Head and shoulders outdoor image of Elsie York, medical secretary, College of Medicine; image taken near retirement.

Bio/Historical Note:
Senior-most CUPE 1975 member retires after 42 years at U of S
When Elsie York signed on with the Department of Medicine on August 15, 1955, the University Hospital wasn't even fully occupied. Since then, there have been different department heads, changing personnel, and the hospital has been expanded and its name modified. York has been there all the while, with her initial secretarial duties having changed, in 1980, to embrace more administrative matters under Dr. Marvin Bala. Earlier this year she decided, as the CUPE 1975 member with the highest seniority, to opt for the University's retirement incentive plan and call it a career. She says she plans to stay in Saskatoon, where she'll be able to spend more time with her husband Art, who has been in retirement for eight years.
From 5 Sept. 1997 issue of OCN:

Bio/Historical Note: Elsie Kathleen York (nee Deditch) was born 11 May 1934 on a farm near North Battleford, Saskatchewan. She worked as a medical secretary at University Hospital/Royal University Hospital from 1955 to 1997. York died 18 October 2014 in Saskatoon.

Second prize school exhibit from Torsk School at the Calder, Saskatchewan, Potato Show; sign above display.

Bio/Historical Note: As early as 1913 Agriculture Societies were sponsoring organizations for the youth the "Farm Boys Club and the Farm Girls Club". The Saskatchewan Agriculture Extension Department promoted the idea of separate classes for the juveniles to exhibit and judge their produce or livestock at local fairs. The "Farm Boys and Farm Girls Clubs" were combined and the name changed to "4-H Clubs" in 1952 and the motto became, "Learn To Do By Doing".

Nursing students in lounge.

Head and shoulders image of Rupert Ramsay, professor and head of Extension.

Bio/Historical Note: Rupert Ramsay arrived in Saskatchewan with his father in 1905 to homestead at Bladworth. Ramsay entered the University of Saskatchewan and obtained a BSA in 1929. Three years later he obtained an MSc degree from the University of Minnesota, specializing in animal nutrition. From 1929- to 1944, except for a year at Minnesota and another year with the Industrial and Development Council of Canada Meat Packers, Ramsay was a livestock specialist with the Extension Department. From 1944 to 1949 he was leader of the Saskatchewan Progressive Conservative Party. His chief concern was with agriculture and the advancing of farming methods and the development of young people into becoming good farmers. Ramsay left politics in 1949 to take charge of the Memorial Union Building Fund at the U of S. From 1951-1953 he served in Ottawa as general secretary of the Agricultural Institute of Canada. He then returned to the U of S to succeed the late John Rayner as director of the Extension Department, a post he held until his death in 1962.

Rupert Ramsay, professor and head of Extension, seated at his desk.

Bio/Historical Note: Rupert Ramsay arrived in Saskatchewan with his father in 1905 to homestead at Bladworth. Ramsay entered the University of Saskatchewan and obtained a BSA in 1929. Three years later he obtained an MSc degree from the University of Minnesota, specializing in animal nutrition. From 1929 to 1944, except for a year at Minnesota and another year with the Industrial and Development Council of Canada Meat Packers, Ramsay was a livestock specialist with the Extension Department. From 1944 to 1949 he was leader of the Saskatchewan Progressive Conservative Party. His chief concern was with agriculture and the advancing of farming methods and the development of young people into becoming good farmers. Ramsay left politics in 1949 to take charge of the Memorial Union Building Fund at the U of S. From 1951-1953 he served in Ottawa as general secretary of the Agricultural Institute of Canada. He then returned to the U of S to succeed the late John Rayner as director of the Extension Department, a post he held until his death in 1962.

Head and shoulders image of John G. Rayner, director of Extension, 1918-1952.

Bio/Historical Note: John George Rayner was born 1 Oct. 1890 in London, England. At age 2 his family came to Canada, settling on a farm near Virden, Manitoba. After completing his high school education there, he attended the Manitoba College of Agriculture in Winnipeg and graduated with a BSA in 1913. In 1914 Rayner was employed as agricultural representative with the Saskatchewan Department of Agriculture, his district taking in a large portion of the northwest part of the settled area of the province. With an appointment in 1918 as director of boys' and girls' club work at the Extension Department at the U of S in Saskatoon, Rayner began a 34-year association with the rural young people of Saskatchewan. He was dedicated to the principle of development of the individual, and was one of the founders of the Canadian Council of Boys' and Girls' work in 1933. Rayner served as the council's president in 1937 and 1947, and was instrumental in getting the name "4-H" applied to rural youth clubs in Canada. He served as director of the Extension Department from 1920 until the time of his death in 1952. Rayner was a charter member of the Canadian Society of Technical Agriculturists (now the Agricultural Institute of Canada) of which he became a fellow. He was also a charter member of the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists. In 1965 the 4-H Foundation's Camp Rayner was named in Rayner’s honour, and in 1973 he was posthumously named to Saskatchewan's Hall of Fame. John Rayner died in Saskatoon on 30 June 1952.

Head and shoulders image of John G. Rayner, director of Extension, 1918-1952.

Bio/Historical Note: John George Rayner was born 1 Oct. 1890 in London, England. At age 2 his family came to Canada, settling on a farm near Virden, Manitoba. After completing his high school education there, he attended the Manitoba College of Agriculture in Winnipeg and graduated with a BSA in 1913. In 1914 Rayner was employed as agricultural representative with the Saskatchewan Department of Agriculture, his district taking in a large portion of the northwest part of the settled area of the province. With an appointment in 1918 as director of boys' and girls' club work at the Extension Department at the U of S in Saskatoon, Rayner began a 34-year association with the rural young people of Saskatchewan. He was dedicated to the principle of development of the individual, and was one of the founders of the Canadian Council of Boys' and Girls' work in 1933. Rayner served as the council's president in 1937 and 1947, and was instrumental in getting the name "4-H" applied to rural youth clubs in Canada. He served as director of the Extension Department from 1920 until the time of his death in 1952. Rayner was a charter member of the Canadian Society of Technical Agriculturists (now the Agricultural Institute of Canada) of which he became a fellow. He was also a charter member of the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists. In 1965 the 4-H Foundation's Camp Rayner was named in Rayner’s honour, and in 1973 he was posthumously named to Saskatchewan's Hall of Fame. John Rayner died in Saskatoon on 30 June 1952.

Head and shoulders image of John E. Rayner, Director, Department of Extension, 1918-1952.

Bio/Historical Note: John George Rayner was born 1 Oct. 1890 in London, England. At age 2 his family came to Canada, settling on a farm near Virden, Manitoba. After completing his high school education there, he attended the Manitoba College of Agriculture in Winnipeg and graduated with a BSA in 1913. In 1914 Rayner was employed as agricultural representative with the Saskatchewan Department of Agriculture, his district taking in a large portion of the northwest part of the settled area of the province. With an appointment in 1918 as director of boys' and girls' club work at the Extension Department at the U of S in Saskatoon, Rayner began a 34-year association with the rural young people of Saskatchewan. He was dedicated to the principle of development of the individual, and was one of the founders of the Canadian Council of Boys' and Girls' work in 1933. Rayner served as the council's president in 1937 and 1947, and was instrumental in getting the name "4-H" applied to rural youth clubs in Canada. He served as director of the Extension Department from 1920 until the time of his death in 1952. Rayner was a charter member of the Canadian Society of Technical Agriculturists (now the Agricultural Institute of Canada) of which he became a fellow. He was also a charter member of the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists. In 1965 the 4-H Foundation's Camp Rayner was named in Rayner’s honour, and in 1973 he was posthumously named to Saskatchewan's Hall of Fame. John Rayner died in Saskatoon on 30 June 1952.

Head and shoulders image of Dr. Phyllis Shand, professor of Physics.

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. Phyllis Shand is Professor Emerita, Food and Bioproduct Sciences (2024)

Frank holroyd, professor of Drama, points to two dioramas designed for the Greystone Theatre production of "The Wild Ones" by W.O. Mitchell.

Three actors on stage, dressed in costumes.

Images from the theatre production of Blossom Time showing the pit band and Murray Adaskin, conductor. Also actors in costume, on stage and off stage.

Head and shoulder image of author and playwright W.O. Mitchell. Greystone Theatre in celebration of the University's Golden Jubilee in 1959 presented the world premier of the W.O. Mitchell play "Royalty is Royalty".

Scenes from "Royalty is Royalty", produced in celebration of the University's Golden Jubilee in 1959. Also the world premiere of the W.O. Mitchell play.