Title: French Heritage Center Collection
Dates: c. 1910s-2024
Extent: 7 boxes
Linear feet: 7.6 linear feet
Language: French and English.
Scope and Content: This collection centers on Franco-American subjects and activities in western Massachusetts, most notably Chicopee, Massachusetts. It focuses on various Franco-American Festivals that were held throughout the mid to late 1900s. Its content also has an emphasis on Franco-American churches and parish schools, with some of the records being from the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and its accompanying parish school. Both Marie Proulx-Meder and Jeanne Proulx-Hebert, founders of the French Heritage Center, were graduates of this parish school and members of the church.
This collection was donated by Marie-Proulx Meder on behalf of the French Heritage Center. The donation includes some of the general records of the French Heritage Center. Including programs and flyers from past Franco-American festivals and events, records from churches and parishes, and a binder containing the history of the French Heritage Center.
Biographical Note: See Finding Aid.
Arrangement:
SERIES OUTLINE:
Series 1: General Records
Series 2: Churches and Parishes
Series 3: Jacqueline Rioux Mashia Collection
Series 4: June Turcotte Collection
Series 5: Murielle Banas Collection
Series 6: Proulx Family Collection
Series 7: Donald Robitaille Book Collection
Restrictions: The collection is available to researchers and other interested parties. Permission for use or reproduction can be obtained from the director of the French Institute, and is subject to the Institute’s user policies.
Preferred Citation: French Heritage Center Collection, French Institute, Assumption University
Processing Information: This collection was processed by Nolan Psuik in the fall of 2025.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition: The French Heritage Center was founded by Marie Proulx-Meder and Jeanne Proulx-Hebert in 2010. Local individuals such as Donald Robitaille, June Turcotte, Murielle Banas, and Jacqueline Rioux Mashia, donated their collections to the organization following its founding. However, over the years, the French Heritage Center never found a permanent home, and founder Marie Proulx-Meder donated the collection of collections to the French Institute in two segments, the first arrived in 2023, and the second in 2025.
Digitization Status: This has not been digitized.
Full Finding Aid:
Appointments recommended.
The French Institute follows the academic calendar of Assumption University. Exceptions to our regular hours may be found here.
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Kate Bradley
Librarian/Archivist of the French Institute
508-767-7495
For reasons of preservation, French Institute collection materials do not circulate; however, non-rare materials are allowed to circulate through the d’Alzon Library or inter-library loan with the director’s permission.
It should be noted that the Institute’s collection includes a number of Franco-American newspapers from the New England region. Most consist of bound copies and nearly all have been microfilmed. To preserve the bound volumes, the Institute encourages scholars to consult the microfilm copies whenever they are available, for example, at the American Antiquarian Society or the Boston Public Library.
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