Sarcophagus of Nen-Oun-Ef and mummy
Wood, natural pigments, linen, mummy
Height 18.5 cm, width 50.5 cm, depth 46 cm
Egypt, New Empire, 1550-1307 B.C.E., 18th Dynasty
Musées de la civilisation, Séminaire de Québec Collection, restoration by Centre de conservation du Québec, 0113_relv_0231
Photographer: Amélie Breton – Perspective Photo
Video: © Musées de la civilisation / Le CHU de Québec

In 1868, Abbé Louis-Nazaire-Bégin sent Université Laval a crate containing adult mummies, one with a sarcophagus and a child mummy*, along with some amulets intended to broaden the education and culture of Québec's young intellectuals.

The base and the lid of the sarcophagus are covered with hieroglyphs relating the life of Nen-Oun-Ef, "Praised by God". In 2008, a medical team from the radio oncology department at the Centre hospitalier  universitaire de Québec (CHU de Québec) conducted a tomographic analysis of the mummy. This gave an idea of his age, his state of health and the embalming practices used in his mummification.

*The child-mummy was transferred from Séminaire de Chicoutimi.  It was destroyed in the fire at the Seminaire in April 1890.

Archimedes' screw
Wood, metal, brass, glass
Height 45 cm, depth 17 cm, length 61 cm
Pixii
France, Paris, circa 1836
Musées de la civilisation, Séminaire de Québec Collection, 1993.12412
Photographer: Pierre Soulard

In the early 19^th century, a teaching priest named Jérôme Demers put forward a new pedagogical approach based on demonstration. Influenced by European practices, he also assembled a collection of scientific instruments that would form the basis of the physics laboratory at the Séminaire de Québec. This Archimedes's screw was used to demonstrate a simple principle of mechanics.

Mardi Gras mask
Wood, pine, paint, textile
Alcide Bergeron
Comté de Charlevoix, circa 1940
Musées de la civilisation, 89-3354
Photographer: Alain Vézina 
Video: written by Carolyne Bolduc; directed by Francis Lauzon. Co-produced with Télé-Québec. 

These two days of festivities are celebrated in a joyous carnival spirit, with disguises and homemade masks. This mask of a drunkard with its black eye and fat lip is one of the rare old Québec masks to be known and inventoried.

Inuit woman with cat's cradle
Serpentine, synthetic fibre, ivory
Noah Echalook, Nu a I qalu (1946-)  
Nunavik, Inukjuak, 2003
Musées de la civilisation, 2005-419
Photographer : André Kedl 

The story unfolds as the strings are deftly transformed into many different animals and objects. This game, or ajaraaq, helps the child discover the elements of the world he lives in. Artist Noah Echalook often portrays the actions and influence of Inuit women in his works.

Doll
20th century
Wood, feathers, fibre, cotton, fruit, squash
Musées de la civilisation, donated by Dr. Aldo Lo Curto, 96-2121
Photographer : Julien Auger – Icône

Doll, decorated with small macaw parrot and heron feathers (great egret). Item from the collection of Dr.  Aldo Lo, Italian volunteer doctor who worked in Aboriginal communities in the Amazon basin six months a year.

Mosaic of photographs
1905-1906 graduates from the Séminaire de Québec
1906
Montminy & Cie
Musées de la civilisation, Séminaire de Québec archives fonds, PH2000-3730

Opera robe
China
Glass, linen, metal, silk, fibre, cotton
Reversible embroidered silk robe, decorated with metal trim and glass beads.
Musées de la civilisation, donated by the Franciscans, 2004-2302
Photographer : Julien Auger – Icône

Photograph
Quebec City from Levis
June 1863
Jules-Isaïe Benoît, dit Livernois
Musées de la civilisation, Séminaire de Québec archives fonds, PH1986-888

Photograph
The Séminaire's garden
1919
J. Lambert
Musées de la civilisation, Séminaire de Québec archives fonds, PH2000-14238

Olympic torch
1976
Michel Dallaire
Metal, aluminum
Musées de la civilisation, donated by Michel Dallaire, 2012-85
Photographer : Julien Auger – Icône

Two thousand torches were made for the Montreal Olympics. The flame, which rose from the perforated head, posed no threat to the safety of the runners. The head was finished with a silicone-based paint (capable of withstanding 850°F heat) and the handle was finished with thermosetting polyester paint. The flame's fuel was developed in collaboration with the École Polytechnique de Montréal's chemistry department. It was made of olive oil, nitropropane, and heptane, and was kept in an absorbent cotton cartridge.

Photograph
Panoramic view of the Grand Séminaire and of Université Laval
J. E. Livernois Ltée
Musées de la civilisation, Séminaire de Québec archives fonds, PH2000-77

Map
Map of the Tamaroa (Illinois) mission's seigneury and buildings
Jean-Paul Mercier, Priest
1735
Ink, red chalk, graphite, paper
Musées de la civilisation, Séminaire de Québec archives fonds, L-43

Photograph
Fire in the neighbourhoods of Saint-Louis and Saint-Jean on May 30, 1876
Louis-Prudent Vallée
Musées de la civilisation, Séminaire de Québec archives fonds, PH1986-864

Travel guide
Tourist's guide = Guide du touriste : Quebec & Ottawa via Q.M.O.& O. Montreal, L.W.T. Frechet & Co, c.1879.
Musées de la civilisation, collection du Séminaire de Québec, SQ014021

One of the first travel guides to Quebec, this little publication includes advertisements for the town's inns and hotels. 

Electric guitar that belonged to André "Dédé" Fortin (1962-2000)
Fender Telecaster, Thinline, serial number S037485, 1990s
Wood, metal, plastic
Japan
Musées de la civilisation, donated by the estate of André Fortin, 2011-1173
Photographer :  Julien Auger - Icône

This electric guitar is the centrepiece of a recent acquisition highlighting the career of André "Dédé" Fortin, founder and lead singer of the band Les Colocs. The musical instruments, albums, awards, and clothing accessories donated by the estate of André Fortin will help preserve the memory of an artist who had a profound impact on Quebec music in the 1990s through his engaging lyrics, musical innovations, and the festive nature of his compositions.

Sarcophagus of Nen-Oun-Ef and mummy
Wood, natural pigments, linen, mummy
Height 18.5 cm, width 50.5 cm, depth 46 cm
Egypt, New Empire, 1550-1307 B.C.E., 18th Dynasty
Musées de la civilisation, Séminaire de Québec Collection, restoration by Centre de conservation du Québec, 1991.1555.1 and 1991.1555.2
Photographer: Amélie Breton – Perspective
Video: © Musées de la civilisation / Le CHU de Québec

In 1868, Abbé Louis-Nazaire-Bégin sent Université Laval a crate containing adult mummies, one with a sarcophagus and a child mummy*, along with some amulets intended to broaden the education and culture of Québec's young intellectuals.

The base and the lid of the sarcophagus are covered with hieroglyphs relating the life of Nen-Oun-Ef, "Praised by God". In 2008, a medical team from the radio oncology department at the Centre hospitalier  universitaire de Québec (CHU de Québec) conducted a tomographic analysis of the mummy. This gave an idea of his age, his state of health and the embalming practices used in his mummification.

^{*The child-mummy was transferred from Séminaire de Chicoutimi.  It was destroyed in the fire at the Seminaire in April 1890.}

Mardi Gras mask
Wood, pine, paint, textile
Alcide Bergeron
Comté de Charlevoix, circa 1940
Musées de la civilisation, 89-3354
Photographer: Alain Vézina 
Video: written by Carolyne Bolduc; directed by Francis Lauzon. Co-produced with Télé-Québec. 

These two days of festivities are celebrated in a joyous carnival spirit, with disguises and homemade masks. This mask of a drunkard with its black eye and fat lip is one of the rare old Québec masks to be known and inventoried.

Galileo's work in the 17th century challenged the generally held conception of the universe prevalent at the time, and the freedom of scientists, thinkers, and philosophers to investigate opened the way for phenomenal advances in scientific discoveries and ideas.

At the same time, major exploration and discovery missions led astronomers to not only develop technical instruments to help navigators orient themselves at sea but also broaden their knowledge of the stars, their origin and evolution, as well as of the structure of the universe.

Armillary sphere
Brass, papier mâché
John Newman
London, England, circa 1836
Musée de la civilisation, collection du Séminaire de Québec, 1993.50320
Photograph by : Luc-Antoine Couturier

In recognition of their "valiant contributions" in New France, these honorary medals for the "Indians of Canada" were introduced in 1693 by Louis XIV. Minted to be offered to chiefs of various ranks, they served to maintain alliances between the First Peoples and the colonial government.

 

The English quickly adopted this practice. In the wake of the Conquest of Canada (1763) by England, up until the eve of the American Revolution, a large number of medals were minted by George III to bind the Aboriginal nations to their new government. Seen as a token of allegiance or a trade ornament, the Indian Peace Medals were very coveted by Aboriginals.

This pitcher comes from a pottery workshop in Cap-Rouge, on the banks of the river below the headlands of red shale, west of Quebec City's cliff, from which Cap-Rouge (red cape) takes its name. The riverbank provided good red clay, which the potters mixed with clay imported from New Jersey. In operation from 1860 to 1892, the workshop had several well-known potters cross its threshold, who signed several unique pieces. This was the case for this fine ceramic piece attributed to Philip Pointon, whose creations stood out from everyday productions through their shapes and decorative features, more closely resembling English pottery, and reflecting this master potter's origins. This pitcher was given as a gift to Charles Veilleux, a Cap-Rouge innkeeper.