Stobie Family fonds: MSS 159, PC 177, TC 136 (A.08-20)

Inventory prepared by Robert Ross
University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections,
Winnipeg, Manitoba
(2008)

Finding aid encoded by Robert Ross (February 2009)
Finding aid written in English.

Collection Summary

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Biographical Sketch:

William Stobie was born June 1st, 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 DePauw 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 Cornell 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. He 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 30 years with the English Department.

Dr. Margaret (Peg) Roseborough was born in Vermillion, Alberta on February 26th, 1909. She received a B.A. 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 1933. She returned to Canada completing an M.A. in 1934, and a Ph.D. 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 DePauw University in Indiana in 1938. From there, they moved to Missouri where Margaret returned to teaching at Christian College a Women's Institution. 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 July 15, 1990. The University of Manitoba holds a lecture in Dr. Stobie's memory.

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Scope and Contents of the Papers

This accession consists primarily of William Stobie's academic papers and biographical materials, Margaret Stobie's manuscripts, and personal photographs of William Stobie’s early years. The accession consists of a manuscript and photographic collection. The Manuscript collection is divided into eleven series consisting of Biographical Materials, Correspondence, Academic Writing/Manuscripts - Margaret Stobie, Miscellaneous Writing - William Stobie, Academic Writing - William Stobie, Class Notes - William Stobie, Lecture Notes - William Stobie, Academic Reference Materials, Research Notes - Margaret Stobie, Publications, Oversized Materials, and Photograph & Tape Collections. The photographic collection consists of 206 photographs, and 77 photo negatives. The tape collection consists of one tape.

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Organization of the Papers

This collection is organized into 12 Series.

• Biographical Materials
• Correspondence
• Academic Writing/Manuscripts - Margaret Stobie
• Miscellaneous Writing - William Stobie
• Academic Writing - William Stobie
• Class Notes - William Stobie
• Lecture Notes - William Stobie
• Academic Reference Materials
• Research Notes - Margaret Stobie
• Publications
• Oversized Materials
• Photograph & Tape Collections

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Restrictions on Access

Some folders have been deemed confidential.

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Related Papers

Other accruals include Margaret Stobie's Bunji Language interview tapes and transcripts Tc 24 (A.80-17), Stobie's interview tapes regarding Frederick Philip Grove Tc 2 (A.82-42) and Mss 13, Pc 109 - the textual records and photographs for Stobie's Grove research. Mss 159 (A.98-51) pertains to Margaret Stobie's research with the Bunji dialect (1965-1969), the North Studies Project (1965-1977), the creation of the Manitoba Theatre Centre (1950-1982), and William Stobie's involvement with the University of Manitoba's academic unions (1949-1976). Mss 159, Pc 177 (A.03-92, A.04-94) consists primarily of Margaret Stobie's research and publication drafts, publications, and early photographs of the Stobies.

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Other Finding Aids

Margaret Stobie fonds - Mss 13, TC 2 (A.82-42), TC 24 (A.80-17), PC 109

Stobie Family fonds - Mss 159 (A.98-51), Mss 159, Pc 177 (A.03-92, A.04-94).

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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