Archives

The Archives collection is composed of 850 sets of documents, most of which are archival fonds related to individuals, families or organizations, or special collections organized around a theme or type of document. Totalling over 340 linear metres, these archives cover the entire history of Canada, but focus more particularly on that of Montreal and Montrealers during the 19^th and 20^th centuries.
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List of main fonds and collections

The textual records include personal, administrative, financial and legal documents, such as correspondence, diaries, minutes, books of account, contracts, publications, maps, plans and ephemera like dance cards, advertisements and menus.

Initially focussed on the history of events and figures of importance to Montreal and Canada, the collection now concentrates on acquisitions that illustrate social history: family history, commerce and industry, armed conflicts, amateur sports clubs, artistic and charitable associations, cultural events like Expo 67, fashion, the arts, and so on.

The Stewart Museum’s collection of archives contains 16 linear metres of textual archives and over 1,000 cartographic records, most of them collected by the Museum’s founder, David M. Stewart. It documents multiple aspects of Quebec and Canadian history dating back to New France in the broader context of Atlantic history, as many documents also cover European history, notably that of France and England. Military history is also very well represented, with fonds documenting organizations like the Royal Regiment Canadian Artillery and the Victoria Rifles of Canada.

Rare books

The McCord Museum’s rare book collection features nearly 2,500 volumes and brochures published from the 17^th to the 20^th centuries. Dating primarily from the 19^th and early 20^th centuries, the collection is largely composed of the personal libraries of David Ross McCord and William Notman.

The other volumes, most of which were published in Canada, complement the Museum’s various collections. For example, there are books on the history of Canada and Montreal, directories and almanacs, tourist booklets, art books, books written in First Nations languages, explorers’ travel accounts, children’s books, books about magic, military censuses and plan books.

These writings are not only reference documents for collections research, they are also artefacts, available for consultation and displayed as part of exhibitions and other dissemination projects.

The Stewart Museum’s rare book collection comprises over 1,500 antiquarian books published in Europe and Canada, dating from the 15^th to the 19^th centuries. This collection is evidence of the importance that David M. Stewart attached to written materials, both handwritten and printed, in the teaching of history.

Mathieu joined the McCord Museum team in 2018. As a specialist in Montreal history and Quebec culture and ideologies, Mathieu has taken a particular interest in citizen movements, moralizing rhetoric, and public inquiries in 20^th century Montreal.

Meet curator Mathieu Lapointe learn more about his expertise and his work.

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