The Literary and Historical Society of Quebec (LHSQ) was the first
historical society
A historical society (sometimes also preservation society) is an organization dedicated to preserving, collecting, researching, and interpreting historical information or items. Originally, these societies were created as a way to help future gen ...
,
and one of the first
learned societies
A learned society (; also learned academy, scholarly society, or academic association) is an organization that exists to promote an academic discipline, profession, or a group of related disciplines such as the arts and science. Membership may ...
, in Canada. It was founded in 1824 by
George Ramsay, Earl of Dalhousie, governor of
British North America
British North America comprised the colonial territories of the British Empire in North America from 1783 onwards. English overseas possessions, English colonisation of North America began in the 16th century in Newfoundland (island), Newfound ...
. Its headquarters are still located in
Quebec City
Quebec City ( or ; french: Ville de Québec), officially Québec (), is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the Communauté métrop ...
.
After several moves and two fires, the Society settled into the northern wing of Quebec City's
Morrin College in 1868. The College closed at the turn of the 20th century but the Society stayed on, eventually taking over the entire building in 2004.
The Society's original aims were encyclopaedic, being founded in the infancy of Canada's cultural and intellectual development. The Society gathered historical documents about Canada and republished many rare manuscripts. Research in all fields of knowledge was actively encouraged. Talks were held in the Society's reading room, the best of which were published regularly in a quasi-annual series of Transactions from 1824 to 1924.
Over the years, the Society played a part in creating public institutions that would take over many of its traditional roles. For instance, it fostered the foundation of the Public Archives of Canada (today's
Library and Archives Canada
Library and Archives Canada (LAC; french: Bibliothèque et Archives Canada) is the federal institution, tasked with acquiring, preserving, and providing accessibility to the documentary heritage of Canada. The national archive and library is th ...
) in 1872. It was also active in the preservation of Canada’s built and natural heritage, helping to save the
Plains of Abraham
The Plains of Abraham (french: Plaines d'Abraham) is a historic area within the Battlefields Park in Quebec City, Quebec, anada. It was established on 17 March 1908. The land is the site of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, which took place ...
from developers and eventually fostering the creation of the
Historic Sites and Monuments board of Canada
National Historic Sites of Canada (french: Lieux historiques nationaux du Canada) are places that have been designated by the federal Minister of the Environment on the advice of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC), as being ...
.
With the growth of national public institutions, the Society’s activities gradually became centred on the services of its private lending library, providing access to English-language books in a largely French-speaking city.
In the 1990s, the Society reassessed its mission and sought to expand its cultural services to
Quebec City
Quebec City ( or ; french: Ville de Québec), officially Québec (), is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the Communauté métrop ...
's small English-speaking community. In 2000, it took on the
Morrin Centre
The Morrin Centre is a cultural centre in the Old Quebec neighbourhood of Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. It is designed to educate the public about the historic contribution and present-day culture of local English-speakers. The centre contains th ...
project, which restored the 200-year-old historic site it is housed in to create an English-language cultural centre in
Quebec City
Quebec City ( or ; french: Ville de Québec), officially Québec (), is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the Communauté métrop ...
.
Presidents of the LHSQ
* Sir
Francis Nathaniel Burton
Sir Francis Nathaniel Pierpoint Burton (26 December 1766 – 27 January 1832) was a British colonial administrator in Lower Canada and Irish politician.
Burton was the younger of twin sons born to Francis Conyngham, 2nd Baron Conyngham (born B ...
, Lt. Governor (1824)
* Hon.
James Reid,
Chief Justice (1828)
* Lieutenant
Frederick Henry Baddeley
Major General Frederick Henry Baddeley (4 December 1794 – 4 May 1879), born Frederick Henry ''Clinton-''Baddeley, youngest son of Sir Henry Clinton and his partner, Mary Baddeley (1756 – 27 March 1820), was a British military engineer ...
,
R.N. (1829)
* Hon
Jonathan Sewell
Jonathan Sewell (born Jonathan Sewall; June 6, 1766 – November 11, 1839) was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Lower Canada.
Early life
He was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the son of Jonathan Sewall, the last British attorney gen ...
,
Chief Justice (1830-1831)
* Hon.
Andrew Stuart, K.C. (1832) (1837-1838)
* Hon.
William Sheppard (1833-1834, 1841, 1843, 1847)
*
Joseph Skey,
M.D.
Doctor of Medicine (abbreviated M.D., from the Latin ''Medicinae Doctor'') is a medical degree, the meaning of which varies between different jurisdictions. In the United States, and some other countries, the M.D. denotes a professional degree. T ...
(1835)
* Rev. Daniel Wilkie,
L.L.D. (1836)
*
William Kelly,
M.D.
Doctor of Medicine (abbreviated M.D., from the Latin ''Medicinae Doctor'') is a medical degree, the meaning of which varies between different jurisdictions. In the United States, and some other countries, the M.D. denotes a professional degree. T ...
,
R.N. (1839-1840)
* Hon.
A.W. Cochrane (1842) (1845) (1848)
*
George-Barthélemy Faribault
George-Barthélemy Faribault (December 3, 1789 – 1866) was a Canadian archaeologist, born in Quebec.
Faribault was a first cousin of Jean-Baptiste, father of Alexander, founder of the city of Faribault, Minnesota, United States. After attendi ...
,
Esq.
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman a ...
(1844, 1849-1854, 1858-1859)
*
John Charlton Fisher
John Charlton Fisher, Esq., L.L.D. (October 23, 1794 – August 10, 1849) was a Canadian author, journalist, and publisher.
Born in England, he settled in Lower Canada (present-day Quebec
Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian governmen ...
,
Esq.
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman a ...
,
L.L.D. (1846)
*
Edmund Allen Meredith
Edmund Allen Meredith (7 October 1817 – 2 January 1899) was an Irish lawyer whose career was in public service in Canada. He was Under Secretary of State for Canada; a prison reformer, writer, president of the Literary and Historical Socie ...
,
Esq.
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman a ...
,
M.A.
A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...
(1855, 1860-1861)
* W. Andrew,
Esq.
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman a ...
,
M.A.
A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...
(1856-1857)
*
John Langton
John Langton (died 1337) was a chancellor of England and Bishop of Chichester.
Life
Langton was a clerk in the royal chancery, serving as the first Master of the Rolls from May 1286, and became chancellor in 1292.Fryde, et al. ''Handbook of B ...
, Esq.,
M.A.
A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...
(1862-1865)
* Com.
Edward David Ashe,
R.N.,
F.R.A.S. (1862-1865, 1873)
* Hon.
Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau
Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau (May 30, 1820 – April 4, 1890) was a Canadian lawyer and politician. Chauveau was the first premier of Quebec, following the establishment of Canada in 1867. Appointed to the office in 1867 as the leader of the ...
,
L.L.D. (1868)
*
James Douglas (1869, 1874-1875)
* Dr.
W.J. Anderson (1870, 1872)
* The Hon. Sir
James MacPherson LeMoine,
Esq.
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman a ...
(1871, 1879-1882, 1902-1903)
*
James Stevenson,
Esq.
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman a ...
(1876-1878)
* Hon.
David Alexander Ross
David Alexander Ross, (March 12, 1819 – July 23, 1897) was a lawyer, businessman and political figure in Quebec. He represented Québec-Comté in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec from 1878 to 1881 as a Liberal.
He was born in Quebec ...
,
Q.C.
QC may refer to:
* Queen's Counsel, the title of a King's Counsel, a type of lawyer in Commonwealth countries, during the reign of a queen
* Quality control, the process of meeting products and services to consumer expectations
Places
* Quebec, ...
(1883-1884)
* George Stewart,
D.C.L.,
F.R.S.C.
The Royal Society of Canada (RSC; french: Société royale du Canada, SRC), also known as the Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada (French: ''Académies des arts, des lettres et des sciences du Canada''), is the senior national, bil ...
,
F.R.G.S.
The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers), often shortened to RGS, is a learned society and professional body for geography based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical scien ...
(1885-1891)
*
Cyrille Tessier,
Esq.
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman a ...
(1892-1893)
*
Archibald Campbell Archibald Campbell may refer to:
Peerage
* Archibald Campbell of Lochawe (died before 1394), Scottish peer
* Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll (died 1513), Lord Chancellor of Scotland
* Archibald Campbell, 4th Earl of Argyll (c. 1507–1558) ...
,
Esq.
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman a ...
(1894-1895)
* Rev.
R.W. Norman,
D.D.
A Doctor of Divinity (D.D. or DDiv; la, Doctor Divinitatis) is the holder of an advanced academic degree in divinity.
In the United Kingdom, it is considered an advanced doctoral degree. At the University of Oxford, doctors of divinity are ra ...
, Dean of Quebec (1896-1897)
*
Philippe Baby Casgrain
Philippe Baby Casgrain (December 30, 1826 – May 23, 1917) was a Quebec lawyer, author and political figure. He represented L'Islet in the House of Commons of Canada as a Liberal member from 1873 to 1891.
He was born in Quebec City in 1 ...
,
Esq.
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman a ...
(1898-1899, 1906-1907)
*
William Wood William Wood may refer to:
Politicians
* William Wood (MP for Berkshire), Member of Parliament (MP) for Berkshire, 1395
* William Wood (15th century MP), MP for Winchester, 1413
* William Wood, 1st Baron Hatherley (1801–1881), British state ...
,
Esq.
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman a ...
,
D.C.L.,
F.R.S.C.
The Royal Society of Canada (RSC; french: Société royale du Canada, SRC), also known as the Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada (French: ''Académies des arts, des lettres et des sciences du Canada''), is the senior national, bil ...
(1900-1901, 1904-1905, 1938-1941)
* Dr.
G.W. Parmelee,
L.L.D. (1908-1909, 1917-1918)
*
John Hamilton,
M.A.
A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...
,
D.C.L. (1910-1911)
*
Col.
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
H. Neilson (1912-1913)
*
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a panel of judges. A judge hears all the witnesses and any other evidence presented by the barristers or solicitors of the case, assesses the credibility an ...
John Charles McCorkill (1914)
* Dr.
J.M. Harper,
M.A.
A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...
,
F.E.I.S (1915-1916)
*
E.T.D. Chambers,
Esq.
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman a ...
(1919-1920)
* Lt-Col. the Rev.
Peter Michael O'Leary (1921)
*
Dominick Daly O'Meara,
Esq.
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman a ...
(1922-1923)
*
J.C. Sutherland,
Esq.
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman a ...
(1924-1925)
* Hon.
G.F. Gibsone (1926-1927, 1942-1943)
* Major
W.H. Petry (1928-1929)
* Rev.
A.T. Love
AT or at may refer to:
Geography Austria
* Austria (ISO 2-letter country code)
* .at, Internet country code top-level domain
United States
* Atchison County, Kansas (county code)
* The Appalachian Trail (A.T.), a 2,180+ mile long mountaino ...
(deceased April 1930)
* Hon.
Frank Carrel
Frank Carrel (7 September 1870 — 30 July 1940) was a Canadian journalist, publisher, and politician.
In 1918, he was appointed to the Legislative Council of Quebec for Golfe. A Liberal, he served until his death in 1940.
He was buried at Mou ...
,
M.L.C. (1930-1934)
* Col.
Count de Bury,
C.B.E.
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...
,
R.C.O.C. (1934-1935)
*
Thomas R. Peacock,
R.R.I.,
B.A.
Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four yea ...
(1936-1937)
*
E.C. Woodley,
Esq.
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman a ...
(1944-1946)
*
W.Godfrey Brown,
Esq.
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman a ...
(1947-1948)
*
George A. Clare,
Esq.
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman a ...
(1949-1952, 1957-1960, 1970-1976)
*
William MacMillan (1953-1956)
*
John H.C. McGreevy,
O.C. (1961-1965)
*
J.H. Bieler (1966-1969)
*
Rosemary Cannon (1977-1980, 1985-1989)
*
Cameron MacMillan (1981-1984, 1990-1992)
* Dr.
Tomas Feininger (1993-1998)
*
David F. Blair (1999-2012)
* Sovita Chander (2012-2016)
* Barry Holleman (2016-2020)
* Gina Farnell (2020-)
Transactions of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec
Transactions of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec Vol. 1 Transactions of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec Vol. 2Vol.3Vol. 4Vol. 5 Transactions of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec, Parts 8-12Part 13No.28No.25 - 30
References
External links
Morrin Centre
managed by the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec.
Archival Index - Literary and Historical Society of Quebec, 1824-1924The centenary volume of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec, 1824-1924
digitized copy of the Society's final publication of the 20th century.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Literary And Historical Society Of Quebec
1824 establishments in Lower Canada
Culture of Quebec City
History organizations based in Canada
Literary societies
Organizations based in Quebec City
Learned societies of Canada
Organizations established in 1824
Quebec Anglophone culture in Quebec City