Head and shoulders image of Dr. Vince L. Matthews, Professor and Head, Department of Social and Preventative Medicine, University Hospital.

Bio/Historical Note: Born in 1922 near Kincaid, Saskatchewan, Dr. Vincent L. Matthews received a BA from the University of Saskatchewan in 1943. He completed his MD at the University of Toronto in 1945, and earned a Diploma in Public Health from the University of Toronto in 1947. That same year he was assistant to the director of Regional Health Services in Saskatchewan. He served as the Swift Current region's Medical Health Officer from 1948 to 1957. His principled yet practical approach, bolstered by certification as a specialist in public health in 1953 and experience as a general practitioner in Maple Creek for two years, enabled him to help the region's administrator, board, and local physicians to make the medical, hospital, dental and public health programs function effectively. In 1957 he headed the Medical and Hospital Services Branch of Saskatchewan Health, and accepted an appointment as acting Deputy Minister of Health a few days before the Doctors’ Strike in 1962; he then became associate Deputy Minister of Health. Dr. Matthews was head of the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine (now known as the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology) in the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan from 1964 until retirement in 1987. He was a celebrated national and international leader in public health, as well as a key player in Saskatchewan's evolving health system. He died suddenly in Saskatoon on 7 July 1988. To honour his memory, the college’s Dr. Vince Matthews Graduate Student Bursary was established.

Head and shoulders image of Mary M. Mattila, district home economist for North Battleford and Meadow Lake agricultural representative districts during the mid-1960s..

Bio/Historical Note: Mary M. Mattila grew up on a dairy farm on the shores of Lake Ontario near Kingston. After graduation from the University of Guelph with a home economics degree, she headed west with her Saskatchewan-born husband, Howard Mattila, settling in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. The first two years in the west were spent working as a district home economist in the North Battleford and Meadow Lake agricultural representative districts. During those early years Mattila took art classes from local teachers, as well as a first year university painting class from James McIllivary. Since retirement from the North West Regional College in 2004, Mattila paints regularly with the Battlefords Art Club (2023).

Head and shoulders image of A.C. (Colb) McEown, first Vice-president (academic).

Bio/Historical Note: Alpheus Colborne McEown was born in 1901 in London, Ontario, and was a graduate of Nutana Collegiate in Saskatoon. Aside from his academic career at the University of Saskatchewan, McEown had a lengthy athletic career as a player, trainer, and coach. He played forward for the Arts and Science Hockey Club in 1918-1919. From 1921-1922 McEown was player and trainer for the U of S hockey team. In 1921 he was also acting manager of the Saskatoon Hilltops. McEown was also a major driving force behind the establishment of Rutherford Rink, which opened on campus in 1929. In 1932 he was hired by Walter Murray and Joe Griffiths to coach the university men’s basketball team. McEown coached the men’s basketball team to eight Rigby Cup Championships between 1932 and 1948. These eight titles came in consecutive years, beginning in 1935. He coached the Huskies football team in 1939, 1940, 1943, 1944, and 1945. McEown taught at both Bedford Road Collegiate and the U of S. He joined the U of S in 1949 as first assistant to the President. In 1961 he became the first vice-president (academic) at the U of S. His responsibilities included general administration as well as managing the university’s finances. McEown also served on the University Senate, on the Board of Governors and was president of the U of S Alumni Association. In early 1968 McEown was appointed vice-president of the U of S. McEown held this position until his death on 8 April 1968. The McEown Park residences, on the corner of 14th Street East and Cumberland Avenue South, as well as McEown Avenue in Nutana are named in his honour. The Colb McEown Award is given annually to the U of S sports coach of the year.

Ronald Mavor (behind lectern) and Henry Woolf, professors of Drama, together with students from the Department of Drama, re-enact the University's first lecture as part of the campus 75th anniversary celebrations.

Head and shoulders image of Dr. Jim Mawdsley, dean of Engineering.

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. James Buckland (Jim) Mawdsley was born on 22 July 1894 near Siena, Italy, the son of British-American parents. In 1904 the Mawdsley family left Italy and settled in the village of Gainsborough, Saskatchewan. After receiving his public and high school training in Saskatchewan he entered McGill University in 1913. Dr. Mawdsley’s career, like that of many of his contemporaries, was interrupted by the First World War. Twice wounded in France, first with the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry and then as a pilot with the Royal Flying Corps, he was awarded an MBE at the end of the war. In 1919 Dr. Mawdsley returned to McGill and two years later graduated in Mining Engineering. He then went to Princeton University where he obtained his DPhil in Geology in 1924. That same year he joined the Geological Survey of Canada and for the next five years applied his scientific knowledge to the problems of the regional geology of northwestern Quebec. Dr. Mawdsley accepted in 1929 the appointment of professor and head of the Department of Geology at the University of Saskatchewan, a position he held until he became dean of Engineering in 1961 and also the director of the Institute for Northern Studies. In 1963 Dr. Mawdsley retired as dean and was then able to devote all his time to the affairs of the institute. In addition to his academic duties, his professional activities included field work in northern Saskatchewan for the Geological Survey of Canada and the Saskatchewan Department of Mineral Resources, and private consulting assignments took him to other parts of northern Canada, to the United States and Great Britain. Dr. Mawdsley was the author of 51 scientific papers and his honours were many. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1933 and was chairman of Section IV for the year 1954-55. He was president of the Geological Association of Canada during 1955-56 and of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy for 1961-62. In 1953 Dr. Mawdsley was awarded the Institute's Barlow Memorial Medal in recognition of his paper entitled "Uraninite-bearing deposits, Charlebois Lake area, northeastern Saskatchewan". He was a Fellow and Director of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, a Fellow of the Geological Society of America, a member of the Society of Economic Geologists, the Engineering Institute of Canada, and the Association of Professional Engineers of Saskatchewan. Dr. Mawdsley died very suddenly on 3 December 1964 at the age of 70. As director of the Institute for Northern Studies, he played a major role in its organization and development and exerted a very great influence on research in northern Canada. Named in his honour is Mawdsley Lake, located at 56° 47' north latitude and 106° 6' west longitude in north central Saskatchewan.

Head and shoulders image of Dr. Jim Mawdsley, professor and head, Department of Geology.

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. James Buckland (Jim) Mawdsley was born on 22 July 1894 near Siena, Italy, the son of British-American parents. In 1904 the Mawdsley family left Italy and settled in the village of Gainsborough, Saskatchewan. After receiving his public and high school training in Saskatchewan he entered McGill University in 1913. Dr. Mawdsley’s career, like that of many of his contemporaries, was interrupted by the First World War. Twice wounded in France, first with the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry and then as a pilot with the Royal Flying Corps, he was awarded an MBE at the end of the war. In 1919 Dr. Mawdsley returned to McGill and two years later graduated in Mining Engineering. He then went to Princeton University where he obtained his DPhil in Geology in 1924. That same year he joined the Geological Survey of Canada and for the next five years applied his scientific knowledge to the problems of the regional geology of northwestern Quebec. Dr. Mawdsley accepted in 1929 the appointment of professor and head of the Department of Geology at the University of Saskatchewan, a position he held until he became dean of Engineering in 1961 and also the director of the Institute for Northern Studies. In 1963 Dr. Mawdsley retired as dean and was then able to devote all his time to the affairs of the institute. In addition to his academic duties, his professional activities included field work in northern Saskatchewan for the Geological Survey of Canada and the Saskatchewan Department of Mineral Resources, and private consulting assignments took him to other parts of northern Canada, to the United States and Great Britain. Dr. Mawdsley was the author of 51 scientific papers and his honours were many. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1933 and was chairman of Section IV for the year 1954-55. He was president of the Geological Association of Canada during 1955-56 and of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy for 1961-62. In 1953 Dr. Mawdsley was awarded the Institute's Barlow Memorial Medal in recognition of his paper entitled "Uraninite-bearing deposits, Charlebois Lake area, northeastern Saskatchewan". He was a Fellow and Director of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, a Fellow of the Geological Society of America, a member of the Society of Economic Geologists, the Engineering Institute of Canada, and the Association of Professional Engineers of Saskatchewan. Dr. Mawdsley died very suddenly on 3 December 1964 at the age of 70. As director of the Institute for Northern Studies, he played a major role in its organization and development and exerted a very great influence on research in northern Canada. Named in his honour is Mawdsley Lake, located at 56° 47' north latitude and 106° 6' west longitude in north central Saskatchewan.

Aerial view of Mawdsley Lake in northern Saskatchewan, named after Dr. J.B. Mawdsley, Dean of the College of Engineering, and Director of the Institute of Northern Studies.

Bio/Historical Note: Geographical coordinates are 56°47' North and 106°07' West.

Bio/Historical Note: James Buckland Mawdsley was born on 22 July 1894 near Siena, Italy, the son of British-American parents. In 1904 the Mawdsley family left Italy and settled in the village of Gainsborough, Saskatchewan. After receiving his public and high school training in Saskatchewan he entered McGill University in 1913. Dr. Mawdsley’s career, like that of many of his contemporaries, was interrupted by the First World War. Twice wounded in France, first with the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry and then as a pilot with the Royal Flying Corps, he was awarded an MBE at the end of the war. In 1919 Dr. Mawdsley returned to McGill and two years later graduated in Mining Engineering. He then went to Princeton University where he obtained his DPhil in Geology in 1924. That same year he joined the Geological Survey of Canada and for the next five years applied his scientific knowledge to the problems of the regional geology of northwestern Quebec. Dr. Mawdsley accepted in 1929 the appointment of professor and head of the Department of Geology at the University of Saskatchewan, a position he held until he became Dean of Engineering in 1961 and also the Director of the Institute for Northern Studies. In 1963 Dr. Mawdsley retired as Dean and was then able to devote all his time to the affairs of the Institute. In addition to his academic duties his professional activities included field work in northern Saskatchewan for the Geological Survey of Canada and the Saskatchewan Department of Mineral Resources, and private consulting assignments took him to other parts of northern Canada, to the United States and Great Britain. Dr. Mawdsley was the author of 51 scientific papers and his honours were many. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1933 and was chairman of Section IV for the year 1954-55. He was president of the Geological Association of Canada during 1955-56 and of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy for 1961-62. In 1953 Dr. Mawdsley was awarded the Institute's Barlow Memorial Medal in recognition of his paper entitled "Uraninite-bearing deposits, Charlebois Lake area, northeastern Saskatchewan". He was a Fellow and Director of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, a Fellow of the Geological Society of America, a member of the Society of Economic Geologists, the Engineering Institute of Canada, and the Association of Professional Engineers of Saskatchewan. Dr. Mawdsley died very suddenly on 3 December 1964 at the age of 70. As Director of the Institute for Northern Studies, University of Saskatchewan, he played a major role in its organization and development and exerted a very great influence on research in northern Canada.

Two images of detail of metal work on Memorial Gates. Trees in background.
Photo A: One open gate facing west.
Photo B: Two closed gates facing north.

Looking northeast at the Memorial Union Building (MUB); road in foreground.

People standing and walking down the front steps of the Memorial Union Building (MUB).

Posed indoor image of Tim Molnar, Huskie football player, in uniform.

Bio/Historical Note: Timothy Molnar, a graduate of Thom Collegiate in Regina, enrolled at the University of Saskatchewan (BSc 1980; BEd 1981) in 1974. He was a member of the football team for five years, playing linebacker, defensive back and fullback. Molnar was selected to the WIFL all-star team in 1974 as a defensive back and in 1978 as a linebacker. He also competed on the Huskies wrestling team for five years, winning Canada West conference gold and CIAU silver. While a student, Molnar represented Canada at the Canada Winter Games, the Canadian Senior Championships and the Olympic trials. In 1978-1979 he was awarded the E. Kent Phillips Trophy as male athlete of the year at the U of S.

Head and shoulders image of Dr. Donald F. Moore, professor of Pathology, Department of Medicine.

Head and shoulders image of James A. Munroe, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Engineering.

Walter C. Murray, first University President, standing in front of some bookcases in his office.

Head and shoulders image of Dr. Eric M. Nanson, Professor and Head, Department of Surgery, University Hospital, 1954-1969.

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. Eric Musard Nanson was born 4 January 1915 in Geraldine, South Canterbury, New Zealand, and took his early education in Christchurch. He was awarded the University National Scholarship of New Zealand in 1934 and in that year went to Canterbury University College before proceeding to Otago University in Dunedin the following year for medical studies. In 1937 he was awarded the senior university scholarship of New Zealand and he qualified in 1939. Dr. Nanson’s early appointment was as house surgeon at Christchurch Hospital from 1939-1941. During part of this time he also served as demonstrator in anatomy in the University of Otago. Dr. Nanson then joined the New Zealand Medical Corps as a captain from 1941-1945, serving with the second New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Middle East, North Africa and Italy as Officer Commanding an ambulance train and medical officer in both a field ambulance and a base hospital. After demobilisation in 1945 he was initially surgical registrar at Waikato Hospital, Hamilton, and later surgeon superintendent at Buller Hospital, Westport before deciding to come to England. Within a few months of arriving he had passed the FRCS and was surgical registrar at St. James' Hospital, Balham, and later assistant in the surgical professorial unit at St. Bartholomew's Hospital. Dr. Nanson spent a year as senior surgical registrar at St Peter's Hospital, Henrietta Street, before going to work as Rockefeller Foundation Fellow in the department of surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, for nine months. He returned to England in 1951 and worked in Bristol as lecturer in surgery at the university for just over a year before being invited to return to Johns Hopkins as Associate Professor of Surgery. Dr. Nanson was elected Hunterian Professor on two occasions. In 1954 he was appointed as the Foundation Professor of Surgery at the University of Saskatchewan and served as consultant surgeon to City Hospital, St. Paul's Hospital and Saskatoon Sanatorium. He remained in this post for fifteen years and played an important role in the development of the undergraduate medical curriculum. Dr. Nanson also pursued a policy of continuing medical education and postgraduate education which enabled Saskatchewan to rely on its own graduates rather than immigrant doctors from other provinces and countries. Dr. Nanson was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada in 1954 and of the American College of Surgeons in 1956. In 1970 he was appointed Foundation Professor of Surgery in the School of Medicine at the University of Auckland and held this post for ten years. His enthusiasm persisted and in addition to introducing the concept of a trainee internship to the department of surgery, he was co-author of the Handbook for Clinical Students which is a constant companion to undergraduate medical students. Dr. Nanson continued to perform administrative duties in addition to his clinical and teaching commitments. He carried out a prodigious amount of research work throughout his life which was published in over 100 papers in Canadian, British, American and New Zealand journals. These covered a wide range of subjects and reflected his extensive knowledge and experience in surgery. After retiring in 1979 from the Chair of Surgery at Auckland, he was awarded the Ordinary Officers of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) award. His interest in academic work was such that after retiring from clinical work he taught anatomy at the Auckland Medical School. His enthusiasm for clinical work persisted and he continued to attend surgical meetings until shortly before his death. Dr. Nanson died 27 September 1988 in Auckland.