McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Identity area
Type of entity
Person
Authorized form of name
Birks, William Massey, 1868-1950
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1868-1950
History
William Massey Birks, the eldest son of Henry Birks, founder of the jewelry firm that bears his name, was born in Montréal. He was educated at McGill University, and entered his father's business in 1885. In 1910 he became a Governor of McGill. Birks also served as chairman of the Joint Board which brought together the Theological Colleges affiliated with McGill, and was a generous contributor to the Endowment Fund of the Faculty of Divinity. He was President of the Canadian Institute of International Affairs in 1938, and during World War II organized the Canadian United Allied Relief Fund and the National Clothing Campaigns. He was awarded a C.B.E.