John M. King fonds, 1829-1899

MSS 63, PC 82

1.8 m of textual records

John M. King was born in Yitholm, Scotland in 1829. While still quite young he enrolled at the University of Edinburgh where he studied mathematics, philosophy, and theology graduating with a MA in 1856. After furthering his theological studies at the University of Halle in Germany, he came to Canada to take up Presbyterian ministries in Galt, Ingersoll, Columbus and Whitby, Ontario (then Canada West). In 1863 he was appointed minister of Gould Street, later St. James Square Church in Toronto. Twenty years later, while serving as moderator of the General Assembly, he accepted the principalship of the College of Manitoba in Winnipeg, forerunner of the University of Winnipeg. King lived in Winnipeg until his death in 1899. He was widely-known and highly regarded as a leading Presbyterian theologian, educator and administrator. His daughter Helen married the Rev. Charles William Gordon (Ralph Connor).

Donated by the King family in 1992

The collection contains over 1,000 handwritten, nineteenth century letters from family members and friends, an impressive selection of an equally large number of his original sermons, a large selection of his biblical commentaries and lecture notes, a few photographs, and a fewer number of materials on the early development of Manitoba College

Open to all researchers

Finding aid available