| dc.description | These notes on the history of the Geology department were begun at the request of Dr. Zenti1li, who was the
chairman of the department at that time.
Information has, of course, been drawn from a number of sources. For the early years especially, the minutes
of Senate from 1864 to 1955 have been the main source and the University calendars since 1864 have provided details
of course programs and related material. Departmental annual reports and the minutes of departmental meetings since
1970 have been examined carefully, but essentially no use has been made of departmental files of correspondence. In
fact, such files for all except the last few years appear to be missing. These sources have been supplemented by minutes
of meetings of the Faculty of Arts and Science and of certain committees of the Faculty. Minutes of meetings of the Board
of Governors have been consulted on a few matters. Statistical and financial data have been drawn from Business Office
files now in the University Archives, or have been supplied by the Registrar's office and by the Administrator of the
Faculty of Arts and Science. Class enrollments from 1932 to 1971 were obtained by using examination returns to track
individuals through their programs.
While financial data are probably sufficiently accurate for present purposes, I am only too well aware that no
person not an accountant should venture into old accounts without a "seeing-eye dog", and I have had some difficulty
reconciling the data. When the "Financial Statement" shows for the Faculty a surplus of $590,500 for one year, and the
same expenditures, re-worked a year later, convert the surplus to a loss of $5,170,000, there has obviously been a change
of accounting procedure, but lesser discrepancies may be inexplicable to the uninitiated. When figures for what appear
to be identical expenditures are obtained from different sources, they almost never agree; such have been reconciled as
seemed best on the advice available.
For assistance willingly rendered, I extend sincere thanks to the staff of the Registrar's office, especially Mary
McGillivray; to Don Miller, the Administrator of the Faculty of Arts and Science; to Dr. Charles Armour, the University
Archivist; to Dianne Crouse, and to the staff of the Geology Department. Special thanks go to Norma Keeping, who has
patiently typed the manuscript and dealt with the nearly endless amendments and corrections thereto.
G.C.M. | en_US |
