McGill Libraries
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Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
William Massey Birks Fonds
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Level of description
Fonds
Repository
Reference code
CA MUA MG1019
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Statement of scale (cartographic)
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Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1911-1948 (Creation)
- Creator
- Birks, William Massey, 1868-1950
Physical description area
Physical description
13 cm of textual records
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Archival description area
Name of creator
(1868-1950)
Biographical 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.
Custodial history
Scope and content
Three scrapbooks document Birks' involvement with McGill, particularly with the Theological Colleges and the Faculty of Divinity. One contains newspaper clippings and correspondence (1912-1913) concerning the United College of Theology. The second scrapbook contains newspaper clippings and correspondence (1912-1948) on the establishment of the Faculty of Divinity at McGill. The third contains telegrams concerning the appointment of Sir Auckland Geddes as Principal in 1919, as well as newspaper clippings regarding the McGill Fund Campaign (1911) and the Patriotic Fund, (1914-1917). There is also correspondence about church matters and the Joint Theological Colleges and brief accounts of the establishment of the latter, correspondence, minutes, reports, reminiscences and notes document the establishment of the Faculty of Divinity in 1948. There is also a builder's contract and accounts for the Birks building on University Street and a draft fragment of a historical story or novel set in the 14th century about a Richard Birks.
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Originals and Printed Materials