MSS 159, PC 177 (A.98-51, A.03-92, A.04-94)

Title: Stobie Family fonds

Dates: 1936-1979

Extent: 1.81 m of textual records, .12m of photographic images

Biographical information: William Stobie was born 1 June 1911 in London, England. He obtained a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Toronto and briefly did graduate work at the University of Illinois before returning to the University of Toronto to continue course work for a Ph.D. in English. In 1938, William married Margaret Roseborough, also a Ph.D. in English. That year he obtained an appointment to the faculty of De Pauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. The couple next moved to Missouri where William taught at the University of Missouri and Margaret taught at the Christian College for women. In 1944 they embarked on a two-year stint at University. In 1946 both Margaret and William joined the English Department of the University of Manitoba as assistant professors. William's area of expertise was Nineteenth-Century English writers. He participated in a lecture for University on Air in 1947 on the poet Frank Scott. William was the President of the Winnipeg Little Theatre Group in 1955-1958. William was active in the University unions and was President of the staff association of UMSU during the Harry Crowe affair. William sat on several university committees including the University College Building Committee. He attained the rank of Associate Professor and full professor in 1967. He was the director of Summer and Evening session from 1965-1976. William Stobie retired in 1976 after thirty years with the English Department.

Dr. Margaret (Peg) Roseborough was born in Vermillion, Alberta 26 February 1909. She received a BA from the University of Alberta in 1930. Margaret was awarded an IODE Overseas Fellowship and did an Honours Degree in English at King's College University of London in 1932. She returned to Canada completing an MA in 1934, and a PhD in 1937, at the University of Toronto. The following year she published An Outline of Middle English Grammar with MacMillan's, and taught at Victoria College. In 1938, she married William Stobie. The couple moved to De Pauw University in Indiania in 1938. From there, they moved to Missouri where Margaret returned to teaching at Christian College a Women's Instution. William and Margaret Stobie taught at Cornell University for two years from 1944-1946 before joining the English department at the University of Manitoba. Margaret was forced to retire from teaching with the inception of the nepotism law in 1950. She spent the next several years acting, producing and directing local theatre as well as working for the CBC in various dramatic roles and as a book reviewer on Critically Speaking. In 1958 she took an appointment at United College, but resigned in protest over the dismissal of Harry Crowe at the end of the year. In 1959 she was hired by St. John's College. From 1962-1965 she was on the executive of the College's Chapter of CAUT. In 1966 she attained the rank of full professor. Two years later she became a member of Senate and in 1971 she was appointed to the Research Grants Committee and Research Board. Margaret was the first women appointed to the academic panel of the Canada Council and was a board member of the Associations of Universities and Colleges of Canada. She wrote two more books, A Critical Study of Frederick Philip Grove Twayne Publisher (1973), and The Other Side of the Rebellion (1986). She was appointed to Professor Emeritus in 1975. Margaret Stobie died 15 July 1990. The University of Manitoba holds a lecture in Dr. Stobie's memory

Custodial History: The material was donated to the University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections by William Stobie in 1998, 2003 and 2004.

Scope and Content: The accession (A.98-51) is separated into seven series. The first pertains to Margaret Stobie's research with the Bunji dialect (1965-1969). The second concerns the North Studies Project (1965-1977). William Stobie held a two-year term as president of the Winnipeg Little Theatre Co. and Margaret acted, directed, and produced plays for the company. The third series relates to the theatre company and includes it's merging with Theatre 77 to create the Manitoba Theatre Centre (1950-1982). The fourth series deals with William Stobie's involvement with the University of Manitoba's academic unions (1949-1976). The fifth series relates to William Stobie's committee work while at the University of Manitoba (1948-1975). The sixth series contains information on Professor Harry Crowe's dismissal from United College (1958-1959). Theatre, ballet, and concert programme make up the final series (1936-1979)

The accession (A.03-92, A.04-94) consists primarily of Margaret Stobie’s research and publication drafts along with a photographic collection of Margaret and William Stobie’s early years. The accession consists of a manuscript and photographic collection. The Manuscript collection is divided into six series consisting of Publication Drafts, Correspondence, Research, Biographical, Publications, and Miscellaneous materials. The photographic collection consists of 77 photographs, 4 albums, and 18 photo negatives.

Restrictions: Some correspondence is restricted

Accruals: Some further accruals are anticipated

Related Material: See Mss 13 - Margaret Stobie fonds

Finding aids available:

A.98-51

A.03-92, A.04-94, PC 77