Fonds 123 - President's Planning and Coordinating Committee fonds

The purpose of this committee, as with all other UBC Planning Coordinating Committees, was to consider all of the interests involved in the development of the new building for the Museum of Anthropology. The Committee was formed to ensure that balanced recommendations, taking into account the overall interests of the University, could be made to the President. Committee members participated in defining terms of construction, operation, and maintenance of the museum, including choosing the architect, deciding location, and securing funds for the continuing operation of the building.

The development and construction of the museum was, in part, made possible by a federal grant, Canada’s 1971 Centennial Gift to the people of British Columbia. The University’s Senate Committee on Academic Building Needs recognized the need for a new museum, linked to the department of Anthropology and Sociology. In 1971 the President’s Planning and Coordinating Committee was formed by then University President Walter Gage to assist in the planning and construction of the Museum of Man building (now known as the Museum of Anthropology, changed in March 1973), and the new facility in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology.

Dean of Arts, Douglas T. Kenny, chaired this committee. Other members included Dr. Michael Ames, Mrs. Audrey Hawthorn, and Dr. Harry Hawthorn, among others (Wilson Duff, Marjorie Halpin, Ingeborg Ruus, Audrey Shane, Gloria Webster.)