Morrin Centre

Morrin Centre gets heritage grant for Cabinet of Curiosities project

Ruby Pratka, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

editor@qctonline.com

Visitors to the Morrin Centre will soon be able to delve deeper into the secrets of its 19th-century science lab thanks to a grant through the Supporting Heritage Awareness Recognition (SHARE) program, funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage and administered by the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network (QAHN). 

The science lab on the fourth floor of the historic building dates from 1868, when the former prison was renovated to house Morrin College, a postsecondary institution affiliated with McGill University, which offered students the opportunity to obtain a McGill bachelor of arts degree, and also trained pastors for the Presbyterian Church. Incidentally, Morrin College has the distinction of being one of the first postsecondary schools in Canada to grant degrees to women, starting in 1885. The school closed in 1902 due to lack of funds and declining enrolment; over time, the former lab – which has a 19th-century photography darkroom in one corner – became a repository for all sorts of things, from microscopes to pharmaceutical equipment, centuries-old books, archeological finds and preserved animal specimens, bequeathed or given to the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec (LHSQ) by generations of members. The lab was refurbished and reopened to tourists around 2012, and the Morrin Centre put in place a “Cabinet of Curiosities” display – modelled on the displays of unusual and varied objects popular in Renaissance Europe that laid the groundwork for modern museums. 

With the QAHN grant, according to Morrin Centre heritage and tours co-ordinator Hee-Won Son, the Morrin Centre will produce bilingual booklets to help visitors of all ages discover the panoply of objects. Although Son and head of library and collections Kathleen Hulley haven’t determined exactly what objects to put in the booklet, one that will likely be included is the oldest book in the Morrin Centre collection, a 501-year-old German volume about Roman military strategy. 

“People really liked [the display] and we thought there wasn’t a lot of information about the objects,” Son said. Our general theme will be focused on the connections between the LHSQ and natural sciences as demonstrated through the current collection items. Within this general theme, there are many directions we can go … such as specifically focusing on the LHSQ or weaving in stories from the Morrin College era as well. We are still working out which specific [objects] we want to highlight. We welcome suggestions from the public who are curious about certain things. Even if it seems like a random object, everything tells a story, and it will be great to share that story with local anglophones and francophones, some of whom have never heard of this place.”

The Morrin Centre was one of 10 heritage organizations from English-speaking communities across the province that received funding through the SHARE grant program. “I am so impressed with the calibre and variety of original projects that were submitted from all across Quebec,” said QAHN executive director Matthew Farfan. “The selection committee had some really tough choices to make. I can’t wait to see what we get in year two!”

Applications are open for the second round of SHARE grants. Anyone interested in learning more about or applying for the QAHN SHARE grant program should contact Julie Miller (julie@qahn.org). Anyone with suggestions or comments about the Cabinet of Curiosities project can contact Kathleen Hulley (kathleenhulley@morrin.org).