About the Archives
The consolidated archives is a private, religious archives which is under the jurisdiction of the Congregational Leadership. There is a mission statement and policy manual for the archives.
The goal of the archives is to collect past and present records of congregational members and institutions engaged in work that reflects the charism of the congregation from 1852 to the present. These records reflect the development of the congregation, the conduct of its affairs as a corporation, and the personal lives of its members and those served through its various ministries. It is the goal of the archives to make these records accessible to the public unless there are restrictions placed on the records by the donor or for reasons of privacy or sensitivity of the records.
All records created by the formerly separate congregations of Hamilton, London, and Pembroke, prior to November 18, 2012, are kept physically and intellectually separate from the records created by the amalgamated congregation. These records, along with the records of the amalgamated congregation, are kept in the consolidated archives in London. The Peterborough archive retains records created prior to November 18, 2012, as well as records of deceased Sisters from Peterborough, temporarily, until this archive is consolidated.
The consolidated archives contains the business records of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada from November 18, 2012 onward. It also contains the records of the Hamilton, London, and Pembroke archives which have been consolidated with the main archives.
Highlights of the Hamilton archive include records of St. Mary’s Orphanage, Mount St. Joseph Centre, missions in Guatemala and Jamaica, the House of Providence and St. Joseph’s Villa, Bethany House, St. Joseph’s Spirituality Centre, and many other ministries carried out by the Sisters. There are extensive administrative and decision making records as well as artifacts.
Highlights of the London archive include annals of missions across Canada; records of the Mount Saint Joseph Orphanage; Mount Saint Joseph Academy; and St. Joseph’s School of Music. There are also records of hospitals in Galahad, Killam, Stettler and Rimbey, Alberta; Chatham and Sarnia, Ontario; and St. Joseph’s Hospital and School of Nursing in London, Ontario. Included among the community annals are records for many convents and ministries such as Josephs’ House for Refugees; St. Joseph’s Hospitality Centre; and the Detox Centre.
Highlights of the Peterborough archive include records relating to the Peterborough congregation’s ministries, primarily in health care and education in Ontario and western Canada, as well as in Brazil. Holdings include community annals, photographs and some artifacts.
Highlights of the Pembroke archive include photographs, artifacts, and annals, including of the mission in Peru, and St. Mary’s Teachers’ College in Chapeau, Quebec.
Archives Mission Statement
The Archives Mission Statement may be downloaded here.