“Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe.” So Herbert George, (H.G.), Wells said in his The Outline of History.  Although this book met, and still meets, with mixed criticism from historians, it’s hard to dispute that quote. It would be much harder to dispute William Baillie Hamilton’s dedication to teaching history. The professor has committed decades to teaching and increasing his own knowledge on this subject. Dr. Hamilton believes in a “backward into history” approach that he first introduced in his 1974 book, Local History in Atlantic Canada. To sum up this approach, one must “start with the local community then work out in concentric circles to the province, the region, the nation, the world” which gives one a more personal perspective, the glue that makes lessons stick.

As a student William B. Hamilton, earned the following degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education, Master of Arts, and a Ph.D. As an educator, he taught history at the secondary school level in Nova Scotia and at the university level in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, United Kingdom, and Australia. He is professor emeritus in the Faculty of Social Sciences at Mount Allison University. The University, a campus of extraordinary beauty, is nestled on the Tantramar marshes, (where one of the world’s most powerful short-wave radio transmitting stations is located, operated by Radio Canada International), located in the picture-perfect town of Sackville in the picture-perfect province of New Brunswick. Now for a bit of the University’s own history:  Mount Allison was the first Canadian university to offer a Canadian Studies program, and the late Dr. George Stanley, the first director of the Centre for Canadian Studies, designed the Canadian flag.

Dr. Hamilton lives in Sackville, New Brunswick, which was historically home to two foundries manufacturing stoves and furnaces, but these days the economy is driven by the university and tourism. Since retiring he works as a freelance journalist and historian. He has written, At The Crossroads: A History of Sackville, New Brunswick, Gaspereau Press, Kentville, 2004.  He is a regular contributor to CBC Radio and the Sackville Tribune-Post. He is the former chair of the Toponymic Research Committee of The Canadian Permanent Committee on Geographical Names.

When not delving into past times, Dr. Hamilton’s pastimes are gardening and travel.

William Baillie Hamilton, Ph.D. can be found on the Madison Who’s Who Directory, where he is looking forward to networking with you.