CA-K932Institutions

David Ross McCord, collector and museum founder

David Ross McCord, 1862 (William Notman). David Ross McCord · William Notman · Photo source · Photo licence: Public domain. Resized for display; item previews may be cropped. The image remains under the licence shown.

Factual accuracy review: No recorded challenge

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David Ross McCord, of a prominent Montréal family, built one of the earliest and most important collections of objects, images and manuscripts on Canada’s history. Believing that knowing the past strengthens national identity, he spent most of his life and fortune gathering some 15,000 items on Indigenous, French and British history in North America, and left them to McGill University, which founded the museum he had dreamed of.

Scope & context

McCord as described in his designation.

Sources behind this record

David Ross McCord National Historic Person ↗

Parks Canada (Directory of Federal Heritage Designations)

Importance; plaque text