1974 Fredericton Convocation

Daniells, Roy

Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.)

Orator: Condon, Thomas J.

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L to R: Sir Max Aitken, Roy Daniells
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Source: Joe Stone fonds-UA RG340, 1974 (#11528A)

Citation:

CONVOCATION, OCTOBER, 1974
ROY DANIELLS
to be Doctor of Letters

When a nation reaches a certain point in its development it requires men of noble vision to summon its people to greatness. In the 1930's when Professor Daniells began his long and distinguished academic career, there were examples of individual Canadian scholars of eminence and international renown. But conspicuously absent was a firm institutional foundation which would make possible the flowering of Canadian scholarship and Canadian culture. Along with forging a record of individual scholarly brilliance, Roy Daniells has served as chief summoner of his country to cultural greatness.

Knowing that a national culture cannot rest on a handful of great scholars in any given generation, he has devoted himself to the tasks of strengthening learned societies, creating collaborative scholarly ventures, and calling for imaginative undertakings and new forms of organization. In building strong departments of English at the University of Manitoba and the University of British Columbia, in urging the Royal Society of Canada to assume greater responsibities in the scholarly community and in society, in his editing of that monumental collective venture in Canadian scholarship, the Literary History of Canada, Professor Daniells has put his ideas and words to the test for the benefit of all Canadians. His distinguished contributions to Canadian intellectual life have been recognized by honorary degrees from Queen's, Toronto, McMaster and Windsor, by the Lorne Pierce Medal of the Royal Society of Canada, and by his appointment as Companion of the Order of Canada.

Roy Daniells has been preeminently the voice of conscience to Canadian intellectuals, urging us to create the tools and to dare the exercise of creative imagination on the Canadian past and present, convinced that such efforts will produce results comparable to such strivings by other nations at other times. He has assured us that if we will but ask we shall find; and in the process generate a cultural renaissance in Canada. In this lad of Carman and Roberts, of Bailey and Pacey his poetic visions, his evocations of the imagination are especially understood and merit special honour.

Praeses admittit Rufum Daniells honoris causa ad gradum Doctoris in Litteris.

From: Honoris Causa - UA Case 70, Box 2

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