Providing care in the New World: the Augustinian sisters of Canada, women of heart and commitment

This collection bears witness to the progress of the nursing profession in North America and its influence throughout the world. In 1639, the French Augustinian sisters, the first women missionaries in history, founded the first hospital north of Mexico in Quebec City, under the reign of Louis XIII, King of France. This community, which became Canadian, went on to establish a further eleven hospitals in Canada and contributed to the expansion of healthcare in various developing countries. Between 1639 and 2018, the Augustinian sisters produced and preserved nearly a linear kilometre of documents that tell the story of more than 1,800 women dedicated to caring for the poor and the sick. The Augustinian sisters innovated by drawing on the medicinal practices of the indigenous peoples and contributing to the development of scientific discoveries and best medical practices as the world went through epidemics, wars and political, social and religious transformations. By sharing their archives, the Augustinians of Canada are providing access to the history of the evolution of healthcare over a period of more than 375 years.