Four well-attended meetings last year attracted both James McGill Society members and general audiences. Social media combined with traditional mailings continue to be effective modes of communication; and newly developing information technology will be employed as it becomes available. We are deeply grateful for the generous support of members which permits the Society to continue meeting in various venues and enjoying lively and convivial receptions.
For the coming year – 2018-2019 - Council proposes the following program:
Tuesday, September 25, 2018, “Radicalism and Conservatism: Student life at McGill
1960-2000.” Peter F. McNally. Reading Room, Rare Books and Special Collections, McLennan Library. The Stanley Frost Annual Lecture.
182nd Meeting.
Monday, November 12, 2018, “McGill Remembers: The Great War Honour Roll.”
Wes Cross. Faculty Club Billiards Room. 183rd Meeting
Monday, February 11, 2019, “Sir Arthur Currie as a Leader in Peace and War.”
Tim Cook. Faculty Club Ballroom. 184th Meeting.
April, 2018, “The Birdman of McGill: Casey Wood - Avid Collector, Generous Donor
and Friend.” Christopher Lyons. Place and Date to be determined.The Maysie MacSporran Annual Lecture. 185th Meeting
Last year – 2017/18 – the Society presented the following lectures:
Tuesday, October 10, 2017. “McGill @ Expo 67” by Prof. Annmarie Adams, Associate Librarian Jennifer Garland, and Prof. David Theodore. Stanley Frost Annual Lecture. Colgate Room, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, McLennan Library. 178th Meeting
Monday, November 27, 2017. “Climate in the Age of Empire: Weather Observers in Colonial Canada” (Including Demonstration of the DRAW Project), by Dr. Victoria Slonosky. Main Dining Room, Faculty Club. 179th Meeting.
Monday, February 19, 2018. “Academic Art: When McGill Trained Artists” by Gwendolyn Owens. Main Dining Room, Faculty Club. 180th Meeting.
Monday, April 30, 2018. “The Iron Chancellor: Sir Edward Beatty & McGill University” by Prof. Don Nerbas. Maysie MacSporran Annual Lecture. Main Dining Room, Faculty Club. 181st Meeting.
One hundred years ago, 1918, the Great War ended and a new world order began emerging. Sir Robert Borden served briefly as McGill’s fifth Chancellor and the Department of Social Work and Training was established. Fifty years ago, 1968, student unrest was in full flower with the disruption of Board and Senate meetings, the McGill Reporter was inaugurated and the Faculty of Management created.
Work is progressing on a new edition of the University’s official chronology, McGill Milestones. The assistance of Gordon Burr, Daniel McCabe, and Tom Thompson is deeply appreciated. Copies are still available of the current edition, covering the years 1744-2007. Please contact me should you wish a copy.
Among those in the McGill community who passed away this year are two members of the Society’s Council: Professors Blaine Baker (Law) and Deirdre Edward (Experimental Surgery). Other notable faculty members include Prof. Peter Digby (Zoology) and Dr. Huntington (Skip) Sheldon (Medicine) who was also a major supporter of the Faculty of Music. Friends of the Society who passed away include Holly Higgins Jonas (BA’58, MSW’71) and Barbara Whitley (BA'40, DLitt'92). Distinguished members of the community include Governor emerita Sarah Paltiel (BA'52, LLD'92) and Richard Tomlinson (PhD'48, DSc'01) one of McGill’s most generous benefactors. Many researchers will recall David Poliak, who worked in the McGill University Archives and passed away recently.
Among those honoured this year by the Order of Canada were the Society’s Patron, Principal Suzanne Fortier (BSc’72, PhD’76), and Julia Gersovitz (BScArch’74, BArch’75) both of whom have addressed the Society.
Council is pleased to inform members that administrative issues involved in establishing the James McGill Society Prize have been settled, with the much appreciated support of the McGill University Library. The prize has been raised to $200.00.
As always, special thanks are due to Mr. Tom Thompson and Ms. Susan Button for their loyal service to the Society. Thanks are also due to Martlet House for handling donations to the Society and bookkeeping service. Ms. Jennifer Garland is thanked for her valuable contribution as Web Master.
Finally, I would like to thank Council and the entire membership of the James McGill Society for their continuing and unwavering support and encouragement.
I look forward to seeing you at our meetings during the coming year.
Respectfully submitted
Peter F. McNally
Executive Secretary & Professor Emeritus