The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.2000, Blaðsíða 9

Vol. 55 #4
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
307
The Icelandic Presence at the
University of Manitoba
by Prof. Richard A. Johnson
The patient indulgence of the reader is requested in advance for the length of this article; it was
originally intended to be a much shorter summary of the history of what is a unique and important
creation in the history of Manitoba and beyond. It is longer for three reasons. As it was being devel-
oped, it became clear that a good deal of the material that now appears here has never, to this
author's knowledge, either been published before or given general distribution. What has appeared
on the history of the development of the Icelandic Presence at The University of Manitoba has
focused on particular aspects of that development and not on the whole; and, finally, several com-
ments have appeared from time to time which run contrary to the facts of the several formal agree-
ments that govern the use of the funds raised. This article is an attempt to provide an accurate, sin-
gle source of all the salient facts in this remarkable story. I hope that you read on!
Early initiatives
These days, when it seems that all publications arrive announcing new anniversaries, it could
appear trite - and not lacking just a little in innovation - to begin this contribution with the notice of
yet another forthcoming double anniversary. But in terms of sustaining the Icelandic culture on this
continent and supporting continuing scholarly studies and research of it - locally, nationally and
internationally - it is an anniversary of two events which rank in importance with the millennial
recognition of Leif Eriksson's landing and the 125th anniversary of the arrival of our forebears in
New Iceland.
In 2002 we celebrate both a centenary and a golden jubilee.
On May 15, 1902, Thomas H. Johnson, likely the first Icelandic-Canadian to be called to the
bar in Canada and later a member of the Manitoba Legislature and Minister of the Crown in the
Norris Government from 1915 to 19221 appeared before the University Council of The University
of Manitoba to present a petition on behalf of the Educational Committee of the Evangelical
Lutheran Synod2 "to add the Icelandic Language and Literature to the present University
Curriculum and make Icelandic Language an elective study or an equivalent for some subjects anal-
ogous thereto."3 And fifty years ago the first appointment to the Chair of Icelandic Language and
Literature and Head of the Department of Icelandic in the person of Dr. Finnbogi Gudmundsson rep-
resented a major element in that pillar of the Icelandic Presence at The University of Manitoba.
Approval of Thomas Johnson's remarkable undertaking was not immediate. The position taken
by some Council members was to approve it but with the University courses to be offered in the
third and fourth years.4 In response to this, there was another long letter from Thomas Johnson, duly
recorded in the Minutes of the Council of April 2, 1903, arguing that the teaching of Icelandic
Language and Literature should be at the first and second years so as to be continuous with the
matriculation preparation in secondary schools. Later at that meeting, Council approval was finally
given - but then only after an amending motion to offer the subject [only in the upper years had been
put and defeated.5
Instruction in all Arts and Science University courses was, at the time, the responsibility of the
Colleges and Icelandic was no exception to this. The subject was listed and taught at Wesley
College.6 Appointed on a part-time basis in the early years as "readers and examiners" were the
Reverends J. F. Bergman (lecturer: 1901-04, Prof. 1904-10), F. Hallgrimsson (1907-08) and R.
Marteinsson (Prof. 1910-11) as well as Thomas Johnson, Esq., himself in 1903-04 and Johann
Gestur Johannsson (lecturer: 1913-14). Approvals of curriculum and changes thereto were a part of
that regular business of the Council during the period. There seems to have been a hiatus at the start