Archives of the Archdiocese of Quebec

BRIEF HISTORY
Taking over the Apostolic Vicariate of New France (1658-1674), the diocese of Quebec was created on October first 1674, forming the first diocese north of Mexico in the Americas. At this time, its territory covered the entirety of New France. Having been elevated to the rank of archdiocese without suffragans on January twelfth, 1819, and to that of metropolitan archdiocese on July twelfth, 1844, the Church of Quebec received the ad honorem title of the primatial seat of Canada on the twenty-fourth of January, 1956.

DESCRIPTION OF FONDS AND COLLECTIONS
The archdiocese of Quebec’s archives are the oldest episcopal archives in the Americas. The archive depository conserves manuscripts from the time of the first missions, the apostolic vicariate, the diocese of Quebec (1674) and nearly 350 fonds concerning the history of the Catholic church in Quebec City, the province of Quebec, and Canada.

• Archives from the first missions and the Native American missions (manuscripts in Native American languages)
• Archives from the apostolic vicariate of New France (1658-1674)
• Archives from the archdiocese of Quebec (1674), with collections pertaining to the government of the diocese, the cathedral chapter, diocesan councils and committees, the chancellery, church authorities, pastoral work, human resources, communications and communications.
• Archives from the provincial councils of Quebec (1851-1886) and from the Plenary Council of Québec (1909)
• Archives from the Québec Interdiocesan Tribunal (1946)
• Archives from parishes and communities
• Archives from diocesan seminaries and colleges
• Archives from institutes of consecrated life
• Archives from ecclesiastic organizations, associations and movements
• Archives from religious events at the diocesan, provincial, national and international levels
• Personal and familial archives, including personal archives of bishops and archbishops of Québec.

N.B.: The archives from the Séminaire de Québec (Musée de la civilisation) constitute an indispensable complement to the diocesan archives, especially for the most historic periods.

Other collections:

• Collections of rare and antique books of the archbishopric and of former bishops
• Partial collection from the former Collège des Jésuites
• Official publications from the diocese
• Documentary library concerning the history of the diocese, its bishops and priests, parishes, seminaries and colleges, etc.
• Collection of the archbishopric: personal objects of former bishops and archbishops, jewelry, paintings, sculptures, liturgical vestments, etc.
• Collections from certain parishes
• Collections from certain institutes of consecrated life

Time span included in the archives: 1624-today
Number of fonds: approx. 350

MANDATE AND MISSION 
The archives of the archdiocese of Quebec are a private ecclesiastical archives centre, under the authority of the Archbishop of Quebec and the immediate responsibility of the Chancellor, assisted by the diocesan archivist and the archives’ staff. The department is mandated to conserve, showcase, and disseminate the historic archives of the diocese and the other collections in its care. It also has a mandate to acquire other fonds and collections associated with the Catholic Church in Quebec, its activities and its history: archives from parishes, diocesan seminaries and colleges, organizations, associations, ecclesiastical movements, and personal archives, primarily those of the of the bishops of Quebec.

Serving the Archbishop and his assistants and the bodies of the diocesan Curia, the archives of the Archdiocese of also make their fonds and collections available to researchers of all categories while respecting canon and civil laws concerning the protection of information.