The fonds document H. Rocke Robertson’s personal and family life, including his early education, his athletic abilities, his experiences during WWII in Britain, Sicily, and Italy, as well as some aspects of his professional life, including articles, speeches, and correspondence on his activities as a surgeon, surgeon in chief, professor of surgery, and as McGill’s principal, inclusive 1912-1998. In particular, his tenure as McGill’s principal is characterized by records in diverse formats such as personal diaries, correspondence files, newspaper and magazine clippings, photographs, and related ephemera reflecting his administrative duties, including the changes he implemented at McGill, as well as his efforts to cope with radical student behaviour and the Quebec government’s unwillingness to provide McGill with much needed financial assistance. Robertson’s retirement activities are also reflected in the records. Also included are numerous documents that reveal his interest in rare English dictionaries, rare books, and the history of medicine, in particular the history of surgical techniques. The fonds consist of 18 boxes with some files arranged into subject categories while others have a chronological arrangement scheme.

The series consist of 1) Diaries; 2) Publications and Research Notes; 3) Speeches; 4) Personal and Family Related Materials; 5) Student Years at Brentwood College and McGill; 6) Medical and Professional Activities; 7) McGill Principalship and Administrative Activities; and 7) Awards and Honours.

The Haemmerle family fonds reflects the life of Russian emigres in Canada and consists mainly of correspondence in Russian (1919-1960) to and from Alfred Haemmerle, his wife Amy Waht, and other family members, particularly their son Anatole. The fonds contain numerous photographs of family members and events (1904-1960), photo negatives, a small number of family documents from the 19th century, genealogical notes, newspaper clippings, postcards mainly from Japan, maps and correspondence from the 19th century in Russian dealing with Haemmerle family as well as the Larssen family in Denmark, who were Alfred's maternal relatives. There are also letters to Anatole from his aunts in England and Japan. Included are also lectures and writings by Alfred Haemmerle on cooperative banking and related subjects, financial notes, diaries, receipts, wills, deeds and newspaper clippings also in English. Aside from the photographs, the non textual records include an ink sketch, a pastel sketch Enid signed by A. Dickson Patterson, a sketch of St. Lawrence River signed by C.B.K., a small still life painting of pots, one leather pouch and one small box.

The fonds consists of documents, photographs and audio media relevant to the professional history of Dr. Hans Möller. The scope predominately covers the period of 1980 to 1997 and includes Dr. Möller’s published works, personal and professional correspondence, research articles, and documents related to his professional activities and associations within and outside McGill University.

Description forthcoming.
Please contact McGill University Archives for further information: 514-398-4711 or refdesk.archives@mcgill.ca

Burnham's student days at McGill are documented by a scrapbook containing clippings and printed photographs on collegial sports activities, mainly rugby football, 1892-1897, some clippings of poetry associated with student life, 1894-1895, 1897 and printed photographs of William Dawson, Peter Redpath, the Redpath Library and the Applied Science Class of 1897. There is also correspondence and a speech arising from a class reunion in 1931.

The Files papers document his activities as administrator of the Humanities Group and the English Department (ca 1946-1956, with some earlier material) and as a teacher. Administrative materials comprise about 1.5 m of information and correspondence files concerning the business of Senate, the Faculties of Arts and Science and Graduate Studies, the Humanities Group of the Arts Faculty, and the English Department. English Department material forms the largest part of the papers with files on honours and graduate students (including sessional registration forms), reading lists, examinations, awards, job applications, examination of theses, the administration of Moyse Hall, freshman orientation, and personal as well as general correspondence. There are also files pertaining to Files' work for the Montreal branch of the Humanities Association of Canada. Teaching materials consist of a large number of student essays, stories, examination papers and poems, including some by Louis Dudek and Irving Layton, ca 1937-1950. From Files' student days come lecture notes on the history of English language, 1921. There are also approximately 25 reprints of articles by Files' acquaintances and colleagues and copies of some journal and newspaper articles by and about Files.

Fonds consists of printed materials, architectural drawings, and photographs that are overwhelmingly concerned with Hibbert’s research activities and related areas of patents and consulting. His general correspondence files (1910-1945) are almost entirely devoted to research communications and the business of the Pulp and Paper Research Institute. There are a few files of correspondence with individuals on special topics, e.g. with Benno Borzykowski on the establishment of chemical industries in Peru (1940-1943), with the Nobel Institute on Hibbert's nomination of Colin Fink for the chemistry prize (1934-1935), as well as letters concerning German refugee scientists (1933). Hibbert's research subject files (1915-1943) contain notes, drafts of articles, printed materials and some correspondence on a large range of organic chemistry topics: wood cellulose, lignin, synthetic fibers, analysis and catalysis, and explosives. Closely related to these are papers on the administration and equipment of the Pulp and Paper Research Institute (1927-1942) and other bodies.

Hibbert's files on patents (1914-1941) contain some documentation on his own patents, but largely concern patents of interest to him in the area of solvents, synthetic fibers and vanilla, pharmaceuticals, and alcohol. His work as a consultant is illustrated by files of notes, reports and correspondence on Komppa's synthetic camphor (1919), the establishment of chemical companies producing synthetic fibers, pulp and paper products, machinery, etc.

Hibbert's teaching activities are documented by two files of lecture notes (1945) and two of correspondence with the Chemistry Department (1934-1943) and the Graduate Faculty (1934-1945) on student-related topics, theses and honorary degrees.

His involvement with the American Chemical Society is revealed by general correspondence, largely concerning meetings and papers, correspondence with the Division of Cellulose Chemistry on research problems, division reports, publications, and relations with industry, and finally by communications with the Society's Journal regarding the refereeing of papers (1920-1944). Personal and biographical materials comprise a scattering of papers about his marriage (1917), academic appointments (1922-1924), library (1926-1941), retirement (1943), hobbies, clubs and interests. There is also a small body of correspondence with his friends, wife and family (1928-1945), as well as communications with his broker about stock investments (continued by Mrs. Hibbert until 1961). Bibliographies and photographs are also included. Obituary material is supplemented by letters of condolence to Mrs. Hibbert, and by a file documenting a dispute concerning Hibbert's biography in the National Cyclopedia of American Biography.

Typescript of his history of the Faculty of Religious Studies from 1948 to 1978.

Description forthcoming.
Please contact McGill University Archives for further information: 514-398-4711 or refdesk.archives@mcgill.ca

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The Harry Barker fonds contains poems written by Harry Barker, including three which were clipped from a newspaper.