Volunteer sorts 100 collections

Quentin Brown processes a collection for Trent's archives.

Curiosity made her do it. Archivist Bernadine Dodge printed the list of collections Quentin Brown had processed in the past 10 years. The printer spewed out 100, an inventory long enough to plaster a Trent archives door from top to bottom. And that is where it hangs today, a testament to the diligence and dedication of the university's longest serving volunteer.

        Brown usually comes in Tuesday and Thursday mornings to sort acquired collections ranging from a single historical map to 10 feet of legal papers from a closed law firm. Most collections take a day to put in "some recognizable form" and record the contents so that they are easily accessible to researchers. Records from the former Hall Gillespie law firm in Peterborough took him three years. Brown puts them into chronological or thematic order. His current project -- a motley hoard of 19th-century deeds from land sales in Huron and Goderich, antique prints of the Niagara River, documents from a Hawkesbury school, and papers from the War of 1812 collected by one man -- is "small but quite peculiar" and a challenge to catalogue.

        When Brown, 79, retired 22 years ago, he and his wife scouted Ontario for a warmer climate than that of Winnipeg in which to settle. He had spent seven years as director of instructional media (like Trent's audiovisual services) at the University of Manitoba after a 20-year career writing, directing and producing educational films first for Crawley Films Limited in Ottawa, then for the government-sponsored Education Development Centre in Boston. "I think it's important to try to do some kind of volunteering after you finish your professional career," said Brown. He had taken four courses at Trent, had joined Friends of Bata Library (he was chair for a year and is now a member emeritus) and "wanted to do something for the university in some way. It's a nice convivial atmosphere to work in and I have a propensity for putting things in order. I get irritated when things get into a mess."

        "I'm a little more at ease working with things than with people," said Brown.

        He didn't jump immediately into volunteering at Trent upon his retirement. He still had dreams to pursue. Shortly after completing his tour of duty as a navy deck officer in the Second World War, Brown earned a BA in English and philosophy from McGill University, then an MA in dramatic art from the University of North Carolina, the only program to offer playwriting courses. "I was going to be the next [Eugene] O'Neill." He wrote several plays, shopped them around to artistic directors like Dennis Sweeting of Lindsay's Kawartha Summer Theatre, and then moved onto other projects. "You learn a lot about yourself and your own limitations." His next project, editing This Green and Pleasant Land, Chronicles of Cavan Township, for the Millbrook and Cavan Historical Society, "was a nice return to accomplishment." In 1994, Ontario History published his article Swinging with the Governors, Newcastle District Elections of 1836 and 1841. "I never thought I'd ever publish anything in an academic journal!" Lately, he has been researching the life of John Huston, an early Cavan township surveyor, justice of the peace and journeyman for members of the Family Compact, for a biography. "I've gathered material for five or six years and I'll probably go on gathering it." Some of that material was right under his nose, at Trent.

Doctor founded health services
Dr. Maurice Clarkson, founder of Trent's health services, died Dec. 10 at his Peterborough home. He was 79.

        The local doctor was Trent's health services director from 1964 to 1972 while serving on the medical staff at both local hospitals.

Budget manager is a Trent grad

Anne Parsons

Anne Parsons, a Peterborough chartered accountant and Trent graduate, joined Trent as budget office manager Jan. 5.

        She replaces Joan Hamilton, who retired last month after 20 years at Trent.

        Parsons graduated from Trent in 1985 with an honors BA in administrative studies, a Symons Medal for high academic achievement and a Eugene Forsey Scholarship for excellence in administrative studies. After articling for her chartered accountant designation with the Toronto firm of Thorne, Ernst & Whinney, she joined Peterborough's McColl Turner Chartered Accountants in 1988 as an audit manager.

        Her career in public accounting will "be useful because it has given me a kind of service orientation which is what I would like to bring to people here in dealing with their budgets," says Parsons. She looks forward to the variety and hands-on nature of helping departments plan their budget at Trent.

        Born and raised in Peterborough, Parsons, 33, attended Adam Scott Secondary School. Over the past few years, she has been a volunteer member of Civic Hospital's financial committee.

        At Trent, she has begun developing 1998-99 ancillary budgets. A letter of introduction will go out with the November budget statements and with it an invitation to "come by and say hello."