The James McGill Society, along with McGill University and the entire world, is adapting to new realities. The COVID-19 pandemic leading to the March 13 lockdown of the University forced cancellation of the Society’s April meeting. Plans are in place for virtual presentations during 2020-2021, prompted in part by the Faculty Club announcing that the earliest it would reopen is January 2021. Other McGill venues also remain closed. The support of the membership during the health crisis is deeply appreciated.
Three past presidents of the James McGill Society died this year: Prof. Margaret Gillett (1987-1989), Prof. Desmond Morton (2007-2009), and Prof. Jarrett Rudy (2015-2017). In addition to being staunch supporters of the Society who made significant contributions to the historical understanding of McGill, they were fine people and good friends to many of us and will be greatly missed.
For the coming year – 2019-2020 - Council proposes the following virtual program, presented on ZOOM:
https://mcgill.zoom.us/j/92936854897
Monday, October 19, 2020, “The Hockey File” by Ronald Critchley. A Virtual Presentation - Presidential Address and Stanley Frost Annual Lecture. 189th Meeting.
Monday, December 7, 2020, Adelle Blackett, on the International Labour Organization at McGill, 1940-1948. A Virtual Presentation. 190th Meeting.
February 2021, Annmarie Adams, on Maude Abbott. A Virtual Presentation. 191st Meeting.
April/May 2021, Charmaine Nelson, on Black and Indigenous Peoples at McGill. A Virtual Presentation. 192nd Meeting.
Last year’s program, 2019-2020, was well attended but abbreviated due to the health crisis:
Monday October 7, 2019, “McGill at 200: Organizing McGill’s Bicentenary Celebrations, 2020-2021.” Gérald Cadet. Faculty Club Ball Room. 186th Meeting. Stanley Frost Annual Lecture.
Monday November 4, 2019, “Tracings of Gerald Le Dain’s Legacy – the McGill Years and Later.” Bonnie Brown and Richard Janda. Moot Court, New Chancellor Day Hall. 187th Meeting.
Monday February 17, 2020, “Dr. William Wright and Black Enrolment at McGill’s Medical Faculty.” Frank Mackey. Faculty Club Ball Room. 188th Meeting.
Due to the health crisis, Homecoming this September will be held virtually. Inauguration of McGill’s Bicentenary Celebrations – the University’s Two Hundredth Birthday Party – scheduled to coincide with Homecoming has been rescheduled to March 31, 2021, the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Royal Charter establishing McGill. The celebrations, in an abbreviated form, are expected to continue throughout 2021.
Work is completed on a new edition of the University’s official chronology, McGill Milestones, thanks to the assistance of Gordon Burr, Diana Grier Ayton, Daniel McCabe, Honora Shaughnessy, and Tom Thompson. Publication is expected to coincide with the Bicentenary celebrations. Paper copies are still available of the current edition (1744-2007). Please contact me should you wish a copy.
One-hundred years ago, 1920, Sir Arthur Currie became McGill’s 8th Principal and Sir Edward Beatty the 6th Chancellor. The same year saw establishment of the Faculty of Music and the School for Graduate Nurses. Fifty years ago, 1970, Prof. Robert Bell became McGill’s 13th Principal, Prof. Donald Hebb 12th Chancellor, and Stuart Finlayson 1st Chair of the Board of Governors. McGill’s enrolment in 1921 was 2,756, and in 1970 was 16,818.
Among those in the McGill community who passed away over the past year are: Joan Harrington (1919-2020) a strong supporter of the Society and wife of former Chancellor Conrad Harrington; Dr. Ronald Melzack (1929 – 2019) who pioneered the physiological study of pain; and Prof. Robert Carroll (1938-2020) a noted palaeontologist who died from COVID-19.
There is, unfortunately, no candidate for the 2019/2020 James McGill Society Prize for the best undergraduate essay on McGill’s history, or of an essay making the best use of McGill’s research collections. We look forward, however, to candidates in 2020-2021 for the $200.00 award. Thanks are extended to Prof. D. Nerbas and G. Burr for handling this project.
We are happy to propose as new members of the Society’s Council, Wes Cross and Mark Michaud, for ratification at the October meeting. Wes Cross served for many years as Financial Officer for Student Affairs, and played a major role developing the “McGill Remembers” World War II project. Mark Michaud is Director of Administration, Desautels Faculty of Management.
Special thanks and appreciation are extended, as always, to Mr. Tom Thompson and Ms. Susan Button for their loyal service to the Society. Martlet House is also thanked for handling donations to the Society and bookkeeping service. Ms. Jennifer Garland is acknowledged for her valuable contribution as Web Master. I would like to thank our Past-President, Christopher Lyons, for organizing the Society’s Bicentenary Program, and our current President, Ron Critchley, for overseeing its implementation.
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, virtually, at our meetings during the coming year.
Respectfully submitted
Peter F. McNally
Executive Secretary & Professor Emeritus