Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 9:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-5:00pm; Wednesday, 9:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-8:00pm.
Location: 535, avenue Viger Est, Montréal (Québec), Canada, H2L 2P3.
Contact: (514) 873-1100; 1-800-363-9028; archives.montreal@banq.qc.ca (textual records); icono.cam@banq.qc.ca (Iconography Department).
Access: Open to the public.
Website: https://www.banq.qc.ca/

The Old Montréal location of the Québec provincial archives has over 24 kilometres of genealogy materials, civil archives like records of marriages, divorces, and wills, court records, private collections about prominent families that contributed to the history of Montréal and Québec, and government records. There are 8.5 million photographs, 110,000 drawings of religious buildings, and 73,000 architectural maps and plans.

This location has important records related to medical history. It houses the large collection of the Association québécoise d’établissements de santé et de services sociaux

(1968-2015) (45.33m) that brought together 125 health institutions and social services. There are fonds related to workplace health such as that of the Association paritaire pour la santé et la sécurité du travail (1931-1984) (4.95 metres) and the Commission d’enquête sur les conditions de santé et de sécurité des établissements de la compagnie «Les produits chimiques EXPRO inc.» (1971-1983) that looked at workplace health and safety at EXPRO Inc. There are records related to women’s health such as the fonds of Centre de santé des femmes de Montréal (1970-2002) (8.74m) and Fonds L’Assistance maternelle (1912-2012).

There are collections that discuss alternative medicine at this location. The records of the Réseau d’action pour une santé intégrale (1982-1991) discuss this nonprofit organization’s attempt to share knowledge about different forms of healthcare including alternative therapies like acupuncture and midwifery. The fonds of Solidarité alternative en santé mentale (1979-2007) (1.58 m of text, 28 videos) focuses on alternative practices for mental health patients. The fonds of Jean-Marc Brunet (1940-2011) has records about his work on social naturism and health.

Collections related to social services in the province include the fonds of the Comité des orphelins et orphelines institutionnalisés de Duplessis (1940s and 1950s) that defended the rights of orphans falsely accused of mental illness. This location also houses the operational records, research, and publications of the planned-parenthood advocacy group, Fédération du Québec pour le planning des naissances (1971-1982).

There are significant photography records in this location. The fonds of the Studio Simon-Pierre Tremblay(1946-2000) has over 400 000 photographs recording family history and highlights of the area west of the island of Montréal. There are many records related to architecture such as in the private collection of Harold Ship, which has 28 metres of textual records.

Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 9:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-5:00pm; Wednesday 9:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-8:00pm.
Location: Pavillon Louis-Jacques-Casault (campus of Laval University), 1055 Seminar avenue, Québec, Canada, G1V 5C8.
Contact: (418) 643-8904; 1-800-363-9028; archives.quebec@banq.qc.ca (textual records); icono.caq@banq.qc.ca (Iconography Department).
Access: Open to the public.

This location in Québec has strengths in government archives with records related to government administration, land leases, forestry, geology, education, justice, municipalities, and health. There are judicial archives, civil records, and private collections. There are also notable iconographic collections (with five million documents and 250, 000 postcards), cartographic and architectural archives (with 780, 000 items), and records related to film production in Québec.

There are important provincial records in the archives, especially the fonds of Montreal’s Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux(1869-2008) and the Montreal’s Ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition feminine of Montréal, Montérégie, Lanaudière, Laurentides, and Laval (1924-2003; 80.31 m.) and of the Ministère fédéral de l’Agriculture (1854-1911). This archive has the records of the Commission d’enquête sur les services de santé et les services sociaux/Commission Rochon (1985-1988) (8.22 metres of text and 72 bands of tape) on the inquiry into the funding of health and social services. It also has the records of the Commission d’enquête sur la santé et le bien-être social (1942-1976) (5.41 m) that was assigned to look into health and social welfare in the province.

Records related to mental health can be found in the fonds of the Comité de la santé mentale du Québec (1965-1989) and the Commission québécoise d’examen des troubles mentaux (1972-1997) (2.31m). There are records on health and welfare, such as in the fond of the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (1925-2009) with 129.52 metres of textual records and 2,767 photographs, the Conseil de la santé et du bien-être  (1971-2006) (9.54m), the Conseil d’hygiène de la province de Québec (1877, 1887-1963). Records related to public health can be found in fonds like those of the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (1971-2008) (3.2m) and the Association québécoise pour la promotion de la santé (1974-2005).

Other notable collections include the Hôpital Jeffery Hale fonds (1858-1993), Herzl Dispensary records (1912-1988), the Association des hôpitaux catholiques de la province de Québec (1932-1966), and the Fédération des sociétés médicales de la province de Québec (1934-1960). Most significantly, this location houses the fonds of la Société canadienne d’histoire de la médecine (1836-2005) with 3.87 m of textual records and 1,355 photographs related to the history of medicine including administrative records, legislations, and biographies of physicians.

Medical records are also available in private papers, such as can be found in the fonds of Dr. Élisée Choquet (1912-1947) on family medicine and the fonds of the Famille Willie Verge (1920s-) that documents the contribution of Dr. Willie Verge to surgical medical and blood transfusion in Québec in the 1920s.

This facility has numerous records related to the social history of the province. These include fonds like those of the Fédération des unions de familles (1953-1997), the Conseil de la famille et de l’enfance  (1988-2004), and the Workmen’s Circle of Montreal (1929-1985) (4.3 cm of text). The archives are particularly strong for women’s studies, possessing the fonds of the Centre de santé des femmes de Montréal (1970-2002), the Belvidere Women’s Institute (1916-1992), Denison Mills Women’s Institute (1923-1991; 20 cm of text), Brompton Road Women’s Institute (1924-1998; 116 cm of text), and the Milby Women’s Institute (1931-2012). There are also provincial records like the Conseil du statut de la femme (1964-2010) (51.18m).

This archive has records related to the social and medical history of Jews in Canada. These include the fonds of the Jewish General Hospital (1933-1991)and the Montreal Hebrew Orphans Home (1909-1945). There are also social records related to Jewish history, including the well-known Jewish Colonization Association (JCA) (1884-1978).

There are also political records within this archive, including the fonds of Sir John A. MacDonald, the first prime minister of Canada (1827-1910) (249 microfilms). Other political records include the fonds of the Cour supérieure: district judiciaire de Montréal (1672-1983; 67.94 m of text) and fonds of theCour supérieure: district judiciaire de Québec. Some private collections offer political insight, such as the collection of Famille Joly de Lotbinière (1693-1783) and Marc-Yvan Côté (1980-1993).

This archive additionally has materials related to natural resources, such as the often-viewed 4,000 shots from seventeenth century surveyors in the collection of the Ministère des Terres et Forêts(1790-1915). The fonds of the Ministère des Richesses naturelles 1854-2002) (79.07m) is also available at this location. There are also numerous records related to architecture as seen in the fonds of the architectural firm Côté Chabot Morel (1963-2005), Pierre Cantin (1956-2003), the BBGL architectural firm (1973-2003).

Hours: Monday, Thursday and Friday 8:30am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-4:30pm; Tuesday and Wednesday 8:30am-12:00pm, 1:00pm-4:30pm, and 6:30pm-9:00pm; Saturday 9:00am-12:00pm; By appointment only for Tuesday and Wednesday evening, and Saturday morning.
Location: 855, boulevard Gappe, Gatineau, Québec, Canada, J8T 8H9.
Contact: (819) 568-8798; 1 (800) 363-9028; archives.gatineau@banq.qc.ca.
Access: Open to the public.

There are some relevant materials within the collections available at the Gatineau location of the Québec provincial archives. There are private papers with medical information, such as the fonds of Guy Morissette (1965-1976) who worked in the Outaouais area and with the Sacred Heart Hospital. The fonds of Joseph Matte (1930-1979) offers information about veterinary sciences.

There are records related to the social and cultural history of Québec, such as in the large collection of the Conseil régional de développement de l’Outaouais (1880-1992) (38.65m). There are political records like the papers of politician and Liberal MP Oswald Parent (1945-1980). This location has the fonds of Robert Middlemiss, ministre et de ministre délégué, à l’Agriculture et à l’alimentation, aux Transports et à la Sécurité publiques (1965-2003). There are additionally notable papers of associations like the Association québécoise pour l’avancement des Nations Unies (1972-) that would be useful for global and local studies.

BanQ Gaspé

Hours: Monday to Thursday 8:30 am-12:00 pm and 1:00 pm-4:30 pm.
Location:80, boulevard de Gaspé, Gaspé, Québec, Canada. G4X 1A9.
Contact: (418) 727-3500 x6573; 1 (800) 363-9028 x6573; archives.gaspe@banq.qc.ca
Access: Open to the public.

BanQ Rimouski

Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 am-12:00 pm and 1:00 pm-4:30 pm.
Location: 337, rue Moreault, Rimouski, Québec, Canada. G5L 1P4.
Contact: (418) 727-3500; 1 (800) 363-9028; archives.rimouski@banq.qc.ca
Access: Open to the public.

The materials for BanQ Rimouski and BanQ Gaspé two archives are listed together in the BanQ catalogue although the locations differ. Contact archivists before visiting to confirm which location has the materials you require.

There are a few records related to medical health and social studies. The large collection of the Cour des sessions de la paix of Québec (1948-1988) (159.65m of text), or the Peace Court, has some materials related to the Protection du malade mental or protection of mental patients (1974-1988).

These locations have strengths in the religious and architectural history of the region, such as in the fonds of architect David Ouellet (1850-1900) and constructor and craftsman François Soucy (1850-1900) that discuss the restoration of churches in the city. There are also some collections that discuss aboriginal architecture in Québec. In addition to a wealth of materials about the religious history of the Rimouski, the fonds of Mission des Pères Capucins de Sainte-Anne-de-Ristigouche (1730-1973; 14.02 m) has architectural plans of Restigouche Indian Reserves and the Mann Reserves. These locations additionally house the fonds of architect Gaston Martin (1956-2001) with 22.39 metres of textual records, 11,983 photographs, 6, 206 architectural plans, 48 drawings, and 11 microfilms.

Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 am-12:00 pm and 1:00 pm-4:30 pm.
Location: 27, rue due Terminus Ouest, Rouyn-Noranda, Québec, Canada, J9X 2P3.
Contact: (819) 763-3484; 1 (800) 363-9028; archives.rouyn@banq.qc.ca.
Access: Open to the public.

There are some medical records in the location of Rouyn-Noranda. The fonds of the Les Auxiliaires bénévoles du Centre de Santé et de Services sociaux de Rouyn-Noranda (1952-2006) (2.08m) discusses the voluntary work of this group with hospital patients, procuring medical equipment, and with seniors. The fonds of Conseil de développement social du nord-ouest québécois (1950-1977) (4.67m) has records about community well-being through public and private services. There are also the records of the Conseil de bien-être de Rouyn-Noranda inc (1967-1971) that studied and advocated for social welfare, particularly of youth. Private collections can be of relevance, such as the records of the nurse Julie Baillargeon (1925-1983) and of politician Gilles Baril (1948-1986) of the Parti québécois that discusses topics related to health, mining, and logging.

This location has fonds related to farming, such as in the private collection of Famille Jalbert (1925-2011), including their settlement in the region and 800 photographs about the history of the city of Rouyn-Noranda. There are also collections related to mining in this region like the O’Brien Gold Mine fonds (1927-1964). There are records related to environmental studies, such as fonds of the Comité permanent sur l’environnement à Rouyn-Noranda (1974-2000) (2.57m).

There are some materials related to Aboriginal studies in this location. The fonds of Judge Jean-Charles Coutu (1985-1995) document court cases of American Indians and Inuits of Nord-du-Québec.

Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 am-12:00 pm and 1:00 pm-4:30 pm.
Location: 930, rue Jacques-Cartier Est, Suite C-103, Saguenay, Québec, Canada, G7H 7K9.
Contact: (418) 698-3516; 1 (800) 363-9028; archives.saguenay@banq.qc.ca.
Access: Open to the public.

The Saguenay location has some relevant archives for the study of social history and medical architecture. The CHOC MF fonds (1976-1983) offers a glimpse into the social history of this area through 65 cassettes on topics like adolescence, politics, culture, abortion, and health. The fonds of Les Architectes associés (1969-1996) has 45 metres of textual records and 6,690 architectural plans. There are architectural records related to health in this area, such as the drawings in the fonds of the Conseil Régional de la Santé et des Services Sociaux-Centre d’Accueil de Rivière au Doré (1985), the Centre de santé et complexe hotelier Pelchat (2000-2004), the Bureaux de Médecins-Mario Dubois-Jonquière (1986), Centre Hospitalier de Dolbeau – Clinique externe (1991), Hôpital Dolbeau-Buanderie (1993), and Hôpital de Chicoutimi, réaménagement des laboratoires (1990-1996).

Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 am-12:00 pm and 1:00 pm-4:30 pm.
Location: 700, boulevard Laure, Suite 190, Sept–Îles, Québec, Canada, G4R 1Y1.
Contact: (418) 964-8434; 1 (800) 363-9028; archives.sept-iles@banq.qc.ca.
Access: Open to the public.

There are some medical collections in the private papers housed at this location. The private collection of the nurse Pauline Laurin (1949-1985) offers records related to her work with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, her role Superintendent of nurses’ medical services to aboriginals in Québec, her work as the first nurse of the Montagnais communities of the Lower North Shore, and her role as the Director of Nurses at the Indian health Service. There are 182 photographs depicting the visit of Monique Bégin, ministre de la Santé nationale et du Bien-être social (1984) in the fonds of Sept-Îles Photo Ltée (1949-2000). This collection also has photographs of the Centre de santé de Port-Cartier (1987).

Records related to social history, particularly the fonds of Québec’s Ministère des Communications (~1978-1996) (2.33m) with issues related to media, ethnic studies, and government departments and agencies. This location also has the fonds of the Cercle de Presse de Sept-Îles inc. (~1950-1991) with newspaper articles, reports, and general studies of this press club. Similarly, the fonds of Le Soleil-Ouellet-Fessou (19601985) has newspaper articles, press releases, reports, and studies about health, education, indigenous populations, and religion. There are also fonds related to geology such as in the private collection of mining engineer Cyrille Dufresne(1940-1980).

Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 am-12:00 pm and 1:00 pm-4:30 pm.
Location: 225, rue Frontenac, Suite 401, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada, J1H 1K1.
Contact: (819) 820-3010; 1 (800) 363-9028; archives.sherbrooke@banq.qc.ca.
Access: Open to the public.

There are some records relevant to health at the Sherbrooke location of the Québec provincial archives. The large collection of the Office de planification et de développement du Québec – Secrétariat au développement des regions (1970-2001; 20.52 m.) has information and health, environment, waste management, pharmacology, and culture. The fonds of the Cour du Québec (1988-2001) (4.92m) has a section on the Protection du malade mental (Protection of Mental Health Patients) (1991-2001). There are additionally related records among architectural collections, such as in the fonds of the architect Albert Poulin (1926-1978) (3.49 m, 164 photographs, and 1,011 architectural drawings) that provide information about religion, education, and health. This collection has 15 drawings of the Centre local de santé (Hôpital) (1971).

This location has records related to mining in the fonds of Johns Manville Canada Inc. (1888-1997) (5.29 m, 1,284 photographs), one section of which has materials about the social welfare of mining families including hospitals, clinics, and schools. There are additionally political records such as the political pressure group SOS Parc Orford (2006 and 2010) and private collections like that of politician and local Parti québécois member Gérard Gosselin (1972-1981).

Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 am-12:00 pm and 1:00 pm-4:30 pm.
Location: 225, rue des Forges, Suite 208, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada, G9A 2G7.
Contact: (819) 371-6015; 1 (800) 363-9028; archives.trois-rivieres@banq.qc.ca.
Access: Open to the public.

The Trois-Rivières has relevant private collections. There are some records related to the history of medicine. These include the client register of LO Bournival (1893-1909) who served as a doctor in St. Flora and St. Barnabus, and the private records of Ernest Lacerte (1843-1944), a Yamachiche doctor who became a merchant. This location has records related to women’s history, such as the fonds of the organization L’Accueil féminin inc. (1969-2014), a social, recreational, and community service group in Trois-Rivières. There are political records in this archive, as seen in the fonds of Maurice Bellemare (1935-1985). The noteworthy fonds of Photo Pothier Inc (1965-2000) offers over 100, 000 photographs of corporate and public events.

Digital Collections and Exhibits

The archive also offers a genealogy search feature. It provides access to 22, 879 entries for Montréal between 1791 and 1807. There are also information about cemeteries, coroners, land applications, marriage contracts, prisons, censuses, and court records available in the online database.

This archive’s website offers several digital exhibits. These include an exhibit on nursing entitled “Charlotte Tassé et l’Institut Albert-Prévost: l’œuvre d’une femme de tête,” director of the Sanatorium Prévost for mental health patients for over 35 years. The exhibit “Justine Lacoste Beubien et L’Hôpital Sainte-Justine: L’Histoire d’une passion” has information about the establishment of this free French-Canadian Hospital for Montréal children. To access exhibits within the archive, click here.

There are additional exhibits that require one to become a member of the archive before accessing, such as “Black Studies in Video: Videos sur les études afro-américaines,” “Histoire américaine et mondiale” (American History and World), and “Contrats de mariage de Charlevoix: De 1737 à 1920” (Charlevoix Marriage Contracts from 1737 to 1920). There are also films on the archive’s YouTube channel on topics like schools, marriages, potatoes, and sugar.