The Correspondence series contains various letters dated between 1965 and 1998. Letters in the Recording Secretary's files include information about annual passwords.

The Correspondence series contains cards and letters to or from Paul Pedersen.
The series is arranged chronologically by time period as indicated. The series includes correspondence of special note to and from Murray Adaskin, István Anhalt, John Beckwith, Helmut Blume, G. C. B. Cave [Gene Cave-Browne-Cave], Mary Cyr, Joan E. Foley, Robert S. Prichard, Charles Reiner, Edward Schreyer (Governor General of Canada), R. M. Schoeffel (University of Toronto Press), John Weinzweig, etc. Additional correspondence, detailed in other Finding Aid series, is also listed below.

Series consists of four subseries: P125/D1 Budget, P125/D2 Gifts and Donations, P125/D3 Tax Status and P125/D4 Financial Statements.

This series consists of H. Rocke Robertson’s private life, documented in a series of correspondence with his father, Harold Bruce Robertson, Justice of Appeal, British Columbia; his Uncle, Dr. Edward M. Eberts, known as Uncle Ted; his brothers, Alexander Bruce Robertson, known as Bruce and Alan McGregor Robertson; and his sister, Ethel Marian Robertson, known as Marian, 1915 1926, 1962-1979 (Container 4, Files 85, 89; Container 3, Files 60, 63), as well as personal papers which include Robertson’s birth certificate, expired passports, and CVs 1912 1978, 1996 (Container 4, Files 83 84; Container 19, File 267 . Files pertaining to Robertson’s father’s role on the Court of Appeal of British Columbia are also included, 1943 (Container 20, File 285-286) as are documents recognizing Robertson’s acts of kindness in his personal life including one such incident where he exchanged his first class seat on Trans Canada Airlines for the coach seat of a sick child, 1963 (Container 1, File 24).

Of particular interest are the correspondence files photos, and news clippings in the form of a scrapbook, which circulated between Robertson’s father, his Uncle Ted Eberts, and Robertson discussing strategic plans for his career path, marriage, and financial situation, 1935-1936 (Container 4, File 91). Robertson also maintained a regular correspondence with his brother, Bruce, a lawyer in British Columbia, from whom he sought advice on such matters as the McGill Daily Affair and the Stanley Gray Dismissal, among more personal subject matters, 1939-1969, 1939-1989 (Container 8, File 165; (Container 11, File 194 ). Other personal correspondence consists of birthday cards, congratulatory cards for his many achievements, and letters from Family members and friends, 1953, 1955-1986, 1994-1997 (Container 4, File 94; Container 3, Files 61-62, 64-66, 68, 70; Container 8, File 173). Also of note is a letter from his neighbour James or “Jasper” Cross, in which Cross thanks Robertson for greeting him on his return from captivity during the FLQ crisis while congratulating Robertson on his wise decision to move to Ontario due to the perceived dangers to prominent Anglophones in Quebec (Container 3,
File 66).

This series also contains documents pertaining to Robertson’s properties, for example, photos of his numerous private residences, 1956 1971, 2001 (Container 4, Files 93, 111); information on the sale of “Struan”, his retirement home; as well as information on his investments and donations, including the division of his estate and chattels amongst family members, 1948-1998 (Container 3, Files 71-77). Personal letters received during his principalship discuss topics such as his mother’s declining health as well as letters from his nieces and nephews that recount such events as the loss of Toni Robertson’s baby teeth, 1962-1966 (Container 3, Files 60, 69). These letters reflect the space that Robertson reserved for his family, even during times of professional stress and turbulence.

His interest in his lineage is evident through files that document his family’s genealogy, including a detailed family tree, 1984-1994 (Container 4, Files 82, 86). This series contains documents in diverse formats, such as photos, travel brochures, and postcards from a family trip to Europe in 1958 (Container 4, Files 81, 89), as well as other vacations with friends and family (Container 15, Files 226 228, 232). Additional correspondence files, newspaper clippings, in the form of wedding announcements, and photographs pertain to family related events such as Robertson’s courtship and marriage to Beatrice Rosyln, 1935-1936 (Container 4, File 91), and to the celebration of the Robertsons’ Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary 1987 Container 2, File 43). Robertson’s courtship was largely documented through letters that circulated between his Uncle Ted, his father, and Thomas Arnold, Rolly’s father.

Several files, including health notes and medical charts on Robertson and his wife that were compiled by caregivers, 1997-1998 (Container 2, File 44), condolence letters and cards on the death of H. Rocke Robertson, 1998 (Container 2, File 45; Container 8, File 174), H. Rocke Robertson’s obituary, 1998 (Container 3, File 78), and memorial service, 1998 (Container 1, File 14) were added to the archives by Stuart Robertson following H. Rocke Robertson’s death.

Robertson’s interest in rare English dictionaries and his penchant for collecting are reflected in his personal library of dictionaries, numbering almost 500, which he donated to the University of British Columbia, 1986-1994 (Container 2, Files 38-40). Numerous articles and correspondence files reinforce his interest in this subject, 1976-1989, 1981, 1969-1991 (Container 2, Files 41, 58; Container 8, File 168). In particular, letters to his friend, Geoffrey Keynes, a William Blake Scholar and collector, suggest that Keynes may have been the stimulus for Robertson’ interest in collecting, 1989-1994 (Container 4, File 82). His membership in the Osler Society and the H. Rocke Robertson Rare Book Room in McGill’s Osler Library which houses Robertson’s rare book donation to McGill, coupled with conferences he attended on the history of medicine signify his interest in this topic, 1970-1998, 1927-2005, 1979 (Container 1, Files 15-18, 20; Container 3, Files 1/80 3/80; (Container 8, File 159). Robertson’s interest in the creative arts is reflected through the plethora of theatre and opera brochures and pamphlets that he preserved 1965-1983 (Container 15, File 231).

The Clippings series contains clippings, articles and reviews from newspapers, journals and magazines concerning performances of Pedersen’s compositions as well as McGill University Records.

Series consists of three subseries containing records generated by the John P. McGovern Lecture, which was established in 1986 through the endowment of the John P. McGovern Foundation. The lectureship makes possible an annual presentation of a paper dedicated to the general areas of Sir William Osler’s interests in the interface between the humanities and the sciences. The lectureship is awarded to a leader who is selected by a committee of the American Osler Society. The records include the records of the John P. McGovern Lecture Committee (P125/H1); documents regarding the annual lecture (P125/H2); the published pamphlets of the lectures and textual materials generated during the preparation of the edited volume Our lords, the sick: McGovern Lectures in the history of medicine and medical humanism (2004) (P125/H3). Series includes correspondence of the secretary-treasurer with John P. McGovern, guidelines of the committee, programs, press release, and newspaper clippings.

This series documents Trigger’s scholarly research activities, primarily from his years as a professor in McGill’s Department of Anthropology; as well, some scrapbooks, photos, and slides record his archaeological fieldwork in Northern Ontario when he was a student during the 1950s, as well as his time in Egypt and the Sudan as a professional archaeologist during the early 1960s.

Textual records include research notebooks from Trigger’s student days (Container 14, Files 589-590) and his research material for his biography of Gordon Childe, 1936-1993 (Container 8, Files 425-427). Trigger’s office library in McGill’s Leacock building contained reading notes, correspondence with author’s from books and journals housed in Trigger’s library, and clippings that were interfiled within the publications in the library, 1972-2006 (Container 10, Files 485-508). These files are arranged alphabetically by author or by publication. Further evidence of Trigger’s research activities and approaches to organizing research materials is found in a card catalogue tray that is alphabetically arranged by author. Additionally, reading notes that were organized by country/ geographical area of interest reveal the breadth and scope of Trigger’s research interests (Container 13, Files 565-572; Container 14, Files 591-594).

Scrapbooks containing photos, news articles, correspondence, and archaeological plans document Trigger’s time as a field work archaeologist. More specifically, a Sheek Island Scrapbook, Molson Fieldnotes, in 2 volumes, and hand drawn maps and notes of Nubia capture the essence of archaeological methodology, as well as the excitement involved in archaeological fieldwork, 1957 1985 (Container 19, Files 742-745). A file entitled Sheek Island papers, contains additional photos and newsclippings on this early excavation where Trigger participated as a student, 1957 (Container 4, File 208).

This series consists of personal materials ranging from biographical information to records documenting Trigger’s student life to honours and awards. This series also contains newspaper clippings on Trigger, as well as personal correspondence files.

Biographical information consists of correspondence with biographical information sources such as Who’s Who, as well as a curriculum vitae and official documents such as an expired passport, 1984-2005, 1961, 2006 (Container 8, Files 405, 406; Container 6, File 323). Textual records include newspaper clippings and articles on Trigger, including Boyce Richardson’ article in Saturday Night, 1958-1996 (Container 15, File 581; Container 4, File 207; Container 6, File 326), which celebrates Trigger’s intellectual
contributions to society. Also included in this series are files entitled “Lubicon Business”, 1987-1988 (Container 5, 281-284), which provide a thorough overview of Trigger’s resignation from the board of the McCord Museum when members refused to join a First
Nations’ organized boycott of an exhibition of native artifacts at the Calgary Olympics, as well as a subject file entitled “Native Issues”, 1978-1991 (Container 6, File 327) which reveals his interest in First Nations’ issues. Trigger’s lengthy involvement with the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul in Montreal, including his participation in the Presbyterian College Continuing Education Program, is also documented here, 1992, 1998-2005 (Container 7, File 362; Container 16, File 640). Agendas from Trigger’s office record his daily appointments and deadlines, 1984-2005 (Container 16, Files 627-633).

Trigger’s activities as a student are documented by old high school and university yearbooks, 1953-1979 (Container 8, File 416; Container 10, Files 417-418); his Sigma Xi initiation and certificate, 1963 (Container 8, File 411; Container 21, File 2); as well as his university degrees, 1959-1964 (Container 21, Files 6-7) and University of Toronto class graduation photos, 1959 (Container 21, File 20 and unnumbered). A selection of Trigger’s student papers reveals Trigger’s early scholarly potential, 1958-1959 (Container 12, Files 539-540; Container 14, Files 584-585; Container 16, File 637). A play manuscript entitled Ikhnaton: A Verse Play in Five Acts demonstrates Trigger’s effort at creative writing (Container 8, File 414). These records reveal how Trigger carefully documented his past, commencing in his teenage years, as well as his level of involvement in both scholastic and extracurricular activities. Additional correspondence files include early job offers from several universities, 1959-1961 (Container 4, File 279; Container 5, File 289).

Nominations of friends and colleagues for diverse awards, his own awards and accompanying letters and speeches, as well as memberships in honourary societies, 1983 (Container 8, File 412) reveal the extent of Trigger’s social network and his prominence in his field. In particular, Trigger’s nomination of Jerome Rousseau, a colleague and friend in McGill’s Department of Anthropology, for the Royal Society of Canada, demonstrates Trigger’s regard for others, 1999 (Container 12, Files 563). Another example of this includes Trigger’s convocation speech for the awarding of Dr. Marc-Adélard Tremblay’s honourary degree, 1998 (Container 5, File 287). This series also contains correspondence files, certificates, convocation programs, and convocation speeches from Trigger’s own honourary degrees which he received from McMaster University, 1999 (Container 5, File 286); the University of Waterloo, 1990, 1987-1990 (Container 5, File 288; Container 8, File 410); the University of New Brunswick, 1987- 1990 (Container 14, File 583; Container 8, File 410); the University of Western Ontario, 1987-1995 (Container 17, File 660; Container 8, File 410; Container 21, File 13); the University of Toronto, 2002-2003 (Container 6, File 297; Container 21, File 13; Container 16, File 643); and the University of Waterloo, 1990-1993 (Container 7, File 350).

Trigger earned such distinctions as the Order of Canada (Container 6, File 310, 328); the Innis Guérin Medal (Container 8, File 407); the Corn Planter medal (Container 8, File 408); the Ordre du Quebec, 2001 (Container 12, File 541); and the Prix du Quebec, 1991-2001 (Container 12, File 543). Associated artifacts, certificates, plaques, medals, and memorabilia are also found here, 1955-2006 (Container 21, Files 1, 2-5, 8-12, 14- 18, 26). Additional speech notes, news clippings, and correspondence files accompany Trigger’s many honours, 1958-2006 (Container 6, File 321; Container 10, File 518; Container 15, File 611; Container 16, File 639; Container 8, File 409).

The impact of Trigger’s fifty year distinguished career as an archaeologist is best exemplified in Retrospection: The Archaeology of Bruce Trigger, in which 22 of his colleagues and friends reflect on his significant contributions to the discipline of archaeology, 2003-2006 (Container 6, File 318). Trigger, himself, reflects on his own career in an interview by Eldon entitled “Understanding Antiquity- Bruce Trigger on his life’s work in archaeology”, 2005-2006 (Container 6, File 319; Container 15, File 609). Correspondence files, conference programs, and drafts for Trigger’s festschrift and symposium demonstrate the stature he attained as a scholar, 2003 2006 (Container 15, Files 612-613).

Trigger’s declining health is documented by get well cards and correspondence from friends, students, and close colleagues, and letters of condolence to his family in the aftermath of Trigger’s death, 2006 (Container 6, Files 324, 322; Container 21, Files 23- 25). Trigger’s obituary, eulogy, and funeral program are also found in this series, 1954- 2006, 1985-2006 (Container 6, Files 329-334; Container 8, File 415, 428-429; Container 10, Files 519-523).

This series documents Trigger’s scholarly contributions, in the form of conference papers, publications, reviews, and editorial work for peer-reviewed publications, mainly from his years at McGill University’s Department of Anthropology, 1963-2006. Professional correspondence is also found within these files, which are arranged by date of conference or publication date. These files demonstrate Trigger’s prolific publication output, his correspondence with an extensive network of colleagues in the international
research community, as well as the diversity of his research interests, ranging from indigenous cultures to ancient civilizations.

Files relating to conferences and symposia, as well as reviews, articles, and books provide insight into Trigger’s approaches to organizing his research, some of the major contributions he made to the field, as well as his role as a much sought after lecturer. Record types include correspondence, conference proceedings, manuscripts, articles, reprints, editorial guidelines, drafts, and lecture notes, 1949-2006 (Container 1, Files 1- 43; 44-134; Container 3, Files 135-206; Container 4, Files 209-278; Container 6, Files
290-296; 298-308; 311-312, 316, 320, 335-336; Container 7, Files 337-349, 351-361, 363-404; Container 8, Files 420, 422-424; Container 9, Files 430-484; Container 11, Files 524-537; Container 12, Files 561-564; Container 14, Files 573-578, 580, 586-588, 599; Container 15, Files 602-604, 619-620; Container 16, Files 641-642, 645-646; Container 17, Files 647-659, 661, 664-674, 676-723). These files document Trigger’s passion for archaeology, his efforts to stay current in terms of the literature in the field, and his respected position in the international arena. For example, Trigger was the editor of Volume I of the prestigious Cambridge History of the Native Peoples of the Americas. Artwork for this volume, as well as book reviews, reveal Trigger’s level of involvement with the project, 2003 (Container 14, File 598). Conferences of note include the Seagram Lectures I and II at the University of Toronto (1986) where Trigger delivered a paper entitled “The Historian’s Indian: Native Americans in Canadian Historical Writing from Charlevoix to the Present”, 1989-1997, 1985-1986 (Container 1, Files 41, 42), and the Fourth Gordon Childe Memorial Lecture at the Institute of Archaeology, the University of London (1982). Trigger’s lecture, entitled “If Childe were Alive Today”, 1981-1983 (Container 3, File 175) is a fine example of his long standing research interest in V. Gordon Childe and Childe’s contributions to archaeological theory and his relationship to Soviet/ Marxist archaeology, 1977-1986 (Container 3, Files 142-143, 174-175.

Materials relating to Trigger’s books include drafts of published and unpublished manuscripts, research notes, reviews, and correspondence with colleagues and publishers, as well as translations of these works into numerous languages, 1990-2004 (Container 1, Files 19, 20; Container 3, File 192; Container 6, Files 294, 311; Container 15, File 621-622; Container 7, File 372; Container 9, Files 482-483). Records pertaining to Trigger’s seminal texts contain complete drafts, manuscript notes, correspondence, and publication information. For example, The Children of Aataentsic, 1975-2002 (Container 2, Files 95-96; Container 3, File 196; Container 7, File 342 ; Container 9, File 434, Container 14, File 579; Container 17, File 662, 663, 675, 710, 718 ); Understanding Early Civilizations, 1995-2005 (Container 6, File 295; Container 11, Files 525-537; 6 Container 15, File 618), and A History of Archaeological Thought, 1989-2004 (Container 6, File 301; Container 7, File 340, 371; Container 9, File 460) are comprehensive in this regard. In particular, A History of Archaeological Thought, which also includes notes for the revised edition, 1991-2002 (Container 11, Files 524), as well as correspondence with Cambridge University Press regarding the index for the book, demonstrate the writing, editorial, and publication processes from the perspective of an academic in a comprehensive manner, 1989-2004 (Container 15, Files 614-1-617, 623-626).

A comprehensive list of Trigger’s publications is available in the accession file.

This series contains textiles created by McGill University, McGill students, or McGill student societies between roughly 1907 and 2006. Many items in this series are undated.

This series is described at the item level. Includes T-shirts, textile patches, cardigans, blazers, pillow cases, tobacco silks, neckties, a jacket, a cap, and a banner.