This series contains newsletters pertaining to the congregation. The early newsletters were generally written by the General Superior and addressed to the Sisters of the congregation. Some later newsletters pertained to the amalgamation of four congregations to become The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada in 2012.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada (London, Ont.)This series contains chronicles documenting the history of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario from 1853 to 1979. The records are chronological accounts of daily life and major events at specific locations. Most include an index or chapter list. Several of the chronicles have photographs, correspondence, event programs, and news clippings pasted or tucked within. One chronicle, “Sacred Heart Convent Motherhouse 1950-1952 X9”, is made up almost entirely of news clippings. Some also have transcriptions of relevant correspondence included, such as letters about the founding of the Sisters of St. Joseph in North America. The chronicles are a mix of primary recollections and secondary summaries of history.
Several of the chronicles were compiled, written, and collected by Sister Genvieve Hennessey. Variations of these chronicles are included, some of which are annotated, and there are inconsistencies between the versions. Sister Genevieve’s the “Chronicles of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London,” recounts the Sisters’ history from 1868 to 1928, the “Diamond Jubilee Books,” recount the Sisters’ history from 1868 to 1928 and 1933, and there is an addendum added to some versions of each volume which provide accounts up to 1954. Among these histories, there are also accounts by Mother Margaret Coughlin, Sister Placidia Walsh, and Sister Callistus Arnsby which detail local activities and pilgrimages to Rome and France.
The chronicles frequently note religious events and internal activities of the community such as receptions and professions, jubilees, election of congregational leaders, ordinations, changes to habits, and visits of prominent religious figures. Other topics concern the Sisters’ missions and ministries, such as travel arrangements, properties, events for the orphans, and the Sisters’ involvement in healthcare and education. Deaths of Sisters, clergy, and prominent figures, such as King George VI are also frequently mentioned, sometimes with the obituaries included. Local disasters and events are also frequent topics, such as the 1881 Victoria Steamboat Disaster, the 1925 fire at Mount St. Joseph, the 1929 fire at the Ingersoll convent, the 1935 earthquake, the 1937 flood of the Thames River, the first provincial election at which the Sisters voted in 1937, and the smog from the 1950 Alberta wildfires. There are also mentions of global events, particularly those that impacted the Sisters’ and their missions.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada (London, Ont.)This series consists of records documenting the mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Hamilton in Chetwynd, British Columbia and the surrounding communities between 1976 and 1983, along with supplemental records of earlier British Columbia missions. The records include historical reports, photographs, correspondence, event programmes, postcards and greetings cards, newspaper and magazine clippings, scrapbook pages, pamphlets, poetry, and song lyrics.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada (Hamilton, Ont.)This series contains the correspondence, programs from the award ceremonies, photographs and certificates reflecting the various awards presented to the Congregation.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada (London, Ont.)This series documents the Assembly meetings and contains registration forms, related correspondence, prayers, leadership team reports, reflections on the assembly days, excerpts of publications, questionnaires, brochures about celebrations, lists of groups and participants, schedules, and brochures containing reports on the topics discussed.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada (London, Ont.)This series contains records created and accumulated by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Hamilton, Ontario during their mission in Arthur, Ontario. The records include annals, historical summaries, meeting minutes, financial reports, correspondence, postcards, an offer to purchase property, two photograph albums, a booklet from the 150th anniversary of St. John the Evangelist Church, and The Way We Were Stories and Illustrations Vol. 1 No. 1 which records highlights of Arthur's early history. Arthur, Ontario is located within the Saugeen Anishnaabek of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation people which includes the Chippewas of Saugeen and the Chippewas of Nawash. It is the traditional territory of the Anishinabek Nation: The People of the Three Fires known as the Ojibway, Odwaa, and Pottawatomie Nations. On January 6, 1873, Sister M. Joseph Galvin, Sister Scholastica Mannix, and Sister M. Celestine Burns of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Hamilton, Ontario arrived in Arthur, Ontario. Father Laussie, a priest in Arthur, had requested their assistance to meet the needs of the area. Sister M. Joseph was appointed as the local Superior. St. Joseph’s Convent was erected in 1887. In Arthur, the Sisters’ main ministry was to teach, but other apostolates were also undertaken such as that of sacristan, organist, music teacher, homemaker, parish ministry, and the visitation of the ill. The last Sister left in 1995.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada (Hamilton, Ont.)This series contains the records of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London's ministry in Zurich, Ontario. In 1963 the Sisters of St. Joseph of London came to Zurich, Ontario and resided at Sacred Heart Convent, named so as to avoid confusion with the nearby St. Joseph’s Village. While there, the Sister taught at St. Boniface School and did parish ministry, including visiting homes of the ill and elderly and assisting with youth programs at St. Boniface Church. The Sisters left Zurich in 1990, though one Sister continued to teach for an additional year at St. Boniface School. The records present include histories, pamphlets, programmes, souvenir booklets, correspondence, news clippings, photographs, and a scrapbook related to the Sisters' ministry in Zurich. Zurich is located on the traditional territory of the Anishinabewaki and Mississauga and it part of Treaty 29, 1827.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada (London, Ont.)This series contains the records of Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. The traditional name for Yellowknife is Sǫ̀mbak’è and it is located the Chief Drygeese Territory as well as Treaty 8 Territory. It is the traditional land of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. The Sisters of St. Joseph first came to the Northwest Territories in August of 1953 to teach at the Catholic schools in Yellowknife. When the first Sisters arrived, the convent was not yet ready, and so they slept in a “tar-paper shack” across from St. Patrick’s Elementary School. While the Sisters moved into their convent in New Town in the fall, the building was not completed until March 13, 1954. St. Patrick’s High School opened in 1961, and the Sisters taught there as well. It was destroyed by a fire in April of 1964, and the students were temporarily taught at Akaicho Hall and St. Patrick’s Elementary. The replacement school opened the following November. In 1978 St. Joseph’s Elementary School opened, named in honour of the Sisters of St. Joseph’s service. In 1987 the Sisters moved to a new convent on School Draw. The Sisters were also involved in parish ministry, assisted with transportation, taught music, lead Scouts troops, and sat on various committees. As of 2025, individual Sisters continued to live and minister in and around Yellowknife. Records present include chronicles, historical summaries, publications, maps, newsletters, news clippings, photographs, fabric crests, copies of and original art prints, and a scrapbook. Throughout this series, offensive historical terminology for Indigenous Peoples are used.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada (London, Ont.)This series contains the records created and accumulated by the Sisters of St. Joseph of London During their time in Woodstock, Ontario. In 1913 Reverend Mother Celestine McCarthy was asked to send Sisters to staff the Separate Schools in Woodstock, Ontario. The Sisters resided at St. Joseph’s Convent on Delatre Street and opened St. Joseph’s Academy of Music. In 1940, the Sisters also operated Vacation School. The Sisters in Woodstock taught at St. Mary’s School and St. Rita’s School, as well as St. Francis School, Princeton. In 1956, the Sisters moved to 210 Vansittart Street. In 1975 the Sisters withdrew from their convent in Woodstock, though they continued to commute in to teach from Tillsonburg. In 1987, the Sisters rented a townhouse on Blandford Street in Woodstock for Sisters to conduct their ministry until 1990. There are annals, correspondence, news clippings, historical summaries, lists of Sisters in Woodstock, inventories of the Sisters' possessions, and photographs. Woodstock is located on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabek, Attiwonderonk, and Mississauga.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada (London, Ont.)The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario first came to Sandwich (which would become Windsor, Ontario) in 1884 and, as of 2025, continue to live and minister in the city. Windsor is located on the traditional territory of the Three Fires Confederacy of First Nations, which is an alliance between the Ojibwa, the Odawa, and the Potawatomi. This series contains annals, photographs, a map, pamphlets, correspondence, news clippings, funeral and memorial cards, and petitions related to the Sisters ministry in London. These annals primarily focus on various small residences which the Sisters lived in while they did ministry in health care, education, and pastoral services. These residences also served as foster homes for disabled children, a retreat centre, a group home for women who had experienced long-term psychiatric illness, and the Adult Spirituality Centre. There is also material related to a Qigong program offered through the Sandwich Community Health Centre. Many of the records within this group focus on individual Sisters ministries.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada (London, Ont.)