Roy Daniells
Roy Daniells was a prominent figure in Canadian literature and academia, born on April 6, 1902, in London, England, and later moving to Victoria, British Columbia. He was raised in a religiously fundamentalist environment, which he opposed as a committed humanist throughout his life. Daniells earned a bachelor's degree from the University of British Columbia, followed by a master's and doctorate from the University of Toronto. His academic career included significant roles at the University of Manitoba and the University of British Columbia, where he served as head of the English department and retired in 1974.
Daniells was instrumental in shaping the literary landscape of British Columbia during the mid-20th century, influencing notable Canadian writers such as Earle Birney and Margaret Laurence. He published two poetry volumes, including the well-received "Deeper into the Forest," and authored works that underscored the importance of Canadian studies. His scholarly contributions and leadership roles within literary organizations were recognized with prestigious awards, including the Lorne Pierce Medal and being named a Companion of the Order of Canada. Daniells's legacy persists through memorial scholarships and prizes that honor his impact on Canadian literature and education. He passed away in 1979, leaving a lasting influence on the development of a distinct Canadian literary identity.
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Roy Daniells
Professor
- Born: April 6, 1902
- Birthplace: London, England
- Died: April 13, 1979
Biography
Roy Daniells was born April 6, 1902, in London, England, to James Daniells, a builder, and Constance Daniells, a homemaker. In 1910, he moved with his family to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He grew up in an environment of religious fundamentalism, against which, as a dedicated humanist, he waged a lifelong struggle.
Daniells earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of British Columbia in 1930, then continued his studies at the University of Toronto, where he received a master’s degree in 1931 and a doctorate in 1936. In 1948, he married Laurenda Francis, who later became chief archivist for the University of British Columbia. Daniells served as head of the English department at the University of Manitoba from 1937 to 1946. In the latter year, Daniells went to the University of British Columbia, where the inspiring lecturer on poet John Milton became the head of the English department in 1948 and retired in 1974. In the 1950’s, he twice served as president of the Canadian Federation for the Humanities, and from 1970 through 1971 was president of the Royal Society of Canada. He received the Lorne Pierce Medal in 1970 and was made a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1971.
Daniells was a highly influential figure in the fledgling literary environment of British Columbia during the 1950’s and 1960’s. He assisted or influenced the writing careers of such major Canadian writers as Earle Birney, George Woodcock, Margaret Laurence, Adele Wiseman, Sheila Watson, Margaret Avison, Eli Mandel, Phyllis Webb, Daryl Duke, Joy Coghill, and many others. Daniells published two volumes of his own poetry, including the acclaimed Deeper into the Forest (1948), celebrating Canada’s prairie and coastal regions. He legitimized Canadian studies through other means as well, such as his book Alexander Mackenzie and the North West (1969), about the eighteenth century explorer.
Daniells recognized how the irreverent spirit of literary mannerism, which distinguished the English Renaissance and Milton’s early work, had reappeared in modern Canadian literature through the effects of dissonance and dislocation. This perception provided a bridge between his fields of study and helped him to foster an understanding of contemporary writing. He played a major role in establishing Canadian literature as a separate field of study at a time when many people were unaware that such a literature existed. In his scholarly writing, he also identified some of the national experiences that give Canadians and Americans a common background.
In addition to his teaching, Daniells contributed many essays to the Canadian Forum, a periodical with the stated purpose of supporting the development of “art and letters which are distinctively Canadian.” He also headed a group that organized a new literary periodical, Canadian Literature, and laid the foundation for the creative writing department at the University of British Columbia.
The Lorne Pierce Medal presentation cited Daniells’s contribution to the development of Canadian literature as poet, critic, literary historian, university administrator, and teacher. Indeed, his influence as an educator has extended well beyond his death in 1979. Memorial scholarships and prizes have been established in his memory to encourage and reward scholastic achievement in the Canadian universities.