Fonds F1956 - Queen's University. Department of Classics fonds

Latin and Greek have been subjects of instruction and research at Queen's since the University held its first classes in March of 1842. The first professor the University ever hired, in fact, was a Professor of Classics, the Reverend Peter Colin Campbell. Classics were at the core of the Arts curriculum throughout the 19th century and were considered indispensable to a complete education. Early on, the focus was exclusively on Latin and Greek grammar and translation, but by the 1860s, there were lectures on "subjects connected with Grecian Literature and History," and by 1900, professors were enlivening their classes with social commentary and literary appreciation. As the century progressed, the Department lost much of its central position at the University, as educational philosophy and ideals changed. But there has been a strong revival of interest in recent years. Undergraduate registration has increased dramatically since 1980, and the number of MA students has grown tenfold. The Department has a number of permanent faculty, and their areas of interest include Greek archaeology (Attica, Crete, Peleponnesus), Greek philosophy and literature, Roman history, and Latin literature. Women's history, Japanese art, and comparative studies of Canadian literature have also become research interests in recent years. The Department is located in John Watson Hall, and is part of the Faculty of Arts and Science.
Adapted from the "Queen's Encyclopedia".