Head and shoulders image of Dr. John Allan Macdonald, first Professor of French, 1910-1939.

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. John Allan Macdonald was born at Rock Barra, Souris, Prince Edward Island. He was educated at Prince of Wales College at Charlottetown, PEI. He earned a BA at Laval (1898) and an MA at Harvard (1907). Dr. Macdonald was the first professor of French at the University of Saskatchewan (1910-1939).
After World War I a plague descended on the University in the form of the Spanish influenza pandemic. In response, when the city took the step of turning Emmanuel College into an emergency hospital, a number of university women immediately volunteered to nurse the sick. They did so under the direction of Mrs. John Allan Macdonald, a nurse.
In April 1926 a group of Saskatoon Catholic laity, including Dr. Macdonald, formed a group called the Newman Society, to work actively for the creation of a Catholic college for the recently established University of Saskatchewan. Through a land transfer in the 1920s, four building lots on campus owned by Dr. Macdonald were resold to the Roman Catholic Church. In due course, these lots became the home of St. Thomas More College. Dr. Macdonald authored the book Introduction to French. ‘Macdonald Crescent’ in Greystone Heights in Saskatoon is named in his honour.

Image of Holstein cattle standing in front of University (Main) Barn.

Exterior view of Saskatchewan Hall (women's residence) and Qu'Appelle Hall (men's residence).

Staff members standing in a group in front of College Building. William Allen, first Professor, at centre.

Bio/Historical Note: While the College of Agriculture was established in 1908 it was not until 1925 that a Department of Farm Management would be established with the appointment of Dr. William Allen as first professor.

Exterior view of the Implements Shed.

Head and shoulders image of John W. Eaton, Department of German, 1913-1929.

Bio/Historical Note: John Wallace Eaton was born in Lancaster, Lancashire, England, in 1886, and, together with his son, Michael Bigelow, age 5, lost his life by drowning near Ann Arbor, Michigan on December 26, 1948. Eaton's education followed the tradition of British gentility. His public schools were Emmanuel College, London, and St. Andrew's College, Dublin. From 1904 to 1909, he attended Trinity College, Dublin, and received the degree of Bachelor of Arts there. His further education was obtained at the Sorbonne, at Heidelberg, at the University of Marburg, and at the University of Munich. He received the degree of Master of Arts from Trinity College, Dublin, in 1912, and in 1929 his alma mater conferred on him the degree, Doctor of Letters, honoris causa. His teaching experience in the field of modern languages was acquired in many schools. He began his career in 1908 in the Oberrealschule, Kattowitz, Germany, as English reader. From 1909-1910 he was English reader in the Lycee of Beauvais, France. From 1910 to 1912 he was assistant lecturer in German and French in the University of Bristol, England. In 1912 he emigrated to Canada and taught for a year at Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario. Accepting a call to the University of Saskatchewan, he served there from 1913-1929 as Professor of German and Head of the German Department. He came to the University of Michigan in 1929 as Professor of German and Chairman of the Department of German. In 1935 Eaton resigned from the Chairmanship. While continuing to teach, he extended his interest to College administration. This activity preoccupied him until the day of his tragic death.

Photograph of the Great War Veterans Association building

W.J. Rutherford, Dean of Agriculture, addressing attendees in the Livestock Pavilion.

[University] grounds in the distance.

Male students in front of a hearth in Qu'Appelle Hall (men's residence).

Male students standing and seated in front of a hearth in Qu'Appelle Hall (men's residence). Pictures hanging on walls in background.

Image of rear of Saskatchewan Hall (women's residence); tennis court fence visible at left and in front of building.

Image of rear of Saskatchewan Hall (women's residence); tennis court fence visible at left and in front of building.

Walter C. Murray, first University President, talking with two unidentified men on the platform at the railway station in Prince Albert. Railcars in background.