In 1639, with the arrival of Mary of the Incarnation, (Marie Guyart), from the Monastery of Tours, the Ursulines were established in Québec. Two other nuns along with Mme de la Peltrie, who donated her life and all her belongings to this foundation, accompanied Mother Mary of the Incarnation. From this branch burgeoned other monasteries – that of Trois-Rivières as soon as 1697.
From the very beginning the community realized the great historic value of its documents. Proof of it is that, when the Monastery caught fire, these precious documents were saved before the building was completely destroyed.
Let Us Listen to Mary of the Incarnation:
‘’ I wanted to reach the provision room of the community; but God erased this thought from my mind in order to save the community documents. I simply threw them out of the window and all my hand could reach’’.
These documents – called private religious archives - form a legal archive deposit which testifies to their spiritual heritage, daily life of over three centuries, and also educational mission. Searchers may have access to a certain part of this heritage. Documents, relevant to special researches, can be available except when the law on the protection of personal information in private life or internal politics forbid them to be released Canadian royalties must be respected concerning the copying or use of documents.
The archives of the Ursulines are called : private religious archives.
Searchers, after taking an appointment with the archivist, mention the theme of their research and follow the rules for consultation. He/she may have to supply the reasons for his/her research and assumes certain fees such as: advice, photocopies and mail.
Brief Description of the Archives Fonds and collections represent a 200 meter volume. The Ursuline memory allows one to review the Quebec and Canadian history veiled between the lines in different documents. Textual records: handwritten and printed Graphic materials Moving images and sound recordings Cartographic material
Dates: From 1588 to now adays.
Completing this information background we find rare and old books, as well as a library of Canadiana. Different traditional research tools offer an access to fonds and collections: indices, analytic and onomatic files, inventories and catalogs.
Published Research Tools and Finding Aids :
A detailed répertoire numérique of the MARIE-DE-L’INCARNATION FONDS A brief inventory of the sub-series AFFAIRES DE FRANCE 1647-1813 A detailed répertoire numérique of the series RELATIONS AVEC LES AUTORITES OU ORGANISMES ECCLESIASTIQUES 1653-1920 A detailed répertoire numérique of the series RELATIONS AVEC LES AUTRES COMMUNAUTES FEMININES 1651-1920 A detailed répertoire numérique of the series EXPANSION 1697-1920 A detailed répertoire numérique of the series MUSIQUE 1651 - 1992 A detailed répertoire numérique of the series ÉDUCATION 1639-1995
Access and Consultation
The archives of the Ursulines of Québec 18, rue Donnacona Tel. : 418 692-2523 (266) Québec ( Québec ) Fax :418 692-135 GIR 4T1 Courriel : archives@vmuq.com
The archives of the Ursulines of Trois-Rivières keep documents on their history, their foundations in undertakings Waterville, Maine U.S.A., Grand-Mère, Shawinigan. Peru, and also their schools, charitable and parish works, finally their relationship with other Ursulines in the whole world.
Aside from documents pertaining to their community religious archives, those of the Ursulines of Trois-Rivières keep valuable historical documents of great value whose source derives from their relations with lay people, the nuns’ parents, business women and men, friends of their missions, former students, etc. or simply information recorded by the archivists.
A library rich with about 18,000 books gives the opportunity for historical, documentary, genealogical , etc. researches. It offers a great number of ancient books dating from 1573. One may find books on the history of Canada, education, arts, religious sciences, monographs (history of parishes), school books, etc. These can be consulted only on site.
Public Research Tools and Finding Aids:
A detailed répertoire numérique of the Seigneurial land of Rivière-du-Loup, 1995. A detailed répertoire numérique of the landed properties owned by the Ursulines in Trois-Rivières published between 1697-1997. A detailed répertoire numérique of the fonds of Bishop Thomas Cook, 1996.
Most of these directories are out of print. It is possible to re-print them if the request is justifiable.The archives still have a four-volume series of the History of the Ursulines of Trois-Rivières, published between 1888 and 1911.
A book was written in 1997, by Sister Thérèse Germain, o.s.u. under the title: ‘’Autrefois les Ursulines de Trois-Rivières, une école, un hopital, un cloitre ‘’, Edition Anne Sigier, 1997. It is distributed in Canada, France, Belgium and Switzerland.
Furthermore, on site, searchers will have access to répertoires and detailed lists of the contents of the archives. A current onomastic and thematic index enables speedy research. Most of these tools are computerized according to a database.
Access and Consultation
The archives desUrsulines de Trois-Rivières 784, rue des Ursulines Tel. : 819 375-6039 Trois-Rivières ( Québec ) Fax : 819 691-0490 G9A 5B5 urstr.archives@tr.cgocable.ca
The Ursulines of Québec in 1903 came to Rimouski to answer the wish of Bishop André-Albert Blais, bishop of the diocese of Rimouski. The latter had understood the ‘’necessity and emergency of a foundation of a normal school for girls, for the formation of the young girls in Rimouski who wanted to become teachers in the distant regions hard of access, specially Gaspésie.
‘’The school was erected by a decision of the council of the Honorable Executive of the Province of Québec, on May 2, 1904. Approved by the lieutenant-governor, on May 3, 1904, after reaching an agreement with Reverend Bishop of Rimouski and the provincial-government ... ‘’
‘’The Ursulines from the Monastery of Québec, moreover, having taken the direction of a normal school in Rimouski, opened a ‘’ boarding school for young girls ‘’ who followed the same curriculum as that of the boarders of the Mother-House ... ‘’. Later on, a classical course was added as well as a lower school with the boarding school for boys and girls.
In 1969, the Monastery fell into the hands of the State to become the University of Québec in Rimouski.
From then on, educational work was dedicated to a diversity of choices.
Our Museum is closed until spring 2010 on account of renovations, and the inauguration of a new exhibit: The Education of Girls, First Mission of the Ursulines.
Here is real incursion into the heart of our boarding school, centre for teaching and educating but also home for the sisters as well as that of their students; This exhibition will narrate the journey of generations of young girls and women who have trodden the Old Monastery corridors.
The 19th and 20th centuries, an era of great effervescence and the apogee our boarding school, will be honored. This exhibition will underline the value of the rich pedagogy collection of the Ursulines of Québec: archive documents, music instruments, scientific tools, natural history specimens, photographs, etc.
NOVELTY ! Gold leaf and fairy fingers: the art of gilt decoration at the Ursulines of Québec. A potential exhibit you can find in the history section on the Web Site: site internet du Musée virtuel du Canada.
Vignette: Permanent exhibit Museum room #IV: Sacred Art Workshop Museum room #111: Daily Life at the Monastery: Sacred Art
Later on, the OPENING HOURS and fees:
March-April October – November Adults : 6$ Tuesday-Sunday, 1:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m . Elders : 5$ May-September Students 17 and over : 4$ Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00 p.m ., 5:00 p.m. Children 12 to 16 : 3$ December – January – February Less than 12 : free
Opened to groups having asked for a reservation
To contact us
The Museum of the Ursulines 12, rue Donnacona Québec ( Québec ) GIR 3V7 Telephone : 418 694-0694 Fax : 418 694-2136
In 2010, the Museum offers you the following exhibition, titled: From White to BlackWhite has always been the symbol of purity, whereas black suggests transition or forging a way through. Do corne and discover these colours which reveal the different stages of life by this new exhibition of the Ursulines'Museum, FROM WHITE TO BLACK, realized under a joint Média-Muse program, DEATH, ... exhibitions to be visualised.
What will you discover ? You can admire in "WHITE" magnificent baptismal trousseaux : dresses, capes, bonnets, an unbehevable petticoat , also the baptism font of Saint-Cécile church of Trois-Rivières.
Afterwards, cross over to the "BLACK" exhibits and find catechism summaries, liturgical funeral vestments and works of art, also extremely rare photos of the Ursulines' crypt. Finally, for a few minutes, imagine yourself in front of the cloister grill ...
Going from baptism to funeral celebration, thus from WHITE to BLACK.
Welcome to all ! This exhibition extends to February 2010.
The Archives
Here is real incursion into the heart of our boarding school, centre for teaching and educating but also home for the sisters as well as that of their students; This exhibition will narrate the journey of generations of young girls and women who have trodden the Old Monastery corridors.
In 2010, the Museum offers you the following exhibition, titled: 
