintains 320 archival fonds and collections related to the religious and ecclesiastical history of Quebec. Detailed information on its holdings can be found here. The Archives Diocésaines is regarded as the Archives’ most significant collection. Also at the Archives is the Bibliothèque Diocésaine which boasts an extensive selection of rare books and other printed materials. Several Finding Aids are available for researchers.

Bibliothèque et Archives Nationales du Québec

Montreal

The Bibliothèque et Archives Nationales du Québec serves as Quebec’s official repository, national archives, and national library. Its holdings date back to the 17th century and chronicle well the political and social history of early Quebec. Researchers should note that the Archives Nationales du Québec operates at various Archives Centers throughout the province, with Montreal being the central hub. La Collection Nationale comprises the books, government publications, and reference works of the Grande Bibliothèque. Also at the Library are the Collections Spéciales, which include maps, postcards, and other printed material. Archival sources include civil records (wills, probate inventories, marriage contracts), court records (civil, penal, and criminal cases dating back to 1644), government records of various sorts, civil lists, notaries, and private papers from prominent families in and around Quebec. Details on these holdings can be found here. Researchers can search the Archives Nationales’ holdings through the Library’s Catalogue and the Archives’ Advitam. Much of the Archives’ holdings have been digitized as the Patrimoine québécois and are available through its Numérique.

Concordia University Special Collections

Montreal

Housed in the Vanier Library, the Concordia University Special Collections maintains a decent selection of early Canadian sources. Its Book Collections date back to the 16th century and emphasize the history of Quebec and Canada, art, music and theatre, religion, and various other subjects. The Special Collections also hold various Archival Fonds and Collections. Much of the earlier manuscripts are from the 19th century. Descriptions of the archival holdings can be found here. Some of the Special Collections materials have been digitized and can be viewed via AtoM.

McGill University Rare Books and Special Collections

Montreal

Located in the McLennan Library, the McGill University Rare Books and Special Collections maintains a sizeable selection of early Canadian sources. Its holdings are especially strong in Canadiana, the history of the book and medicine, art history, and architecture. Details on the scope of its rare book collections can be found here. Early Canadian archival sources held by the Special Collections date back to the 17th century and are detailed in the Archival Collections Catalogue. McGill University is also home to the Osler Library of the History of Medicine. Further information on the holdings can be found in the Archival Descriptions and Guides to the Records. Much of the Special Collections’ material is available online through McGill Library’s Digital Exhibitions & Collections. Various Research Grants are also offered by the Special Collections.

Other Quebec Archives & Sources

A useful resource for conducting research in Quebec is the Conseil du patrimoine religieux du Québec, which maintains a Directory of Centers, Services, and Resources in Religious Archives that describe in detail various religious archives in Quebec. Another is the Réseau de Diffusion des Archives du Québec, which provides online access to digitized material held in various Quebec archives.

Several regional repositories collect sources related to early Quebec, including the Archives of Ontario, the Beinecke Library, the Detroit Public Library, the John Carter Brown Library, the Massachusetts Historical Society, the New-York Historical Society, the Nova Scotia Archives, the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, and the William L. Clements Library. Quebec sources can also be found at Library and Archives Canada.

Quebec was a colonial space of both New France and British North America. As such, early Quebec sources can be found in France at the Archives Nationales d’Outre-Mer and the Bibliotheque Nationale de France, and in Great Britain at the British Library and the National Archives at Kew.