The Arctic Institute of North America: Yesterday and Today

Abstract

... This chapter begins in 1945 when the Institute's first full-time Executive Director, A. Lincoln Washburn, climbed the stairs to the first quarters in a couple of rooms in the administration wing of McGill University's Arts Building in Montreal. Washburn, as mentioned in Parkin's chapter, was largely responsible for the new organization becoming well-oriented on a course of broad and imaginative service to the cause of northern research in both the natural and the social sciences. It was found difficult to replace him when he resigned in 1950 and the post of Executive Director was left vacant until 1952 when R. C. Wallace, who had recently retired as Principal of Queen's University, became the Executive Director and served until his untimely death in 1954. Wallace was followed by T. H. Manning, who occupied the position until the end of 1955, after which the post was left unfilled until April 1957 when A. T. Belcher, formerly of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, assumed the office. Belcher directed the Institute until the spring of 1960 when the author of this article became the Executive Director. After running quickly over the first few years, this chapter will deal mainly with what the Institute is doing in the environment in which it now finds itself at the dawn of the space age, when research appreciation is blossoming and the scientist is a man of stature. In 1945, the first year of actual operation, the Institute carried on its business on an income of about $10,000. By 1950 the level of activity had risen to approximately $156,000 and, in the next five years, to around $400,000 a year. Since 1958 the yearly revenues have fluctuated between about $1,000,000 and $1,500,000; the total revenue for 1965 was $1,167,000. This gives a fair idea of the level of activity through the years. Most of the funding of the Arctic Institute has been, and continues to be, from government sources through a variety of grants and contracts, mostly for specified purposes. Nevertheless continuing and significant support has come from other sources, including some foundations, industry, and private individuals. In respect to the non-governmental category, the Institute owes a great deal indeed to Walter A. Wood, a Governor of the Institute through many of its twenty years and currently the President of the American Geographical Society. Since the late 1940's Dr. Wood has given generously of his time, his thought, and his substance to the Institute, especially in the New York area, in assisting the organization to develop and improve its public image among foundations, industry, and individuals, and in enlisting financial support from those sources. For years he sparked the efforts of a formally designated committee in New York. The Montreal Office and headquarters of the Institute which was first in the McGill Arts Building was next housed in the University's Ethnological Museum in the Medical Building. Subsequently the Office occupied the Bishop Mountain House on University Street where it remained until, in December 1961, it moved into its present quarters, also a McGill University Building. The Office has been headed by a Director since 1948, except for a period between 1957 and 1960. The sequence of Office Directors has been P. D. Baird, Svenn Orvig, George Watson, M. Marsden, K. de la Barre (Acting) and, since February 1965, H. W. Love. The New York Office pf the Institute has been headed by Walter A. Wood continuously since its establishment in 1948. It was first in the building of the American Geographical Society, then at the New York Academy of Sciences, and is now in the recently acquired building of the Explorers Club. In 1949 and 1950 the Institute maintained an office in The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore through the courtesy of the University. It was headed by M. C. Shelesnyak, formerly of the U.S. Office of Naval Research. Subsequently, at the generous invitation of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, an office was opened in its building in Washington where it remained for twelve years until, in 1963, it moved into the present building purchased by the Institute. Successive Office Directors have been A. L. Washburn; L. O. Colbert, formerly Director of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey; and, since 1959, Robert C. Faylor. A small office headed by J. Cantley was occupied in Ottawa in 1956 and 1957, and other project offices have been maintained from time to time. ... Of all the organizations that have markedly influenced the Arctic Institute perhaps four should be singled out for special brief mention because of their effect on the Arctic Institute of North America during the period covered by this article. These are: the Office of Naval Research of the United States Department of the Navy, the U.S. National Science Foundation, the National Research Council of Canada, and McGill University. Many others could and should be mentioned and would be if space permitted. ...