Skip to Content

George Story Lecturers

George Morley Story (1927—1994)

The Newfoundland & Labrador Historical Society (NLHS) George Story Lecture is in honour of George Morley Story (1927—1994), past president of the Society and winner of the NHS’s Heritage Award for 1982—1983.

Dr. Story joined Memorial University’s Department of English Language and Literature in 1954, where he established an international reputation as a lexicographer and Renaissance scholar, and pioneered the study of Newfoundland history, culture, language and literature.

His major Newfoundland publications include (with Herbert Halpert) Christmas Mumming in Newfoundland (1969) and (with William J. Kirwin and John D.A. Widdowson) the Dictionary of Newfoundland English (1982). Dr. Story was very active in the public promotion and preservation of Newfoundland’s cultural and historical heritage.

He served as President of the Newfoundland Historic Trust from 1969 to 1971, of the Newfoundland Historical Society from 1978 to 1981, and in 1980 was named the first chairman of the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council. He was appointed director of the J.R. Smallwood Centre for Newfoundland Studies in 1988, and in 1993 was named to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

Dr. Story was the recipient of several major honours: Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (1976), the Society of Antiquaries (1978), and the Royal Society of Canada (1982). In 1977 he was awarded the Canada Council’s Molson Prize, and in 1988 was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada. For his distinguished scholarship and crucial influence on the development of Memorial University, Story was posthumously awarded a Litt.D. just a few days after his death on May 9, 1994.

(Modified from RLS, 16, 1999)


George Story Lecturers

2023
Chris Sharpe and Jo Shawyer

2022
Terry Bishop Stirling

2021
Jerry Bannister

2020
(none)

2019
Shane O’Dea

2018
Philip Hiscock

2017
Stan Dragland

2016
Margot Duley

2015
Olaf Janzen

2014
Beverley Diamond

2013
Tom Gordon

2012
Jeff Webb

2011
Gerald Pocius

2010
Sandra Clarke

2009
Several Speakers, Concise History Panel

2008
Neil Rosenberg

2007
Gordon Handcock

2006
Patrick O’Flaherty

2005
John Mannion

2004
Ron Rompkey

2003
Hans Rollmann

2002
(none)

2001
(none)

2000
James Hiller

1999
(none)

1998
Anne Hart

1997
Rex Murphy (inaugural lecture)