Welcome to The New Brunswick Historical Society /Bienvenue au La Société historique du Nouveau-Brunswick

Exploring our history since 1874

While it started informally in 1874, the New Brunswick Historical Society began its formal existence on 6 April 1882, when the New Brunswick Legislature passed a statute constituting the Society “for the purpose of promoting Historical and Scientific research and collecting, preserving and publishing all Historical and other facts and discoveries relating to the History of this Province or elsewhere”. It was the first such society dedicated to the history of our Province.

On 29 September 1874, a meeting was held at the Mechanics’ Institute in Saint John for the purpose of forming an historical society for the Province of New Brunswick. The society would collect documents relating to the early history of the province, including those from French settlements and Massachusetts, and preserve them, as well as publish collections. Unfortunately, the society had barely started when the Great Saint John Fire of 1877 took most of the original records, except for some books in the possession of the society’s president, Joseph W. Lawrence. In 1883, the centennial of the province occurred, which caused a renewed interest to be taken in the society with many new members joining and older ones taking a more active part. Meetings were held, musical performances were given for the purposes of raising funds to plant trees in the public squares and to rejuvenate the tombstones in the old burial ground while copying their inscriptions. Over the past century and a half, the Society has continued to evolve but remains dedicated to the goals set for it in 1882.

Today, the Society has three main focuses:

1. Operating The Loyalist House Museum
   Loyalist House Museum is a 19th-century house museum in the heart of Saint John, New Brunswick. Built by the Merritt family in the early 1800s, the house is currently owned by the New Brunswick Historical Society and operated as a museum, living history site, and learning opportunity for the greater region. For more on the house, see our link below.

2. Holding The Speakers’ Series to deliver presentations on historical topics to the general public
   The New Brunswick Historical Society hosts regular and frequent events, ranging from brief talks in and around Loyalist House to comprehensive educational talks and seminars at historical sites throughout Saint John and the surrounding region. They are free, although some freewill donations to the facilities are sometimes encouraged. Many of those talks are recorded and posted on our YouTube channel. Check our Facebook page for up-to-date times and locations

3. The publication of historical research or other news of interest to those with an interest in history
   The New Brunswick Historical Society remains committed to its original mandate of researching matters of significance and importance to the province, while also collecting and publishing the findings to make them accessible to all. Much of this work is done in conjunction with historians and other historical organizations. The Society also publishes a quarterly newsletter, The NB Gazette, which is sent to all members. The content is contributed by our membership.