William R. Morrison (Canadian historian)
Encyclopedia
William Robert Morrison (born January 26, 1942) is a Canadian
historian of the Canadian North.
Born in Hamilton
, Ontario
, Morrison received a Bachelor of Arts (History) degree from McMaster University
in 1963 and a Master of Arts (History) from the same university the following year. He studied under Morris Zaslow, the senior northern historian in the country at the time, at the University of Western Ontario
, receiving his PhD in 1973. His thesis was entitled, "The Mounted Police on Canada's Northern Frontier, 1895 - 1924."
After a short stint with the National Historic Sites Service in Ottawa
, Morrison was hired at Brandon University
in 1969, remaining there until 1989. He subsequently become Professor of History and Director of the Lakehead Centre for Northern Studies (1989–1992), Founding Dean of Research and Graduate Studies at the University of Northern British Columbia
(1992–1997) and Professor of History, UNBC, retiring in 2010 as Professor Emeritus. He served as a Visiting Professor at the University of Victoria
in 1988-1989 and Distinguished Visiting Professor at Duke University
in 2001 and 2002. Morrison also served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions (and as President from 1999–2001), on the Executive Committee for the Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies and Chair, Northern History Group of the Canadian Historical Association
.
William R. Morrison received an Honorary Degree (Doctor of Literature) from Brandon University
in 2007.
Morrison has authored or co-authored 8 books and edited or co-edited 5 books. Among his best known works are True North: The Yukon and Northwest Territories (Oxford, 1998), The Alaska Highway in World War II (University of Oklahoma Press, 1992), The Sinking of the Princess Sophia: Taking the North Down With Her (Oxford, 1991), Land of the Midnight Sun: A History of the Yukon revised edition (McGill-Queen's University Press, 2005), and Showing the Flag, The Mounted Police and Canadian Sovereignty in the North, 1894 - 1925 (UBC Press, 1985).
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
historian of the Canadian North.
Born in Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Morrison received a Bachelor of Arts (History) degree from McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
in 1963 and a Master of Arts (History) from the same university the following year. He studied under Morris Zaslow, the senior northern historian in the country at the time, at the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
, receiving his PhD in 1973. His thesis was entitled, "The Mounted Police on Canada's Northern Frontier, 1895 - 1924."
After a short stint with the National Historic Sites Service in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Morrison was hired at Brandon University
Brandon University
Brandon University is a Canadian university located in the city of Brandon, Manitoba, with an enrolment of 3383 full-time and part-time students. The current location was founded on July 13, 1899, as Brandon College as a Baptist institution. It was chartered as a university by then President Dr....
in 1969, remaining there until 1989. He subsequently become Professor of History and Director of the Lakehead Centre for Northern Studies (1989–1992), Founding Dean of Research and Graduate Studies at the University of Northern British Columbia
University of Northern British Columbia
The University of Northern British Columbia is a small, primarily undergraduate university whose main campus is in Prince George, British Columbia. UNBC also has regional campuses in the northern British Columbia cities of Prince Rupert, Terrace, Quesnel, and Fort St. John...
(1992–1997) and Professor of History, UNBC, retiring in 2010 as Professor Emeritus. He served as a Visiting Professor at the University of Victoria
University of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
in 1988-1989 and Distinguished Visiting Professor at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
in 2001 and 2002. Morrison also served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions (and as President from 1999–2001), on the Executive Committee for the Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies and Chair, Northern History Group of the Canadian Historical Association
Canadian Historical Association
The Canadian Historical Association is a Canadian organization founded in 1922 for the purposes of promoting historical research and scholarship. Marius Barbeau, the anthropologist, was its founding Secretary...
.
William R. Morrison received an Honorary Degree (Doctor of Literature) from Brandon University
Brandon University
Brandon University is a Canadian university located in the city of Brandon, Manitoba, with an enrolment of 3383 full-time and part-time students. The current location was founded on July 13, 1899, as Brandon College as a Baptist institution. It was chartered as a university by then President Dr....
in 2007.
Morrison has authored or co-authored 8 books and edited or co-edited 5 books. Among his best known works are True North: The Yukon and Northwest Territories (Oxford, 1998), The Alaska Highway in World War II (University of Oklahoma Press, 1992), The Sinking of the Princess Sophia: Taking the North Down With Her (Oxford, 1991), Land of the Midnight Sun: A History of the Yukon revised edition (McGill-Queen's University Press, 2005), and Showing the Flag, The Mounted Police and Canadian Sovereignty in the North, 1894 - 1925 (UBC Press, 1985).