The Pope's Tailor

This week in the news we learned that Ditta Annibale Gammarelli, the official tailor of the Pope, is being passed to the sixth generation of the Gammarelli family. You may remember reading about the shop before the last conclave, when they were called upon to make new white cassocks in three sizes to accommodate whomever was elected.

The firm has been making garments for the Pope and other members of the hierarchy since 1798. Each piece is made with the finest material with great detail and care.

Here in the archives, we have a few relevant items:

A 1926 invoice from Annibale Gammarelli, "Tailor of Pius XI, Merchant Tailor to Ecclesiastics."

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Archbishop McNeil Fonds

We also have a few examples of Gammarelli's work, all of which were worn by Cardinal Carter:

Cardinal's Mozzetta (short cape); red silk with red piping.

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ARCAT Special Collections

Cardinal's simar; black silk with red buttons and piping. Complete with pockets, the existence of which makes any garment instantly better.

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ARCAT Special Collections  

Cardinal's socks. You can buy your very own pair from meschaussettesrouges.com!

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ARCAT Special Collections

The quality of the items in the collection makes it easy to see why Gammarelli has maintained its official position. We wish the future Gammarellis the best of luck in the business of dressing the Pope!

Merit of the Highest Degree: Cardinal Carter Receives the Order of Canada

This month marks the anniversary of the first induction to the Order of Canada. Governor General Roland Michener was the first inductee on July 1, 1967, and 90 more were appointed on July 6 that year.

The Order of Canada is currently made up of three grades: Companion, Officer, and Member, in order of precedence. New members are generally appointed two times per year. Individuals are awarded the Order for outstanding achievement, dedication to the community, and service to Canada.

A maximum of 15 people annually are appointed Companions. Specifically, this highest level of the Order recognizes national pre-eminence or international service or achievement. In December 1982, Cardinal Carter was one of three appointed that month and one of only six that year to receive the honour. To date, he is the only Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Toronto to receive an Order of Canada. His investiture was on April 20, 1983.

Cardinal Carter receives the Order of Canada from Governor General Edward R. Schreyer, April 20, 1983

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Cardinal Carter wearing his Companion of the Order of Canada insignia

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Recipients of the Order of Canada are given a certificate of their appointment:

The Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Canada

His Eminence Gerald Emmett Cardinal Carter

Greeting:

Whereas, with the approval of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Sovereign of the Order of Canada, We have been pleased to appoint you to be a Companion of the Order of Canada

We do by these Presents appoint you to be a Companion of the said Order and authorize you to hold and enjoy the dignity of such appointment together with membership in the said Order and all privileges thereunto appertaining

Given at Rideau Hall in the City of Ottawa under the Seal of the Order of Canada this twentieth day of December, 1982.

By the Chancellor’s Command,
[signed by Edward R. Schreyer, Governor General of Canada, and Esmond Butler, Secretary General of the Order of Canada]

CA AA10.35
Cardinal Carter Fonds 

At the investiture, the recipient is presented with the insignia corresponding to the grade of Order awarded. The design of the Order is a white six-pointed snowflake with a stylized red maple leaf at the centre that is encircled by the motto of the Order. The motto, DESIDERANTES MELIOREM PATRIAM, means “They desire a better country,” a phrase taken from Letter to the Hebrews 11:16. 

Companion of the Order of Canada insignia in its box.
The outside top of the box has C.C. imprinted on it. A person with this designation may use the post-nominals CC.

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ARCAT Special Collections

Close-up of the insignia and part of the ribbon. Isn't it a beauty?!

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ARCAT Special Collections

Cardinal Carter was also a Knight of Malta and a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre. The pin below is made up of four different lapel pins mounted on a board. The lapel pin on the far left is for the Companion of the Order of Canada. The two in the middle are for the Knights of Malta: the Bailiff Knight Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion (left) and the Grand Cross “pro piis meritis” pro Merito Melitensi. The lapel pin on the far right is for the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre.

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ARCAT Special Collections

We always knew that Cardinal Carter was an important part of the Archdiocese of Toronto, but this honour shows that his influence and dedication were felt nationwide.

Happy Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day! Today we celebrate the day in 1867 when the Province of Canada (Ontario and Quebec), New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia joined in confederation as The Dominion of Canada.

Getting to that point took a lot of careful negotiation over many years. Proponents of confederation wanted to gather as much support as they could. To that end, Sir John A. MacDonald wrote to Bishop Lynch detailing the benefits of confederation to Catholics:

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Archbishop Lynch Fonds

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Archbishop Lynch Fonds

Private

Quebec Dec 19/64

My dear Lord

Many thanks for your kind note of the 13th inst. I am exceedingly glad to find that you lean towards Federation.

I have, as you may suppose given very considerable attention to the subject and I can assure you that I see no other means of escape from the deadlock which had arisen between Upper and Lower Canada.

By the proposed arrangement all vested rights and institutions will be protected and the Catholics will have what they never had before, the Security of an Imperial act for the preservation of their religious and educational institutions. The Upper Canadian Catholics will not be at the mercy of George Brown. Their rights as I have said are to be guaranteed in the Imperial act of union. Besides this in case the local legislation should at any time act unjustly to them, they can appeal to the general Government for protection.

That General Govt. will be to a large extent composed of men from Lower Canada, a Catholic Country, and from Newfoundland and Prince Edward - both almost Catholic countries - so that they are fully protected.

The more the subject is discussed the more it will grow in public favour. It will give us renewed confidence in our work when we know we have the support and countenance of The Catholic Hierarchy.

Believe me my dear Lord Yours sincerely and respectfully

J A Macdonald


Sir John A's side was successful, and he became the first Prime Minister of Canada. Manitoba and the Northwest Territories joined in 1870, British Columbia in 1871, Prince Edward Island in 1873, Yukon in 1898, Saskatchewan and Alberta in 1905, Newfoundland in 1949, and Nunavut in 1999. Certainly worth celebrating!

Sit! Stay! Good Dog!

Last week we shared two photos of popes that were in a Carte de Visite album, which we called the 19th century Facebook. Just like Facebook, this album had an amazing pet picture, which we couldn't resist sharing this week:

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One of the best parts of working in the archives is getting to see what has changed and what has stayed the same. It's somehow reassuring to know that people were just as pet-obsessed 150 years ago! If they had the technology, their cats and dogs would have been all over the Internet.

Happy (Holy) Father's Day!

This Sunday is Father's Day. In the Catholic Church, we all share one spiritual father, the Pope. This week we thought we'd highlight records from some of the Holy Fathers who have reigned since the creation of the diocese in 1841.

Gregory XVI: February 2, 1831 - June 1, 1846

1839 apostolic letter of Gregory XVI condemning the slave trade.

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Bishop Macdonell Fonds

Blessed Pius IX: June 16, 1846 - February 7, 1878

This photo of Pope Pius IX is a carte de visite, which was a popular photograph format of the 1800s. Cartes were traded and collected by many. You could almost say they were the 19th century Facebook!

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Part of a letter from Pius IX to the Catholics of Toronto, complete with signature.

July 9, 1862
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Leo XIII: February 20, 1878 - July 20, 1903

Another carte de visite from the same album as the photo above with a drawing of Leo XIII.

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Signed letter from Leo XIII in response to the Bishops of the province of Toronto on the occasion of the Pope's Golden Jubilee of Priestly Ordination.

June 20, 1886
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Saint Pius X: August 4, 1903 - August 20, 1914

Postcard of Pius X from 1954.

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Benedict XV: September 3, 1914 - January 22, 1922

Letter from Benedict XV to Archbishop McNeil imparting apostolic blessings on the occasion of McNeil's 25th anniversary of his episcopal consecration.

September 8, 1920
MN RC109.03

Pius XI: February 6, 1922 - February 10, 1939

A telegram from Pietro Di Maria, Apostolic Delegate, informing Archbishop McNeil of the election of Cardinal Ratti as pope under the name Pius XI. The apostolic delegate is the pope's representative to the Church in Canada. Since the 1960s Canada has had an Apostolic Nuncio, who is the pope's representative to the government as well as to the Church.

February 7, 1922
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Venerable Pius XII: March 2, 1939 - October 9, 1958

Postcard of Pius XII.

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Saint John XXIII: October 28, 1958 - June 3, 1963

John XXIII with Toronto Mayor Nathan Phillips and Mrs. Phillips.

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Blessed Paul VI: June 21, 1963 - August 6, 1978

Image of Paul VI printed on silk and used as a greeting card.

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Letter from Paul VI to Cardinal McGuigan congratulating him on his Golden Jubilee of priestly ordination.

May 10, 1968
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Servant of God John Paul I: August 26, 1978 - September 28, 1978

John Paul I blessing Cardinal Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II).

1978
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Booklet from the Requiem Mass for John Paul I at St. Michael's Cathedral. Unfortunately, this pope only lived 33 days in office, which made 1978 a year of three popes.

1978
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International Archives Day 2016: Friendship in the Archives

Happy International Archives Day! This year's theme is Archives, Harmony, and Friendship.

Here in the archives, we have lots of photos of our bishops that show their work and careers. But they were more than just their jobs; they were humans who had friendships. Because we all need friends to...

Chill on the beach with:

Cardinal Carter relaxes with a friend on the beach in Cancun, Mexico.

1970s
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Share a good meal:

Cardinal Carter and friends, including Cardinal Flahiff (right of Carter), enjoy a meal in Rome at the restaurant where Fettuccine Alfredo was invented.

1970s
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Meet the Pope with:

Cardinal Ambrozic and friends enjoy an audience with Pope Saint John Paul II.

February 21, 1998
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Be awed by creation with:

Cardinal Ambrozic (centre) with friends.

1948
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Check out ancient history with:

Cardinal Ambrozic sitting with a friend in front of the Coliseum in Rome.

February, 1998
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Pose for posterity with:

Archbishop Pocock and a friend.

1960s
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Blow out your birthday candles with:

Cardinal Carter celebrates his 87th birthday with friends.

March, 1999
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We can do all these things alone, but aren't they more fun with friends?

Record of the Week: Cardinal McGuigan Gets the Key to the City

One of the best parts of being an archivist is opening a box you've never looked in before and finding something cool. Last week we found a key about the length of hand. As it turns out, we were holding the key to the City of Toronto.

After some research, we were disappointed that the key wouldn't allow us to walk into the mayor's office. In fact, it is a ceremonial key that was given to Cardinal McGuigan at a city reception upon his return from his elevation to the cardinalate in March 1946.

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Special Collections

Archbishop McGuigan's elevation wasn't important only to Catholics; the whole city was proud that the first English-speaking Canadian cardinal was from Toronto. 75,000 people lined the streets to greet him when he arrived at Union Station on the train from Halifax. The band from De La Salle Oaklands played for him, and the Catholic school children had a day off. There were receptions at City Hall and Queens Park, and a few days later there was an event at Maple Leaf Gardens attended by 15,000. The city newspapers covered his trip to Rome, his journey home, his arrival, and the celebrations.

An illuminated address presented to Cardinal McGuigan by the City Council explains the feelings of Torontonians:

"Like all men of genius, your Eminence has found your own road and carried your own lamp along the pathway of life to the goal and zenith of your ambition. Through piety, self-denial and stern discipline of intellect, your Eminence has striven unceasingly to make the best use of those remarkable natural talents, bestowed upon your Eminence by the gift of Providence."

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Special Collections

Cardinal McGuigan is presented with the above illuminated address by Mayor Robert Saunders.

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ARCAT Photo Collection
Photo credit: Globe & Mail

People line the streets with flags and banners to welcome His Eminence home.

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ARCAT Photo Collection
Photo credit: Globe & Mail

Large crowds are gathered at City Hall to receive the new Cardinal.

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ARCAT Photo Collection