ARCHIVES

​The Bar Convent’s Archive Collection is a fascinating accumulation of documentation relating to the histories of the Bar Convent and the sisters, now known as the Congregation of Jesus. The Archives are divided into four discrete collections: the Bar Convent Archive (ACJ/BC); the archive of the English Province of the Congregation of Jesus (ACJ/EP); the Mary Ward Archive (ACJ/MW); and the St Bede’s Pastoral Centre Archive (ACJ/SB).

Archive Collections​

Bar Convent Archive (ACJ/BC)

ACJ/BC contains papers and items relating to the history, development, and use of the Bar Convent. It has been assembled over the course of the life of the convent, beginning in 1686 and continuing into the present day. Material has also been donated by members of the congregation, by past pupils of the Bar Convent’s schools, and by others connected with the life and work of the convent.

The collection includes correspondence, legal papers, account books, photographs, maps and plans, convent diaries, spiritual writings, school records, and property deeds. Further accruals are expected.

ACJ/BC currently consists of 12 series. Download a list of the series here.

English Province of the Congregation of Jesus Archive (ACJ/EP)

ACJ/EP contains papers and items relating to the history and development of the English Province of the Congregation of Jesus. The collection consists of material generated by the life and activities of the English Province since its formal establishment in 1929, alongside older material relating to the earlier years of the congregation. Material was originally collected and housed at St Mary’s Convent Ascot which was the Provincial House until the mid-1980s, at which point the collection was moved to the Bar Convent. Additional items have been donated by members of the congregation and by others connected with the life and work of the Congregation of Jesus.

The collection includes documents relating to the history of the Congregation of Jesus and its members, its early foundations in England, the houses founded in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and the foundation of the IBVM Loreto branch of Mary Ward’s institute. Papers from St Mary’s Ascot, St Mary’s Hampstead and St Mary’s Shaftesbury are also included.

ACJ/EP currently consists of 11 series. Download a list of the series here.

Mary Ward Archive (ACJ/MW)

ACJ/MW contains papers and items relating to the life and work of Venerable Mary Ward, foundress of the Congregation of Jesus and pioneer of girls’ education. The collection was originally created by members of the Congregation of Jesus in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Older material from the early modern period has also been added to the collection retrospectively.

The collection includes transcripts and copy documents relating to the life of Mary Ward (many of the original documents are housed in Munich), original correspondence, manuscripts, and a range of documents relating to the Cause of Mary Ward.

ACJ/MW is largely uncatalogued. It currently consists of 10 series. Download a list of the series here.

St Bede’s Pastoral Centre Archive (ACJ/SB)

ACJ/SB contains papers relating to the history, development, management, activities and functions of St Bede’s Pastoral Centre, 21 Blossom Street, York. The collection consists of material collected by staff members of staff at St Bede’s from 1985 to the present day.

ACJ/SB currently consists of 7 series. Download a list of the series here.

Visiting and Research enquiries

We welcome researchers to make appointments to consult our Archive Collection. We are currently undertaking a major project re-cataloguing the entire Archive Collection held at the Bar Convent. Therefore, at present we are not able to offer an online catalogue. If you would like to discuss what holdings we have in relation to specific research topics, please contact the Collections Team at research@barconvent.co.uk or by completing the form below.