Fonds 2021 - Victoria University (Toronto, Ont.). President's Office fonds

With the federation of Victoria College and Albert College in 1884 to create Victoria University, the chief administrative and ceremonial duties of the institution were combined in the shared office of President and Chancellor, a custom which continued until 1944. At that time, the Chancellorship became a separate office, and the Presidents assumed the title of Vice-Chancellor. The President derived his authority from the Board of Regents which served as the ultimate governing body of the university. As the chief administrative officer of the Board, he supervised "the business of the Board in its administration of the property and funds" and was responsible for implementing its decisions. He was the chief counsellor and executive officer of Victoria University in its relationship to the University of Toronto and the chief representative of Victoria to the General Conference of the Methodist Church and, later, the General Council of the United Church of Canada. In his role as Chancellor, the President presided over meetings of the Senate and Convocations and conferred degrees upon graduates in Theology. In 1928, some of the administrative duties of Victoria and Emmanuel Colleges were delegated to their Principals, leaving the President free for "the general oversight of the university as a whole."

The President, along with the Principals, also served on the Caput which had disciplinary jurisdiction over all Victoria students.

As the university grew in both size and complexity, the administrative duties of the Presidency expanded correspondingly. The appointing of Principals for Victoria and Emmanuel and the separation of the offices of President and Chancellor recognized that the President could no longer handle all the functions associated with the leadership of Victoria University. The President continued, however, to set the general tone within the university and to act as its spokesperson to the outside community.

Until 1944, the President, as the chief administrative officer and the person responsible for ceremonial duties, was also the Chancellor. After 1944, the President served as Vice-Chancellor.

LIST OF PRESIDENTS
1849–1850: Matthew Richey (President of Victoria College)
1850–1854: Egerton Ryerson (President of Victoria College)
1854–1884: Samuel S. Nelles (President of Victoria College)
1884–1887: Samuel S. Nelles (President and Chancellor of Victoria University)
1887–1912: Nathanael Burwash (President and Chancellor of Victoria University)
1913–1930: Richard Pinch Bowles (President and Chancellor of Victoria University)
1930–1941: Edward Wilson Wallace (President and Chancellor of Victoria University)
1941–1944: Walter T. Brown (President and Chancellor of Victoria University)
1944–1949: Walter T. Brown (President and Vice Chancellor of Victoria University)
1949–1950: Harold Bennet (President and Vice Chancellor of Victoria University)
1950–1970: Arthur Bruce Barbour Moore (President and Vice Chancellor of Victoria University)
1970–1972: John Edwin Hodgetts (President and Vice Chancellor of Victoria University)
1973–1987: Goldwin S. French (President and Vice Chancellor of Victoria University)
1987–1994: Eva Milada Kushner (President and Vice Chancellor of Victoria University)
1994–2001: Roseann Runte (President and Vice Chancellor of Victoria University)
2001–2015: Paul W. Gooch (President and Vice Chancellor of Victoria University)
2015– : William Robins (President and Vice Chancellor of Victoria University)