Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus deposits archive with the National Archives

The National Archives was honoured to host members of the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (RSCJ) on Wednesday, 27 May, to mark the formal deposit of the archives of the Ireland/Scotland Province (1842–1950). This significant gift represents the first time a religious order has deposited its archival collection with the National Archives, marking an important moment in the preservation of Ireland’s documentary heritage.

Founded in France in 1800, the Society of the Sacred Heart is an international Roman Catholic congregation of women dedicated to education, social justice and the empowerment of women and girls. The order established schools, colleges and community initiatives across the world, including a strong network in Ireland and Scotland. Their work has shaped generations of students and contributed to educational and social reform throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The Society’s mission has always centred on education and community-based pastoral work. It had no role in the operation of Mother and Baby Homes or Magdalene Laundries.

The newly deposited archive reflects this legacy. Spanning more than a century, it includes records relating to schools founded by the Society including Mount Anville, Armagh, Roscrea, Leeson Street, Monkstown, Kilgraston, Craiglockhart and Aberdeen, as well as administrative material up to 1930 and a specialist library of books and journals. Together, these archives offer a rich resource for the study of women’s history, religious life, education, and social change in Ireland and Scotland.

Speaking at the event, Director Orlaith McBride welcomed the Society’s decision to entrust its archival legacy to the National Archives, noting that the gift “will ensure the preservation of these records for generations to come” and provide “an important template for others seeking to safeguard their historical legacy.” She also acknowledged the long tradition within the RSCJ of caring for their archives, and the work of religious and lay archivists in developing and protecting the collection over many decades.

Guests were invited to view selected items, including the 1926 Census return for Mount Anville School and Convent, and to join tours of the repository led by National Archives staff. Conservators and archivists demonstrated aspects of preservation and conservation, including work on records saved from the Public Record Office of Ireland in 1922.

The first tranche of records will begin arriving in over the summer. As with all new deposits, the material will undergo a period of assessment, stabilisation and cataloguing before it can be made available to the public. This work will take a number of months. Any queries regarding the collection or transfer process may be directed to query@nationalarchives.ie or archivist@rscjirs.org.

This landmark deposit strengthens the National Archives’ commitment to preserving the records of Ireland’s cultural and educational communities, ensuring they remain accessible for future generations.
Further information about the Society of the Sacred Heart and its global mission can be found on the congregation’s website.