Explore All Past Lectures
Enter the world of the Beatty Lecture. This rich collection of searchable, digitized primary research material includes transcripts and audio or video recordings of lectures held since its launch in 1954.
Sir Edward Beatty
The Beatty Lecture is named in honour of Sir Edward Beatty, who led the Canadian Pacific Railway as president for two decades while also serving as McGill's chancellor from 1920 to 1943.
Featured Video
Watch a video recording of acclaimed Austrian pianist Alfred Brendel's 2011 Beatty Lecture delivered piano-side on the theme, "Does Classical Music Have to be Entirely Serious?"
Behind the Scenes:
The Beatty's First 25 Years
Go behind the scenes of the Beatty's early years, when lecturers traveled to Montreal by steamship and spent a month at McGill. Find out which future President delivered the first Lecture, which famous names topped the Beatty selection committee's wish lists, and more.
Nobel Prize Laureates at the Beatty Podium
The Beatty Lecture has brought 14 Nobel Prize laureates to McGill, ranging from journalist Maria Ressa in 2022, to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1993, to author Saul Bellow in 1973.
Spotlight
Born in 1914, British economist Barbara Ward paved the way in establishing the concept of sustainable development. Ward delivered a series of three Beatty lectures in 1955 on the topic, "The Interplay of East West: Points of Conflict and Cooperation".
The Poster Collection
Each year, visually striking posters designed by McGill's Graphic Services unit are used to promote the Beatty Lecture. Here are 16 standouts from the poster collection.
Top 5 Audio Highlights: 1960 - 1980
How was China's future perceived in 1968? What was the most important word you needed to know in the 1970s? Hear audio clips from lectures given by Beatty favorites including violinist Yehudi Menuhin, primatologist Jane Goodall, and biologist Francis Crick.
Celebrating 65 Years of the Beatty
2019 marked 65 years of the Beatty Lecture! Read memories from audience members about their favorite Beatty, learn about some standout talks, and view photos of lecturers ranging from author Han Suyin in 1968 to conservationist Jane Goodall in 2019.