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The Future of Our Past
Council of Nova Scotia Archives |
Saint
Mary's University Archives
Saint Mary's was founded as a college in 1802. It is the oldest English-speaking, Roman-Catholic university in Canada. With meager resources, the Reverend Edmund Burke founded the institution and, on being named Bishop of Nova Scotia, insisted that the support for the college be continued as essential in fostering the Catholic community. In 1841 the Nova Scotian House of Assembly gave formal recognition of the college's academic role and, eleven years later, granted it legal status. The next few years saw a great deal of uncertainty about the survival of the college. However, in 1913 the Christian Brothers of Ireland were asked by the Archdiocese of Halifax to direct the college and its academic programs. In 1940 the Upper Province of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) was invited to succeed the Christian Brothers as administrators and teachers, who remained until 1970 when supervision for the college was passed to the Board of Governors and Senate.
Few administrative records from the time of Rev. Burke, the Christian Brothers or the Jesuits remain, however many early twentieth century student records can be found in the collection. Presently the Saint Mary's University Archives collects materials of historical value relating to the University. This includes publications of and relating to the University's administrative and academic departments, staff, faculty, students, alumni, and related societies.
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Read a SMU newspaper from 1936 |
Visit the ArchWay
database to search for records from the Saint Mary's
University Archives.
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