Dossier f51 - MacCallum, Elizabeth Pauline

File consists of a recording of Elizabeth MacCallum. Topics of the conversation include birth in Turkey (1895); parents as Congregational missionaries to Turkey, Istanbul. Transfer with family to Kingston; education at KCVI, Queen's University. Teaching in prairie provinces to support education (1915-17); 'glorious' teaching years in Dawson City, Yukon (1919-21). Post­graduate study, Columbia University: political science and history, 1921-22,1924-25. Invitation to join Canadian Dept. of External Affairs during WWII shortage of Officers; status as Principal Clerk, despite Officer's duties; 'just and civilised' conduct of Dept. administrators in permitting temporary war-time staff to sit for Officer's examinations following WWII. Initiation of US Foreign Policy Association Research Dept; employment of subject, recommended by Columbia professors. Political science as a not unusual field for women at Columbia; 'scintillating' quality of women's minds, challenging common room atmosphere. Contrast with Queen's campus during WWI years: then 'we just pushed ourselves through from day to day, doing the things that had to be done.' National Service aspect of prairie teaching assignments; co-operation of teachers in local farm work. Educational programme of Foreign Policy Association: weekly debates of current headline issues by international policy­makers, in participating us cities. Charged atmosphere of debates, precautions taken against violence; attraction for intellectual elite. Participation of Canadian Undersecretary of State Dr. Skelton in debate on Italian fascism. Subject as FPA research writer (1925-31), preparing monographs on current affairs; gratitude for 'ideal' instructions to be un­biased, versed in all points of view. Responsibility for sending monograph draft version to outside readers of opposed convictions for pre-publication criticism; opportunity to help choose, devise topics. FPA open membership, distinguished subscription to monographs, weekly News Bulletin; production of 26 monographs per year by 6-person research staff, highly stimulating 'hard plugging'. Retirement to Uxbridge, Canada (1931); 2-acre market-gardening venture, sustained till exhaustion of funds. Subject's belief that life should be balanced between intellectual and physical activities; alternating pattern of own Iife; invitation from World Peace Foundation (1935) to write Rivalries in Ethiopia. Travelling lectureship based on Ethiopian research; single night's pay ($50) surpassing most lucrative annual market­ gardening income ($40), spent on barrel-sprayer for apples. Dept. of External Affairs work as newspaper-clipping service, research writer (c. WWII). Appreciation of civil servant's protective anonymity: 'It gives you very much greater freedom to do good work if you’re anonymous.' Careers of Dept. associates: educator, diplomat Margaret Meagher (Canada's first woman ambassador);//Dorothy Burwash, 'very very courageous, very very brilliant, very very modest woman'; Agnes Ireland, seriously affected by dust-storm car accident in India. Alison Hardy's article on women's contribution to Dept. of External Affairs (International Perspectives , 1977). Hard-working schedule of Dept. members: retirement habit of dropping in on old colleagues as a form of sabotage, avoided by subject. Subject's posting to Lebanon (1954-56), in charge of opening Canadian legation. Position as technical adviser to Canadian delegations to UN General Assemblies, World Health Assembly; assignment to Canadian Embassy, Athens (1951), writing political dispatches for absent Ambassador. Particulars of Lebanese mission. Diffuse nature of daily work abroad, feeling that matters interrupted each other; preference for concentrated UN activity, where work seems to have immediate bearing. living quarters near University during FPA years, chosen for proximity to International House; Middle Eastern intellectuals' habit of taking coffee with subject before evening study, discussing international affairs. Ideal nature of Dept. of External Affairs work: payment for most desired occupation, permission to specialize in Middle Eastern affairs; all-absorbing intellectual life in contrast with Uxbridge period. Subject's 45-year deaf spell; vital importance of Uxbridge years after constant strain of deafness in New York. Consideration shown by country people to deaf neighbour, not afforded by urban associates. Restoration of hearing by ear operations. Sacrifice of marriage, as strain of conversation would have proved intolerable. Vivid description of deaf conversation as nervous torture, the body 'like a wired grand piano pulled to the utmost " each sound ·like a hammer hitting " everywhere.' Unforgettable 'healing' period in Uxbridge. Improved methods of teaching children to cope with, overcome deafness. Current volunteer service in Ottawa Civic Hospital, preference for geriatric ward; ironic final education in finger-alphabet (for conversation with deaf-mute patient) having omitted to learn it for her own sake. Praise for classmate Charlotte Whitton's able, responsible activity at Queen's and continuing look-out for Queen's women grads in the job market. Subject's current desire to stop writing, start working with people: aim of hospital work to help even old people to realize full potential.