Textual Archives

TEXTUAL ARCHIVES

The Textual Archives collection is composed of 800 sets of documents, most of which are archives from individuals, families or organizations, or special collections organized around a theme or type of document. Totalling nearly 293 linear metres, these archives cover the entire history of Canada, but focus more specifically on that of Montreal and Montrealers during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Documents include personal, administrative, financial and legal texts like correspondence, diaries, minutes, books of account and deeds of sale. In addition, there are publications, maps, plans and ephemera, such as dance cards, advertisements and menus. The collection was initially built up by focussing on specific areas of acquisition associated with the history of events and figures of importance to Montreal and Canada. Its more recent acquisitions concentrate on the domestic affairs of several families, business and industry, armed conflicts, amateur sporting clubs, artistic and charitable associations, cultural events like Expo 67, fashion, the arts, etc.

RARE BOOKS

The Rare Books collection features nearly 2500 books and brochures with publication dates ranging from the 17th to the 20th centuries. Most of its volumes date from the early 1900s as the collection is largely composed of the personal libraries of David Ross McCord and William Notman. Most of the other works in the collection were published in Canada and 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.

Thanks to the financial support of Sun Life Financial, the Museum will digitize and publish online 37 archival family fonds. Discover three centuries of Quebec documents and history!

To commemorate the 150th Anniversary of Canadian Confederation and 375th anniversary of Montreal’s founding, the McCord Museum is making 75,000 new images from its Textual Archives collection available to the public. Explore this selection of documents recounting the history of Canada, but more specifically that of Montreal and Montrealers over the 19th and 20th centuries.