The Archives of Archibald MacMechan: A Guide
Collection Number: MS-2-82Fonds-level description edited and electronic version prepared by Kathryn Harvey, April 2007
Collection Level Description
Title: Archibald MacMechan fonds
Dates: 1890-1933
Extent: 8 metres of textual records. -- ca. 300 photographs
Dr. Archibald McKellar MacMechan was born in 1862 at Berlin (now Kitchener), Ontario, the son of Reverend John and Mary Jean MacMechan. He began his university education at the University of Toronto in 1880 and graduated in 1884 with a Bachelor of Arts. He taught school in Brockville and Galt for the next two years. In 1886, he entered Johns Hopkins University as a doctoral candidate in modern languages, receiving his Ph.D in 1889. That same year he married Edith May Cowan. They had three daughters, Jean, Grace and Edith. Also in 1889, MacMechan was appointed professor of English at Dalhousie University, in Halifax, Nova Scotia where he remained until 1931. During this time, he assisted in establishing the Dalhousie University Marine Musuem and was also University Librarian for a brief time. He served as president of the Nova Scotia Historical Society (1907-1910) and was awarded a fellowship in the Royal Society of Canada (1926). MacMechan was a prolific writer of essays, articles, and books throughout his lifetime. Archibald MacMechan died 7 August 1933.
Return to the Table of Contents
MacMechan's papers were donated by his daughter, Jean Willets, in 1970-1974, his daughter Edith Dobson in 1983, and his granddaughter Joan Cervin in 1990.
Return to the Table of Contents
No further accruals are expected.
Return to the Table of Contents
Fonds contains diaries, correspondence, manuscripts of both published and unpublished writings, research notes, materials related to his research and teaching and other university-related activities, artwork, memorabilia, scrapbooks, photographs, and financial papers.
Arrangement imposed by the archivist.
Return to the Table of Contents
A detailed inventory is available.
Return to the Table of Contents
All records are open.
Return to the Table of Contents
[Identification of item], Archibald MacMechan fonds, MS-2-82, Box [box number], Folder [folder number], Dalhousie University Archives and Special Collections, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Return to the Table of Contents
|