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Title

Fonds consists of

6 lower level description(s)

Arrangement structure

Show Arrangement Structure

Accession

1. Summerhill Homes collection [graphic material]
2. Summerhill Homes fonds [textual record] (117-020022-2)

Date(s)

1823-1979

Place of creation

No place, unknown, or undetermined

Extent

7.65 m of textual records.
128 photographs b&w.
4 architectural drawings.

Language of material

English

Scope and content

Fonds consists of three main series which document the development of Summerhill Homes from its beginning. These series include the administrative papers, journals, reports and subject files of the Montreal Ladies Benevolent society, n.d., 1833-1949, the Montreal Prostestant Orphan Asylum, n.d., 1823-1977, and Summerhill Homes, n.d., 1938-1979. This material is also available on microfilm reels H-1709 to H-1730. Also included are various photographs and four plans pertaining to the Protestant Orphan Asylum in St. Lambert, P.Q.

Conditions of access

Terms of use

Photographs: Restrictions on use or reproduction. Researchers have to obtain written permission through Textual archivist to use or reproduce photographic material. Various copyrights on items less than 50 years old; copyright expired on items greater than 50 years old.

Finding aid

Textual records: The finding aid is a file list. MSS1504 (Paper)

Creator / Provenance

Summerhill Homes.

Biography / Administrative history

Summerhill Homes is the oldest English language social agency of Montreal. In 1815 the Female Benevolent Society was founded to aid indigent women with small children, the sick, the aged and the infirm. Until its founding the only sources of relief for the poor and the sick were the Hotel Dieu, the convents and the bread lines of the Gentlemen of the Seminary. The name of the society was later changed to the Montreal Ladies Benevolent Society. In 1817 the society bought a house in Recollet Suburb and called it the House of Recovery. In time the work of the Society led to the establishment of the Montreal General Hospital.

In 1822 the Montreal Ladies Benevolent Society was temporarily dissolved due to financial difficulties. Orphans who had previously been cared for the society were cared for over several months by English Scottish Church parishes. Later that year, 1822, the Protestant Orphan Asylum was established to care for the displaced orphans. In 1832 the Montreal Ladies Benevolent Society was re-established. After holding a public meeting in May 1856, The House of Industry and Refuge requested the Ladies Benevolent Society to take over the residents of their institution as it was about to be closed due to lack of funds. The House of Refuge was amalgamated with the Montreal Ladies Benevolent Society in 1868.

In 1947 the Montreal Ladies Benevolent Society and the Montreal Protestant Orphans' Home merged to form the Montreal Ladies Benevolent and Protestant Orphans Society; in 1962, the society was dissolved. At the request of the Board of Directors a survey of the agency and the total situation in the Protestant Child Welfare field of Montreal was carried out by the Child Welfare League of America. In 1963 the Board of Directors adopted one of the league's recommendations, namely to develop a number of group homes for children who needed to live away from their homes but would not be suited to foster care. In 1970 the former society became Summerhill Homes Inc. In 1977 Youth Horizons was formed.

Additional information

Subject heading

1. Montreal (Quebec) - Women, Protection of, [n.d., 1851-1909]
2. Bishop Bond, [n.d., 1823-1848]
3. Montreal (Quebec) - Children, Protection of, [n.d., 1834-1977], ca. 1970-1972
4. Montreal Council of Social Agencies, [n.d., 1864-1947]
5. Ernest Hirschbach, [n.d., 1950-1971]
6. Child Welfare League of America, [n.d., 1950-1971]
7. United Red Feather Service, [n.d., 1950-1971]
8. Children's Service Centers, [n.d., 1950-1971]
9. McGill School of Social Work, [n.d., 1938-1971]
10. Quebec (Province), [n.d., 1950-1971]
11. Montreal Ladies Benevolent Society, [n.d., 1868-1948]
12. Montreal Protestant Orphan Asylum, [n.d., 1823-1848, 1879-1943]
13. Camp Amy Molson, [n.d., 1870-1947]

Source

Private

Other system control no.

MAINS24325

Related control no.

1. 1986-121 NPC
2. 1989-0309 MSS
3. 117-020022-2
4. MG28-I388

MIKAN no.

105675