Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1968 - 2004 (Creation)
Level of description
Collection
Extent and medium
1876 audio cassettes and other materials
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
Content Warnings
This collection contains in part content by and relating to Jean Vanier, Thomas Philippe, and M.D. (Marie-Dominique) Philippe. All three were credibly accused of sexually abusing many women (none with an intellectual disability) and the accusations were confirmed by the Study Commission convened by the International Federation of L’Arche Communities. Please see the linked report below. The University of St. Michael’s College and the International Federation of L’Arche Communities condemn the actions of these individuals and acknowledges the harm that resulted from them.
The International Federation of L’Arche Communities convened a Study Commission in 2020 to investigate the matter. Here are links to learn more about the commission and to read the published report from 2023:
- https://www.larche.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Letter_Federation-International_Leaders-2023-01-30-EN.pdf
- https://commissiondetude-jeanvanier.org/commissiondetudeindependante2023-empriseetabus/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Report_Control-and-Abuse_EN.pdf
The collections also contain outdated or offensive language which reflects theological and cultural thinking of the time or of individual speakers. This language does not reflect the opinions or position of the University of St. Michael’s College or the International Federation of L’Arche Communities.
Archival history
This collection was previously maintained by the L'Arche Daybreak community of Richmond Hill, ON. Material was received by the Nouwen Archives on October 25, 2004, March 30, 2006, and before May 17, 2011. Deed of Gift for the material was received March 2, 2010. Multiple attempts were made to organize and arrange this collection since 2006. A preliminary arrangement was created by Jessica Barr over the summer of 2009. The arrangement and description was finished by Jessica Barr between May-September, 2011.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Collection consists of audiovisual materials featuring recordings of events given by and used by members of l'Arche International/Internationale. This material includes 1708 audio cassettes, 37 videocassettes, 8 film reels, and 78 audio reels. Much of the material features recordings created at L'Arche retreats internationally, such as the Covenant Retreat, Renewal Retreat, and Faith and Light Retreat. Prominent speakers include Jean Vanier, Henri Nouwen, Joe Egan, Robert Larouche and Sue Mosteller.
The majority of the audio files feature Jean Vanier, usually speaking at retreats. The film reels are recordings made and collected by L'Arche Daybreak, and feature a CBC film on Daybreak (from 1970), pilgramages and trips made by Faith and Light and Daybreak. There is also a film reel of Jean Vanier.
Collection has been arranged into eight series:
- Head of House and regional meetings
- Covenant retreats
- Faith and Sharing
- Federation meetings
- Assistants' retreats and meetings
- L'Arche Renewals
- Other events, talks, and speakers
- Audio reels and film reels
Collection also includes a binder which functioned as a catalogue for many of the cassettes that were housed at l'Arche Daybreak until 2004 and 2006. This binder is located in series 7.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
•Title based on contents of the collection.
•Accession numbers apply to accessions in the Henri Nouwen fonds database.
•See series level descriptions for more information.
•Items are numbered using the first accession number for the collection (2004 05), although some cassettes are from one of the other accessions. For consistency, the beginning accession number was used for every cassette, and a note was made in the 'Accession Number' field if cassettes had a different accession number than 2004 05.
•While the cassettes have been organized into series, it is possible that some cassettes could fit within multiple series, or have been filed in another series due to information on the label, despite the fact that the cassette could belong in another series as well.
•Information about l'Arche International as an organization, as well as about l'Arche events and Faith and Sharing, was gathered for the records describing the l'Arche Collection from the l'Arche International website (www.larche.org), Sr. Sue Mosteller, Jean Christophe Pascal, and the Faith and Sharing fonds-level description in the Kelly Library Special Collections and Archives database.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Generated finding aid
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Egan, Joe (Subject)
- Larouche, Robert (Subject)
- Mosteller, Sue (Subject)
- Philippe, M.-D. (Marie-Dominique) (Subject)
- Teresa, Mother (Subject)
- Vanier, Thérèse (Subject)
- Clarke, Bill (Subject)
- Gillick, Larry (Subject)
- Rohr, Richard (Subject)
- Wallis, Jim (Subject)
- Kennedy, Betty (Subject)
- Vanier, Jean (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Dates of creation revision deletion
Revised by S Rogers, 24 September 2019