Makers of Canada

Burpee, Lawrence J. and Arthur G. Doughty, editors, Makers of Canada: Index and Dictionary of Canadian History, Toronto: Morang & Co., Limited.

Makers of Canada series consisted of a number of volumes plus an Index and Dictionary, published in a variety of editions by Morang & Co., Limited, from 1903 to 1916, and by Oxford University Press in 1926-1927.

Prospectus and Specimen Pages of "The Makers of Canada”, Toronto: George N. Morang and Company Limited Publishers, ca. 1903, announced the forthcoming publication of Makers of Canada, a twenty-volume series. The prospectus advertised the Edition de Luxe, a limited edition of 400 numbered and signed sets.  The work presented biographies of explorers, colonizers, statesmen and reformers who shaped Canadian history.  It was intended to be national in both content and authorship, and was divided into historic periods from the French regime, to the Confederation period, and up to the discovery and settlement of the Pacific coast. It was also announced that additional supplementary volumes would also be published.  The original series was published between 1906 and 1908 in a variety of editions, including Edition de Luxe, and the Parkman Edition. In 1910, a 11 volume less expensive set in two editions was published.  

The Index and Dictionary of Canadian History, edited by Lawrence J Burpee and Arthur G. Doughty was published as a supplementary volume beginning in 1911. The Index and Dictionary was comprised of three sections: Index and Dictionary; Manuscript Sources in the Dominion Archives; and a partial list of scarce maps and plans relating to Canada.  The 1911-1912 publication of Makers of Canada series included a number of editions, such as, the Edition De Luxe, Parkman Edition, and University Edition.  In 1916 a new volume was added, volume 21.

With the 12 volume 1926 Anniversary editions which included a McLean's Magazine Anniversary Edition, published by Oxford University Press, the Index and Dictionary edited by LJ Burpee and AG Doughty, was replaced by The Oxford Encyclopedia of Canadian History by L.J. Burpee. In the Anniversary editions, A.G. Doughty was credited on the title page for each chapter in volumes 1-11: “Illustrations under the direction of A.G. Doughty, C.M.G., Litt.D., Deputy Minister, Public Archives of Canada”.  In volume 2, “The French Regime”, A.GD wrote a single introduction (pp. vii-x) for the biographies of “Count Frontenac” by William D. LeSueur, and “Wolfe and Montcalm” by Abbé H.R. Casgrain.

Print copies of various editions and volumes of Makers of Canada series were reviewed.  Wilson Collection includes: 1911 Edition de Luxe (1 copy), and Parkman Edition (3 copies), of Index and Dictionary of Canadian History; these copies were reviewed. Print copy of 1912 University Edition, including the Index and Dictionary held by Queen’s University (OCLC #896581756) was reviewed. Print copy of 1926 McLean's Magazine Anniversary Edition, volumes 1-12, held by Queen’s University (OCLC #843231927) was reviewed.  All are pictured above.

Digital copy of Prospectus, available through Internet Archive (CIHM 991753), was reviewed; select images are pictured above.

Digital copies for Makers of Canada, 1911-1912 editions, De Luxe and Parkman, are available through Canadiana and Internet Archive (archive.org).

See also: Coates, Donna, “The Makers of Canada”, Canadian Encyclopedia, 10 September 2018 (thecanadianencyclopedia.ca), and for the controversy concerning the biography of William Lyon Mackenzie, see A.B. McKillop (ed) W.D. LeSueur, William Lyon Mackenzie: A Reinterpretation, Toronto & Ottawa. 1979.