MSS 173, PC 168 (A.03-26)

Title: Doris B. Saunders fonds

Dates: 1896-2001

Extent: 37.5 cm textual records. -- 2 oversize photographs

Biographical Sketch: Doris Boyce Saunders was born in Winnipeg 16 November 1901. In 1917 she graduated from Kelvin High School. Saunders then enrolled at the University of Manitoba. In 1921 she graduated with Gold Medals in both Philosophy and English. Upon graduation, she began teaching at a rural elementary school before heading to Oxford. After graduating from Oxford with a Diploma of Education in 1923 she taught at both Machray Junior High and Kelvin High School. In 1925, while still teaching, she completed a MA at the University of Manitoba.

The next year, Saunders headed to Oxford on a Canadian Federation of University Women Traveling Fellowship, intending to enroll in a PhD programme. At the time, however, Oxford did not permit women to enter doctorate programmes. Undaunted, she enrolled in the Bachelor of Letters programme, completing a thesis entitled "Dr. Johnson's Knowledge of the English of English Writers Before 1600, Excluding Shakespeare." In 1928, Saunders became the first female appointed to the Department of English at the University of Manitoba. In 1941, she was promoted to Assistant Professor and in 1959 became the first female full Professor in the Faculty of Arts.

Professor Saunders involvement in University life did not end in the classroom. From 1933 to 1945 she was the Dean of Junior Women and was the Registrar of University College from 1964 to 1968, when she retired. She was also the guest editor of the 1970 Manitoba Centennial Issue of Mosaic, the interdisciplinary journal published by the University. Saunders was a long time member of the University Women's Club and served as its president from 1943 to 1945. In 1957, she received an honourary LL.D from the University of British Columbia. The University of Manitoba also conferred an honourary LL.D upon Professor Saunders in 1994. Doris Saunders passed away in Winnipeg on 3 May 2001.

Custodial History: Doris Saunders donated the records to Archives & Special Collections in 2003.

Scope and Content: The fonds is divided into six series. The first series, personal, contains biographical information, including a letter diary, as well as records pertaining to her honourary degrees. The second series, Correspondence, is divided into two sub-series. The first contains general correspondence. The second sub-series consists of material related to the 1970 Manitoba Centennial issue of Mosaic. The third series pertains to the Acquisition of the Frederick Philip Grove Collection. It consists of a variety of textual records, including correspondence, research. The fourth series, Papers, Letters and Publications, is divided into two sub-series. The first sub-series consists of papers, lectures and publications written by Professor Saunders while the second sub-series is comprised of writings and publications by other people. The fifth series is comprised of research done by Saunders on a variety of books and authors. The sixth series is Photograph Collection 168. It consists of 2 class photos, one from 1917-1918 and one from 1918-1919.

Restrictions: There are no restrictions on access to this material.

Accruals: No further accruals to the fonds are expected.

Finding Aid: A printed finding aid is available in the Archives reading room and an electronic finding aid is available at the link below:

MSS 173, PC 168 (A.03-26)