Share
- Board of Directors
- History
For over 40 years, the ETRC has been a recognized organization for the study of the Eastern Townships of Quebec. While its Archives Department concentrates on the acquisition of private archives related to the English-speaking community, the Centre’s mission, mandate and on-going activities are meant to be inclusive of all communities present in the Eastern Townships.
Preserving the Region’s Heritage
As one of the top accredited archives in Quebec, the Eastern Townships Resource Centre preserves the documentary heritage of the Eastern Townships and serves as an archival expertise resource for local heritage organizations.
Accredited by Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, the ETRC Archives acquires, processes, preserves and gives access to archival fonds and collections that illustrate the development of the Eastern Townships’ English-speaking community. Thousands of documents such as diaries, letters, minute books, photographs, postcards, maps, plans and audio-visual material are made available to researchers. Assistance is also provided to genealogists tracing their family roots.
Promotion of the Region’s History
The ETRC promotes the Townships’ rich and unique history through public lectures, colloquia, and exhibitions. The Centre offers educational materials for teachers and its own publication, the Journal of Eastern Townships Studies (JETS). As a long-standing and proud member of the Bishop’s community, the ETRC creates bridges between Bishop’s and the surrounding communities.
Board of Directors
The ETRC is a bilingual, private not-for-profit organization. It is administered by an independent Board of Directors consisting of Bishop’s professors and librarians, representatives from other higher education institutions in the area, and members of the local community.
President
Dr. David Webster
Department of History – Bishop’s University
Secretary-Treasurer / Editor-in-Chief, JETS
Dr. Cheryl Gosselin
Department of Sociology – Bishop’s University
Editor-in-Chief, JETS
Dr. Christopher Kirkey
Center for the Study of Canada – SUNY Plattsburgh
Director Ex Officio
Jody Robinson
Executive Director – ETRC / Privacy Officer
Director Ex Officio
Jazmine Aldrich
Head Archivist – ETRC
Director Ex Officio
Dr. Andrew Webster
Vice-Principal Academic & Research – Bishop’s University
Director Ex Officio
Catherine Lavallée-Welch
University Librarian – Bishop’s University
Directors
Dr. Gordon Barker
Department of History – Bishop’s University
Daniel Bromby
Reference Librarian – Bishop’s University
Chloë Southam
Agente de développement en patrimoine immobilier – MRC du Haut-Saint-François
Dr. Harold Bérubé
Department of History – Université de Sherbrooke
History
1982
The Eastern Townships Research Centre (ETRC) was created by faculty members at Bishop’s University to stimulate and encourage original research on the Eastern Townships, to unify the various collections of Eastern Townships’ material already housed in the Bishop’s Library, and to improve communications with existing historical societies in the Eastern Townships. Starting in 1982, the ETRC received annual funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) under its Aid to Small Universities program. Under the supervision of a steering committee chaired by Dr. Robin Burns, the ETRC hired its first Coordinator, Andrée Chartrand-Turgeon.
1990
The ETRC’s proposal to SSHRC included the creation of an Archives Department.
1991
Accreditation was received from the ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec and Sylvie Côté became the ETRC’s first Archivist.
1992
The semi-annual, bilingual, peer-reviewed Journal of Eastern Townships Studies/Revue d’études des Cantons-de-l’Est (JETS/RECE) was first published under the editorship of Jonathan Rittenhouse.
1993
The Eastern Townships Collection of the Bishop’s University Library, together with the ETRC Archivist and the Bishop’s Archivist, were relocated to the newly renovated Old Library in McGreer Hall, providing an ideal venue for library and archival research on the Eastern Townships.
2002
The Canadian Historical Association awarded the Eastern Townships Research Centre the 2002 CLIO Award for the region of Quebec. The Clio Award recognized the ETRC for its exceptional contributions to local research, culture and heritage.
2008
From 1982 to 2008, the ETRC supported over 100 research projects by Bishop’s University faculty members, administered close to $300,000 in research funding and provided research facilities for scholars from around the world. The research covered such fields as art and architectural history, business, education, environmental studies, geography, heritage preservation, history, psychology, sociology, and women’s studies. Funding from SSHRC under its Aid to Small Universities Program ended in 2008.
2010
The ETRC changed its name to Eastern Townships Resource Centre to reflect its transformation from a research based institution to a resource centre. Its new mission is threefold: providing materials and infrastructure for knowledge transfer between academics and the community; acting as a resource centre on the Eastern Townships as well as preserving and promoting the region’s rich and colourful heritage through its archival collections; and, functioning as a focal point for community service and community-based learning.
Give to the ETRC
If you are interested in making a monetary donation to the ETRC, please visit https://www.etrc.ca/give-to-the-etrc/ for more information.