1951–1980 - Bishop's University

1951

Golden Mitre Award was established in 1951

From the 1951 yearbook: “A new honour society was founded this year on the Bishop’s campus. This group to be known as the Golden Mitre Society, will have as its members five students of each graduating class who are considered by their classmates as those who have contributed the most to Bishop’s during their undergraduate years. Each student elected to the Society will receive a small pin, fashioned in the shape of a mitre and embellished with laurel.”

1953

Old Arts college building renamed McGreer Hall in honour and memory of Principal A.H. McGreer.

1958

The Hon. Mr. Justice D.C. Abbott is appointed 12th Chancellor

Hon. Mr. Justice D.C. Abbott.

The Department of Business Administration is established

The first graduate from this department received his degree in 1961 (pictured).

R.E.G. Duval, Professor of Business, 1958-1983, founder of the Department of Business Administration, was also a graduate of Bishop’s, 1942.

Other highlights of 1958:

First alumni newsletter is published.
University of Bishop’s College name changed officially to Bishop’s University.
Compulsory attendance at Chapel was discontinued circa 1958, although it was still at this time considered “desirable”.

1959

Completion of the new John Bassett Memorial Library; also completed this year Mackinnon Hall residence.

1960

C.L.O. Glass is appointed 11th Principal

C.L.O. Glass.

Establishment of the Department of Psychology

Bishop’s invites Dr. David D. Smith to establish a department of Psychology, and for 3 years he remains the only Professor of Psychology. By 1970 the Department had five faculty, joint Psychology-Biology programmes were offered for both the B.A. and the B.Sc. degrees, and substantial external research grants enabled laboratory equipment to be purchased and students to be employed as research assistants. Dr. Smith retired in 1987 after 27 years of dedicated service to his students and to the university community as a whole.

Other highlight of 1960:

Completion of W.B. Scott Memorial Arena.

1961

Principal Glass hires Bruce Coulter as Director of Athletics and Head Football Coach

Although Bishop’s has had a rich tradition in football (beginning in 1888 with Rugby-Football), it wasn’t until the early 60’s that Principal Ogden Glass gave the University the direction Athletics needed to provide the necessary moral and financial support that ultimately shaped the modern day success of the Gaiters football program. Principal Glass hired Bruce Coulter as Director of Athletics and Head Football Coach in 1961. This hiring would help Bishop’s develop a full fledged athletic program with teams that could compete on the senior intercollegiate level.

It has been said that few appointments in the history of the university have had the impact of Bruce Coulter’s. In time, not only did Coulter produce winning teams, but he helped develop quality individuals who were great leaders on campus. Ultimately, his former players became loyal alumni who could be counted on to stay in touch with him and suggest names of potential student-athletes to be recruited to the little campus they thrived in during their undergraduate years. In 1987, Bruce retired as head football coach with a CIAU best record of most wins with 137 (his record was 137 wins, 80 losses and 3 ties). In 1991, the football stadium was re-named in his honor and the Gaiters now play on Coulter Field. In conjunction with re-naming the field, a testimonial dinner was held where 350 guests paid tribute to Bruce and his family. Left to right: Bruce Coulter and Garth Smith.

1962

Abbott Hall residence completed.

1963

Bishop’s University is featured in The Illustrated London News

“Educating the Commonwealth Youth”, featuring sketches by Edward Goodall.

Read the entire issue (Bishop’s content is on pages 53 to 56).

Other highlight of 1963:

Completion of Bishop Mountain House (Student Union Building) and the Nicolls and Hamilton buildings.

1964

Bishop’s School Song

“We sang it hundreds of times during our Frosh Week. We sing it at football games. We even print it on T-shirts. The Bishop’s University school song. Peter Turner (’63), a professor in the Political Studies Department, asked me after the Kill McGill football road trip what song BU students were singing. When I told him it was the school song, a surprised Turner said he went to school with the guys who wrote the song. My interest was piqued, so I did a little research.

On a cold Thursday night in February 1964, during the annual Bishop’s Winter Carnival, four students John Piper (’65), Douglas Tees (’65), Ace Henderson (’65), and John Martland (’64) sang the song as part of a musical with a local orchestra and later made a record of it. At a football game in 1995 Tees heard the song for the first time since 1964. I was happy and surprised to see what the song had become.

It’s good to see a bit of tradition intact at good old B.U.” – Rick Lamanna (Honours Sociology)

1965

A.L. Kuehner residence hall completed.

Professor Kuehner initiated the systematic study of the experimental sciences at Bishop’s. His proposal to establish an Honours program in Chemistry was approved by Convocation in 1929, and he was promoted (Full) Professor at the age of 26. During his tenure as Vice-Principal, he was an active member of the committees which guided the rapid development of the University’s physical plant, and he served as Acting Principal during Principal Jewitt’s illness from 1957 until 1960.

Pictured: A.L. Kuehner, Professor of Chemistry, 1925-1965 and Vice-Principal from 1951 until 1965.

1966

Completion of Andrew S. Johnson Science building, Munster Hall, and Dewhurst Dining Hall.

1967

Official opening of Centennial Theatre on January 14th

The theatre, the inspiration of Arthur Motyer, Professor of English and Director of Drama, was constructed to celebrate the centennial of the Canadian Confederation. It was inaugurated in January, 1967 by the Lieutenant-Governor at a special Convocation, presided over by Chancellor Douglas C. Abbott, at which the following six distinguished Canadian representatives of the arts received honorary degrees : Robertson Davies, author and playwright, Celia Franca, dancer and choreographer (pictured here), Jean Gascon, actor and director, Guy Roberge, Chairman, National Film Board of Canada, A.J.M. Smith, poet, and Jon Vickers, singer.

Other highlight of 1967:

Alumnus/a of the Year Award is inaugurated.

1968

John H. Price is appointed 13th Chancellor.

1969

A.W. Preston is appointed 12th Principal

A.W. Preston.

1970

D.M. Healy is appointed 13th Principal

D.M. Healy.

Divinity

The Divinity programme is closed and the Faculty of Divinity is converted to the department of Religious Studies.

Professor Jellicoe maintained that to teach undergraduates to think, on as broad a front as the individual student can cope with, is indeed the most practical education a university can offer.

Read tribute to Sidney Jellicoe, as printed in the Bishop’s University Alumni Magazine, Winter 1974.

See also “Jellicoe, Sidney MG 017” on the Summary of Holdings web page.

Pictured: Sidney Jellicoe, Dean of Divinity and Harrold Professor of Divinity 1952-1973.

1971

Most of McGreer Hall is leased to Champlain Regional College.

Drama is recognized as a separate department.

1972

Festival Lennoxville, a summer theatre festival, is launched, ending in 1982.

1974

The Hon Mr. Justice W. Mitchell is appointed 14th Chancellor.

1975

Official opening of the John H. Price Sports and Recreation Centre.

1976

C.I.H. Nicholl is appointed 14th Principal

C.I.H. Nicholl.

1977

Marjorie Donald House is added to the student union building.

1978

Majors in Fine Arts and Music established.