Hereward (Wake) Senior was born in 1918 in New York City and was educated in Nassau County, Long Island. He volunteered for the Canadian army in 1943 and served with the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders. He fought in Europe, mainly as a Brengunner, and was wounded three times. He began his academic career at McGill with a B.A. degree in 1948 and continued at McGill to acquire a M.A. degree in 1951 and a PhD in 1959. His theses were in British political history and his PhD was published as a book, Orangeism in Ireland and Britain, 1795-1836. After completing his thesis, he shifted his focus towards Canadian political and military history with monographs on Orangeism, Loyalists and the Fenians. He also wrote a book on police institutions in Britain, Canada and the United States. He often expounded upon current events from a historical perspective through such vehicles as the Monarchy Canada newsletter. Senior had a penchant for examining the history of entities often portrayed as the losers of history. His intellectual lifelong commitment to a traditional, social conservatism also is reflected throughout his work including his correspondence with brother, John Senior (1923-1999), a Catholic scholar and Professor of Classics at Kansas University. He was quite active in the Anglican Church as well as with his wife Elinor in the Monarchist League.

He held academic appointments at Memorial, Royal Roads, and University of Toronto before coming to McGill in 1963. He became a full professor in 1971 and retired in 2005.

Elinor (Nellie) Kyte was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia and educated in Louisburg Public schools. She attended McGill University and graduated with a B.A. degree in 1952. During her student days at McGill Elinor was the chief staff writer for the student newspaper, the McGill Daily.She married Hereward Senior in 1954 and had four children. After working as a journalist with the Montreal Star she embarked on an academic career in Canadian history. She graduated with a M.A. degree from Memorial University in 1959 with a thesis on the evolution of Orangeism in Newfoundland, 1863-1885. She embarked upon a PhD program at McGill University and graduated in 1976 with a thesis on the British military garrison in Montreal. An avid writer, Elinor wrote poetry and short stories as well as a draft of a novel. She specialized in Canadian military history, writing many articles, book reviews, and entries for the Dictionary of Canadian Biography. As well she authored three books on the military in 19th century Montreal and a history of the city of Cornwall. She was the editor of the Cannon's Mouth, the newsletter of the Canadian Military History Group from 1984-1989. In conjunction with her husband Hereward (wake) Senior she also had research interests in Orangeism and the Loyalists as well as a commitment to the Monarchist League. She taught Canadian history courses at McGill, St. Francois Xavier, and Acadia as well as courses on police institutions at Marianopolis College. She was Professor of Military and Strategic Studies at Acadia University when she died in 1989.

The bulk of this fonds concerns the teaching and research activities of Elinor Senior. Elinor (Nellie) Kyte Senior was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia. She attended McGill University and graduated with a B.A. degree in 1952. During her days at McGill, Senior was the chief staff writer for the student newspaper, the McGill Daily. She married Hereward Senior in 1954 and had four children. After working as a journalist with the Montreal Star she embarked on an academic career in Canadian history. She graduated with a M.A. degree from Memorial University in 1959 with a thesis on the evolution of Orangeism in Newfoundland, 1863-1885. She graduated from McGill with a Ph.D. in 1976 with a thesis on the British military garrison in Montreal. An avid writer, Senior wrote poetry, short stories, and novels. She specialized in Canadian military history, writing many articles, book reviews, and entries for the Dictionary of Canadian Biography. She authored three books on the military in 19th century Montreal and a history of the city of Cornwall. She was the editor of the Cannon's Mouth, the newsletter of the Canadian Military History Group from 1984-1989. In conjunction with her husband Hereward Senior she also had research interests in Orangeism and the Loyalists as well as a commitment to the Monarchist League. She taught Canadian history courses at McGill, St. Francois Xavier, and Acadia as well as courses on police institutions at Marianopolis College. She was Professor of Military and Strategic Studies at Acadia University when she died in 1989.

In 1663 Montréal was made over to the Sulpicians who became the Seigneurs of the island of Montréal. The Sulpician Seminary was completed in 1664 on Notre-Dame St. In 1667 the Seminary of St-Sulpice was given judicial rights over the community. The Sulpicians taught the boys and young men of the district in the Seminary. In 1840 Lord Sydenham gave the Sulpicians legal title to their seigniorial lands.