Fonds UAA Fonds 0149 - University of Alberta in Calgary fonds

The forerunner of the University of Calgary was a branch campus of the University of Alberta, administered from Edmonton by the President under the Board of Governors. The branch became an independent university with the passing of the Universities Act, 1966. Directors: 1947-1960 Andrew Leo Doucette. Principals: 1960-1963 Malcolm Gordon Taylor. Presidents: 1963-1966 Herbert Stoker Armstrong.

Herbert Stoker Armstrong was the first President of the University of Calgary. He was born in Toronto, Ontario and completed his early education in Toronto. He obtained his B.A. and M.A. in Geology from the University of Toronto. In 1942 he received his PhD in Economic Geology from the University of Chicago. Later, he would go on to receive his D.Sc at McMaster University, and D.U.C in Calgary, Alberta.

Armstrong taught at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, from 1941 to 1962. Beginning in 1950 he was the Dean of the Arts and Science Faculty at McMaster University for 12 years. He joined the University of Alberta (U of A) in 1962, where he held the position as a Professor of Geology and Dean of the Faculty of Science. In 1963, he was appointed Vice-President (Academic) of the U of A. In 1964, he took the appointment and became the first President of the University of Alberta at Calgary. When the University of Calgary received autonomy in 1966, Armstrong assumed the dual role of President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calgary until 1968. He retired from the position of Dean of Graduate Studies at the University of Guelph.

Armstrong served on many civic, provincial, national and international bodies of science and culture. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in 1956 and the Royal Society of Canada in 1957. In 1961 he was elected to obtain membership in the Geological Society of Finland. He was also President of the Art Gallery of Hamilton, Board Member of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and later Edmonton Symphony Society, Calgary Philharmonic Society and Calgary Allied Arts Council.

Armstrong married Kathleen (nee Halbert) and had two daughters, Catherine Frances and Margaret Shera. He died at the age of 78 at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Guelph, Ontario on March 5, 1993.