Collection AR084 - Alfred E. Loft collection

Alfred E. Loft was born in Killarney, Manitoba, on 23 January 1911. He obtained a B.A. in History and English from the University of British Columbia in 1947 and taught at public schools in Saskatchewan and Rossland, British Columbia, before being appointed assistant professor, College of Education, Victoria College, in 1956. He became associate professor in the U. Vic. Dept. of History in 1963. At U. Vic., Professor Loft has served on the Campus Planning Sub-Committee on the Social Sciences Building and the Campus Planning Sub-Committee on Athletics (both 1964-65); he was chairman of the University Athletic Board (1965-1967) and the University Centennial Committee (1965-1969) and Director of the Faculty Club (1966-1970) and the Centennial Stadium Committee (1969-1970). In 1970-1971 he was also Coach of the University of Victoria University Challenge Team. In 1972 he co-authored (along with S.A. Jennings, A. Gowans, D. Halliwell, G.O. Mackie and N.A. Swainson) the Report of the Commission on Academic Governance submitted to U. Vic. President Hugh E. Farquhar.

Among Professor Loft's publications is the B.C. Source Book of British Columbia history (Queen's Printer, 1966), which he co-edited. Professor Loft has also given numerous addresses and speeches to schools and clubs in Victoria and Seattle on such subjects as "Has Canada a History?" and "Is Canadian History Dead?". He was a guest speaker at the U. Vic. Humanities and Science Symposium in April 1970.