McGill University Archives

Identity area

Identifier

MUA

Authorized form of name

McGill University Archives

Parallel form(s) of name

  • Archives de l'Université McGill

Other form(s) of name

Type

Contact area

 

Reference Service Primary contact

Type

Address

Street address

3459 McTavish Street

Locality

Montreal

Region

Quebec

Country name

Canada

Postal code

H3A 0C9

Telephone

514-398-4711

Fax

Email

Note

Description area

History

The establishment of the McGill University Archives was announced in 1962 along with the appointment of McGill’s first University Archivist, Alan Ridge. The initiative toward an archives programme can be traced to an exchange of correspondence in the late 1950s between Professor John Irwin Cooper (Department of History) and then Principal F. Cyril James regarding "...the necessity for a survey of McGill University records...the establishment of University Archives..." and the need to " better appraise the University’s records." (MUA Records of the Principal RG 2 C246 F7401 "Archives and Records"). James’ announcement in 1962 recognizes the role of the records and archives for both administrative and historical purposes: "All kinds of documents have been created in the course of administering the university and they are all, technically, archives forming part of the University’s memory. Yet not all the papers which have survived merit indefinite retention and it is one of the Archivist’s functions to advise on the relative value of any classes of papers..."
(RG 2 C266 File 8023 "Administration Archives and Records")

Storage for the University Archives was first located in the stacks of the Redpath Library, with the office of the University Archivist located in the James Administration Building. In 1971 the University Archives moved to consolidated storage, access and administrative offices on the Ground Floor of the McLennan Library, where it remains today.

Geographical and cultural context

Mandates/Sources of authority

Administrative structure

Buildings

Holdings

Please note that the McGill University Archives does not hold medical records.
Veuillez prendre note que les Archives de l'Université McGill ne détiennent aucuns dossiers médicaux.

Finding aids, guides and publications

Access area

Opening times

Monday - Friday 10 AM - 6 PM

Access conditions and requirements

Accessing McGill University Archives
Archival documents must be consulted on site. Requests can be submitted by email or telephone. Please note that requests will be answered within 5 business days. Users will be informed if any additional delay is necessary.
Most of our holdings are available. However, please note that some documents may have restricted access. Researchers should submit research request as detailed as possible or come to the MUA with good background information and a clear idea of their research project.

Accessibility

Services area

Research services

The McGill University Archives offer service from the Rare Books and Special Collections Reading Room, McLennan Library Building, 4th floor. The Reading Room contains a range of resources, including published sources on the history of Montreal and McGill University, McGill University calendars and McGill University publications such as Old McGill and McGill News. We recommend that you make an appointment prior to your visit. This can be done by emailing our refdesk.archives@mcgill.ca.

Also available in the Reading Room are the University Archives finding aids for manuscript collections and University records, as well as a series of FAQ information files about the University.

Reproduction services

Public areas

Control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation, revision and deletion

Language(s)

Script(s)

Sources

Maintenance notes

Access points

Access Points

  • Clipboard

Primary contact

3459 McTavish Street
Montreal, Quebec
CA H3A 0C9