Robert Sutherland
Encyclopedia
Robert Sutherland, a native of Jamaica, (1830-1878) was the first known graduate of colour at a Canadian university, and the first Black man to study law in North America. A graduate of Queen's University
. Sutherland qualified to practise law in Ontario under the then prevailing system of apprenticeship and examination. He studied Law at Osgoode Law School
and practised law for 20 years in Walkerton, Ontario
. Upon his death in 1878, Sutherland's left a large bequest (his entire estate of $12,000) to Queen's University, roughly equivalent to the institution's annual operating budget. This donation was the largest the school had ever received, saving it from financial catastrophe in a banking crisis. He is rumoured to have had a son which he named Robert Sutherland jr after his father who was also called Robert Sutherland:
Visitors have included: Esmerelda Thornhill, academic and Black Canadian historian; Enid Lee, international consultant; Ken Wiwa
, journalist and author; Patricia McFadden
, activist; Faith Nolan
, singer and songwriter; William Commanda
, elder, and Romola Trebilcock; George Elliott Clarke
, poet and author; Afua Cooper
, dub poet and author; and Lawrence Hill
, novelist.
"Room 240, John Deutsch University Centre, in memory of Robert Sutherland, in recognition of his generous support of Queen’s through a large estate gift, the first major bequest received by the University."
The room is made available for meetings, lectures, performances and the like, and houses a dedication plaque along with the Sutherland Prize award board. It underwent renovations and was rededicated by the university on November 29, 2006.
The university also established a webpage (http://www.queensu.ca/alumni/sutherland/) with details about Sutherland's life and the various memorials honouring his legacy.
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
. Sutherland qualified to practise law in Ontario under the then prevailing system of apprenticeship and examination. He studied Law at Osgoode Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
and practised law for 20 years in Walkerton, Ontario
Walkerton, Ontario
Walkerton is a community in the Canadian province of Ontario, located within and governed by the municipality of Brockton. It is the site of Brockton's municipal offices and the county seat of Bruce County...
. Upon his death in 1878, Sutherland's left a large bequest (his entire estate of $12,000) to Queen's University, roughly equivalent to the institution's annual operating budget. This donation was the largest the school had ever received, saving it from financial catastrophe in a banking crisis. He is rumoured to have had a son which he named Robert Sutherland jr after his father who was also called Robert Sutherland:
Sutherland Memorial Entrance Bursary
Established by the Afro-Caribe Community Foundation of Kingston and District with donations from friends and colleagues of the Foundation. Awarded to a student entering any undergraduate program at Queen's University on the basis of financial need, good academic standing, and involvement in and/or contribution to the African or Caribbean communities in Canada. Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada.Robert Sutherland Plaque in Grant Hall
The City of Kingston erected a plaque to Sutherland's memory in the front foyer of Grant Hall in 1974, when George Speal (Comm '54) was Mayor.Student-led Recognition in 1997
In January 1997, the Alma Mater Society of Queen's University established the AMS Robert Sutherland Task Force (RSTF) to "seek a space on campus which would be appropriate to recognize the contributions of Robert Sutherland, the university's first major benefactor and first Black graduate." The RSTF (Greg Frankson, Annette Paul, Kevin Ashby, Donna Wallen, Viniyini Murty, Kiké Roach and Rosalie Griffith) made recommendations that led to several new memorials.Robert Sutherland Visitorship
The Robert Sutherland Visitorship was established by the John Deutsch University Centre Council in 1997, with the express purpose of bringing to Queen's University a noted speaker each year with expertise in the areas of equity, community diversity and race relations.Visitors have included: Esmerelda Thornhill, academic and Black Canadian historian; Enid Lee, international consultant; Ken Wiwa
Ken Wiwa
Ken Wiwa , also known as Ken Saro-Wiwa Jr., is a Nigerian journalist and author. His book In the Shadow of a Saint is a memoir of his father, executed activist and political prisoner Ken Saro-Wiwa....
, journalist and author; Patricia McFadden
Patricia McFadden
Dr. Patricia McFadden is a radical African feminist, sociologist, writer, educator, and publisher from Swaziland. She is also an activist and scholar who worked in the anti-apartheid movement for more than 20 years. McFadden has worked in the African and global women’s movements as well. As a...
, activist; Faith Nolan
Faith Nolan
Faith Nolan is a Canadian social activist folk and jazz singer-songwriter and guitarist of mixed African, Mi'kmaq and Irish heritage...
, singer and songwriter; William Commanda
William Commanda (Kitigàn-zìbì)
William Commanda, OC was an Algonquin elder, spiritual leader, and promoter of environmental stewardship. Commanda served as Band Chief of the Kitigàn-zìbì Anishinàbeg First Nation near Maniwaki, Quebec, from 1951 to 1970...
, elder, and Romola Trebilcock; George Elliott Clarke
George Elliott Clarke
George Elliott Clarke, OC is a Canadian poet and playwright. His work largely explores and chronicles the experience and history of the Black Canadian community of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, creating a cultural geography that Clarke refers to as "Africadia".-Life:Born to William and Geraldine...
, poet and author; Afua Cooper
Afua Cooper
Afua Cooper is a Jamaican-born Canadian historian, author and dub poet.-Biography:Born in Westmoreland, Jamaica, Cooper grew up in Kingston, Jamaica and migrated to Toronto in 1980. She holds a Ph.D. in African-Canadian history with specialties in slavery and abolition...
, dub poet and author; and Lawrence Hill
Lawrence Hill
Lawrence Hill is an award-winning Canadian novelist and memoirist. He is best known for the 2001 memoir Black Berry, Sweet Juice: On Being Black and White in Canada and the 2007 novel The Book of Negroes....
, novelist.
Sutherland Prize
Presented annually by the Alma Mater Society to a graduating and self-defined student of colour who has shown leadership and initiative at Queen's, most specifically in the area of encouraging and fostering diversity on campus.Robert Sutherland Award for Excellence in Debating
The Alma Mater Society presents this award annually "to the member of the Debating Union who has distinguished him/herself as an outstanding contributor to the Union, exemplified the principles of fair play and sportsmanship, and has demonstrated superior skill and dedication while representing Queen's University on the national and/or international debating circuit(s)."Robert Sutherland Room
Despite a recommendation from the RSTF to name the Fireplace Reading Room in Stauffer Library after Sutherland, in October, 1997, the Queen's University Board of Trustees confirmed the John Deutsch University Centre Council recommendation to name the University Centre's Billiard Room for Sutherland:"Room 240, John Deutsch University Centre, in memory of Robert Sutherland, in recognition of his generous support of Queen’s through a large estate gift, the first major bequest received by the University."
The room is made available for meetings, lectures, performances and the like, and houses a dedication plaque along with the Sutherland Prize award board. It underwent renovations and was rededicated by the university on November 29, 2006.
Policy Studies Building renamed Robert Sutherland Hall
On February 24, 2009, the university announced that the Board of Trustees unanimously voted to rename the Policy Studies Building in honour of Robert Sutherland the previous day. At its December 2008 meeting, the Board acknowledged the student campaign to rename a building for Sutherland, asking the current principal, Tom Williams, to give a recommendation on the subject. The New Robert Sutherland Task Force, led by students Michael Ceci, Leora Jackson, Talia Radcliffe, and Jeff Welsh managed to garner campus wide support for this initiative. Williams supported the campaign. The dedication ceremony for Robert Sutherland Hall took place on October 3, 2009. The building, located at 138 Union Street, had its signage changed in early summer 2009 to reflect the new name, which came into popular usage on campus almost immediately after the Board vote.The university also established a webpage (http://www.queensu.ca/alumni/sutherland/) with details about Sutherland's life and the various memorials honouring his legacy.
Sources
- Minutes of Alma Mater Society of Queen's University Assembly, March 11, 1997.
- Final Report of the AMS Robert Sutherland Task Force, tabled and adopted unanimously at AMS Assembly, March 11, 1997.
- AMS Robert Sutherland Task Force Submission to the John Deutsch University Centre Council, August 28, 1997.
- Minutes of the meeting of the Queen's University Board of Trustees, October 3–4, 1997 (http://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/trustees/minutes/oct03_97.html)
- Information on the Robert Sutherland Visitorship - John Deutsch University Centre website (http://www.queensu.ca/jduc/rsv.html)
- Queen's University Senate - Scholarships and Student Aid Committee Report, May 2001 (http://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/senate/SSAmay01.html)
See also
- Queen's UniversityQueen's UniversityQueen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
- Alma Mater Society of Queen's University
- George Monro GrantGeorge Monro GrantGeorge Monro Grant, C.M.G. was a Canadian church minister, writer, and political activist. He served as principal of Queen's College, Kingston, Ontario for 25 years, from 1877 until 1902.-Early life, education:...