Valerie Korinek and Dale Miquelon, professors of History, pose beside a picture of Dr. Hilda Neatby on the 7th floor of the Arts Tower.

Bio/Historical Note: Image appeared in 14 Nov. 1997 issue of OCN..

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. Hilda Marion Neatby was born in Sutton, Surrey, England, on 19 February 1904. Her family moved to Saskatchewan in 1906 and she received most of her primary and secondary education in rural schools in the Earl Grey district. With her family's move to Saskatoon in 1918, she completed her high school education at Nutana Collegiate Institute. Dr. Neatby earned a BA with high honours in History and French in 1924, and added an MA in 1928, both from the University of Saskatchewan. After studying for a year at the Sorbonne in Paris on a provincial government scholarship, she returned to Saskatoon to attend Normal School and complete an MA degree at the same time. Dr. Neatby continued her studies at the University of Minnesota, graduating with a PhD in 1934. Dr. Neatby began her academic career with the University of Saskatchewan in 1934 as a substitute French teacher at the Regina campus. After joining the History Department at the U of S in Saskatoon in 1946, Dr. Neatby was invited to be a member of the Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences. She had a decisive influence on the committee and its final report. Dr. Neatby’s work on the commission led to a job as Vincent Massey's speechwriter during his tenure as Governor General (1952-1957). Dr. Neatby retired from the U of S in 1969 after serving as head of the History Department since 1958, the first woman to head a university History department in Canada. Dr. Neatby was also the first woman president of the Canadian Historical Association (1962-1963), Canada's premier historical society. She was the first editor of "Saskatchewan History" magazine. Dr. Neatby was one of the first Companions of the Order of Canada (1967). She was also recognized as Woman of The Century and presented with a centennial bronze medal from the National Council of Jewish Women for outstanding service to Canada. Dr. Neatby received an honourary Doctor of Laws degree from the U of S in 1971. Dr. Neatby died in Saskatoon on 14 May 1975. She is remembered as one of the country's top historians and the author of "So Little For the Mind" (1953), a book that delivered a stinging indictment of the public school system in Canada. In 2000 Canada Post issued a stamp in her honour. In 2005 the former Place Riel Theatre at the U of S was renamed the Neatby-Timlin Theatre, in honour of her and former U of S economics professor Mabel Timlin. Neatby Crescent and Place in Parkridge in Saskatoon also honour Dr. Neatby.

Head and shoulders image of Dr. Harry Oliver, first Professor of History and Economics, 1909-1914.

Bio/Historical Note: Born in Eberts, Kent County, Ontario in 1882, Edmund Henry Oliver received his BA from the University of Toronto in 1902. He went on to earn an MA the following year, before earning his PhD in 1905. Upon the request of Dr. Walter Murray, founding president of the University of Saskatchewan, Dr. Oliver came to Saskatoon to help establish the university and, a few years later, the Presbyterian Theological College (later known as St. Andrew’s College). He returned to Toronto in 1910 to earn a Doctor of Divinity degree before returning to teach history at the newly founded University of Saskatchewan. He was appointed in 1913 by the Presbyterian General Assembly of Canada to serve as the first president of the Presbyterian Theological College. Dr. Oliver was deeply committed to the integration of theological education into the broader academic environment and post-secondary community. Under his leadership the new college began plans to build and move into a new location on campus. At the outbreak of the First World War, Dr. Oliver enlisted as a military chaplain. Stationed mainly in France, he continued to be a proponent of education, establishing the University of Vimy Ridge, consisting of reading rooms for soldiers who were on leave. Dr. Oliver rode his bicycle out to the front lines in order to provide books and classes to the infantry. He believed that this would allow those who survived to return to Canada and be leaders in their communities and society. After the war Dr. Oliver continued his work in theological education and became involved in the church union debates between the Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational churches which would lead to the formation of the United Church of Canada in 1925. He was greatly influenced by the social gospel movement and served on two Royal Commissions: one to establish farming co-operatives and credit systems, and the other to create a liquor control board. Dr. Oliver saw his life work as one of service on the new frontiers of Canada, and during his time as Moderator of the United Church from 1930 to 1932, he lived into that, travelling across the country during The Great Depression urging people to donate clothing and food to those who needed it. He died in 1935 at the age of 53, while working with youth at a summer camp. Dr. Oliver is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Saskatoon.

Bertha Oxner, director of Women's Work and professor of the College of Agriculture, standing in a doorway of a campus building.

Bio/Historical Note: Bertha Georgina Oxner was small of stature but the organizational skills she brought to Saskatchewan loomed large in the difficult years of the 1930s and 1940s. Born in 1885 at Chester Basin, Nova Scotia, she obtained her schooling at Chester Basin, Chester, and Truro and taught school for a period before moving to Saskatchewan in 1908. Oxner taught school in Saskatoon, Brock and Saltcoats. At Brock she is remembered for having instituted hot school lunches which proved valuable for the children of homesteaders in the 1920s. She also set up a basketball league. After serving as principal at Saltcoats, Saskatchewan, Oxner left the school teaching profession to study household science at the University of Saskatchewan, obtaining a BA. At Chicago University she earned an MA and did post-graduate work in textiles and clothing. In 1925 Oxner came to the University of Saskatchewan as assistant professor in household science. With Ethel B. Rutter she helped plan the Bachelor of Household degree, which resulted in a School of Household Science at the university in 1928. In 1930 Oxner was appointed director of women’s extension work. In this role she introduced a broad educational program for rural women and members of Saskatchewan Homemakers' Clubs. Through Oxner’s guidance women were encouraged to expand their knowledge of agriculture, arts and letters, family law, public health and international affairs. Through a weekly column in The Western Producer she passed along program ideas and advice to the 350 Homemakers' Clubs. Oxner began short courses for rural girls in 1933 and helped launch Homecraft Clubs in 1938. In the first year, 124 Homecraft Clubs were organized. Oxner helped start Farm Women’s Week on the university campus. She organized the first Homemakers' Club on a First Nation and these spread across the province and initiated short courses for Métis women. Oxner served on the boards of the Canadian Association for Adult Education, the National Vocational Training advisory council, Canadian Association of Consumers, National Farm Radio Forum, Canadian Home Economics Association, Saskatchewan Physical Fitness Council, Saskatchewan Technical Education Committee and the Saskatchewan Farm Housing Committee. Oxner retired in 1949 and moved back to Chester, Nova Scotia. Oxner died in Chester on 7 December 1960 and is buried there.

Photo of a painting done by Ernest Fosbery showing Walter C. Murray, first University President, seated and wearing academic robes,

Bio/Historical Note: Ernest George Fosbery was born in Ottawa in 1874. He received his education at the Model School and Collegiate Institute, Ottawa and the Ottawa Art School and under Franklin Brownell, RCA. Fosbery also studied in Paris, France under the French artist Fernand Cormon. He served with the Canadian Grenadier Guards during the First World War, was wounded and mentioned in dispatches. Fosbery was discharged with the rank of major. He became an associate of the Royal Canadian Academy in 1912, a member in 1929, and was elected the academy's president in 1943, 1944, 1945 and 1946. Among his better-known portraits is one of Viscount Byng, Governor-General of Canada. His portraits hang in the National Gallery, Government House, Ottawa, the Supreme Court of Canada, the Canadian Senate, the Canadian War Memorial Collection and the Dominion Archives. Fosbery died in Cowansville, Quebec in 1960.

Bio/Historical Note: Walter Charles Murray, first president of the University of Saskatchewan, was born in Kings County, New Brunswick, in 1866 and received his BA with honours in 1886 from the University of New Brunswick. Having won the Gilchrist Scholarship for Canada, for continued studies overseas, he attended the University of Berlin and the University of Edinburgh, where he received his MA with first class honours in 1891. Later that year he joined faculty at the University of New Brunswick as Professor of Philosophy and Economics. In 1892 he was appointed Professor of Philosophy and lecturer in Education at Dalhousie, where he remained until joining the University of Saskatchewan as president in 1908. Murray served as president for 26 years, retiring in 1937. Murray was successful in building a progressive university of high standards with a beautiful campus. His own work was in education and education history, but he was also a supporter of art and music. Murray served on numerous councils and commissions, including the National Research Council from 1916-1932. Murray married Christina Cameron (1866-1947), born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, in 1895. They had three daughters: Christina Cameron Murray, Lucy Hunter Murray and Jean Elizabeth Murray. Murray died in Saskatoon in 1945. The city of Saskatoon honours Murray with several landmarks: "Murray Place" in the Dundonald area; Walter Murray Collegiate Institute, opened in 1965 and located near Market Mall; the Murray Building on the University of Saskatchewan campus; and President Murray Park, located in the Varsity View neighbourhood.

Head and shoulders image of Dr. Hilda Neatby, Department of History, 1936-1971.

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. Hilda Marion Neatby was born in Sutton, Surrey, England, on 19 February 1904. Her family moved to Saskatchewan in 1906 and she received most of her primary and secondary education in rural schools in the Earl Grey district. With her family's move to Saskatoon in 1918, she completed her high school education at Nutana Collegiate Institute. Dr. Neatby earned a BA with high honours in History and French in 1924, and added an MA in 1928, both from the University of Saskatchewan. After studying for a year at the Sorbonne in Paris on a provincial government scholarship, she returned to Saskatoon to attend Normal School and complete an MA degree at the same time. Dr. Neatby continued her studies at the University of Minnesota, graduating with a PhD in 1934. Dr. Neatby began her academic career with the University of Saskatchewan in 1934 as a substitute French teacher at the Regina campus. After joining the History Department at the U of S in Saskatoon in 1946, Dr. Neatby was invited to be a member of the Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences. She had a decisive influence on the committee and its final report. Dr. Neatby’s work on the commission led to a job as Vincent Massey's speechwriter during his tenure as Governor General (1952-1957). Dr. Neatby retired from the U of S in 1969 after serving as head of the History Department since 1958, the first woman to head a university History department in Canada. Dr. Neatby was also the first woman president of the Canadian Historical Association (1962-1963), Canada's premier historical society. She was the first editor of "Saskatchewan History" magazine. Dr. Neatby was one of the first Companions of the Order of Canada (1967). She was also recognized as Woman of The Century and presented with a centennial bronze medal from the National Council of Jewish Women for outstanding service to Canada. Dr. Neatby received an honourary Doctor of Laws degree from the U of S in 1971. Dr. Neatby died in Saskatoon on 14 May 1975. She is remembered as one of the country's top historians and the author of "So Little For the Mind" (1953), a book that delivered a stinging indictment of the public school system in Canada. In 2000 Canada Post issued a stamp in her honour. In 2005 the former Place Riel Theatre at the U of S was renamed the Neatby-Timlin Theatre, in honour of her and former U of S economics professor Mabel Timlin. Neatby Crescent and Place in Parkridge in Saskatoon also honour Dr. Neatby.

Walter C. Murray, first University President, and his wife, Mrs. Christina Murray, stand (at centre of image) during presentation of honourary Doctor of Laws degrees awarded to both. Ceremony at Convocation Hall.

Bio/Historical Note: Christina Cameron was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick in 1866. She enrolled in the honours course in English, French and German at the University of New Brunswick in 1890 and graduated four years later, winning the Alumni Gold Medal as the most distinguished student in classics. She next attended Normal School and subsequently accepted a teaching post in its Model School. In 1895 she married Walter Charles Murray, who had been a former classmate in high school. The couple settled in Halifax for the next fourteen years. In 1909 Christina Murray brought her household, including three daughters, west to join Dr. Murray in Saskatoon where he had accepted the post of first President of the newly created University of Saskatchewan. Over the next four decades Mrs. Murray was to maintain an active role in both the university and the local community serving on the executive of a number of organizations. In honour of her many years of service the University granted her an honourary Doctor of Laws degree in 1938. She died at Saskatoon on 4 July 1947.

Bio/Historical Note: Walter Charles Murray, first president of the University of Saskatchewan, was born in Kings County, New Brunswick, in 1866 and received his BA with honours in 1886 from the University of New Brunswick. Having won the Gilchrist Scholarship for Canada, for continued studies overseas, he attended the University of Berlin and the University of Edinburgh, where he received his MA with first class honours in 1891. Later that year he joined the faculty at the University of New Brunswick as Professor of Philosophy and Economics. In 1892 he was appointed Professor of Philosophy and lecturer in Education at Dalhousie, where he remained until joining the University of Saskatchewan as president in 1908. Murray served as president for 29 years, retiring in 1937. Murray was successful in building a progressive university with a beautiful campus. His own work was in education and education history, but he was also a supporter of art and music. Murray served on numerous councils and commissions, including the National Research Council from 1916-1932. Murray married Christina Cameron (1866-1947), born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, in 1895. They had three daughters: Christina Cameron Murray, Lucy Hunter Murray and Jean Elizabeth Murray. Murray died in Saskatoon in 1945. The city of Saskatoon honours him with "Murray Place" in the Dundonald area; Walter Murray Collegiate Institute, opened in 1965 and located near Market Mall; the Murray Building on the University of Saskatchewan campus; and President Murray Park, located in the Varsity View neighbourhood.

Seated on a dais wearing academic robes are Walter C. Murray, first University President (left), and Mrs. Christina Murray (centre).

Bio/Historical Note: Christina Cameron was born in 1866 in Fredericton, New Brunswick. She enrolled in the honours course in English, French and German at the University of New Brunswick in 1890 and graduated four years later, winning the Alumni Gold Medal as the most distinguished student in classics. She next attended Normal School and subsequently accepted a teaching post in its Model School. In 1895 she married Walter Charles Murray, who had been a former classmate in high school. The couple settled in Halifax for the next fourteen years. In 1909 Christina Murray brought her household, including three daughters, west to join Dr. Murray in Saskatoon where he had accepted the post of first President of the newly created University of Saskatchewan. Over the next four decades Mrs. Murray was to maintain an active role in both the university and the local community serving on the executive of a number of organizations. In honour of her many years of service the University granted her an honourary Doctor of Laws degree in 1938. She died at Saskatoon on 4 July 1947.

Bio/Historical Note: Walter Charles Murray, first president of the University of Saskatchewan, was born in 1866 in Kings County, New Brunswick and received his BA with honours in 1886 from the University of New Brunswick. Having won the Gilchrist Scholarship for Canada, for continued studies overseas, he attended the University of Berlin and the University of Edinburgh, where he received his MA with first class honours in 1891. Later that year he joined the faculty at the University of New Brunswick as Professor of Philosophy and Economics. In 1892 he was appointed Professor of Philosophy and lecturer in Education at Dalhousie, where he remained until joining the University of Saskatchewan as president in 1908. Murray served as president for 29 years, retiring in 1937. Murray was successful in building a progressive university with a beautiful campus. His own work was in education and education history, but he was also a supporter of art and music. Murray served on numerous councils and commissions, including the National Research Council from 1916-1932. Murray married Christina Cameron (1866-1947) in 1895. They had three daughters: Christina Cameron Murray, Lucy Hunter Murray and Jean Elizabeth Murray. Murray died in Saskatoon in 1945. The city of Saskatoon honours him with "Murray Place" in the Dundonald area; Walter Murray Collegiate Institute, opened in 1965 and located near Market Mall; the Murray Building on the U of S campus; and President Murray Park, located in the Varsity View neighbourhood.

Photo of a painting done by Ernest Fosbery showing a head and shoulders view of Walter C. Murray, first University President, dressed in an academic gown.

Bio/Historical Note: Ernest George Fosbery was born in Ottawa in 1874. He received his education at the Model School and Collegiate Institute, Ottawa and the Ottawa Art School and under Franklin Brownell, RCA. Fosbery also studied in Paris, France under the French artist Fernand Cormon. He served with the Canadian Grenadier Guards during the First World War, was wounded and mentioned in dispatches. Fosbery was discharged with the rank of major. He became an associate of the Royal Canadian Academy in 1912, a member in 1929, and was elected the academy's president in 1943, 1944, 1945 and 1946. Among his better-known portraits is one of Viscount Byng, Governor-General of Canada. His portraits hang in the National Gallery, Government House, Ottawa, the Supreme Court of Canada, the Canadian Senate, the Canadian War Memorial Collection and the Dominion Archives. Fosbery died in Cowansville, Quebec in 1960.

Bio/Historical Note: Walter Charles Murray, first president of the University of Saskatchewan, was born in Kings County, New Brunswick, in 1866 and received his BA with honours in 1886 from the University of New Brunswick. Having won the Gilchrist Scholarship for Canada, for continued studies overseas, he attended the University of Berlin and the University of Edinburgh, where he received his MA with first class honours in 1891. Later that year he joined faculty at the University of New Brunswick as Professor of Philosophy and Economics. In 1892 he was appointed Professor of Philosophy and lecturer in Education at Dalhousie, where he remained until joining the University of Saskatchewan as president in 1908. Murray served as president for 26 years, retiring in 1937. Murray was successful in building a progressive university of high standards with a beautiful campus. His own work was in education and education history, but he was also a supporter of art and music. Murray served on numerous councils and commissions, including the National Research Council from 1916-1932. Murray married Christina Cameron (1866-1947), born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, in 1895. They had three daughters: Christina Cameron Murray, Lucy Hunter Murray and Jean Elizabeth Murray. Murray died in Saskatoon in 1945. The city of Saskatoon honours Murray with several landmarks: "Murray Place" in the Dundonald area; Walter Murray Collegiate Institute, opened in 1965 and located near Market Mall; the Murray Building on the University of Saskatchewan campus; and President Murray Park, located in the Varsity View neighbourhood.

Head and shoulders image of Dr. Harry Oliver, first Professor of History and Economics, 1909-1914.

Bio/Historical Note: Born in Eberts, Kent County, Ontario in 1882, Edmund Henry Oliver received his BA from the University of Toronto in 1902. He went on to earn an MA the following year, before earning his PhD in 1905. Upon the request of Dr. Walter Murray, founding president of the University of Saskatchewan, Dr. Oliver came to Saskatoon to help establish the university and, a few years later, the Presbyterian Theological College (later known as St. Andrew’s College). He returned to Toronto in 1910 to earn a Doctor of Divinity degree before returning to teach history at the newly founded University of Saskatchewan. He was appointed in 1913 by the Presbyterian General Assembly of Canada to serve as the first president of the Presbyterian Theological College. Dr. Oliver was deeply committed to the integration of theological education into the broader academic environment and post-secondary community. Under his leadership the new college began plans to build and move into a new location on campus. At the outbreak of the First World War, Dr. Oliver enlisted as a military chaplain. Stationed mainly in France, he continued to be a proponent of education, establishing the University of Vimy Ridge, consisting of reading rooms for soldiers who were on leave. Dr. Oliver rode his bicycle out to the front lines in order to provide books and classes to the infantry. He believed that this would allow those who survived to return to Canada and be leaders in their communities and society. After the war Dr. Oliver continued his work in theological education and became involved in the church union debates between the Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational churches which would lead to the formation of the United Church of Canada in 1925. He was greatly influenced by the social gospel movement and served on two Royal Commissions: one to establish farming co-operatives and credit systems, and the other to create a liquor control board. Dr. Oliver saw his life work as one of service on the new frontiers of Canada, and during his time as Moderator of the United Church from 1930 to 1932, he lived into that, travelling across the country during The Great Depression urging people to donate clothing and food to those who needed it. He died in 1935 at the age of 53, while working with youth at a summer camp. Dr. Oliver is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Saskatoon.

Head and shoulders image of Bertha G. Oxner, former director of Women's Work and professor of the College of Agriculture.

Bio/Historical Note: Bertha Georgina Oxner was small of stature but the organizational skills she brought to Saskatchewan loomed large in the difficult years of the 1930s and 1940s. Born in 1885 at Chester Basin, Nova Scotia, she obtained her schooling at Chester Basin, Chester, and Truro and taught school for a period before moving to Saskatchewan in 1908. Oxner taught school in Saskatoon, Brock and Saltcoats. At Brock she is remembered for having instituted hot school lunches which proved valuable for the children of homesteaders in the 1920s. She also set up a basketball league. After serving as principal at Saltcoats, Saskatchewan, Oxner left the school teaching profession to study household science at the University of Saskatchewan, obtaining a BA. At Chicago University she earned an MA and did post-graduate work in textiles and clothing. In 1925 Oxner came to the University of Saskatchewan as assistant professor in household science. With Ethel B. Rutter she helped plan the Bachelor of Household degree, which resulted in a School of Household Science at the university in 1928. In 1930 Oxner was appointed director of women’s extension work. In this role she introduced a broad educational program for rural women and members of Saskatchewan Homemakers' Clubs. Through Oxner’s guidance women were encouraged to expand their knowledge of agriculture, arts and letters, family law, public health and international affairs. Through a weekly column in The Western Producer she passed along program ideas and advice to the 350 Homemakers' Clubs. Oxner began short courses for rural girls in 1933 and helped launch Homecraft Clubs in 1938. In the first year, 124 Homecraft Clubs were organized. Oxner helped start Farm Women’s Week on the university campus. She organized the first Homemakers' Club on a First Nation and these spread across the province and initiated short courses for Métis women. Oxner served on the boards of the Canadian Association for Adult Education, the National Vocational Training advisory council, Canadian Association of Consumers, National Farm Radio Forum, Canadian Home Economics Association, Saskatchewan Physical Fitness Council, Saskatchewan Technical Education Committee and the Saskatchewan Farm Housing Committee. Oxner retired in 1949 and moved back to Chester, Nova Scotia. Oxner died in Chester on 7 December 1960 and is buried there.