Fonds P026 - Saint Patrick’s Society of Montreal fonds

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Saint Patrick’s Society of Montreal fonds

General material designation

  • Textual record
  • Graphic material
  • Object

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  • Source of title proper: Title based on the content of the fonds.

Level of description

Fonds

Reference code

P026

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Edition statement of responsibility

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Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • 1856-2007, predominant 1950-2000 (Creation)
    Creator
    St. Patrick's Society of Montreal

Physical description area

Physical description

3.57 m of textual records
200 photographs
14 objects

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Archival description area

Name of creator

(March 17, 1834-)

Administrative history

St. Patrick's Society of Montreal was founded on March 17, 1834 to care for Irish immigrants and to defend the local Irish-Canadian community's interests. The first president was John Donnellan. The creation of the Society in Montreal was followed by the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste (June 1834), the St. Andrew’s Society (February 1835), the St. George’s Society (April 1835) and the German Society (April 1835). The St.Patrick’s Society was non-sectarian until 1856 when a new constitution was adopted and it became wholly Catholic while the Protestant members formed the Irish Protestant Benevolent Society. The Society was incorporated in 1863. The constitution was changed in 1973 to accept women as members of the Society. The St. Patrick's Society is a charitable, social, and educational organization. It has the following specific aims: to promote and foster Irish tradition; to aid whenever possible persons of Irish birth or origin, and particularly, Irish immigrants; and to speak, when necessary, on behalf of the Irish Canadian community.

The Society was based at different locations until 1867 when it moved to the newly completed St. Patrick's Hall on Square Victoria. In September of 1872 a fire destroyed the Hall. The Society is now based out of St. Patrick Square at 6767 Cote St. Luc Road.

The Society had a prominent role in the building of St. Patrick's Church, which opened in 1847, and in the creation of the Côte-des-Neiges Cemetery, which opened in 1885. The Society promoted the creation of St. Mary's Hospital, St. Patrick's Orphanage, English Catholic Charities, St. Patrick Square, and the Father Dowd Home for the Elderly. For the Society, the annual ball and luncheon held in March are social and fundraising events. The proceeds are donated to local Irish charities and used for scholarships and grants. The Society also organized the St. Patrick's Day Parade from 1834-1916. In 1928 a group known as the United Irish Societies of Montreal was formed and it now sponsors the city's annual St. Patrick's Parade.

Since 1988 the Society has published NUACHT (news), a quarterly newsletter that updates readers on the local Irish community and news from Ireland.

Custodial history

The fonds was transferred from Concordia University's Records Management and Archives Department to Concordia University Libraries' Special Collections February 16, 2016, March 29, 2016, and May 18, 2016.

Scope and content

The fonds provides information on the Irish community in Montreal and on the history, activities, and operations of the St. Patrick's Society. There are no original records before 1863; they were most likely destroyed in the 1872 fire in St. Patrick’s Hall. The fonds mainly contains administrative records, minutes, correspondence, financial records, programs, photographs, press clippings, and printed materials.

The fonds is organized in the following series:
P0026/A Administrative records
P0026/B Membership
P0026/C Financial records
P0026/D Events
P0026/E Printed records
P0026/F Objects

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

Most of the documents were donated to the Concordia University Archives in 1996 and 2008. A few issues of The McGee Review were deposited in 1981.

Arrangement

Language of material

  • English
  • French

Script of material

    Language and script note

    Most of the material is in English. A few documents are in French.

    Location of originals

    Availability of other formats

    A digital copy of the 1909-1916 Minute Book is available for research on site.
    The McGee Review has been photocopied for research.

    Restrictions on access

    Access to some documents is restricted.

    Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

    Reproduction for scholarly purposes is permitted.
    Use of material in a publication may only be done with permission of the copyright owner.

    Finding aids

    Box listings are available.

    Associated materials

    Accruals

    Further accruals are expected.

    General note

    This guide was prepared with the financial assistance of the National Archival Development Programme (NADP) that is administered by Library and Archives Canada and delivered by the Canadian Council of Archives (CCA).

    Rights

    Copyright belongs to the creator(s).

    Conservation

    The 1909-1916 Minute Book has been scanned for preservation. The original is not available for research anymore. The 1914, 1919-1938 Minute Book has been unfastened for preservation.

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    Status

    Final

    Level of detail

    Full

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