Archives of the Roman Catholic Archbishopric of Montreal
2000, Sherbrooke St. West, Montreal (Quebec) H3H 1G4
514-925-4300 ext. 236
archives@diocesemontreal.org
https://archivesdiocesemontreal.accesstomemory.org
CONSULTATION
Monday to Thursday, from 9 am to 4 :30 pm; Friday, from 9 am to 12 noon, by appointment only. Researchers must notify the Roman Catholic Archbishopric of Montreal (ACRM) archivist of the nature of their research before being granted access. Remote requests are also accepted.
BRIEF HISTORY
The Catholic Archbishopric of Montreal, a non-profit entity, constitutes Quebec’s largest religious organization. Established as a diocese in 1836 and elevated to the status of archdiocese in 1886, it is mandated with the overall administration of Roman catholic parishes in the greater Montreal region.
DESCRIPTION OF FONDS AND COLLECTIONS
The ACRM’s archives bear witness to the history of the church but also to that of Quebec society as a whole. Prized for their age (1660) as much as for their diversity (resources from offices and worship services, parishes, bishops and priests, religious communities and numerous Diocesan organizations), they constitute one of the richest private collections of archives in Quebec. Essential for understanding not only the region’s religious history but also its cultural, political, and social history, the collection documents many of Quebec’s defining moments, from the British Conquest to the Patriot’s Rebellion and the Louis Riel affair. The catalogue of resources and collections is in the process of going digital and will be accessible online through the Access to Memory (AtoM) platform in fall 2019.
The ACRM also possesses a collection of rare books and objects (medals, relics, vestments).
Time span covered by archives: 1660-1950
Technical specifications and geographic maps: 1,200
Iconographic documents: 25,000
Text documents: 300 m.l.
Hours of audio recordings: 350
Hours of video recordings: 350
Number of fonds: 40
Individual artefacts: 40
MANDATE AND MISSION
The ACRM archives have a mandate to acquire, process, and showcase documents linked to the heritage of the archdiocese of Montreal which, by virtue of canon law, since 1945, are accessible for consultation by worshippers and researchers.