News Release

2001-03

National Library of Canada Celebrates Heritage Day 2001

Ottawa, February 19, 2001  -  The National Library of Canada has strengthened its impressive collection of rare books with the acquisition of six 17th-century Jesuit Relations.

Roch Carrier, National Librarian, said "There is reason for all Canadians to celebrate the acquisition of these works, which constitute an incomparable source of information about New France."

Each year between 1632 and 1673, the fathers from the Compagnie de Jésus mission sent a "relation" of their activities in New France. Printed in Paris, these Relations became very popular as travel journals and are an important source of information for the study of the history of New France.

The National Library of Canada is renowned for its imposing collection of original editions of 17th-century Jesuit Relations. At the end of 2000 and in January 2001, the Library succeeded in acquiring six Jesuit Relations that were missing from its collection. Two were purchased from a Canadian book dealer: the Relation of Father Le Jeune for 1634 and that of Father Lallemant for 1663-1664. The four others were obtained in a New York auction: the extremely rare Relation of Father Le Jeune for 1635 and his Relation for 1660-1661, the 1638 Relation by Fathers Le Jeune and Le Mercier, along with that of Father Le Mercier for 1652-1653.

During the 17th century, there were 41 different Relations published in 54 editions, some of the most popular being published more than once. With these new acquisitions, the Library now has 35 of the 41 Relations and 39 of the 54 editions.

An exhibition of the recently acquired Relations will be held in the foyer of the National Library of Canada, 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa, starting on February 19, 2001.

Paul Le Jeune

Relation de ce qui s’est passé en la Nouvelle-France en l’année 1634. First edition. Paris, 1635.

Relation de ce qui s’est passé en la Nouvelle-France en l’année 1635. First edition. Paris, 1636.

Relation de ce qui s’est passé en la Mission des Pères de la Compagnie de Jésus en la Nouvelle France es années 1660 & 1661. Paris, 1662.

François Joseph Le Mercier

Relation de ce qui s’est passé en la Mission des Pères de la Compagnie de Jésus...depuis l’été de l’année 1652 jusques a l’été de l’année 1653. Paris, 1654.

Paul Le Jeune et Joseph Le Mercier

Relation de ce qui s’est passé en la Nouvelle-France en l’année 1638. Paris, 1638.

Contains Le Mercier’s account about the Huron country for the years 1637 and 1638.

Jérôme Lalemant

Relation de ce qui s’est passé de plus remarquable aux Missions des pères de la Compagnie de Jésus, en la Nouvelle France, es années 1663 & 1664. Paris, 1665.

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For further information, please contact

Michel Brisebois, Rare Book Curator

Pierre Ostiguy, Media Relations Coordinator