The James McGill Society celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. Our 150th meeting in October will launch the celebration with an overview of the past and future of the Society and the study of McGill University’s history. The proposed talks for the year are:
- Monday October 4, 2010 (McGill Faculty Club).
Peter F. McNally, “Chronicling McGill’s History: What Comes Next?” (Annual Maysie MacSporran Lecture) 150th Meeting (Lecture co-sponsored by Campus McGill)
- Monday November 8, 2010 (place to be announced)
Gordon Burr, “McGill Remembers.” 151st Meeting (Presidential Address)
- Winter/Spring 2011 (date to be announced)
Paul Helmer, Growing with Canada - The Émigré Tradition in Canadian Music. 152nd Meeting.
- March or April (date to be announced)
Victoria Kaspi. Astrophysics Today. 153rd Meeting.
Last year, the Society was honored by excellent and well attended addresses:
- Dr. Anthony C. Masi, “A Great Transformation: Computers and Automation at McGill, 1959-2009.” 146TH Meeting. (Faculty Club). October 5, 2009.
- Dr. Jacqueline Du Toit and Dr. Jason Kalman, “How McGill Bought the Dead Sea Scrolls.” 147TH Meeting. (Birks Building, Faculty of Religious Studies) November 9, 2009.
- Dr. M. A. “Tony” Whitehead, “McGill University and Sigma Xi, 1921 – 2010.” 148TH Meeting. (Otto Maass Chemistry Building) (Joint Meeting with Sigma Xi) January 25, 2010.
- Dean Ellen B. Aitken, “How Do We Think about Religion in the University? The McGill Experience.” 149TH Meeting. (Birks Building, Faculty of Religious Studies) April 26, 2010.
During the reception preceding the meeting of January 25, 2010 the President, Mr. Gordon Burr, led members in a toast celebrating the 80th birthday of Dr. Margaret Gillett – Past President and Honorary Life Member of the James McGill Society.
Two publications promised in recent addresses before the Society have appeared this year:
- Kalman, Jason and Jaqueline S. du Toit. Canada's Big Biblical Bargain: How McGill University Bought the Dead Sea Scrolls. Montreal, McGill- Queen's University Press, c2010. xxiv, 424 p.
- Pasztor, Valerie M. Biology @ McGill: a History of the Biology Department at McGill University. [Montréal], Biology Department, McGill University, c2010. xix, 168 p.
Other recent publications of potential interest to members include the following:
- Chester, Bronwyn. A Leafy Legacy: The Trees of McGill University: Two Self-Guided Tours. Montreal, Redpath Museum, 2009. 31p [illustrator and designer, Jean-Luc Trudel].
- Smith, MacKay L. Memories and Profiles of McGill University: Downtown Campus, 1798-2009. Montreal, Infinitebooks, 2009. 156p.
As Fontanus: from the Collections of McGill University has not published a new volume for many years, Robert H. Michel and Peter McNally are assisting the McGill University Libraries in reviving this important vehicle for publishing research on McGill’s history and collections.
The Society notes the passing of two long time members and friends of the Society. Gavin Ross, retired Executive Director of the McGill Alumni Association and a notable “friend-raiser,” passed away on April 17. Mrs. Pauline Covo, mother of past-President, Professor David Covo passed away on July 4. Our sympathies are extended to their family and friends.
Among notable events being commemorated this year is the 100th anniversary of Annie Louise MacLeod - the first woman and first chemist to receive a McGill PhD. A major celebration occurred this year for the 75th birthday of our Past President, Dr. M. A. Whitehead. I would like to thank members for supporting the Symposium and Festschrift in his honour, and also for contributing to the Whitehead Fund in the Chemistry Department.
The recently announced appointment of Professor David L. Johnston as Governor General designate of Canada will be welcomed by the Society’s members, who will recall that during his years as Principal of McGill (1979-1994), he honoured the Society by serving as its Patron, and delivering several addresses.
Members will note that our first meeting on October 4 is co-sponsored by Campus McGill. May I take this opportunity of reminding you that donations to “Campaign McGill: History in the Making” can be designated to the James McGill Society!
In closing I would like to express my personal thanks and appreciation for the ongoing support of Dr. Stanley Frost, Ms. Susan Button, Mr. Gordon Burr, members of the Executive Committee, and the entire membership of the James McGill Society.
Respectfully submitted
Peter F. McNally
Executive Secretary