Manitoba Organization: Natural History Society of Manitoba / Manitoba Naturalists Society / Nature Manitoba

Link to:
Presidents | Bronze Medal Recipients | Seton Medal Recipients | Honorary and Life Members | Sources

Formed in May 1920 as the Natural History Society, as an continuation of the Scientific and Historical Society of Manitoba (an earlier form of the Manitoba Historical Society), it was dedicated to the appreciation and study of Manitoba’s natural history.

Founding Members

Mrs. C. Percy Anderson

Frederick William Brodrick (1879-1958)

George Shirley Brooks (c1872-1947)

Miss H. R. Cannom

Bertram William “Bert” Cartwright (1890-1967)

Ebenezer Claydon (1880-1954)

Mrs. E. Claydon

Dr. Andrew M. Davidson

Miss Florence E. Dodd

John D. Duthie

Miss Charlotte J. Egan

Justin Joseph Golden (1844-1931)

W. T. Gough

Marion Harvey Hobman (?-1935)

Alexander George “Lawrie” Lawrence (1888-1961)

Angus Allan Murray (1877-1946)

Frederick Pugh

Lance H. R. Roberts

Professor William Rowan

Gerald S. Roxburgh

Mrs. G. S. Roxburgh

Henry Martindale Speechly (1866-1951)

John Braithwaite Wallis (1876-1962)

R. B. Warner

Dr. Everett J. Washington

Clarence V. Whitehead

Presidents

Period	President
1920-1923	Henry Martindale Speechly (1866-1951)
1923-1924	Vincent William Jackson (1876-1953)
1924-1925	Justin Joseph Golden (1844-1931)
1925-1927	Charles William Lowe (c1885-1969)
1927-1928	John Braithwaite Wallis (1876-1962)
1928-1929	Alexander Addison McCoubrey (1885-1942)
1929-1930	Andrew M. Davidson, MD
1930-1932	Robert Arnold Wardle (1890-1974)
1932-1934	George Shirley Brooks (c1872-1947)
1934-1936	Alexander George “Lawrie” Lawrence (1888-1961)
1936-1938	Bertram William “Bert” Cartwright (1890-1967)
1938-1940	Leonard Towne Sterndale Norris-Elye (1884-1958)
1940-1942	Percy H. Stokes
1942-1944	Lillian Rose Boorman Simpson (1887-1967)
1944-1946	Harold Mossop (1908-1973)
1946-1948	Leon W. Koser
1948-1950	Angus Henry Shortt (1908-2006)
1950-1952	Raymond Rene Lejeune (1916-1987)
1952-1953	Reta Wood Sparling (1895-1982)
1953-1954	Ronald Keith Stewart-Hay (1909-1962)
1954-1956	Clarence I. Tillenius (1913-2012)
1956-1958	Rowena Cartwright
1958-1960	Dr. James C. Ritchie
1960-1961	Ralph Durham Bird (1901-1972)
1961-1963	George Stuart Grenfell Ironside Cotter (1915-2011)
1963-1965	Jennifer Mary Walker Shay (1930-2018)
1965-1967	Dr. Lawrie Smith
1967-1969	Doug Kyle
1969-1971	John Jack
1971-1972	Lorne Wallace
1972-1974	Dr. David Punter
1974-1975	William Burton “Bill” Preston (1937-2013)
1975-1976	Dr. Karen Johnson
?-?	Robert Neill “Bob” Waldon (1932-2020)
?-?	Harvey Dean Williams (1927-2021)
2005-2006	Lisa Hardess

Bronze Medal Recipients

The Bronze Medal was initiatied in 1922 to recognize outstanding accomplishments by members in any field of natural history. It was discontinued after 1947.

Year	Recipient(s)	Subject
1922	Charles William Lowe (c1885-1969)	The Freshwater Algae of the Canadian Arctic Expedition, 1913-1918
1926	Bertram William Cartwright & C. G. Harrold	Radiant Energy
1927	Ralph Durham Bird (1901-1972)	An Ecological Survey of the Treesbank District
1928	Robert Charles Wallace (1881-1955)	The Geology of Manitoba
1932	R. D. Harris	The Life History of Baird’s Sparrow
1933	John Braithwaite Wallis (1876-1962)	A Revision of the North American Species of the Genus Halipus
1934	Hubert V. Green	The Elk of the Riding Mountain National Park
1936	Arthur Henry Reginald Buller (1874-1944)	Researches on Fungi
1938	Margaret Gertrude Dudley (1888-1980)	The Life History of the Calla Lily
1941	Alexander George “Lawrie” Lawrence (1888-1961)	Ornithological Researches
1942	Dr. J. Dewey Soper	History, Range and Home Life of the Northern Bison (1941)
1943	George Shirley Brooks (c1872-1947)	Checklist of the Butterflies of Manitoba (1942)
1944	Stuart Criddle (1877-1971)	Publications on mammals of Manitoba and research in other areas of natural history in the province
1945	William Henry Rand (1873-1947)	Work in the field of ethnology and archaeology
1946	Lillian R. Simpson	Work in botany
1947	Angus Henry Shortt (1908-2006)	Achievements in ornithology, field observations, painting, and photography

Ernest Thompson Seton Medal Recipients

This medal, inaugurated in 1981, recognizes naturalists who possesses the characterists of pioneering naturalist Ernest Thompson Seton.

Year	Recipient(s)
1981	Robert William “Bob” Nero (1922-2023)
1982	Jennifer Mary Walker Shay (1930-2018)
1983	James Leckie Parker (1896-1995)
1984	William O. “Bill” Pruitt (1922-2009)
1985	Clarence I. Tillenius (1913-2012)
1986	Hans Albert Hochbaum (1911-1988)
1989	Karen Johnson
1990	Martin McNicholl
1991	Peter Taylor
1992	David Braddell
1993	Rudolf Koes
1998	Marilyn Latta
2003	Manitoba Avian Research Committee
2016	Manitoba Freeding Bird Atlas Steering Committee
2020	Christian Artuso

Honorary and Life Members

Year	Recipient	Citation
1942	Vincent William Jackson (1876-1953)	Zoologist and lecturer, well known for his interesting nature talks on radio, for giving freely of his time and knowledge to the Society.
1942	Henry Martindale Speechly (1866-1951)	A founder of the Society, lecturer and writer, well-known President, and originator of the first anti-mosquito campaign, who enthusiastically served the Society for over 30 years. Of him, a visiting American once said, “Any man with Dr. Speechly’s talent for shooing away mosquitoes would stand a good chance of being elected President of the United States.”
1942	George Shirley Brooks (c1872-1947)	Entomologist, lecturer, charter member of the Society and a co-founder of the Manitoba Museum, for his Checklist of the Butterflies of Manitoba (1942).
1944	Arthur Henry Reginald Buller (1874-1944)	Botanist, naturalist and longtime friend of the Society whose studies of fungi and wheat earned him international recognition.
1944	Charles L. Broley	A faithful member and keen birder who upon his retirement undertook an intensive (and exceedingly arduous) study of the nesting habits of the Bald Eagle. He early detected the ill effects of insecticide spraying on these birds.
1957	Mr. and Mrs. Percy H. Stokes	For their many years of faithful association and substantial contributions to the Society, particularly in the field of archaeology.
1960	Dr. Andrew M. Davidson	In recognition of his leadership as a founding member of the Society, his service in numerous offices over the years, and his longstanding support of natural history studies, particularly in the field of entomology.
1961	Mr. E. Gilbert	For his long and faithful service to the Society over many years.
1966	Ralph Durham Bird (1901-1972)	In recognition of his great contribution to the Society and also for his book The Ecology of the Aspen Parkland of Western Canada (1961), one of his many recorded publications.
1967	Mrs. A. G. (Selina) Lawrence	For her lifetime contribution to the social events of the Society throughout all the years since its formation, helpmate to her husband, internationally famous naturalist, Alexander George Lawrence. She discovered Manitoba’s first complete trilobite.
1968	James Leckie Parker (1895-1995)	For his contributions to botanical research as one of the most skilled amateur botanists in Manitoba. Throughout the years he has contributed more than 5,000 botanical specimens, accurately documented, to the University of Manitoba and the Manitoba Museum.
1972	Harold Mossop (1908-1973)	For his outstanding contribution to ornithology in Manitoba.
1973	John Lane (1903-1975)	For his many years of work providing nest boxes to restore bluebird populations in southwestern Manitoba, and his encouragement and teaching of children through the founding of the Brandon Junior Birders.
1974	Samuel Waller (?-1978)	For a lifetime spent in northern Manitoba studying and teaching natural history, and especially for the founding and building of the The Little Northern Museum.
1974	John Jack	For his many years of service to the Society as an officer, botanist, photographer, and ambassador. He has enthusiastically shared his knowledge and love of nature with thousands of school children, a labour whose fruits will be reaped by many generations of Manitobans.
1974	Gerald W. Malaher (1903-1984)	Naturalist, forester, conservationist, who spent a lifetime working on behalf of wildlife, notably as Director of the Game Branch, who following his retirement continues to be one of Manitoba’s most knowledgeable and ardent conservationists.
1974	Angus Henry Shortt (1908-2006)	Artist, naturalist, writer, and lifelong member of the Society, who for many years wrote the column Wild Wings in the Winnipeg Tribune, and whose paintings of birds, notably waterfowl, earned him international recognition. He served the Society in many offices, including that of President.
1974	Clifford Bickle Gill (1891-1974)	Forester, naturalist, and historian who as Manitoba’s first official forester, coordinated and published the first complete survey of Manitoba’s forests. He published Observations and a Tentative Key to the Native Willows of Southern Manitoba (1965) and upon his retirement, served as a consultant on natural history and heritage resource planning programs for the Manitoba government.
1975	Rowena Cartwright	In recognition of the many valuable services she enthusiastically gave the Society over so many years and in so many capacities, including that of President.
1975	Clarence I. Tillenius (1913-2012)	In honour of his contributions to the Society for many years as lecturer amd om various executive capacities, and in recognition of his artistic skill which so effectively communicates his deep understanding and appreciation of North American mammals in their environments.
1976	Jennifer Mary Walker Shay (1930-2018)	Honoured not only for her many years of service to the Society as lecturer, teacher, executive member, and founder of the Junior Naturalists, Parks Committee, and Conservation Action Committee, but also for her knowledgeable and influential work in many environmental issues, both provincial and national.
1976	Hans Albert Hochbaum (1911-1988)	Biologist, naturalist, artist and author, who during a career as Director of the Delta Waterfowl Research Station, established Delta as one of the marshes best known to biologists in North America, and whose portrayal of the prairie marsh through sensitive writing and vivid painting has earned him international acclaim.

See also:

Nature Manitoba web site.

The Manitoba Historical Society: A Centennial History by Gerald A. Friesen
Manitoba History, Number 4, 1982

Sources:

Natural History Society of Manitoba, 21st Anniversary Bulletin, 1920 to 1941. Natural History Society of Manitoba.

Manitoba Naturalists Society: Volume 2 (1942-1974), Manitoba Nature, Special Historical Edition. Volume 18, 1977.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 28 January 2023