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

Scope and Content

The letters in this series touch upon virtually every aspect of university life and illustrate the wide-ranging nature of the President's duties during this era. In addition to being concerned with financial and administrative matters such as the sale and rental of property, the creation and maintenance of physical plant, staff appointments and salaries, scholarships and bursaries, changes in the internal governing structure of the University and, of course, fund-raising during a time of economic stringency, Richard Bowles was responsible for both the creation and implementation of educational policy in light of Victoria's on-going relationships with the United Church of Canada and the University of Toronto. There is considerable material relating to curriculum, especially the shape of theological education.

While Bowles provided strong leadership to the Victoria community, he was sometimes frustrated by the demands of his office: "'The more I write theology and read books, the bigger the grudge I develop toward executive and administrative duties of the kind which necessarily fall upon the President of this institution.'" [Sissons, 295] Yet, despite rising enrolment figures, one cannot help but be struck by the intimacy which still characterized the President's relationship with Victoria students and alumni. Bowles frequently gave both personal and academic advice to students and wrote detailed and knowledgeable letters of recommendation for graduates. While both the First World War and Church Union are referred to in the letters in this series, the tremendous impact of these two events on life at Victoria does not emerge as clearly as one might have expected.