Seven people responded to the invitation published in the latest issue of La Moisson des Messier and participated in the tour of the Archives Section of the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ) on May 19. Four members and three guests were present. Four other people had reserved a spot but had to cancel at the last minute.

This tour allowed us, as amateur genealogists, to appreciate the wealth of archival holdings and collections housed at the BAnQ and to learn more about the services offered both on-site and remotely, the history and mission of the organization, and this magnificent architectural complex. Located on Viger Avenue, in a complex that includes the former HEC Montréal building, BAnQ Vieux-Montréal is part of a network of 10 centres across Quebec that house the public and private archives acquired by BAnQ. This heritage building alone is worth the visit. Our guide, librarian Denis Boudreau, gave us a comprehensive tour of the facility, from the reading rooms to the staff workrooms, the document storage rooms, and even the area where documents are quarantined upon arrival. One of his colleagues, having heard about our visit, had thoughtfully left a few documents from the « Gabrielle Messier Collection » on the work surface. Finally, our guide demonstrated the use of « Pistard, » a research tool highly valued by genealogists who use BAnQ both in person and online.

Upon leaving the archives, all participants were proud to have taken part in this visit. Thank you, Mr. Boudreau, for introducing us to this collective treasure that belongs to us and can be very useful in advancing our research.

Here are a few photos to remember this activity…