Fonds F-32 - Gordon Shrum fonds

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Gordon Shrum fonds

General material designation

  • Photographic materials
  • Textual records

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Title notes

  • Source of title proper: Title is based on provenance of the fonds.

Level of description

Fonds

Reference code

F-32

Edition area

Edition statement

Edition statement of responsibility

Class of material specific details area

Statement of scale (cartographic)

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Statement of scale (architectural)

Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • 1962 - 1971 (Creation)
    Creator
    Shrum, Gordon

Physical description area

Physical description

50 cm of textual records
38 photographs

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Archival description area

Name of creator

(1896 - 20 June 1985)

Biographical history

Gordon Merritt Shrum (1896-1985) was a scientist, teacher, administrator, and the first Chancellor of Simon Fraser University.

He was born in Smithville, Ontario in 1896. He entered the University of Toronto in 1913 with the intention of becoming a teacher. He joined the Canadian Officers' Training Corps in 1915 and joined the army the following year. After serving in France and receiving the Military Medal, he returned to finish his university studies. He received his BA in 1919, MA in 1921 and PhD in 1923 in physics. His notable achievements included liquefying helium in 1923 and discovering the origin of the auroral green line in the Northern Lights in 1925.

Later that year he left Toronto to become professor of physics at the University of British Columbia. Over the next 36 years, he served that institution as an academic and administrator.

During his time at UBC, Shrum became a colonel in the COTC, and received the Order of the British Empire during World War II. He was also appointed a director of the BC Research Council in 1944. In 1958, he served as chairman of a royal commission investigating the BC Power Commission. This led to his appointment as Chair of the BC Energy Board in 1959.

In 1961, Shrum had to leave UBC because he had reached the compulsory retirement age of 65. He was immediately appointed head of BC Electric (later BC Hydro) by Premier W. A. C. Bennett. In that capacity he was responsible for the Peace River hydro project.

Bennett also selected Shrum to create the new university recommended by the Macdonald Report of 1963. Shrum built Simon Fraser University, as it would be named, in 18 months earning it the title of "the Instant University." Shrum served as SFU's first chancellor until June 1969 and continued to head BC Hydro until 1972. In May 1975 he became director of the Vancouver Museum and Planetarium Association and reorganized the museum-planetarium complex at Vanier Park.

Now in his eighties, Shrum was approached by Premier Bill Bennett to take charge of the financially-troubled Robson Square Courthouse project. He successfully completed the project and was next asked to develop a trade and convention centre for Vancouver. He stepped down from this project when the federal government took over construction. Gordon Shrum died at the age of 89 in 1985.

Custodial history

Scope and content

The fonds consists of records created, received and collected by Gordon M. Shrum. Records reflect his involvement with Simon Fraser University as Chancellor, his contribution to building the new university and his interest in education and SFU after he retired as Chancellor. Includes correspondence, reports, briefs, memoranda, photographs, architectural drawings, publications, and newspaper clippings.

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

Arrangement

The fonds was arranged by the Archivist.

Language of material

Script of material

Location of originals

Availability of other formats

Restrictions on access

Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

Finding aids

Series descriptions and file lists are available.

Generated finding aid

Associated materials

Please consult the inventory for the Gordon M. Shrum collection, F-31, and the inventory for the Office of the Chancellor, F-3.

Related materials

Accruals

All accessions have been processed as of September 2002. No further accruals are expected.

General note

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: 8 photographs located in F-32-1-0-10

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: 28 photographs located in F-32-1-0-7

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: 1 photograph located in F-32-1-0-4

Alternative identifier(s)

Wikidata identifier

Q106644098

Wikidata URL

https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q106644098

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Status

Published

Level of detail

Full

Dates of creation, revision and deletion

Finding aid prepared by Krisztina Laszlo, Frances Fournier, Enid Britt (March 2000).

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Script of description

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