![Donald Frederick Forster (oral history) [audio part 1]](/uploads/r/university-of-toronto-archives-and-records-management-services/3/0/c/30c176b5fb1ebaa1cc954670a05c9613c53e7c610f1222432e02adfb842821a4/Speaker_Icon_click_small.jpg){kind=icon}
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Date(s)
- 1982 (Creation)
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6 reel-to-reel tapes and 6 cassette tapes (172 mins.)
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Biographical history
Donald Forster was a Professor of Political Economy at the University of Toronto, Vice President and Provost, and President-Elect at the time of his death in 1983.
He studied political science and economics at the University of Toronto (BA 1956 UC), where he later joined the faculty as a lecturer in political economy, after completing an MA at Harvard in 1958. He assumed increasingly important administrative roles at the University, culminating in his service as Vice-President and Provost of U of T from 1972 to 1975. Thereafter he served as President and Vice-Provost of the University of Guelph from 1975-1983.
In 1983, he was elected President of the University of Toronto, but sadly died of a heart attack just 23 days before he was due to take office. In addition to his contributions to higher education, he was a member of the Economic Council of Canada and served as an advisor to several governments in the developing world.
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Scope and content
Oral history interview with Donald F. Forster, President, University of Guelph (former U. of T. professor of Political Economy, Vice President, and President-elect at time of his death, 1983) conducted by Paul Bator. Covers Forster's arrival at the University of Toronto as a student through his departure to the University of Guelph, ca. 1952-75. Focusses on the Dept. of Political Economy, faculty, students, curricula, student housing, student activities and demonstrations, the Office of the President, Office of the Vice-President and Provost, the transition to unicameralism, and the Canadian Annual Review.
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Open