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Join guest speaker Dr Ian E. Wilson at the second Whyte Memorial lecture celebrating the legacy of two significant bequestors to Monash University.

The phrase 'peace, order and good government', common to the definition of federal powers in both the Australian and the Canadian constitutions, has defined the relationship of the Crown and the citizen for more than five centuries. The archival record is fundamental to that relationship, providing  its  authoritative  legal basis, documenting its evolution and continuing as a reminder of both our proudest achievements and our most dismal failures as a society.

Dr. Wilson will reflect on the role of archives in recent Canadian human rights issues, highlighting both the strengths and the weaknesses of the record, the perception of archives as an agency of the state and the role of archives in helping society address highly contentious issues.

About the speaker

Dr Ian Wilson
(Photo credit: V. Tony Hauser)

Dr. Wilson served as National Archivist of Canada, 1999 to 2004, and then as head of the newly amalgamated Library and Archives Canada. He retired in 2009 and received the unusual honour of being named Librarian and Archivist of Canada Emeritus. He is currently working with the University of Waterloo  in  establishing  the Stratford Institute for Digital Media and has just completed a two-year term as President of the International Council on Archives.

Dr. Wilson's career encompasses many areas, including archival and information management, university teaching and government service. He has worked diligently to make archives accessible and interesting to a wide range of audiences. While helping to safeguard the integrity of archival records and library  services,  he  has encouraged public involvement and outreach.

He has published extensively on history, archives, heritage and information management and has lectured nationally and internationally.

He holds three honorary doctorates, is a Member of the Order of Canada, and was appointed Commandeur de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the Government of France. He is also a fellow of both the Association of Canadian Archivists and the Society of American Archivists. (More information)