Anne manuscript

In alignment with the 150th anniversary of author Lucy Maud Montgomery’s birth (30 November 1874), Confederation Centre Art Gallery and the Canadian Commission for UNESCO (CCUNESCO) announced the addition of the Anne of Green Gables manuscript to the Canada Memory of the World Register. The Canada Memory of the World Register recognizes documentary heritage of national significance and is administered by the Canadian Commission for UNESCO in accordance with UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme which aims to safeguard and promote access to documentary heritage of universal value. 

The manuscript includes 475 pages on which the story is handwritten, and an additional 96 pages of L.M. Montgomery’s notes where she recorded additions and insertions to the text. These provide unique insights into the reflections and creative process of this influential voice in Canadian literature. Confederation Centre of the Arts, in partnership with the L.M. Montgomery Institute and the Robertson Library at the University of Prince Edward Island, launched a bilingual online exhibit in 2023 that allows readers around the world to access the fully digitized manuscript.

“This iconic novel first published in 1908 is the most translated Canadian book. On the backdrop of a rural settler community, L.M. Montgomery presents readers with Anne, a character othered by her red hair and unconventional willpower in search for belonging and friendship. Anne has proven herself relatable to young people across the world, and we are very fortunate that the original manuscript of this beloved classic is both preserved and accessible to readers and literary scholars.”– Yves-Gérard Méhou-Loko, Secretary General, Canadian Commission for UNESCO.

“Confederation Centre of the Arts purchased the original Anne of Green Gables manuscript in 1967 from the author’s son, Dr. Stuart MacDonald. It resides in our archives, and only a lucky few have been able to see it or study it in person. The digitization of the manuscript has vastly increased access to it, allowing scholars and fans to discover Montgomery’s creativity in interactive ways not previously available. This literary work holds great national significance and has resonated with people from around the world, and we are thrilled for it be recognized in the Canada Memory of the World Register as the first inscription from Prince Edward Island.” – Kevin Rice, Director, Confederation Centre Art Gallery.

The digitized manuscript is available in English and French and can be viewed online at annemanuscript.ca.