“History as Story: Authorial Strategies in Writing As One Who Serves: The Making of the University of Regina”

James M. Pitsula

Professor of History

13 September 2006

The talk focused on issues of motivation, methodology and interpretive strategies in the writing of the history of the University of Regina. The first part summarized the motivation for taking on the project and — perhaps more to the point — bringing it, in due course, to completion.

The main body of the talk reflected on the experience of research and writing the book: nature of the genre, models followed and not followed; scope and limitations of source materials, selection of themes, matters of organization and structure, shaping and texturing the narrative, overcoming roadblocks and recognizing breakthroughs, handling delicate and politically charged topics, use of humour, finding the appropriate voice, tone and writing style, incorporating advice from readers of the manuscript, balancing chronological clarity with thematic coherence, grand narrative with revelatory detail, and human sympathy with critical judgment.

The final part of the talk related the specifics of this project to broader issues of scholarship in the humanities and social sciences. In particular, it addressed the nature of history, including observations about the strengths and weaknesses of the discipline as it is generally practiced today.

James M. Pitsula is Professor of History at the University of Regina, where he has taught since 1978. He is the author of four books, including Privatizing a Province: The New Right in Saskatchewan, with Ken Rasmussen (New Star, 1990) and the just-published As One Who Serves: The Making of the University of Regina (McGill-Queen’s UP, 2006). His many articles include a recent piece entitled “Disparate Duo” on the centenaries of Alberta and Saskatchewan that appeared in the August/September 2005 issue of The Beaver: Canada’s History Magazine, and which won the 2006 Western Magazine Gold Award for Best Article — Saskatchewan. He also wrote the “University of Regina” and “Grant Devine” entries for the acclaimed Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan (CPRC, 2005). He was appointed University of Regina President’s Scholar, 2005-2007.

A reader’s review of As One Who Serves:

“I don’t often write fan letters, but your segment on the history of the University of Regina is a model of the genre. This weekend I took it to the cottage, intending to use it to fill in rest-breaks when I was cutting brush. Instead, I just read the book in two big sittings. The University is more than merely fortunate to have had you do the job. The mixture of high professionalism with genuine affection for the place comes through brilliantly.” — Don H. Akenson, Douglas Professor of Canadian and Colonial History at Queen’s University and Senior Editor at McGill-Queen’s University Press