General Information

Mission
Program Background
Thomas Garden Barnes Chair in Canadian Studies

Mission Statement

The Canadian Studies Program at the University of California at Berkeley was established in 1982, with the aim of institutionalizing the interdisciplinary study of Canada through instruction and research. We encourage and facilitate an awareness of Canadian issues on our own campus, in nearby institutions with no Canadian Studies programs of their own, and in the wider community as well.

Canadian Studies is affiliated with IAS (International and Area Studies), which is mandated to link and expand the international units on campus and to enlarge the university's international contributions and visibility.

Program Background

The Program was founded in 1982 by Thomas G. Barnes (Professor of History and Law) and Victor Jones (Professor Emeritus of Political Science). It is now directed by Professors Barnes and Nelson Graburn (Professor of Anthropology). The Program is assisted by an Advisory Board chaired by John A. Sproul.

In the past two decades the Program has developed into one of the leaders of Canadian Studies in the United States. Locally, our outreach efforts enable scholars and students at nearby institutions such as San Jose State University, Mills College, and St. Mary's College (none of which has its own Canadian Studies Program) to interact intellectually with Berkeley personnel, to our mutual enrichment. The Program has also achieved national prominence. We are proud that Berkeley was one of a handful of institutions chosen for review by the Halstead Committee of the Donner Foundation in their 1991 report, Labor of Love: A Review of Canadian Studies Programs in the United States.

THOMAS GARDEN BARNES CHAIR IN CANADIAN STUDIES

Tom Barnes, Professor of History and Law, together  with Emeritus Professor Victor Jones of Political Science, co-founded Berkeley’s Canadian Studies Program in 1982,  with the aim of institutionalizing the interdisciplinary study of Canada through instruction and research.  For over 20 years the Program has encouraged and facilitated an awareness of Canadian issues on our own campus, in nearby institutions with no Canadian Studies programs of their own, and in the wider community as well. In 1986 Nelson Graburn, Professor of Anthropology and internationally known expert on Inuit art and culture, took over as co-chair and has contributed enormously to its growth.

In the year 2000 the Government of Canada offered a generous seed grant to inaugurate a Campaign for an endowed Chair in Canadian Studies.  With the help of many small and several large gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations we are pleased to announce that the drive was successfully completed in the Fall of 2005.

Although Tom Barnes retired at the end of the Fall 2005 semester after 45½ years on the Berkeley faculty, we are delighted to report that he  continues to take an active part in Canadian Studies activities and will remain co-director of the Canadian Studies Program with Nelson Graburn   Nelson Graburn is the first holder of the Barnes Chair.

The Chair includes the Edward Hildebrand Fellowship Fund for Berkeley to support graduate study  in fields related to the Canadian Studies Program. Over the years a number of graduate students have produced theses and dissertations on Canadian topics or with a Canadian comparative approach. They have gone on to academic or business careers where they in turn help to raise awareness about Canada. The Hildebrand endowment for graduate education will enable the Program to attract even more talented graduate students at Berkeley to the study of Canada.

 We hope to increase the endowment for the Chair. Those interested in learning more about how they might sponsor our activities or contribute to our mission are invited to contact us. Please see the IAS Development website and the IAS Giving to Cal Gateway  for further information on making a donation to the Canadian Studies Campaign.  We thank most warmly those who have supported Canadian Studies at Berkeley over the years.

Original Campaign Case Statement

Berkeley Program for Study Abroad

The University of California at Berkeley has an exchange program with the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Information about the Berkeley Programs for Study Abroad may be found at the BPSA website. Particularly interested in Canada? Please look at the general information on the website first, then contact the EAP Regional Advisor for Canada, Nadine Gerdes (510 642-1356), for further information.

Last updated 1/23/08:rr