Egoff, Sheila Agnes

CONVOCATION, OCTOBER, 1986
SHEILA AGNES EGOFF
to be Doctor of Letters

In response to my question about her middle name Sheila Egoff replied that her middle name was Agnes, because she was born on St. Agnes Eve. - "Ah, bitter chill it was!" In all likelihood it was indeed chill in Auburn, Maine where Dr. Egoff was born on the 20th of January. Very quickly her mother realized her error, and brought Sheila back to Canada when she was a year old. She was subsequently educated at the University of Toronto and the University of London, and her entire working life has been spent with books, and surrounded by books, as a Librarian, and a Professor in the School of Librarianship at the University of British Columbia. She is a bibliophile, a bibliographer, and, most probably, a bibliolater. One could do worse than be a lover or worshipper of books.

But it is in the field of Children's Literature that Dr. Egoff has been preeminent, and publication of her critical guide to Canadian Children's Literature in English, in 1967 - The Republic of Childhood - was a pivotal point in the criticism and awareness of literature for children and young people. Her latest work, published in 1981, Thursday's Child: Trends and Patterns in Contemporary Children's Literature, is likely to be the standard work on the subject for many years to come, or until the publication of the book on which she is now working -- a study of fantasy written for children and young people from the Middle Ages to 1986.

I take it from the title of her last published book Thursday's Child - that contemporary children's literature "has far to go." I also take it, bearing the traditional rhyme in mind, that Dr. Egoff was born on a Tuesday for this lady is indeed "full of grace" --and of charm, and of humour. On second thought, I believe it must have been Friday, for "Friday's child is loving and giving." The dedication of her life to teaching, books, and children is, indeed, a gift of love,

When I wrote to Dr. Egoff and asked her to comment on her many "achievements" she graciously declined, writing: "I feel, constantly amazed that I have reaped so many rewards for what I consider very modest efforts and in the line of duty, as it were." We are proud tonight to offer to her our own modest reward as a tribute to her dedication to two of the most important and precious possessions in all our lives -- books and children.

Insignissime Praeses, Amplissiina Cancellaria, Tota Universitas, Presento vobis Sheila Agnes Egoff ut admittatur honoris causa ad gradum Doctoris in Litteris in hac Universitate.

From: Honoris Causa - UA Case 70, Box 2