Marguerite Michaud
1903-1982

Marguerite Michaud was the first Acadian woman to earn a university degree and the first woman to hold the position of vice-principal of the New Brunswick Teacher’s College in Fredericton. Born on 4 July 1903 in Bouctouche, Michaud earned a Bachelor of Arts from St. Francis Xavier University in 1923, a Diploma from the Faculty of Letters from the Sorbonne in 1947, an MA from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in history from the Université de Montréal. She became a teacher in New Brunswick’s public schools, including at the Collège Pédagogique de Fredericton and then vice-principal of the Teacher’s College (1960-1968). She was a professor at St. Thomas University from 1968 until her retirement in 1973. Recipient of honorary doctorates from the Université Saint-Joseph and St. Thomas University, she became Professor Emeritus at the Université de Moncton in 1973. The author of numerous didactic and historical works, including La reconstruction française au Nouveau-Brunswick: Bouctouche, paroisse-type (1955), Michaud also published a children’s storybook adaptation of Longfellow’s Evangéline in 1950. Michaud was the recipient of many honours, including the Order of Canada (1964), a Silver Medal from Queen Elizabeth II (1977), Le Prix de mérite de l’Association des enseignantes et des enseignants francophones du Nouveau-Brunswick (1979) and membership in La Compagnie des Cent-Associés Francophones (1981). President of the Association des Instituteurs et Institutrices Acadiens, and a member of the 1973 Canadian Consultative Council on Multiculturalism, she was also recognized outside the country as a UNESCO delegate in Holland (1952). The Dr. Marguerite Michaud Prize in Canadian Studies from St. Francis Xavier University was created in her honour. Michaud died in 1982 and was buried at Bouctouche, NB.

Source

Marguerite Michaud." New Brunswick Author Portal, New Brunswick Public Libraries. Accessed 24 May 2023.

Predominant New Brunswick Residences:

Fredericton, Bouctouche

Archival Material

  • Location
    Centre d'études acadiennes Anselme-Chiasson
    Retrieval Number
    39, G39, P39, BM39, C39, CP39, D39, CM39, OS39, S39
    Date Range of Material
    1870-1982
    Extent

    2.55 m

    Scope and Content Note

    The Marguerite-Michaud collection is subdivided as follows: personal files; records relating to  student life; records relating to writings and studies;  files relating to the associations of which Michaud was member ( includes several Francophone organizations at the local, provincial, federal and international levels); postcards from different European countries; photos of the Michaud family, acadian scenes  and groups.

Headshot of Marguerite Michaud
Picture Caption

Marguerite Michaud

Credit

Marguerite Michaud." New Brunswick Author Portal, New Brunswick Public Libraries. Accessed 24 May 2023.

Bibliography Items

Displaying 1 - 2 of 2
Michaud, Marguerite. Le Musée de la Cathédral de Moncton: ses souvenirs historiques. , 1954, 242 pp. [ book ]
Collection(s): Religion

Michaud, Marguerite. "Le Couvent de Bouctouche et Les Religieuses de Notre-Dame du Sacré-Cœur." La Reconstruction française au Nouveau-Brunswick: Bouctouche, paroisse-type. Fredericton, NB: Les Presses Universitaires - Frédéricton, 1955, 113-124. [ book section ]