MacKinnon Building

MacKinnon Building. . , Malcolm Hugh Murdoch "Murdo" MacKinnon, 1917-2012 , Professor of English 1964-1982 , Founding Dean, Wellington College of Arts and Science 1964-1970 , Dean, College of Arts 1970-1975, The MacKinnon Building honours Murdo MacKinnon, who in 1964 became founding dean of the Wellington College of Arts and Science within the newly established University of Guelph., He played an instrumental role in building the new College, including hiring faculty members and overseeing development of humanities, social sciences and science curriculums. In 1969, Wellington College was divided into the College of Arts, the College of Social Science and the College of Physical Science. MacKinnon remained dean of the College of Arts until 1975., As a contributor to the city's wider cultural life, he co-founded the Guelph Spring Festival in 1968. Well into retirement, MacKinnon remained active in campaigns to establish the River Run Centre, the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre (now the Art Gallery of Guelph), the Guelph Youth Music Centre and the Guelph Chamber Choir., When he retired in 1982, the arts, humanities and social sciences building - completed in 1967 -- was named to honour his achievements. The MacKinnon Extension opened in 2004 to accommodate growth in the College of Arts and the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences., Born in Regina in 1917, MacKinnon studied English and philosophy at the University of Toronto, and taught at Queen's University from 1939 to 1941. During the Second World War, he served as an Air Force signals officer. He completed a PhD in 1948 at the University of Toronto and taught at the University of Western Ontario until coming to U of G in 1964., Generously donated by: The MacKinnon family