Dorothy Burnham is Canada's pioneering authority on Canadian and Aboriginal textiles. At the afternoon convocation, Trent became the first university to award her an honorary degree in recognition of her lifetime of research and scholarship in that field.

      Born in 1911, Burnham joined the staff of the Royal Ontario Museum as a draftsperson at the age of 18. Ten years later she became the first curator of the museum's textile department, where she served for a decade. She returned to her curatorial duties at the museum later in life.

      Since her official retirement in 1977, Burnham has worked on special research and exhibit projects for the Royal Ontario Museum, the National Gallery of Canada, the provincial Museum of Alberta and the Canadian Museum of Civilization. She has written and published a number of key works on the fibre arts. She is a Member of the Order of Canada and has received numerous civic, artistic and cultural awards.

      Following is her address upon receipt of her degree:

My remarks are really addressed to the graduating class. This is their day, and it is an exciting day.

      You are receiving a degree after some years of listening, studying, reading, searching, burning the midnight oil and sweating! It is an exciting day for me too, even though my degree seems to have landed on me unexpectedly and effortlessly. When I stop to think about it, my listening, reading, writing, etc., etc.. has been spread over such a long time, well over 60 years, that it has just become a way of life.

      Nothing special about that, but this degree is very special to me. It has made me realize that with all these years of doing my own little thing in my own little corner I seem to have accomplished something that this important university feels is worthy of this wonderful recognition. What could be more satisfying! I am grateful.

      With my very obvious age you are probably now expecting me to give you some good advice. No way! I know my place better that that. You young people know far better than I do how to cope with this rapidly changing world. I have no advice, but I do have a heartfelt wish for you.

      Life slowly opened up in front of me, leading me on to a path where I was fortunate enough to find a way of making a living that I was good at, and, even more importantly, that I thoroughly enjoyed. In fact, I have enjoyed my work so much that I still want to keep on doing it. You don't have to be that crazy, but my wish for you is that in spite of all the cutbacks and complications of the present time, you will find a joyous path to follow.