Roy Daniells

Roy Daniells, CC (April 6, 1902 – April 13, 1979) was a Canadian poetry professor. He helped build the University of British Columbia's creative writing department and fostered the careers of several major Canadian writers.

Education and career

Born in London (UK), Daniells emigrated with his family to Victoria, BC in 1910. In 1930, he earned a Bachelor of Arts from University of British Columbia (UBC), the completed a Master of Arts (1931) and Ph.D. (1936) at the University of Toronto (M.A., 1931 and Ph.D., 1936).

He served as head of the English department at the University of Manitoba until 1946, when he joined UBC. When Garnet Sedgewick retired in 1948, Daniells became department head, holding that post until 1965. During that time, he helped lay the groundwork for the UBC Department of Creative Writing, although Earle Birney often receives the credit. He also hired George Woodcock as the first editor of Canadian Literature and pushed UBC's president to fund Canadian Literature, instead of only "English" Literature.

In 1965, Daniells was named the first University Professor of English Language and Literature. Daniells helped the writing careers of Margaret Avison, Earle Birney, Joy Coghill, Daryl Duke, Roderick Haig-Brown, Eli Mandel, Margaret Laurence, Eric Nicol, Sheila Watson, Phyllis Webb, Adele Wiseman, and George Woodcock, among others.

Publications

Daniells wrote two volumes of poetry. He also wrote extensively on Canadian literature, although he was best known for his studies of John Milton and seventeenth century English literature. He also wrote "Alexander Mackenzie and the North West" (Great Travellers Series, London, Faber and Faber, 1969).

Awards and Honours

* first University Professor of English Language and Literature (1965)
* Lorne Pierce Medal (1970)
* Companion of the Order of Canada (1971)

ources

* [http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/u_arch/daniells.html Roy Daniells Fonds]
* [http://www.abcbookworld.com/?state=view_author&author_id=2002 BC Bookworld: Roy Daniells]