Memorial Union Building foundation and concrete pillars visible during construction.

Bio/Historical Note: The Memorial Union Building (MUB) has the distinction of being the last building in the centre of campus designed in the collegiate gothic style and completely clad in greystone. It was designed to serve as a memorial to the students, faculty and staff of the University of Saskatchewan who perished overseas in the First and Second World Wars.The Upper MUB has been transformed several times since its formal opening on 11 Nov. 1955. It has been used as a student lounge, concert venue, pub, bookstore and coffee shop. It has hosted receptions, fashion shows, beauty and air guitar contests, club meetings, dances and political debates. During the 1945-1946 academic year a Students’ Union Building Committee was formed. The Committee outlined proposals for the new building, which included an auditorium, a ballroom, lounge rooms, a tuck shop and student offices, all for a cost of $600,000. A brief on the Committee’s findings and proposals was later presented to the Board of Governors of the University, which created a $100,000 sinking fund for construction of the building and student fees were raised $4 to raise an additional $200,000. The MUB formally opened on 11 November 1955. It was used primarily for student functions including dancing, card-playing, chess, and studying, though it never became the hub of student activities it was originally intended to be. Included in the original furnishings was a generous supply of ashtrays. In 1957 a Board of Directors was established to operate the MUB, and to promote social, cultural and recreational activities and programs for the students, faculty and alumni of the University of Saskatchewan. Due to the surge in enrolment at the University of Saskatchewan during the 1960s the student body quickly outgrew the building. Though the MUB had been designed to accommodate expansion to the south, by the 1964-1965 academic year the Students’ Union recognized the need for facilities much more extensive than even expansion could provide. As a result plans for what would eventually be the Place Riel Student Centre were born. In 1980 renovations to the MUB were completed as part of Phase III of the Place Riel Project. The renovations were designed by Ferguson Folstad Friggstad, and were completed by Bennett and White Construction. They included the demolition and removal of portions of the building, structural alterations, interior renovations including the refitting of Louis’ Pub, improvements to the elevator, and alterations and renovations to the pedestrian tunnel connected to the residences. The renovations cost $1.7 million. In 1983 an elevator was installed in the MUB for $143,600 and ramps for disabled access were constructed by Cana Construction. These improvements were designed by the Friggstad architectural firm. A 1985 renovation to the building was also designed by Friggstad. The renovations were performed by Haig Construction for $124,725. In March 2001 the Upper MUB was renovated as part of a planned relocation of the Browsers used bookstore. Included in the renovations was a snack and beverage bar as well as public access computers for Internet usage. The entire store is centred around the original war memorial, and the renovations have returned the space to its original purpose as a comfortable lounge for students.” The new Browsers opened its doors in late August 2001. During the summer of 2002 Louis’ Pub, located in the basement of the MUB, was also renovated, by contractors PCL Maxam. The renovations were designed by the architectural firm of Saunders Evans, and were performed by PCL Maxam for $5.25 million. The newly renovated Louis’ was opened in October 2002.

People walking on walkway past north wing of Murray Memorial Library during winter; Arts tower in background.

Staff and students walking past the north wing of Murray Library; Arts Building in background.

Bio/Historical Note: Though the first recorded withdrawal from the University Library occurred in October 1909, nearly five decades passed before the Library had its own building. The early collection was housed either on the second floor of the College Building (later known as the Administration Building) or was scattered among a number of small departmental libraries. Plans for a new library building in the late 1920s were ended by the start of the Great Depression; but a dramatically reduced acquisitions budget was offset by a grant from the Carnegie Corporation in 1933. In 1943 the University hired its first professional Librarian. A combination of provincial grants and University fundraising financed the construction of the Murray Memorial Library. The library was named after the University’s first President, Walter C. Murray. Designed by noted Regina architect Kioshi Izumi working under H.K. Black, Architect, it marked a change in campus architecture away from the more angular and elaborate Collegiate Gothic style to that of the less expensive cube. Building materials included granite at the entrance and Tyndall stone as a wall cladding and window trim. In addition to the library, the building housed the College of Law, an office of the Provincial Archives and a 105-seat lecture theatre equipped with the latest in audiovisual teaching aids. The most dramatic transformation took place between 1970 and 1976 when a six floor south wing was added along with an extensive renovation of the 1956 structure. Designed by BLM, Regina, the south wing was unlike any other building on campus. Clad in Tyndall stone panels made to look like concrete (through a "bush hammered" finish), the grey almost windowless building is industrial and utilitarian in appearance. The University's master plan required buildings in the core of campus to be clad in stone. However, the "bush hammered" finish was used since the Library addition was built during a period that saw the flowering of "Brutalist" Architecture, so called because of the wide use of exposed concrete. The new (south) wing, originally called the Main Library, was officially opened on 17 May 1974, and also became the home of the Department of Art and Art History, the College of Graduate Studies and the University Archives.

Four men standing in a field, possibly a construction site [on campus]; buildings, trees, horses, and people in background.

Large group of people gathered in the ballroom of the Bessborough hotel. Banner on the wall reads "75th Anniversary Engineering Institute of Canada 1887-1962".

Men and women appear to be applauding; child standing facing camera. Back of photograph: "Mrs. K. McCallum, Dr. K. McCallum, Lloyd Trevoy and one of the twins. Christmas Party, Dec. 21 1956. Chemistry Annex, Pharmacy Lounge."

[Dr. K. McCallum] smiling at a baby who is sitting on his lap. On back of photograph: "Christmas party, Dec 21/56. Chemistry Annex, Pharmacy Lounge. Mrs. Trevoy, Lloyd Trevoy and other twin"

Image of George Wearring sitting at a desk holding a piece of paper.

Emmanuel College in the middle of an empty field.

Three men standing by a horse-drawn cart on the construction site for Power House.

Bio/Historical Note: Excavation for the Power House was completed in May 1910, and the building itself was completed in 1912 at a cost of $118,000. It was built quickly so that it could provide heat to the other buildings under construction, allowing work to continue throughout the winter months. The building was constructed of red brick in keeping with the architecture of the neighbouring Engineering Building. A spur track was laid to the building so coal could be dumped from railcars into pockets in the ground near the boilers. A steam tunnel measuring six feet wide by seven feet high was built from the Power House to the College Building. From this main branch lateral branches ran to the Engineering Building and to the Livestock Pavilion, and from the south end of the College Building to the Residence, later named Saskatchewan Hall. These tunnels carried steam mains, return pipes, hot and cold water pipes and electric cables to the various buildings. An addition to the Power House was completed in 1923 by Smith Brothers Construction for $58,300. As part of the project two coal chutes were installed at a cost of $35 each. The addition featured a new concrete foundation and reinforced slabs, solid brick walls and partitions, a metal sash and skylights made with wired glass, and a tar and gravel roof. A contract was awarded to Shannon Brothers Construction on 3 September 1930 to perform alterations to the Power House for a sum of $21,849. The alterations were completed by New Year’s Eve of that year for $23,073.36. The Power House was demolished in 1977.

Dr. Edith C. Rowles Simpson, Dean of Home Economics, talks to a group of female high school students. Four older men in suits stand in back.

Annotated on front of composite postcard showing six buildings on the University campus and farm (from top left): Science and Arts Building [College of Agriculture Building], main (east) entrance to Saskatchewan Hall; Saskatchewan Hall; Emanuel [Emmanuel] College; Stock [Livestock] Pavilion, and the Experimental Farm Barn [Main Barn].

Maureen Rever sits at a table with a sign reading: "Get Tickets" and Johnny Leicester stands nearby holding a cap.

Bio/Historical Note: Maureen Rever-Duwors (born 1938) held provincial and Canadian records in sprint events as a high school student in the early 1950s at Luther College in Regina. She was Canadian champion in 1955 and the 60-and 100-yard events and coupled with a second place finish in broad jump and a third in the 220 yards, was the top point-getter among senior women at the meet. During Rever’s first year of university at Luther College, she competed in 100 metres (fifth in a heat), 200 metres (fifth in a heat) and the 4x100-metre relay at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. Rever enrolled at the University of Saskatchewan in 1956. While a student, she finished third in the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games 4×110 yards relay (with Diane Matheson, Eleanor Haslam (also from the University of Saskatchewan), and Freyda Berman). Rever was eliminated in the semi-finals of the 220 yards and in the heats of the 100 yards. Rever also played both guard and forward on the Huskiette basketball team. She was a member of the bronze-winning 4×100 metres relay team in the 1959 Pan American Games, and also finished fourth in long jump. Rever received a BA in 1959 and was the first woman on the Biology Department faculty (ca. 1970). Rever went on to become an official, administrator and internationally-rated official. She was an executive member of the Athletic Association of Canada, Saskatchewan Branch; a director of the Saskatoon Track and Field Club and was a founding member of Sask Sport. She was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 1977 and in the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame in 1986. Rever Road in Saskatoon is named in her honour. Rever is Professor Emerita of Biology (2021).

Head and shoulders image of J. D. Fowler, Western College of Veterinary Medicine.

Large group of graduates standing and seated in the Memorial Union Building. On back of photo: "CLASS OF '31: Seated, left to right: M. Jean Wilson, Arts, Toronto; Mrs. C.J. Raine (Hazel I. Miller) Arts, Wilcox; Bertha E. Wilkinson, Arts, Regina; Rose Ducie, Arts, Saskatoon; Mrs. B.W. Currie (Elva B. Washington), Arts, Saskatoon; Mrs. H.D. Dalgleish (Mildred I. Thackeray) Arts, Saskatoon; Mrs. A.L. Hall (Kathleen R. Craven), Arts, Regina. Standing: Christian Farstad, Arts, Lethbridge; George Frederick Cameron, Arts, Saskatoon; J. Francis Leddy, MA, Saskatoon; R. Newman H. Haslam, MA, Saskatoon; John Francis Leddy, Arts, Saskatoon; Allan Bishop Van Cleave, MSc, Saskatoon.