University of Western Ontario - Occidentalia Yearbook (London, Ontario Canada)

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F 'I'HE LATE PROFESSOR I. W. RUSSELL. Painied by his Daughter-in-law. Mildred.

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-- -- v- - , ..,.,. ..1-V.,-,1-ww, - V -- ,..,..f-Y-f----,..,,,,,, -,-:,. - A- ---...-.1 - . . .- xg' - , 'N,Z.l 'i:,,,,, fwi, ., ,.. .,.., Q ..,.Y i N 70 fafm 70. Rauell, .fafe pfzafeddaa fgmeulllud of Geology, We .Zecficafe Back. lohn W. Russell was born at Millbrook in Durham county, Ontario, on December lOth, 1870. He received his early education at the Port Hope high school, and then entered McMaster University, at that time still located in Toronto, where he specialized in mathematics and obtained the BA. degree in 1895. Following post-graduate work at the same institution, including courses in palaeontology, in which subject he became profoundly interested, he received his Master's degree, in 1899. During the next few years his interest in, and knowledge of, geology, continued to grow-so much so that what had first been a hobby became his profession. He carried out geological exploration in northern Ontario, par- ticularly in the Cobalt district. For some years he was General Manager for the Kerry Mining Company, and he held a similar position with the Oxford Cobalt Silver Mining Company in 1919 and 1920. He was a member of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, founded in 1898. lt was in 1920 that he joined the staff of the University of Western Ontario, in London, as Instructor in Geology. I-Ie had the unexpected task of prac- tically building a Department. CDr. Fox was a freshman student in one of Professor Russell's classes at McMaster. In 1919, when it was necessary to establish courses in Geology, Dr. Fox at once called upon his former professor.l Professor Russell had many qualities which bound him closely to colleagues and students alike, and was an able teacher. His contagious enthusiasm was most important, for the oft-quoted and gladly teach could be well applied to him. He built well, and upon his retirement was rewarded in seeing one of his former students given the duty of carrying the work further. By successive promotions Professor Russell had become Professor of Geology, which position he held until his retirement in 1940, when he was designated Professor Emeritus. He died at his home here in London, on Saturday, October 23rd, 1943. His distinctive figure will be greatly missed from the Campus, and his colleagues, former students, and old timers of the Cobalt camp, sincerely mourn his memory.

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ff l Qgiiiiffgi - 'A A454 Q. Um School Gaed Western's crest has not always been the one with which the graduates of 1944 are familiar. In fact, the present crest is a comparative new-comer to our hallowed halls, official recognition forthcoming only in 1932. Behind these few facts lies a story, a story concerning the ancient and romantic art of heraldry. Up until 1908 Western University, as it was then called, was administered by the Church of England, its motto being Timor Domini Principium Sapientia. ln that year the university became interdenominationalg the motto, however, remained, and along with it the school colours-purple and black. lt was not until 1915 that the Senate decided it was time for a change. At a meeting held in November of that year a new crest and a new motto were adopted and the colours changed to purple and white ta welcome relief from the older funereal tonesl. lncidentally, Dr. Neville, Dr. W'al1er, and Dr. Tamblyn were all present at this meeting. Now everything was progressing beautifully when suddenly someone discovered that the new crest was unheraldic. Something had to be done. Finally, in 1931, Dr. Fox and Dr. Neville were in England attending the Quinquennial Conference of the Universities of the British Empire. While there they consulted the College of Heralds about a correct crest. Later that year the new heraldic crest was received and in the following year it was officially adopted. The new motto, Veritas et Utilitas, needs, perhaps, a word of explanation. ln selecting these words as the symbol of our university, the administration showed that Western is not merely an intellectual factory but an institution in which young Canadians are trained to best serve society.