Archives Roadshow

Gillian Hearns, Director of Archives at the Archdiocese of Toronto, shows off some of our treasured artifacts at the Eastern Regional Celebration to mark the archdiocesan 175th anniversary.
(ARCAT Staff Photo)

It is the nature of archives that researchers interested in accessing documents firsthand are required to visit the repository that houses and protects them. In other words, our records don't get out much.

Therefore, it was with excitement (and, admittedly, a little trepidation) that we decided to pack up some of our most treasured artifacts and put them on display to mark the Archdiocese of Toronto's 175th Anniversary.

The archdiocese is divided into four pastoral regions and each has held, or will hold, an Anniversary Celebration with mass and reception hosted by Cardinal Thomas Collins and the regional auxiliary bishop. At each event, we have set up a historical display in the narthex and reception hall of the host parish.

It has been a wonderful opportunity to engage with the Catholic community that wouldn't typically use the archives or even know much about the archdiocese beyond parish life. So far, we have taken our roadshow to Merciful Redeemer Parish, Mississauga (Western Region), St. Mary's Parish, Barrie (Northern Region) and St. Isaac Jogues Parish, Pickering (Eastern Region).

The final Regional Celebration will be held at Blessed Trinity Parish (3220 Bayview Ave.) next Thursday, October 19, 2017 at 7 p.m. If you are in the Toronto area, we invite you to come celebrate this milestone with us and see what ARCAT has to offer!

For more information visit: www.archtoronto.org/175

Western Regional Celebration at Merciful Redeemer Parish, Mississauga, September 12, 2017
(ARCAT Staff Photo)

Western Regional Celebration at Merciful Redeemer Parish, Mississauga, September 12, 2017
(ARCAT Staff Photo)

Our display included 19th century vestments, mitres and a pallium. 

Northern Regional Celebration at St. Mary's Parish, Barrie, September 21, 2017
(ARCAT Staff Photo)

Northern Regional Celebration at St. Mary's Parish, Barrie, September 21, 2017
(ARCAT Staff Photo)

Our mannequins have a slight contrapposto stance, otherwise known as swagger.

Eastern Regional Celebration at St. Isaac Jogues Parish, Pickering, October 4, 2017
(ARCAT Staff Photo)

Members of the CWL at St. Isaac Jogues Parish take a break from hosting duties to pose with our timeline posters. 

Eastern Regional Celebration at St. Isaac Jogues Parish, Pickering, October 4, 2017
(ARCAT Staff Photo)

Eastern Regional Celebration at St. Isaac Jogues Parish, Pickering, October 4, 2017
(ARCAT Staff Photo)

Also on display were episcopal jewellery, medals, and souvenirs from the last two papal conclaves.

On the tenth day of Christmas, ARCAT stored for me…

...ten ’broidered vestments,

Textiles Special Collection, TX.01, TX.06, TX.101, TX.50, TX.09. TX.121, TX.49, TX.122, TX.04, TX.95

Embroidery refers to thread or yarn stitched to fabric for decoration. Historically, liturgical vestments were richly embroidered by hand to emphasize the solemnity of the garments' purpose.  In our collection, we have a variety of textiles with embroidery ranging from weighty metallic thread to fine, machine-made details.  

In this selection are four chasubles (gold, white, purple and red), the liturgical garment worn by the celebrating priest. All of these are examples of the "fiddleback" style. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, chasubles were heavily lined and stiffened to support the heavy embroidery. Therefore, in order to allow for better range of arm motion, the front sides were cut away, forming a fiddleback shape. 

Other embroidered vestments include:

• a humeral veil, worn for holding the monstrance during the Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament;
• liturgical gloves (also called episcopal or ceremonial gloves), which are reserved for bishops. They are worn only at Pontifical Mass, and then only to the washing of the hands before the Sacrifice;
• an unusual grey-coloured stole, presumably for funerals;
• an alb, the garment worn under the chasuble or dalmatic, with embroidered cuff details;
• a green dalmatic, the sleeved tunic worn by celebrating deacons;
• a gold mitre that belonged to Cardinal Carter.

nine document seals,

eight spir’tual bouquets,

seven papal bulls,

six pairs of buskins,

five golden rings,

four photographs,

three mitres,

two maniples,

and a pen used to vote at Conclave.

On the sixth day of Christmas, ARCAT stored for me…

...six pairs of buskins,

Textiles Special Collection, TX.106a-f

Buskins are ceremonial liturgical stockings traditionally made of silk.  They are worn by the celebrant of a Pontifical Mass, which follows the Extraordinary Form. Buskins can be worn with episcopal sandals (low slipper-like footwear) or over regular socks and with dress shoes. They match the liturgical colour of the chasuble worn by the bishop or pope. These six pairs of buskins belonged to James Cardinal McGuigan.

five golden rings,

four photographs,

three mitres,

two maniples,

and a pen used to vote at Conclave.

On the third day of Christmas, ARCAT stored for me…

...three mitres,

Textiles Special Collection, TX.97, TX.92 and TX.82

A mitre is a tall folding cap, consisting of two flat, peaked parts sewn together at the sides. Two fringed lappets always hang down from the back.  It is worn over the zucchetto and removed for prayer. Mitres are the reserved headdress of bishops. There are three types of mitres as shown above:

• pretiosa (precious): decorated with precious stones and gold and worn on solemn feast days;
• auriphrygiata (gold): plain gold cloth or white silk with gold, silver or coloured embroidered bands; usually worn by bishops when they preside at the celebration of the sacraments and for private functions;
• simplex (simple): undecorated, white linen or silk with red fringes on the lappets. Cardinals vested in the presence of the Pope wear a mitre of white damask, such as the one above.

These mitres belonged to Cardinal Carter and Cardinal Ambrozic.

two maniples,

and a pen used to vote at Conclave.

On the second day of Christmas, ARCAT stored for me...

...two maniples:

Textiles Special Collection, TX.65b and TX.77

A maniple is a piece of liturgical vesture worn over the left forearm of the priest or deacon during Mass. It has two strings to tie together for a secure fit. Its origin is the large handkerchief laid across the arm of Roman magistrates signifying authority and service (similar to the cloth that a maître d’ hangs over his forearm).  Following Vatican II, the maniple was considered to be unnecessary and is no longer used in common Mass.  It is still used where Latin Masses (Extraordinary Form) are celebrated. (Latin Mass is available at four parishes in the Archdiocese of Toronto)

The red maniple is made of velvet lined with silk and likely dates to the early 20th century.  The shiny fabric and slim line of the purple maniple suggests a 1960s aesthetic.  The cross decoration is framed in a mandorla, so called for its almond shape.  Maniples would have been part of a matching vestment set with a stole and chasuble or dalmatic.  The colours are indicative of the liturgical calendar.  Red (symbolizing fire, blood, sacrifice, charity, zeal and the Holy Spirit) is worn at Pentecost, Palm Sunday, and Feast Days of the Martyrs.  Purple (symbolizing repentance, sorrow, penitence, preparation) is used during Advent and Lent.

and a pen used to vote at Conclave.

Revisiting the St. Augustine's Seminary archives

Over the years ARCAT has provided advice about archives and records management to other repositories, including religious archives, partner agencies and institutions.  In 1990, our director, Marc Lerman, was asked to arrange and describe the archives at St. Augustine's Seminary in Scarborough.

The seminary was established in 1913 as the first major seminary constructed in English-speaking Canada for the training of diocesan priests. Lately, the seminary has been under scaffolding for maintenance and renovations.  It was recently decided to move the archives from basement storage to a renovated room on the main floor.

In preparation for the move, our consultation services were again solicited. There had definitely been some accumulation in 23 years! It's always fun to rummage through boxes.  You never know what you'll find...

The main storage room in the seminary basement.  The archives will soon be moved to a renovated room on the main floor. 

Getting organized: laying out all the framed items in the basement corridor. 

An awesome safe.  Unfortunately we could not find the key.

Spectacles with case.

Marc modelling the spectacles.

Mitre and case with clerical collars. Items belonged to Most. Rev. Leonard Wall.  He was an auxiliary bishop of Toronto (1979-1992), and then Archbishop of Winnipeg.  When he retired, Abp. Wall returned to Toronto to reside at the seminary, which explains why his things are stored here.  We found many boxes of textual material and artifacts belonging to Abp. Wall.

The seminary archives has a wonderful photographs collection and much of it has been transferred to ARCAT for preservation purposes.  Yesterday, we installed a display featuring photos from this collection to celebrate the St. Augustine's Seminary's 100th anniversary:

Lobby display case at the Catholic Pastoral Centre, Archdiocese of Toronto

Darn it! Sacred Stitches is sew worth seeing!

If you are anywhere in downtown Toronto this week, it's definitely worth popping over to St. James Anglican Cathedral to see Sacred Stitches: Beauty and Holiness in the Needlework of Many Faiths. The show celebrates the Ecclesiastical Needleworkers' centenary and features over 100 works of embroidery and textile art.

Sacred Stitches is installed in St. James Anglican Cathedral.  The image on the poster (above) comes from the stained glass window on the left of this photo, illustrating the renewal of culture in England during the 9th and 10th centuries following the Viking invasions.

This multi-faith exhibit includes pieces by contemporary artists, cherished family heirlooms, and gorgeous banners, vestments and tapestries created by stitchery guilds.

ARCAT was thrilled to participate in the exhibit.  We loaned a fiddleback chasuble and dalmatic, funeral vestments and a pair of ceremonial gloves.

The dalmatic (the liturgical vestment worn by deacons) from ARCAT's collection features painted velvet flowers which have been stitched to the silk.  Originally from St. Margaret's Parish in Midland. Transferred to ARCAT for preservation after a fire at the parish in 1986.

The pieces have been installed all along the side aisles of the church and in front of the sanctuary. The exhibit is supervised twelve hours a day (even during services) by a large group of dedicated volunteers. Archivist and museum curator Nancy Mallett and her team have spent months coordinating and promoting this show. Their very impressive efforts were rewarded with over 400 visitors on opening day.

The exhibit runs until Friday, November 1st, from 7 am to 7 pm.  Free admission; donations welcome.

A nuptial chuppah (canopy used during Jewish marriage ceremonies); funeral pall (stitched by the Cariboo Group of women at Grace Church-on-the-Hill) and a new cope (created in Ukraine for Christ the Saviour Russian Orthodox Cathedral).

In front of the baptistry are displayed textiles used in infantile initiation rites. To the right is a traditional “elder’s outfit” to wear to a wedding in China.

A personal favourite.
Chasuble with embroidery that picks up the brocade pattern on the fabric.
From St. Thomas Anglican Church, Toronto.