Anne MacDermaid, Founding Fellow 

Highlights

Queen’s University Archivist (1969-1992), City of Kingston Archivist, ACA President (1982-1983); as Chair of the Ontario Council of Archives she led planning for an Ontario-wide archival system (1988-1989). 

Education and Background 

Born in Napanee, Ontario, Moira Anne MacDermaid (née Stalker) received her BA (Honours) in French-Canadian Studies from McGill University (1965) and her MA in Canadian Studies from Carleton University (1967), specializing in pre-Confederation Canadian history. After undertaking some history PhD coursework MacDermaid shifted gears, inspired by Professor Maurice Careless to utilize her historical training “in a more vital way”. She completed the Archival Principles and Administration summer course at Carleton University in 1968 (co-sponsored by Ottawa Public Archives, the Canadian Historical Association, and Carleton University). 

Professional Career 

Anne MacDermaid began her archival career in 1968, starting with a year-long project to organize the Documentation Unit at Queen’s Political Studies Department. In 1969 she accepted an Assistant Archivist position at the Queen’s University Archives. In 1977 she took on two new roles: chief Archivist for Queen’s University and City Archivist for Kingston. Her interests as an archivist were eclectic, including oral history and literary papers (see “Savoring the Heart of the Artichoke: The Queen’s University Archives ‘Canlit’ Project” American Archivist 49:1 (Winter 1986, pp 65-73).  

MacDermaid retired in 1992, immediately taking on a new career as a United Church of Canada minister, serving in several rural charges and on the Queen’s Theological College Board (serving as Chair in 2006). 

Contributions to the Profession 

Before the ACA was formed and established Archivaria, Anne MacDermaid co-edited its predecessor Canadian Archivist with Ian Wilson; she was able to provide support from Queen’s University to publish this journal.  

One of the founding members of the ACA, Anne MacDermaid served as President (1982-1983) and went on to take leadership roles in several related organizations. She chaired the Ontario Council of Archives in 1988-1989 and in this capacity led development of and edited its planning document for the future of Ontario’s archives, From Warehouse to Powerhouse: Toward an Archival System in Ontario (Kingston: Queen’s University Printing Services, 1989). She has also served on the boards of the Oral History Association of Canada, the Kingston Historical Society (President 1984-1986), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada's Committee on Archives (1983-1985), and the National Archives of Canada Advisory Committee (1989-1990). 

Honours, Awards and Recognition 

• Ontario Association of Archivists’ Alexander Fraser Award, 1989 
• ACA Fellow, 1992 

• Queen’s University, Office of the Dean of Women fonds, CA ON00239 F1988-S1-SS1-f52. Recording of Anne MacDermaid reviewing her career through a feminist lens.  

Photo source: https://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2018/06/13/monk-in-the-world-guest-post-anne-macdermaid/