We are deeply grateful for the generous support of members who permit the James McGill Society to continue meeting in various venues and enjoying lively and convivial presentations and receptions. Last year’s four well-attended meetings attracted both members and general audiences. Emerging information technology, combined with traditional mailings, continue to be preferred modes of communication.
For the coming year – 2019-2020 - Council proposes the following program:
Monday, October 7, Gérald Cadet on McGill’s Bicentennial celebrations, 1821-2021 (Stanley Frost Annual Lecture) Billiards Room, Faculty Club
Monday, November 4, Bonnie Brown and Richard Janda on Justice Gerald Le Dain, Moot Court, Faculty of Law.
February, 2020, Frank Mackey on Dr. William Wright – McGill’s first Black professor? Title, Date and Place to be determined
April, 2020, Ron Critchley, Presidential Address and Maysie MacSporran Annual Lecture. Title, Date and Place to be determined
Last year – 2018/19 – the Society presented the following lectures:
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 Ball Room. 184th Meeting.
Tuesday April 30, 2019, “‘Collection or Obsession’ Dr. Casey Wood and McGill’s Natural History and Medical Collections.” Christopher Lyons. Colgate Room, Rare Books & Special Collections, McLennan Library. Maysie MacSporran Annual Lecture and Presidential Lecture. 185th Meeting.
The count-down has now begun for McGill’s Bicentenary Celebrations – the University’s Two Hundredth Birthday Party - whose official announcement by Principal Suzanne Fortier will take place on the Lower Campus during Homecoming on Thursday, September 26. The celebrations are expected to stretch from homecoming September 2020 through November 2021. We are honoured to have as this year’s first speaker, Dr. Gérald Cadet, the Bicentennial Director, who is in charge of organizing the festivities. Under the direction of our President, Christopher Lyons, the Society is designing a James McGill Society Bicentenary Program.
Work is progressing on a new edition of the University’s official chronology, McGill Milestones. The assistance of Gordon Burr, Daniel McCabe, Tom Thompson, Honora Shaughnessy, and Diana Grier Ayton is deeply appreciated. Copies are still available of the current edition (1744-2007). Please contact me should you wish a copy.
One-hundred years ago, 1919, McGill appointed Sir Auckland Geddes (1879 – 1954) as its 8th Principal, but his tenure lasted less than a year as he chose instead to become the British ambassador to Washington. Fifty years ago, 1969, McGill inaugurated a CEGEP that lasted to 1974, and began converting its Bachelor programs from four to three years. On March 28, 1969, Operation McGill français witnessed a howling mob of 10,000 outside the Roddick Gates demanding that McGill become a French-language university.
Among those in the McGill community who passed away over the past year are: Susan Aberman, Chief of Staff to Principal Fortier, September 15, 2018, Neven Matta, School of Continuing Studies, July 24, 2019, and Dorean Estey, widow of Dr. Ralph Howard Estey - both long-time members of the Society - May 8, 2019.
The 2018/2019 James McGill Society Prize for the best undergraduate essay on McGill’s history, or the essay making the best use of McGill’s research collections, was awarded to Brendan Fitzgibbon for his study, “Robert Vogel, His Life and the Second Generation in Canada.” If he is available, Mr. Fitzgibbon will appear at a meeting of the Society to receive his $200 award. Thanks are extended to Prof. J. Rudy and G. Burr for handling this project.
At the October meeting, Council will nominate as the James McGill Society’s new President, Mr. Ronald Critchley. Ron is a past-president of the McGill University Non-Academic Staff Association (MUNASA) and for nine and a half years served as staff representative on McGill’s Board of Governors. He has a lively interest and appreciation for McGill’s history. At the same meeting, Prof. Don Nerbas, Chair in Canadian-Scottish Studies in the Department of History and Classical Studies, will be nominated to serve on the Society’s Council.
Special thanks and appreciation are extended to Christopher Lyons as he completes his term as President of the James McGill Society. In the face of major administrative and professional responsibilities, as Head of the Rare Books and Special Collections Division, McLennan Library, Chris provided effective leadership and direction for the Society. His continued support is a guarantee for the Society’s future.
As always, thanks are due 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.
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