Once again the James McGill Society has the honour of presenting a program of interesting talks by outstanding speakers on aspects of McGill University’s engrossing history:
- Monday October 5, 2009
Dr. Tony Masi “A Great Transformation: Computers and Automation at McGill, 1959-2009” 146th Meeting (McGill Faculty Club).
- Monday November 9, 2009
Jacqueline Du Toit and Jason Kalman, "How McGill Bought the Dead Sea Scrolls" 147th Meeting.
- Monday, January 25, 2010
Professor M A Whitehead on “The History McGill University and the McGill Sigma Xi Chapter” 148th Meeting. (joint meeting with Sigma Xi)
- March or April (date to be announced)
Dean Ellen Aitken on the History of the Faculty of Religious Studies at McGill, 60th Anniversary. 149th Meeting.
Last year, the Society was honored by the following addresses:
- Dr. William Feindel, “Laying the Cornerstone: The Montreal Neurological Institute, October 6, 1933.” 142nd Meeting. October 6, 2008. (Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital) (Among those participating were Dr. Stanley Frost, Dr. Desmond Morton, and Professor Peter McNally) (co-sponsored with the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital).
- Dr. Desmond Morton “Canadian Officers’ Training Corp and McGill University.” Presidential Address. 143rd Meeting. (McGill Faculty Club). November 3, 2008.
- Dr. Lilly Koltun “The McGill Pantheon: Portraits in Redpath Hall.” 144th Meeting. (Redpath Hall). February 9, 2009. (co-sponsored with the McGill University Archives).
- Professor Richard Brown “Donald Hebb of McGill and 20th Century Psychology.” 145th Meeting. (McGill Faculty Club). March 16, 2009.
Thanks are also due to Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding Henry Gourdji, CD, and the Canadian Grenadier Guards, as well as to the Black Watch (Royal Highland) Regiment of Canada, for their participation in the October 6, 2008 meeting at the Montreal Neurological Institute.
During the reception preceding the meeting of November 3, 2008 the President, Dr. Morton, led members in a toast celebrating the 90th birthday of Dr. Hans Möller - Honorary Life Member of the James McGill Society.
Three notable members of the McGill community passed away this year: Rose Mamelak Johnstone, Edith Della Pergola, and Isabel Gales. Professor Johnstone was for many years Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and delivered before the Society a talk on its history. Professor Della Pergola played a central role with her husband in developing the opera program in the Schulich School of Music. Mrs. Gales strongly supported the work of her husband, the late Lorne Gales, as Executive Director of the Graduates' Society.
In addition to the 60th birthday of the Faculty of Religious Studies, previously Faculty of Divinity, several important McGill anniversaries are being celebrated this year. In 1909, the Macdonald Engineering Building opened, and the University awarded its first PhD degree to R.W. Boyle (Physics). In 1959, the McConnell Engineering Building was completed, and McGill acquired its first mainframe computer.
As members are all doubtlessly aware, the current economic situation has seen the value fall of the McGill endowment fund and consequently the income received by fund-holders – including the James McGill Society. At the same time, our expenses keep rising – with the mounting rental cost of the Faculty Club becoming a major concern. May we respectfully urge members to keep the Society’s Endowment fund in mind when considering gifts or bequests to McGill. Income generated by the fund covers 25% of our annual operating budget.
On behalf of the membership, I would like to express our thanks and appreciation to Dr. Desmond Morton for his steady leadership of the Society over the past two years. Under his presidency the academic quality of presentations was notably high. At the Society’s first meeting in October, the Executive Committee will nominate as President Mr. Gordon Burr, a long-time member of the Society, and a senior staff member of the McGill University Archives.
In closing I would like to express my personal thanks and appreciation for the ongoing support of Dr. Stanley Frost, Ms. Susan Button, the members of the Executive Committee, and the entire membership of the James McGill Society.
Respectfully submitted
Peter F. McNally
Executive Secretary