Sunday, May 3, 2015
Mrs James Pritchard, Laura and Michael, My names is Roger Emerson and I taught Jim in 1964-65 at UWO where he was a student in my historiography\philosophy of history course, one required of all graduate students. He had applied to Western after what the Department thought was an inadequate preparation at Carleton. It admitted him with the understanding that he might have to take two years to get his MA. He was the best of my 23 students in that class and probably one of five or six who really understood what I was trying to impart. And, it was an exceptional class which had in it Carmen Miller, Tom Tanner, Vic Smith, Ian MacPherson, and George Kerr – who all had careers as university teachers. It produced one Toronto High School Principal, a diplomat and two university librarians but Jim was as good or better than any of them. I liked him and admired his ability to work until he had figured out the problem to hand and, also, his ability to express himself clearly in a forthright manner. He did just as well in his other courses and by Christmas there was no more talk of his taking two years for an MA. I kept in touch with Jim for a few years and then the relationship dwindled to saying hello at conferences, writing letters of recommendation or others about business but always with a note to him. Always there was a note back. I followed his progress through graduate school, was pleased when he was appointed at Queens and progressed through the ranks, learned to fly and built a plane. I read his books, sent him a student or two and was sorry he was in a department which was not a happy place for much of his time at Queens. I am very sorry his life has ended. With my sympathy and best wishes to you all, Roger Emerson Professor of History (Emeritus) University of Western Ontario
