Archives and Special Collections

Resources in the Old Library

The Old Library contains books and archival material pertaining to the history of Canada and the history of the Eastern Townships. In addition to the valuable Mackinnon and P.H. Scowen Collections, the Old Library also houses many publications of the 19th century, town and parish histories, catalogues for births, deaths and marriages, and doctoral and masters theses. Available on microfilm are Canadian nominal census returns, civil status registers, and a selection of Eastern Townships newspapers. The entire collection of The Record (formerly The Sherbrooke Daily Record) is housed in the main library. The archives of the University, the Eastern Townships Resource Centre and the Anglican Church Diocese of Quebec are also available for research in the Old Library.  In BORIS (the online library catalogue), only the publications whose call number starts with Townships, Mackinnon, or McGreer are housed in the Old Library. They are for consultation only and cannot be signed out.

Please note that archival material must be requested at least 24 hours prior to your visit to allow for transfer of requested documents from storage to the Old Library. Requests may be made by email or by telephone.

About the Old Library

The wing facing the quadrangle behind McGreer Hall known as the Old Library was built in 1909 to house the entire university library collection. It served that function until the John Bassett Memorial Library was built in 1959.  For many years this wing housed Champlain College faculty. After the college was able to construct its own building, McGreer Hall was returned to Bishop’s and in 1993 the Old Library was restored to its original use and is a daily reminder of the length and depth of Bishop’s traditions. Read more about the Old Library.

Hours and Reference Services

The Old Library, located on the second floor of McGreer Hall, is open Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 12:00 and 1:00 to 4:30. 

Catalogued material may be transferred to the Circulation Desk of the Main Library for consultation in the evening or on week-ends. Identification is required.

Staff is available to respond to all research inquiries made in person, by telephone, or by mail.

Reserving the Old Library Arrangements to book the Old Library for a university-related event (ex.: lectures, workshops, seminars, etc...) may be made with the archivist via email: agrant@ubishops.ca, telephone ext. 2609 or in person. These events should be held outside the regular opening hours of the Old Library, ie. after 4:30 or on the weekend. For information and procedures on booking the Old Library, please click here: Reserving the Old Library

Bishop's University Archives

 

The University Archives consists of all documents which give evidence and information about the University's history, organization, function, and structure. The mission of the University Archives is to select, describe, preserve and make available for research those records which have enduring value to the University for administrative, legal, fiscal, and historical purposes. Archival holdings include records and publications of the administration, students, faculty, staff and alumni. Within these collections are a variety of media such as photographs, drawings, maps and plans, microfilms, and computer, video and audio tapes. Trophies, medals, badges, and other memorabilia are also collected by the archives. To consult the University archives, researchers should contact :

Anna M. Grant
McGreer Hall - Bishop's University
2600 College St.,  Sherbrooke, Quebec  J1M 1Z7
(819) 822-9600, ext. 2609   email: agrant@ubishops.ca

 

Eastern Townships Resource Centre Archives

The Archives Department of the Eastern Townships Resource Centre is devoted to the conservation of the archival heritage of the Eastern Townships for the purposes of research and teaching. It makes available to researchers textual documents, photographs, postcards, maps and plans and audio-visual material pertaining to the history of the Eastern Townships and the communities therein.

The Archives Department of the Eastern Townships Resource Centre  also manages the archives of the Quebec-Sherbrooke Presbytery of the United Church of Canada and of the Presbytery of Quebec of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Researchers may consult archives of local churches, whose documents include minutes of Church Boards, annual reports, sermons, membership lists, newsletters, photographs and church registers.

To consult the archives of the Eastern Townships Resource Centre, please contact :

Jody Robinson 
McGreer Hall -  Bishop's University, 
2600 College St., Sherbrooke, Québec J1M 1Z7
(819) 822-9600 ext. 2261   email: ETRC2@ubishops.ca

Attention genealogists - please plan ahead: before you visit the Old Library to do some family history research, please make sure to contact the ETRC Archivist (etrc2@ubishops.ca) to:

a) make sure she will be available on the day of your arrival to assist you with your research and

b) verify that the records you need are actually at the Old Library and/or in the ETRC Archives.

 

Quebec Diocesan Archives - Anglican Church of Canada

Holdings include correspondence, minutes, annual reports, land deeds, financial records and other material dealing with the Diocese of Quebec from 1793. Early material covers both Upper and Lower Canada as this was all part of the Diocese until 1840. The collection also has a number of early Canadian Church publications and material dealing with education and social services. There are parish minutes, membership lists and reports and a large number of civil status registers as well as a valuable collection of nineteenth century organ music.

NB: The Quebec Diocesan Archives is open by appointment only.

  • Please make sure the archivist will be available on the day of your arrival to assist you with your research and;
  • Please contact him in advance to verify that the records you need are actually at the Old Library and/or in the Quebec Diocesan Archives.

Please contact :

James Sweeny
Library, Bishop's University
2600 College St., Sherbrooke, Quebec J1M 1Z7
(819) 822-9600  ext. 2567   email: jsweeny@ubishops.ca