McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Greenshields (R.A.E.) and Family Fonds
Fonds
40 cm of textual records and photographs
Robert Alfred Ernes Greenshields (1861-1942) was born in Danville, Québec and graduated from McGill in Arts in 1883, and in Civil Law in 1885. One of his first court cases was the trial of Louis Riel, where he served as defence counsel. Greenshields established his practice in Montréal, and was created Q.C. in 1899. In 1910 he was appointed judge of the Superior Court of the Province of Quebec, becoming Chief Justice in 1929. At McGill, Greenshields became Associate Professor of Criminal Law in 1915, and full Professor in 1920. From 1923 until 1927 he served as Dean, and retired in 1929 as Emeritus Professor. In 1932 he was appointed Chancellor of Bishop's University.
Approximately half of the Greenshields papers consist of photo albums showing vacation scenes with family and friends in St Andrew's, New Brunswick, 1905-1906, Europe, ca. 1905, and Sea Island, Georgia, 1939-1941. Photo albums compiled by Margaret Greenshields (Mrs Stephen White), daughter of Chief Justice Greenshields, contain army photos of Cyril White, 1915; pictures of family and friends, 1915; and views of scenery at Jasper, 1930. There are also a number of formal portraits of members of the family. The remainder of the papers consist largely of scrapbooks of clippings, correspondence and photographs. One contains newsclippings about Greenshields and some correspondence and photos. Another, compiled by Margaret Greenshields White, relates to her family's World War I service, 1914-1918. The other two, assembled by Mrs R.A.E. Greenshields, contain Golden Wedding souvenirs, 1940; and material on the death of Chief Justice Greenshields, 1942. Also included is a presentation drawing by architect Edward Maxwell of the house on Drummond St. which he designed for Greenshields.
Originals, printed materials and photographs