Grave of Richard St. Barbe Baker at Woodlawn Cemetery, Saskatoon; trees and headstones in background.

Bio/Historical Note: Born 9 October 1889 near Southhampton, England, Richard Edward St. Barbe Baker was educated at Dean Close School, Cheltenham; Emmanuel College, University of Saskatchewan; and Cambridge University where he completed forestry studies. Following service in World War I, and a brief stint with the British civil service, Baker was appointed Assistant Conservator of Forests in Kenya. There in 1922 he founded the Men of the Trees, enlisting the help of 9,000 voluntary tree planters in an attempt to arrest the invading Sahara. This society, which grew into an international organization, became the central cause of Baker’s life. He became a renowned forestry consultant, and over the years was called upon to advise governments in many nations on forestry and conservation matters, including Palestine, New Zealand, the United States, Africa, and India. Baker also was active in promoting international co-operation and was involved in preparations for the first World Forestry Congress held in Rome in 1926. In addition to his extensive forestry and conservation activities, Baker wrote and published widely and has more than thirty books and scores of articles to his credit. While much of his writing is autobiographical in nature, he also wrote about tree, forestry and conservation concerns, spiritual and religious topics, health matters, and horses, and also produced some material specifically for children. Throughout Baker’s life he was in demand as a public lecturer, speaking to numerous audiences in many countries, and gave talks in schools all over Britain and New Zealand. Baker’s radio talks were featured on the BBC in Britain, and he was also heard on radio in the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and Africa. Beyond his forestry and literary activities, he was strongly involved with the Baha'i Faith, and was a proponent of healthful living. He received an honourary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 1972, and in 1977 the Order of the British Empire was bestowed upon him. In 1959 Baker lived in New Zealand until his death on 9 June 1982 in Saskatoon while visiting the University of Saskatchewan. He was 92 years old.

Two returned men, [Mawson and Myles], of the Second Canadian Division, plowing with a gas powered tractor.

Stonework on back of building nearing completion. Some roof trusses erected; uncut stone in foreground.

Bio/Historical Note: Designated as a provincial heritage property in 1982 and as a National Historic Site in 2001, the University of Saskatchewan's first building has long served as the architectural, intellectual and emotional cornerstone of the campus. Designed by Brown and Vallance, the College Building was originally intended ultimately to house the College of Agriculture; but from the start, served numerous purposes. As early as April 1910, the floor plan included space for milk testing, butter making, cheese making, grain work; a gymnasium; several classrooms; offices for the registrar, dean of Agriculture, director of Extension, and president; the original "faculty club"; laboratories; the library; and quarters for the janitor. After a sod-turning ceremony on 4 May 1910, the cornerstone was laid by Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier on 29 July 1910. It was constructed between 1910-1912 by Smith Bros. and Wilson general contractors. The building was officially opened by Walter Scott, Premier of Saskatchewan, on 1 May 1913. The College Building serves as a memorial to much of the university's history: numerous plaques to individuals and organizations can be found in its interior, including memorial ribbons honouring members of the university community who served in the First World War. In 1997 the university created "Nobel Plaza" in front of the College Building, honouring two Nobel Laureates associated with the University: Gerhard Herzberg and Henry Taube. As the university grew, the College Building gradually became the administrative centre for the university. By the 1950s most of the original teaching facilities were taken over by new or expanded offices including those of the registrar, controller, alumni and news services, and presidential staff. The building became known as the Administration Building at this point, and later the "old Administration Building" to distinguish it from the new wing. This expansion continued through the 1960s and 1970s, particularly with the appointment of a university secretary and vice-presidents. While Convocation Hall became too small for regular Convocation ceremonies by 1930, it maintained its original, broader function as a venue for concerts, meetings, lectures, and other events. Parts of the building were declared to be unsafe in 1979, which led to the construction of the new wing of the Administration Building, opened in 1987. Most of the original building was closed, but Convocation Hall remained in use until 1997. The building was reopened and officially rededicated as the College Building in September 2005 after a major rehabilitation project. The rehabilitation was reported to be "one of the largest heritage conservation projects in Canada - second only to the work being done on Parliament Hill." In addition to senior administrative offices and Convocation Hall, it became home to the Museum of Antiquities and new gallery space for the University Art Collection. Upon completion in 2012 the University Board of Governors renamed the Administration Building the Peter MacKinnon Building, in honour of Peter MacKinnon, retiring University President and a driving force behind the project.

Looking northeast at the College Building at the end of construction; horse and carriage on front.

Bio/Historical Note: Designated as a provincial heritage property in 1982 and as a National Historic Site in 2001, the University of Saskatchewan's first building has long served as the architectural, intellectual and emotional cornerstone of the campus. Designed by Brown and Vallance, the College Building was originally intended ultimately to house the College of Agriculture; but from the start, served numerous purposes. As early as April 1910, the floor plan included space for milk testing, butter making, cheese making, grain work; a gymnasium; several classrooms; offices for the registrar, dean of Agriculture, director of Extension, and president; the original "faculty club"; laboratories; the library; and quarters for the janitor. After a sod-turning ceremony on 4 May 1910, the cornerstone was laid by Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier on 29 July 1910. It was constructed between 1910-1912 by Smith Bros. and Wilson general contractors. The building was officially opened by Walter Scott, Premier of Saskatchewan, on 1 May 1913. The College Building serves as a memorial to much of the university's history: numerous plaques to individuals and organizations can be found in its interior, including memorial ribbons honouring members of the university community who served in the First World War. In 1997 the university created "Nobel Plaza" in front of the College Building, honouring two Nobel Laureates associated with the University: Gerhard Herzberg and Henry Taube. As the university grew, the College Building gradually became the administrative centre for the university. By the 1950s most of the original teaching facilities were taken over by new or expanded offices including those of the registrar, controller, alumni and news services, and presidential staff. The building became known as the Administration Building at this point, and later the "old Administration Building" to distinguish it from the new wing. This expansion continued through the 1960s and 1970s, particularly with the appointment of a university secretary and vice-presidents. While Convocation Hall became too small for regular Convocation ceremonies by 1930, it maintained its original, broader function as a venue for concerts, meetings, lectures, and other events. Parts of the building were declared to be unsafe in 1979, which led to the construction of the new wing of the Administration Building, opened in 1987. Most of the original building was closed, but Convocation Hall remained in use until 1997. The building was reopened and officially rededicated as the College Building in September 2005 after a major rehabilitation project. The rehabilitation was reported to be "one of the largest heritage conservation projects in Canada - second only to the work being done on Parliament Hill." In addition to senior administrative offices and Convocation Hall, it became home to the Museum of Antiquities and new gallery space for the University Art Collection. Upon completion in 2012 the University Board of Governors renamed the Administration Building the Peter MacKinnon Building, in honour of Peter MacKinnon, retiring University President and a driving force behind the project.

R.W. Begg, Saskatoon Campus Principal, and Mabel Timlin, past Professor of Economics, sitting beside each other, glasses in hand. Elsie Begg and J.W. Gerrard are standing behind them.

Bio/Historical Note: Mabel F. Timlin was born in Forest Junction, Wisconsin, on 6 December 1891. She attended Normal School and taught for 10 years at various schools in Wisconsin and Saskatchewan, prior to accepting a position as secretary at the University of Saskatchewan in 1921. Taking a few classes a year, she earned a BA in 1929, and completed her PhD (1940) from the University of Washington during summer sessions. Timlin began lecturing in Economics at the University of Saskatchewan in 1935. She was promoted to full professor in 1950, and retired in 1959. Timlin was an authority on Keynesian economic theory, monetary policy and immigration. Among her many publications were "Keynesian Economics" (1942) and "Does Canada Need More People?" (1951). Following her retirement, the Canada Council granted her a special Fellowship to study Canadian immigration. Later, she was appointed research assistant with the Social Science Research Council of Canada and co-authored "The Social Sciences in Canada: Two Studies" (1968). She was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, first woman president of the Canadian Political Science Association, and invested as a member of the Order of Canada on 27 February 1976. Timlin died in Saskatoon on 20 September 1976 at the age of 84.

Unveiling of plaque at Diefenbaker homestead near Borden, Saskatchewan. From l to r: Senator Sid Buckwold; Roy Romanow, MLA for Saskatoon-Riversdale; John Diefenbaker, University Chancellor; Tom Gauley, Board of Governors, and R.W. Begg, University President.

R.W. Begg unveils a plaque in memory of L.H. Hantelman while Mrs. Hantelman looks on.

The first three deans of Medicine seated together (l to r): Dr. R.W. Begg, third dean; Dr. W.S. Lindsay, first dean, 1927-1952, holding a book; and Dr. J. Wendell Macleod, second dean, 1952-1962.

Head and shoulders image of W.P. Thompson, third University President, 1949-1959.

Bio/Historical Note: Walter Palmer Thompson was born 3 April 1889 near Decewsville, Ontario. He graduated from the University of Toronto with a BA (1910), and from Harvard with an AM (1912) and PhD (1914). Thompson came to the University of Saskatchewan as professor and head of the Biology Department in 1913. He was an important figure at the university for the next fifty years. Thompson served in a variety of administrative positions: dean of Junior Colleges (1934); dean of Arts and Sciences (1938); acting president (1942); director of Summer School (1948); and president of the University (1949). Dr. Thompson retired in 1959 and became President Emeritus. During his academic career Thompson gained international recognition for his work as a geneticist, particularly for the development of rust resistant wheat hybrids. The W.P. Thompson Biology Building, opened in 1960, was named in his honour. Upon his retirement as president Thompson was appointed chairman of the Advisory Committee on Medical Care. The recommendations of this committee were an important foundation for the provincial Medicare system. In 1967 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada, one of the first to receive this award. He was awarded an honourary Doctor of Laws degree in 1960 by the U of S. Walter Thompson died in Toronto in 1970.

Head and shoulders image of Donald Maclean, fourth University Chancellor from 1946-July 1947, sitting in a chair and wearing academic robes.

Bio/Historical Note: Donald Maclean was born in 1877 at Fourchu, Richmond County, Nova Scotia, and was educated at the Pictou Academy and Dalhousie University. In 1909 MacLean moved to Saskatchewan. In the wartime Saskatchewan general election held 26 June 1917, Maclean was elected to the Saskatoon City seat. William Melville Martin of the Liberal Party of Saskatchewan became premier of the province. From 1918-1921 Maclean was elected leader of the Conservative Party and His Majesty's Loyal Opposition. During his time in office, the School Act was amended to choose English as the language of instruction in Saskatchewan's one room schoolhouses. The next Saskatchewan election was held 9 June 1921. However,i n April 1921, Maclean became a Saskatchewan judge and accepted an appointment to the Justice of the Court of King's Bench. He taught in the faculty of Law at the University of Saskatchewan until 1923. An honourary Doctor of Civil Law degree was bestowed upon him 9 May 1947 by the U of S for services rendered to the public, especially within the University of Saskatchewan. Maclean held a term of office on the U of S Board of Governors from 1932–1946. Maclean was the fourth Chancellor of the U of S and served in this position from 1946 until his death in July 1947.

Head and shoulders image of Emmett M. Hall, Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, and honourary Doctor of Civil Laws degree recipient. Image possibly taken near time of presentation.

Bio/Historical Note: Emmett Matthew Hall was born 29 November 1898 in Saint-Colomban, Quebec. At age 12 in 1910, his family moved to Saskatoon to take over a dairy farm. Hall was in the audience on 29 July 1910, when Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier laid the cornerstone for the University of Saskatchewan. Hall studied law at the College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan, putting himself through by teaching French in local schools. One of his classmates was John Diefenbaker, future Prime Minister of Canada. He received his LLB from the U of S in 1919. Hall was called to the bar in 1922 and spent the next 35 years in private practice. He became a leading litigator in the Saskatchewan bar. Hall earned a reputation as a civil libertarian after serving as co-counsel in defending 24 unemployed on-to-Ottawa trekkers who were charged in the 1935 Regina Riot. In 1935 Hall was appointed King’s Counsel. He was elected a bencher of the Law Society of Saskatchewan, becoming president of the Law Society in 1952. He also taught law at the College of Law at the U of S. Appointed by John Diefenbaker in 1961 to chair a royal commission on Canada’s health care system, Hall issued a report in 1964 that went beyond Saskatchewan’s pioneering medicare legislation and recommended wider benefits, such as free prescription drugs for seniors and dental care for school children and people on social assistance. He is considered one of the fathers of the Canadian system of Medicare, along with his fellow Saskatchewanian, Tommy Douglas. Lester Pearson’s government adopted many of Hall’s recommendations and implemented a national health plan in 1968 that was cost-shared with provinces. Named to the Supreme Court in 1962, Hall’s lasting judicial legacy is in the area of Aboriginal law. Particularly noteworthy is his strong dissent in R v Calder, regarding Nisga’a title to territory. His view that Aboriginal title existed through centuries of occupation and could be extinguished only through surrender or by competent legislative authority is credited with influencing modern land claims settlements across Canada. Hall was awarded an honourary Doctor of Civil Laws degree by the U of S in 1962. Hall served as chancellor of two different universities: the University of Guelph (1971-1977) and the University of Saskatchewan (1979-1986). By a quirk of fate, he followed two former leaders of the federal Progressive Conservative party in the two positions. His predecessor as chancellor of Guelph was George Drew, who led the party from 1948 to 1956. At Saskatchewan, Hall succeeded his old law school chum, John Diefenbaker, who died in 1979. On his retirement from the Supreme Court in 1974, Hall was made a Companion of the Order of Canada, "for a lifetime of service to the law and for his contributions to the improvement of health services and education." Emmett Hall died 12 November 1995 in Saskatoon at age 96.