Sr. Mary Electa in the original Heritage Room in the 1970s, in the basement of the 1932 wing.
Sister Mary Electa established and set up the Heritage Room, a congregational museum, in 1971, as part of her role as General Secretary. This museum was located on the ground floor of the 1932 wing of Providence Motherhouse. A fireplace from Heathfield Villa, which is now in the Vincentian Room, was originally displayed in the museum. The room remained in use as a museum until it was dismantled in 1986. A separate heritage display was created for the 125th anniversary of the Congregation and later that year a new smaller Heritage Parlour was created on the first floor of the 1932 Wing. The excess artifacts were placed in storage. In 1994, a former music room on the ground floor of the Administration wing (now the Archives reading room and office) was converted into the Heritage room. When the Motherhouse was renovated in the late 1990’s provision was made for a new larger museum, including a store room for artifacts. The new museum, located behind the auditorium in what was the sacristy of the 1932 chapel, opened officially on Foundation Day, December 13, 1999. The permanent displays set up at that time have changed very little until the current updating of the Heritage Room which we hope to have finished by the end of this year.
Third Heritage Room in 1994, in the basement of the Administration wing.
