Written by: Kate Rozon, Private Records Archivist
Did you know the Oblates of Mary Immaculate collection covers a wide array of subjects about Alberta’s history dating back to before Alberta was even a province?
In August 2018, the Provincial Archives of Alberta (PAA) acquired the records of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI), following years of negotiations with OMI Lacombe Canada. Since their acquisition, the PAA and several volunteers have been arranging, describing and processing this extensive and historic collection of the religious missionary order. The collection consists of over 400 metres of textual records, thousands of audio records and film, more than 50,000 images and hundreds of maps and drawings.
The ultimate goal is to have the entire collection processed by 2023. At that time, we hope to see the publication of a two-volume finding aid consisting of Oblate administrative histories and a catalogue of the entire collection. This will help researchers understand and navigate this important resource.
But for now, here’s a sneak peek at some of the objects from the OMI.
Brocket, Liber Animarum [1935] PR1971.0220/1998
Codex Historicus [1885] – PR1971.0220.0151.6382.0001
Cree Syllabics – PR1984.0400.1182.0001 
Flora – PR1971.0220.0139.6067.0002
PR1971.0442.0101
OB8902 – Lac Ste. Anne [19-?]
LSA 1881 – Sketch 2
OB5819 – Hockey team “Frontenacs” from Collège Saint-Jean [19-?]
OB2368 – Santa Maria II airplane (CF-ANX) [19-?]
OB3164 – Fr. Albert Lacombe, OMI and Msgr. Vital Grandin, OMI [19-?]
OB3911 – “Adieu Tootsie” car [1952 or 1953]
OB7119 – Winter Games in Edmonton [1965]
OB6949 – Gardeners [1942]
OB10669 – Solders of World War 1 [1915 or 1916]
OB11023 – Construction of St. Albert Railroad [19-?]
OB11255 – 1st Registration form from Juniorat Saint-Jean [1908]
RETROactive 