John C. Webster
1863-1950
John Clarence Webster (writer and historian) was born 21 October 1863 in Shediac, New Brunswick, and died 16 March 1950. Webster attended Westmorland Grammar School in Shediac and later Mount Allison University (BA 1882). He attended Edinburgh Medical School in Scotland and completed his Bachelor of Medicine and Master of Surgery there in 1888, and his MD in 1890. He lived and worked in Chicago until he retired in 1919. In 1934, Webster donated historical artifacts and documents he had collected to the New Brunswick Museum as the “Canadiana collection,” known today as the “Webster Canadiana.” Webster was asked to become a member of the Historical Sites and Monuments Board in 1922, made Commander of “the Order of St. Michael and St. George,” and awarded the Order of Merit by King George V in 1935. His works include The Distressed Maritimes: A Study of Educational and Cultural Conditions in Canada (1926) and “Historical Renaissance in the Maritime Provinces and in British Columbia,” which he co-wrote with W.N. Sage for the Canadian Historical Review (1936). Acadian culture and history form an integral part of his work in Acadia at the End of the Seventeenth Century (1934), Charles des Champs de Boishebert: A Canadian Soldier in Acadia (1931), and Cornelis Steenwyck, Dutch Governor of Acadie (1929). His biographies include The Career of the Abbe Le Loutre in Nova Scotia (1933) and Journals of Beausejour: Diary of John Thomas and Journal of Louis de Courville (1937). He published several historical series, such as Acadia at the End of the Seventeenth Century (1934) and Journals of Beausejour (1937). He also wrote pamphlets such as Present-Day Aspects of Canadian Nationalism (1922). On his eighty-first birthday, Webster wrote his autobiography, privately printing it for his family. He called it Those Crowded Years, 1863–1944: An Octogenarian’s Record of Work (1944).
DeLong, Felisha. "John Clarence Webster." New Brunswick Literary Encyclopedia, Winter 2009. Accessed 19 May 2023.
Predominant New Brunswick Residences:
Shediac
Archival Material
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John Clarence Webster fonds (NBM)
⌄LocationNew Brunswick Museum ArchivesWebsite/Catalogue RecordRetrieval Number3921Date Range of Material1588-1950Extent
8 m of textual records
Scope and Content NoteThe John Clarence Webster fonds consists mainly of his correspondence from the mid 1920s to 1950. Documents from his time in Edinburgh, Montreal and Chicago have been placed with his personal papers. Other personal papers include letters of condolence, memberships, and invitations. Correspondence relating to the acquisition of artifacts for his Canadiana collection has been grouped together as a series following the arrangement of the published catalogues. His work on boards and committees forms another series with the exception of the Committee of Management, Quebec House, England which was kept with the Wolfe series. His collection of manuscripts and his historical correspondence have been arranged by subject. Other correspondence has been arranged in the general correspondence series.
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Dr. John Clarence Webster fonds
⌄LocationUniversity of New Brunswick Archives & Special CollectionsWebsite/Catalogue RecordRetrieval NumberMG H 21bDate Range of Material1896-1897Extent
0.05 cm textual records
2 photographs ; sepia ; 16 x 10.5 cmScope and Content NoteThis fonds contains five letters to John Clarence Webster from M. I. Stevenson, the mother of Robert Louis Stevenson, which reveal Webster's connection with the Stevenson family and throw light on his possession of the "testimonials" and other items. The fonds also contains a framed memorial and several photos of R. L. Stevenson.
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John Clarence Webster fonds (LAC)
⌄LocationLibrary and Archives CanadaWebsite/Catalogue RecordRetrieval NumberR5304-0-7-E, MG30-D174Date Range of Material[ca. 1780], 1922-1936Extent
2.5 cm of textual records.
3 prints half-tone reproductions.
2 photographs b&w.
1 painting oil 28.4 x 23.6 cmScope and Content NoteFonds consists of copies of correspondence from Dominion Archivist Arthur G. Doughty, to Dr. Webster relating mainly to historical and archival matters; one letter from Frederick C. Daniell, dealer in old engravings, 1923, and one letter from James F. Kenny of the Public Archives, 1935. The fonds also contains prints of a 1785 work showing the founding of Sydney [Nova Scotia]; a photograph of Mr. William Botsford; a photo of the unveiling of a monument at Fort Beauséjour National Historic Park, N.B., 16 July 1924; and a work supposed to be of General James Wolfe, [ca. 1780].
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J. Clarence Webster fonds
⌄LocationMount Allison University ArchivesWebsite/Catalogue RecordRetrieval Number7753Date Range of Material1922-1928Extent
0.5 cm of textual records
Scope and Content NoteFonds consists of two published works on the Vanquelin monuments and the educational system in the Maritimes. This is accompanied by a reprint of a newspaper article about Fortress Louisburg and an address delivered at Mount Allison University Founder’s Day on Canadian nationalism. The contents of the fonds demonstrate the breadth of Webster’s interests, specifically history, and document his relationship with his alma mater, Mount Allison University. Item list:
1. Reprint of a 1 January 1924 article printed in The Morning Chronicle (Halifax, Nova Scotia) entitled “Ourselves and others or does history pay? The splendid project of establishing a national historic park amid the ruins of the famous fortress of Louisburg / J. Clarence Webster. –1924. – 1 pamphlet (2 affixed and folded leaves) of textual records
2. An address delivered at Mount Allison University during Founder’s Day entitled “Present day aspects of Canadian nationalism” / J. Clarence Webster. – 15 November 1922. – 1 pamphlet (6 affixed and folded leaves) of textual records
3. The proposed Vanquelin monuments / J. Clarence Webster (Shediac, New Brunswick). – 21 January 1928. – 1 folded leaf of textual records
4. Ryerson essay number 35 entitled “The distressed Maritimes: a study of educational and cultural conditions in Canada.” – 1926. – Toronto : Ryerson Press. – 1 volume (24 affixed leaves) of textual records
Note: The item is inscribed with “with compliments of J.C.W.” The item is water damaged and there is some discoloration. -
John Clarence Webster Fonds (McGill)
⌄LocationOsler Library of the history of medicineWebsite/Catalogue RecordRetrieval NumberP011Date Range of Material1892-1952Extent
13.8 cm of textual records
Scope and Content NoteFonds consists of mostly correspondence of or about Dr. John Clarence Webster, from 1892 to 1952 and also contains his medical thesis, 1891.
John Clarence Webster
"John Clarence Webster." Photo from The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1921 via New Brunswick Literary Encyclopedia, Winter 2009. Accessed 19 May 2023.
See the New Brunswick Literary Encyclopedia entry.