Students in elementary laboratory in new Physics addition.

Bio/Historical Note: The Physics Building Addition, designed by Kerr, Cullingworth, Riches and Associates, was initially meant to accommodate a student body of 8,000 for a cost of $750,000. However, the growing demands of the Department during the planning stages led to a drastic increase in the scope of the project. Upon completion the Addition added 36,000 square feet of accommodation to the existing 49,000 in the original Physics Building; the foundations and support columns of the Addition are also designed to support an additional two storeys to the building in future expansions. The basement of the Addition originally housed 20 undergraduate laboratories, each with a proposed capacity of 20 students, four advanced undergraduate labs specializing in Modern Physics, Electronics, Optics and 4th Year studies, and research laboratories for masters and doctoral candidates. As well, main machine, woodworking, students’ and electronic workshops were contained here, as was most of the office space. The building also contained two large lecture theatres and classroom space to accommodate 450 to 500 students. The Addition was restricted to two-storeys so as not to cast shadows on the Biology greenhouses to the north. The exterior of the building was sheathed in greystone, with Tyndall limestone used as window trim, door and window mullions, and as mirror wall panels. Grey slate was used in canopy facings, and in steps and the thresholds to entrances.

W. Ross Thatcher, Premier of Saskatchewan, speaking at the installation of Dr. R.W. Begg as principal of the Saskatoon Campus; held in Physical Education gymnasium.

Bio/historical note: Robert William Begg (1914-1982) was born in Florenceville, New Brunswick. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of King's College in 1936. He received a Master of Science degree in 1938 and a Doctor of Medicine in 1942 from Dalhousie University. During World War II, he served with the Canadian Army Medical Corps . After the war, he received a Ph.D. from Oxford University. From 1946 to 1950, he taught at Dalhousie University. From 1950 to 1957, he taught at the University of Western Ontario. In 1957, he became head of the Saskatchewan research unit of the National Cancer Institute of Canada, head of the cancer research department at the University of Saskatchewan and taught pathology. In 1962, he became Dean of the College of Medicine and Principal of the Saskatoon campus in 1967. From 1975 to 1980, he was the fifth president of the University of Saskatchewan. In 1976, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada "for his distinguished career in education and for his contributions to cancer research.” Begg died in Saskatoon in 1982 after a long illness.

Dr. Jacob G. Rempel, Biology Department and representative of the faculty, speaking at the installation of Dr. R.W. Begg as principal of Saskatoon Campus. Ceremony held in Physical Education gymnasium.

Bio/historical note: Robert William Begg (1914-1982) was born in Florenceville, New Brunswick. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of King's College in 1936. He received a Master of Science degree in 1938 and a Doctor of Medicine in 1942 from Dalhousie University. During World War II, he served with the Canadian Army Medical Corps . After the war, he received a Ph.D. from Oxford University. From 1946 to 1950, he taught at Dalhousie University. From 1950 to 1957, he taught at the University of Western Ontario. In 1957, he became head of the Saskatchewan research unit of the National Cancer Institute of Canada, head of the cancer research department at the University of Saskatchewan and taught pathology. In 1962, he became Dean of the College of Medicine and Principal of the Saskatoon campus in 1967. From 1975 to 1980, he was the fifth president of the University of Saskatchewan. In 1976, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada "for his distinguished career in education and for his contributions to cancer research.” Begg died in Saskatoon in 1982 after a long illness.

Dr. R.N.H. Haslam speaking at a banquet in Marquis Hall in Dr. R.W. Begg's honour after the Campus Principal installation ceremony.

Bio/historical note: Robert William Begg, (1914-1982) was born in Florenceville, New Brunswick. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of King's College in 1936. He received a Master of Science degree in 1938 and a Doctor of Medicine in 1942 from Dalhousie University. During World War II, he served with the Canadian Army Medical Corps . After the war, he received a Ph.D. from Oxford University. From 1946 to 1950, he taught at Dalhousie University. From 1950 to 1957, he taught at the University of Western Ontario. In 1957, he became head of the Saskatchewan research unit of the National Cancer Institute of Canada, head of the cancer research department at the University of Saskatchewan and taught pathology. In 1962, he became Dean of the College of Medicine and Principal of the Saskatoon campus in 1967. From 1975 to 1980, he was the fifth president of the University of Saskatchewan. In 1976, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada "for his distinguished career in education and for his contributions to cancer research.” Begg died in Saskatoon in 1982 after a long illness.

M.W.S. Eagles, director of marketing research for Air Canada, on campus for part of exchange program.

Mary Spinks (left) makes presentation to Jean E. Murray at retirement banquet.

Bio/Historical Note: Jean Elizabeth Murray was born on 29 April 1901 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the second of three daughters of Walter Charles and Christina (Cameron) Murray. In September 1909, Murray, her sisters, and her mother moved to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to join her father who had been made president of the University of Saskatchewan a year earlier. She completed her primary and secondary education at King Edward and Victoria schools and Nutana Collegiate and then went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts (1922) and a Master of Arts (1923) from the University of Saskatchewan. She subsequently received a second MA from the University of Toronto (1924) and a PhD from the University of Chicago (1936). After working as an instructor at the University of Alberta between 1928 and 1930 and at Regina College from 1930 to 1931, Murray joined the University of Saskatchewan as an instructor in history in 1931. She became an assistant professor in 1937 and a full professor in 1966. Upon her retirement in 1968, the University of Saskatchewan awarded Murray the rank of Professor Emeritus of History. After retirement she continued to work at the university, first as a sessional lecturer, then as chairman of the library committee of the history department. She was made acting archivist for the university in 1936, and was a leading member of several women's interest groups. Murray died at Saskatoon in 1981.

Interior of Veterinary College classroom.

Laboratory room filled with displays of animal skeletons.

Inside of a veterinary lab room with work tables fitted with sinks.

Interior of the Veterinary Medicine Library. Atrium is to the right, stairs to the upper floor on the right, and the stacks to the back.

Mayor Buckwold standing at the podium with the University of Saskatchewan crest behind him.

Dr. R.T. Coupland, director, Matador Project (1966-1976), sitting in office.

Bio/Historical Note: From 1967 to 1972, plant ecologists at the University of Saskatchewan participated in the International Biological Program. As part of this worldwide study of agricultural productivity, ecologists established the Matador field station for grassland research carried out by scientists from thirty-four countries. The field station was located near Kyle, thirty miles north of Swift Current, in an area of natural grassland that was potentially the best wheat growing soil in the brown soil zone of Saskatchewan. The land (three square miles) was originally leased for 21 years from the Government of Saskatchewan; the lease (for $1/year) has since been renewed and currently expires in 2009. The Matador Project involved the study of the total grasslands ecosystem, including the interaction of animals, plants, microorganisms, soils and the atmosphere. Robert T. Coupland, Head of the Department of Plant Ecology, served as Director of the Matador Project.

Large crowd of people watching a speaker during the Linear Accelerator Building official opening. View from behind crowd looking towards speaker.

Bio/Historical Note: The building of the Linear Accelerator (Linac) was not a random event but rather the result of a series of developments on campus. The Department of Physics had over the previous decades built a reputation for experimentation and innovation. The post-war period saw the University of Saskatchewan in the forefront of nuclear physics in Canada. In 1948, Canada’s first betatron (and the world’s first used in the treatment of cancer) was installed on campus. It was used for research programs in nuclear physics, radiation chemistry, cancer therapy and radiation biology. Next the world’s first non-commercial cobalt-60 therapy unit for the treatment of cancer was officially opened in 1951. With this unit research was undertaken in the areas of radiological physics, radiation chemistry and the effects of high energy radiation on plants and animals. When the construction of the Linear Accelerator was announced in the fall of 1961, it was portrayed as the next logical step on the University’s research path. Varian Associates, Palo Alto, California, designed and built the accelerator with Poole Construction of Saskatoon employed as the general contractor. The 80 foot electron accelerator tube was to create energy six times that of the betatron. The cost of the $1,750,000 facility was split between the National Research Council and the University of Saskatchewan with the NRC meeting the cost of the equipment and the University assuming the costs of the building. The official opening in early November of 1964 was more than just a few speeches and the cutting of a ribbon. It was a physics-fest, with 75 visiting scientist from around the world in attendance presenting papers and giving lectures over the period of several days. Three eminent physicists were granted honorary degrees at the fall convocation and hundreds of people showed up for the public open house. For three decades the Linac has served the campus research community and will continue to do so as it has become incorporated into the Canadian Light Source synchrotron.

Darrel V. Heald, Attorney General of Saskatchewan, speaking in the Library during the opening of the Law Building.

Bio/Historical Note: The Law and Commerce Buildings were designed and constructed as part of a single project between 1965 and 1967. The architect was John Holliday-Scott of the Saskatoon firm Holliday-Scott & Associates.

Dr. Lucy D. Willis, Associate Professor of Nursing, gives address at Nurses' Graduation held in Physical Education gymnasium.

Bio/Historical Note: Lucy Dorothea Willis (1918-2018) was born and raised in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Her initial training at Toronto Western Hospital as a nurse stimulated a lifelong dedication to nursing education. After a post-RN Certificate in Teaching at UBC and six years of nursing and education work at Saskatoon's City Hospital, she joined the faculty of the School of Nursing at the University of Saskatchewan, where she remained until her retirement in 1984. In the 1950s she spent two scholarship years at Columbia University in New York City before earning a prestigious Ph.D. in Education at UC Berkeley in 1967. She was the first Saskatchewan nurse to obtain a doctorate, and only the second in all of Canada. In 1969 she became the School's third Director, and was largely responsible for its 1973 conversion to the College of Nursing and for the development of its post-RN education programs. She remained active in retirement, and in 1988 she published Fifty Years: Just the Beginning, a history of nursing education in Saskatchewan. Willis died at Saskatoon in 2018 at age 99.