Summer 2026 Reference Closure / Fermeture du service de référence – été 2026
91˿Ƶ Archives reference services will be paused over the summer period from June 1-September 7, 2026, reopening on September 8, 2026. Please note that email research requests made during the pause in services will not be placed into a queue and answered in September. Researchers who wish to schedule research visits to access archival materials during the summer are invited to book their research visits prior to June 1, 2026. We thank you for your understanding.
PLEASE NOTE: MUA does not hold any medical records, if you are looking for your medical records, please contact the 91˿Ƶ Health Centre archives: archives.medicales [at] muhc.mcgill.ca (archives[dot]medicales[at]muhc[dot]mcgill[dot]ca)
Les services de référence des Archives de l'Université 91˿Ƶ seront interrompus pendant l'été, du 1er juin au 7er septembre 2026, et rouvriront le 8 septembre 2026. Veuillez noter que les demandes de recherche par courriel effectuées pendant la période d’interruption ne seront pas placées dans une file d'attente pour être traiter au moment de la réouverture au mois de septembre. Les chercheurs qui souhaitent programmer des visites de recherche pour accéder aux documents d'archives pendant l'été sont invités à réserver leurs visites avant le 1er juin 2026. Nous vous remercions de votre compréhension
VEUILLEZ NOTER : Le service d’Archives ne détient aucun dossier médical. Si vous cherchez votre dossier médical, veuillez contacter les archives du Centre de santé de l'Université 91˿Ƶ : archives.medicales [at] muhc.mcgill.ca (archives[dot]medicales[at]muhc[dot]mcgill[dot]ca)
Programme history
The establishment of the 91˿Ƶ Archives was announced in 1962 along with the appointment of 91˿Ƶ’s first University Archivist, Mr. 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 91˿Ƶ 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 at McLennan Library.
University Archivists
- Anthea Seles, Director and University Archivist 2025–
- Yves A. Lapointe, Director and University Archivist 2017–2024
- Lori Podolsky, Acting Director and University Archivist 2013–2017
- Theresa Rowat, Director and University Archivist 2007–2013
- Johanne Pelletier, Director and University Archivist 1997–2007
- Gordon Burr, Acting Director and University Archivist 1987–1988, 1990–1991 and 1994–1997
- Robert Michel, Acting Director and University Archivist 1987
- Marcel Caya, Director and University Archivist 1977–1996
- John Andreassen, University Archivist 1968–1977
- Alan D. Ridge, University Archivist 1962–1968
Annual reports between 1965 and 1980 detail successive developments in the holdings of the University Archives (including the extension of its collecting areas to include Montreal-based organizations with a connection to 91˿Ƶ), development of standards for description of holdings, and development of records management classification for the University community.