Victoria University (Toronto, Ont.). President's Office fonds

Fonds number

2021

Name of Creator

Victoria University (Toronto, Ont.). President's Office

Dates of Material

1897-2022

Title

Victoria University (Toronto, Ont.). President's Office fonds

Source of title proper

Title based on the contents of the fonds.

Extent

25.8 m of textual records
119 photographs
2 photograph albums
13.8GB of electronic records (email)

Administrative History

With the federation of Victoria College and Albert College in 1884 to create Victoria University, the chief administrative and ceremonial duties of the institution were combined in the shared office of President and Chancellor, a custom which continued until 1944. At that time, the Chancellorship became a separate office, and the Presidents assumed the title of Vice-Chancellor. The President derived his authority from the Board of Regents which served as the ultimate governing body of the university. As the chief administrative officer of the Board, he supervised "the business of the Board in its administration of the property and funds" and was responsible for implementing its decisions. He was the chief counsellor and executive officer of Victoria University in its relationship to the University of Toronto and the chief representative of Victoria to the General Conference of the Methodist Church and, later, the General Council of the United Church of Canada. In his role as Chancellor, the President presided over meetings of the Senate and Convocations and conferred degrees upon graduates in Theology. In 1928, some of the administrative duties of Victoria and Emmanuel Colleges were delegated to their Principals, leaving the President free for "the general oversight of the university as a whole."

The President, along with the Principals, also served on the Caput which had disciplinary jurisdiction over all Victoria students.

As the university grew in both size and complexity, the administrative duties of the Presidency expanded correspondingly. The appointing of Principals for Victoria and Emmanuel and the separation of the offices of President and Chancellor recognized that the President could no longer handle all the functions associated with the leadership of Victoria University. The President continued, however, to set the general tone within the university and to act as its spokesperson to the outside community.

Until 1944, the President, as the chief administrative officer and the person responsible for ceremonial duties, was also the Chancellor. After 1944, the President served as Vice-Chancellor.

LIST OF PRESIDENTS
- 1849–1850: Matthew Richey (President of Victoria College)
- 1850–1854: Egerton Ryerson (President of Victoria College)
- 1854–1884: Samuel S. Nelles (President of Victoria College)
- 1884–1887: Samuel S. Nelles (President and Chancellor of Victoria University)
- 1887–1912: Nathanael Burwash (President and Chancellor of Victoria University)
- 1913–1930: Richard Pinch Bowles (President and Chancellor of Victoria University)
- 1930–1941: Edward Wilson Wallace (President and Chancellor of Victoria University)
- 1941–1944: Walter T. Brown (President and Chancellor of Victoria University)
- 1944–1949: Walter T. Brown (President and Vice Chancellor of Victoria University)
- 1949–1950: Harold Bennet (President and Vice Chancellor of Victoria University)
- 1950–1970: Arthur Bruce Barbour Moore (President and Vice Chancellor of Victoria University)
- 1970–1972: John Edwin Hodgetts (President and Vice Chancellor of Victoria University)
- 1973–1987: Goldwin S. French (President and Vice Chancellor of Victoria University)
- 1987–1994: Eva Milada Kushner (President and Vice Chancellor of Victoria University)
- 1994–2001: Roseann Runte (President and Vice Chancellor of Victoria University)
- 2001–2015: Paul W. Gooch (President and Vice Chancellor of Victoria University)
- 2015–2022: William Robins (President and Vice Chancellor of Victoria University)
- 2022- : Rhonda McEwen (President and Vice Chancellor of Victoria University)

Scope and Content

Fonds includes records from the terms of:
Nathanael Burwash (1887-1913), Richard P. Bowles (1913-1930), Edward Wilson Wallace (1930-1941), Walter Theodore Brown (1941–1949), Harold Bennett (1949-1950), A. B. B. Moore (1950-1970), John Edwin Hodgetts (1970-1973), Goldwin S. French (1973-1987), Eva Kushner (1987-1994), Roseann Runte (1994-2001), and Paul Gooch (2001-2015).

It consists of the following series:
General correspondence, 1907-2005; General subject files, 1897-1970; Records relating to the Board of Regents, 1912-2008; Records relating to the Senate, 1954-2008; Records relating to the Victoria College Council, 1928-2008; Records relating to the academic administration, 1915-2013; Records relating to the financial administration, 1905-2000; Records relating to awards, 1918-2005; Records relating to student assistance, 1916-1976; Records relating to students, 1915-2007; Records relating to alumni, 1928-2008; Records relating to functions, 1913-2010; Records relating to the University of Toronto, 1929-2011; Records relating to the United Church of Canada, 1928-2001; Records relating to gifts, 1897-1973; Records relating to the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art, 1981-2006; Records relating to fund raising, 1974-2008; Records relating to Emmanuel College, 1968-2008; Records relating to Victoria College, 1975-2012; Records relating to Victoria University, 1968-2008; Records related to the Chancellor and Chancellor's Council of Victoria University; and Records relating to Senior Administrative Meetings (SAM), 2001-2007.

Series

Note(s)

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Transfer

Restrictions on Access

Files makes with RR are restricted in accordance with relevant privacy legislation. Please contact the Archivist for more details.

Finding Aids

* Photographs are described in the photograph database: http://archival-photos.vicu.utoronto.ca/
* Detailed finding aid for records received under accession 1989.130V is available upon request.

Accruals

Further accruals are expected.

General Notes

Some personal papers of the individuals holding the office of President during the period from 1897 to 1976 form separate collections in the Archives. See links to many of these under Series 1 - General Correspondence. Some further information about individuals who held the post of President is located in the Biographical File Collection.

General Notes

Most of the records documenting the period of Nathanael Burwash's presidency, 1887-1913, are in a collection which combines official records and personal papers: 2042 - Nathanael Burwash fonds.

General Notes

Annual reports submitted to the Board of Regents can be found in the Board of Regents Fonds (Fonds 2000, series 1, subseries 3 - Annual reports of the President).

Category

Administrative Bodies