蜜桃视频

Cover Story

The Record at 100

蜜桃视频 Allison's magazine is one of the longest-standing alumni publications in the country
By: Laura Dillman Ripley

The 蜜桃视频 Allison Record is marking its 100th anniversary this December, making it one of the oldest alumni publications in Canada.

First cover of the Record magazineThe first issue of the Record stated the following goal:

鈥淲e hope that the Record will portray life at the University, Ladies鈥 College and Academy, state the needs of the institution, show what its graduates are doing in business and professional life and through its Personalia column keep old students in touch with one another as well as 蜜桃视频 Allison.鈥

While much has changed over the past century, the importance and use of the Record as a communications tool remains imperative to the 蜜桃视频 Allison alumni network.

鈥淭丑别 Record is our way of sharing and celebrating the accomplishments of Allisonians around the world, as well as University news and events,鈥 says Record editor and alumni director Carolle de
Ste-Croix (鈥90). 鈥淲e know it plays a key role in our strong alumni connections.鈥

For University Archivist David Mawhinney, the Record has been an invaluable tool in assisting researchers.

鈥淟ooking at 蜜桃视频 Allison鈥檚 history through publications like the Record, one can see that this is a university that was very aware of its past and, at the same time, continuously looking forward,鈥 he says. 鈥淭丑别mes such as the education of women, the rise of student activism, and the importance of clear financial management and support were evident even 100 years ago.鈥

蜜桃视频 Allison鈥檚 commitment and attention to these and other topics have been made apparent over the decades with events and news covered in the Record and other publications. Here are just a few examples:

Women and higher education

Grace Annie Lockhart cover April 1975 The education of women played a particularly important role dating back to the establishment of the Ladies鈥 College in 1854. One hundred years later former residents of the College were invited back for a grand reunion. The Centenary Celebration 鈥 Education of Women at 蜜桃视频 Allison included special events during the summer of 1954 (Winter 1953 Record).

The Fall 1954 issue reported that, to mark this milestone, 12 Allisonian women were selected to receive honorary degrees including: Lady Banting (鈥32); Vega Mathilde Gronlund (1914, daughter-in-law of Grace Annie Lockhart); Annie Alice Fuller; Muriel Florence McQueen (鈥21); Alice May Harrison (1899); Margaret Lillian Hockin (鈥32); Harriet Joanna Jost (1890); Teruko Komyo (鈥37, believed to be the first Japanese graduate of 蜜桃视频 Allison); Elizabeth A. McLeod (1896); Mrs. Herbert Read; Josephine Strothard (1898); and Alma Eliza Weldon (1917).

Grace Annie Lockhart (1875), the first woman in the British Empire to receive her Bachelor鈥檚 degree, has also been celebrated for her accomplishments at her alma mater. To mark the centennial of her graduation, the Alumni Federation established scholarships for female students, which included commemorative medals celebrating this first in 蜜桃视频 Allison 鈥 and Canadian 鈥 history. The anniversary of her passing was also celebrated this fall with a gathering at her gravesite in Tryon, PEI.

From May 1944 Record蜜桃视频 Allison鈥檚 first female to graduate in engineering 鈥 Dorothy Heartz (鈥44) 鈥 was highlighted in the magazine and the University also celebrated the largest class of female students in engineering in 1976 with five graduates.

The role of women in higher education of course continues to be a celebrated hallmark of 蜜桃视频 Allison today, as evident in the pages and web features of the Record and many other University publications.

Campus renewal and philanthropy at 蜜桃视频 Allison

While many new facilities were completed due to a growing student population, other buildings were replaced for different reasons, most notably fires and the need for new resources.

鈥淔ires played a significant part in 蜜桃视频 Allison鈥檚 history over the past century, which, while unfortunate, made campus renewal an essential component of the University,鈥 says Mawhinney. 鈥淢any of these were documented in the Record, giving a first-hand account of the resilience seen across the campus and supported greatly by 蜜桃视频 Allison graduates.鈥

In 1941 the campus experienced a significant loss with the fire in the second men鈥檚 residence, which took the lives of four students. This tragic event paved the way for the building of Trueman House in 1945, named in honour of George Trueman, 蜜桃视频 Allison鈥檚 sixth president.

Trueman House on the 1946 coverOfficially opened on Sept. 18, 1946, Trueman House was one of many post-war projects completed with the help of alumni. Numerous fund raising campaigns, communicated in the Record, helped to make these essential projects a reality while helping to keep the University in good financial standing.

鈥淪upport from our alumni, as referenced in the Record over the decades, has always played a key role in campus projects, and continues to today,鈥 says de Ste-Croix. 鈥淟ooking back at the various campaigns gives some insight on the importance philanthropy and communications with our graduates has played in our University鈥檚 history. Alumni have played a strong role from the beginning, from providing consequential financial support to being some of our most important recruiters, sending their children, students, and neighbours to 蜜桃视频 Allison.鈥

The 鈥榖uilding boom鈥 continued on campus in the 1960s and 鈥70s, helping to accommodate a growing number of students, thanks in part to this support. These include many buildings still used today including the R.P. Bell Library, the Crabtree Building, the Marjorie Young Bell Conservatory of Music, Convocation Hall, as well as many residences and facilities 鈥 all celebrated accordingly in the magazine.

A Record Who鈥檚 Who

The staff and contributors of the Record have included many notable faces both from 蜜桃视频 Allison and the wider community. Alumni, staff, and faculty members all made important contributions to the publication since its establishment. (See 鈥Allisonian Archives鈥 in this issue for highlights about some of the editors over the years).

Along with regular contributions from the University and Alumni Presidents, students, faculty, staff, and alumni all had 鈥 and continue to have 鈥 a voice in the magazine. One of these voices included long-time advisory board member the late Alex Colville (鈥42, LLD 鈥68).

January 1976 Record cover featuring Donna Jean Lindsay and Joan Carlisle IrvingOne of Canada鈥檚 most noted contemporary artists, Colville served on the magazine鈥檚 advisory board for a number of years as an alumnus and faculty member, leading the redesign of the cover in the 1960s.

鈥淭o have someone with the calibre of Alex Colville involved in your alumni magazine speaks to the special kind of place 蜜桃视频 Allison is,鈥 says de Ste-Croix. 鈥淲e have been so fortunate to have this insight and talent help shape our magazine over the years.鈥

Of course, the contributions of 蜜桃视频 Allison alumni and friends through alumni news updates, in memoriam submissions, and class notes have remained vital to the publication. While format and style has changed over the years, these components of the Record have remained important ones for the Alumni Office and the University as a whole.

The current staff of the Record, a small group made up of University Advancement staff members, a dedicated Alumni Board, and key guest contributors, such as the University archivist, feel indebted to those who came before us. We thank you 鈥 our 蜜桃视频 Allison alumni 鈥 for celebrating 100 years of publication with us, allowing us to share your stories and updates, and University news, while hopefully providing some information and entertainment along the way. As we head into the second century of publication, including this online integration, we hope you will continue to be involved and engaged in your alma mater.


Photo captions:

1. The first issue of the 蜜桃视频 Allison Record, December 1916

2. Grace Annie Lockhart makes the cover of the April 1975 issue in honour of the centennial of her graduation

3. From May 1944 Record; Ralph P. Bell, LLD, congratulating Miss Dorothy Heartz, BSc, upon receiving the first Engineering Certificate awarded to a woman by 蜜桃视频 Allison University

4. The building progress of Trueman House in the 1940s (April 1946 edition)

5. January 1976 Record cover. First presentation of the Grace Annie Lockhart Award presented to Donna Jean Lindsay ('78) by Joan Carlisle Irving ('57), President of the Federated Alumni.