Series

This series focusses on the personal life of Pierre-Édouard Leclère, fils. It is composed of a notarial act documenting his birth and baptism on March 11, 1822, in the parish of Saint-Nom-de-Marie in the city of Montreal. His father, Pierre-Édouard Leclerc, père, is identified as a law student. The document names Jean-Baptiste Castonguay as his godfather and Marie Charlotte Hogue as his godmother.

In addition, the series contains an "anthropological chart." Produced in 1862 by Dr. J. D. Haynes, a phrenologist and physiognomonist working in Montreal, this chart claims to shed light on the patient's "talents and character," by identifying certain personality traits and diseases revealed in the shape of his skull and physiognomy. It presents itself as a tool, capable of no less than describing "every person's character, business capacity, and hereditary diseases, and direct[ing] them in their matters of love, marriage relations, education, etc." The document is a printed form listing dozens of faculties, which have been given handwritten marks from 1 to 7. An introductory text presents the principles underlying Dr. Haynes' approach and his definition of "anthropology," which embraces physiology, phrenology and physiognomy. This is followed by the list of faculties, grouped into categories, ranging from the individual's health to his talents in areas such as music or making friends. Among other things, Pierre-Édouard Leclère's anthropological chart indicates that he has a high propensity for benevolence, mirthfulness, patriotism and combativeness; a warm and agreeable temperament, more bilious than phlegmatic; a native talent for mathematics and politics; and an average predisposition to diseases of the liver like hepatitis and cirrhosis.

Finally, the series contains a handwritten note dated March 6, 1865, signed P. E. Leclere, stating that he is honoured to present C. Laberge and Rachel Turgeon with two rosaries that were blessed by the pope on March 20, 1853, during a trip to Rome.