Quebec Literary and Historical Society

   Founded at Quebec in 1824, largely through the influence and liberality of the Earl of Dalhousie, then governor-general. Its purposes were "to discover and rescue from the unsparing hand of time the records which yet remain of the earliest history of Canada. To preserve while in our power, such documents as may be found amid the dust of yet unexplored depositories, and which may prove important to general history and to the particular history of this province." In 1829, another similar organization was absorbed; and in 1831 the society was incorporated by Act of Parliament. The library had been started the previous year, as well as the museum. Both have grown steadily, despite serious losses from fires.

   Bib.: The publications consist of Transactions and Historical Documents. The first volume of the former appeared in 1829, and the first part of the latter in 1838. The Trans., for 1887-1889 contain an account of the Society, its publications and its library, by F. C. Würtele, who also published in 1891 an Index to the series of publications.