Series 1 - Research in the History of Education

This series consists of correspondence, notes, copies of research materials, and drafts of typed manuscripts pertaining mainly to Edwards' research in the history of education and personas related to the history of McGill. Topics in education include the history of Educational Psychology in Britain and North America (1994-1995, Box 5 files 79-83) and Normal Schools in the U.S. and Canada (1990-1991, Box 5 files 84, 85 and Box 6 file 102), as well as education in Quebec in general, in the context of Quebec politics and language laws, and at McGill (1968-1975, Box 5 files 84-92; see also Box 6 files 93, 106). Particular attention is paid, in this last group, to the Faculty of Education and the Department of Educational Psychology (1994-1995, Box 5 files 88-92). Among the documents are drafts of article manuscripts on the history of Normal Schools and the Chairs of Education at London and McGill, "Fin de Siecle: And A New Beginning" (1991), a "History of Protestant Teacher Training in the Province of Quebec" (ca. 1978) and "Margaret Thatcher, Thatcherism and Education" (1989) with editors comments (Box 6 files 102, 103). Also included are drafts of chapters (of an untitled book) on the constitutional and educational history of Canada (1979, Box 6 files 100, 101) and copies of Edwards' papers, presented and published (1956-1991 Box 6 files 93-99).

The largest grouping of material on an individual is devoted to Sir William Peterson and associated topics, collected from 1983-1998 (Box 3, file 35 - Box 5, file 78; photo file 109). Included is material on Peterson's own work in classics (1991-1998, Box 3 file 39 - Box 4, file 45) as well as drafts of Edwards' biographies of Peterson, "The Education of a Principal" (1993), "The First Macdonald Professor" as well as other manuscripts (Box 3, files 35-39). Additional areas of focus in this group are the introduction of the Ph.D. in Britain and North America (ca. 1995 Box 4, files 62-62), the granting of honorary degrees (1989-1995 Box 4, file 64-66), the Macdonald Chair of Education (1991-1996) - with special attention to James Alfred Dale (1991-1998 Box 5 files 68-71; photos files 68, 69), and, to a lesser extent, Fred Clarke (1991, Box 5, file 67) - and the University Extension movement (1983-1995 Box 5, files 72-78).

Other major areas of research are the 1854 search for a McGill Principal (1997-1998 Box 3 files 27-34) and David Davidson, the McGill Governor who was charged with filling that position, and on whom Edwards collected extensive biographical and genealogical material (1994-1998 Box 3 files 19-26, 27-34). The process of the search for a Principal is described and documented with the minutes of the meeting of the Board of Governors (Box 3 file 29) and biographical information of varying breadth on each of the candidates for the position William Arnold (Box 3 file 30), Daniel Wilson (Box 3, file 31), William Ballantyne Hodgson (Box 3 file 31), Richard T. Pennefather (Box 3, file 32), Henry Burgess (Box 3 files 33, 34 - photo file 34), and William Dawson (Box 3 file 29). There are manuscripts on the Davidsons and McGill in 1854 (Box 3 file 19), as well as wide-ranging background material on the politics and policies of the British government from the mid-18th century to 1854. Typed notes and partial manuscripts relating to this background material include a "Collection of all the Treaties of Peace, Alliance and Commerce between Great Britain and other Powers", notes on the "Seven Years War and Canada", and "[The Duke of]Marlborough" (Box 3 file 27).