The French Annals was founded in 1861 by Fr. Nazaire-Alphonse Leclerc, a diocesan priest who was working as associate pastor of a Kamouraska parish in the diocese of La Pocatière in Quebec. For 9 years he collaborated to a magazine called "La Gazette des campagnes" (litteraly: "The rural Gazette"), a publication of the school of agriculture of La Pocatière. Transfered to St. John Chrysostome in Quebec, he wanted to continue this service, and so founded a religious magazine called "Gazette de la Famille Canadienne" (The Canadian Family Gazette) in 1870. Acknowledging the popularity of St. Anne as patron of the province of Quebec, he thought of changing the name of the magazine to "Les Annales de Sainte Anne". Cardinal Taschereau, great devout of St. Anne encouraged him to do so.

In November 1874, the French periodical was sold to Fr. Ferdinand Bélanger. The same year, he decided to print the first English edition called: "The Catholic Visitor". In May 1875, Fr. Léon Provancher becomes the new director. But 18 months later, Fr. Edouard Guilmet from Ottawa will succeed him as director. In 1876, the name is changed to “The Annals of Saint Anne”. Both the French and English magazines are the oldest religious publications in Quebec.

Since then, the periodical was owned by the "College de Lévis", and sold in 1897 to the Redemptorists, the guardians of the national shrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre. Throughout the years, The Annals of Saint Ann has benefited from the printing and technological evolution, while conserving its goal: to become an important tool to evangelise and sustain the catholic faith of families and to promote the devotion to St. Anne. The first bishop of Quebec assigned in 1861, Mgr. François de Laval, wrote that the strong devotion to St. Anne was a distinctive characteristic of the Church of New France.

November 1861

The school of agriculture of La Pocatière publishes the first issue of "La Gazette des campagnes", firstborn of the upcoming Annals of Saint Anne.

1870

Fr. Leclerc modifies the content of the "Gazette des campagnes", and publishes the first periodical called "La Gazette des Familles Canadiennes".

1873

Fr. Leclerc writes a series of 12 articles on the activities and Favors Obtained at the shrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre. They will be published in 1873.

1897

The "Collège de Lévis" signs a contract with the Redemptorists and concede all rights to the French and English periodicals, "Les Annales de Sainte Anne" and "The Annals of Saint Anne".

1970

Under the supervision of Fr. Bernard Mercier, C.Ss.R., the French periodical "Les Annales de Sainte Anne" becomes a popular catholic magazine, offering more variety and information relevant to sustain the readers’ faith.