Fonds MWL - Margaret Wade Labarge fonds

Margaret Wade Labarge was born in New York City on July 18, 1916 and died in Ottawa Aug. 31, 2009, at age 93. She received her post secondary education at Harvard University (Radcliffe College) where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1937, and at Oxford University (St. Anne's College) where she obtained a Bachelor of Literature degree in 1939. Her specialization at both universities was medieval history. In June 1940, she married Raymond Labarge (d. 1972), and the couple moved to Canada at the end of the Second World War. Dr. Labarge resided in Ottawa, with the exception of the years 1942-1944 when she resided in St. Hyacinthe, Quebec. During their early years in Ottawa, the Labarge's four children, Claire, Suzanne, Charles, and Paul, were born. Dr. Labarge taught medieval history beginning 1950. She taught at both Carleton University (beginning in 1952) and the University of Ottawa. As well, she was a visiting scholar at universities across Canada and in the United States. Beginning from 1983 she was a Adjunct Research Professor at Carleton University. In addition to her teaching duties, Dr. Labarge was a medieval scholar. She has wrote nine books on the medieval world and its personalities. She also wrote chapters for medieval compilations and encyclopaedias and magazine articles. Dr. Labarge presented lectures and papers at medieval conferences throughout North America and England. In 1968, she was commissioned to produce a study for the Royal Commission on the Status of Women. The study, entitled The Cultural Tradition of Canadian Women: The Historical Background was published in 1971. Dr. Labarge was involved community groups and associations. From 1969-1981, she was a member of the Board of Governors of St. Vincent Hospital, serving as Chairman from 1977-1979. She had been on numerous Boards in the Ottawa area, including the Catholic Family Service, 1973-1976; the Regional Hospital Planning Council, 1974-1976; the Rehabilitation Institute of Canada, 1973-1981; the Ottawa- Carleton Regional District Health Council: Continuing Care, 1975-1979; Canadian Nurses Association (Public Representative), 1980-1983; The Catholic Health Association of Ontario, 1980-1990; and the Council on Aging of Ottawa-Carleton, 1986 to present, serving as Chair of the Committee on Elder Abuse, 1986-1988; and President of the Committee, 1989-1991. She had been a member of Carleton University's Board of Governors from 1984 to 1993. Throughout her career, Dr. Labarge was the recipient of awards and honours. She received two honorary doctorates, one from Carleton University in 1976 (Doctor of Literature, honoris causa) and one from the University of Waterloo in 1993. She was inducted into the Order of Canada (Member) in 1982 for her work as a historian and author. In 1988, she was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada for her work as a historian and author. In 1993, she was elected President, Canadian Society of Medievalists. She created the Margaret Wade Labarge Graduate Student Research Assistance Fund at Carleton University and was presented with the 2001 Founders Award by Carleton University.