Celebrating the life of Dr. Maria Tippett, FRSC L.L.D., D.LITT (1944-2024)

by: Lara Wilson, Director, Special Collections & University Archivist

This August, we were saddened to learn of the death of art historian Dr. Maria Tippett, at the age of 79, following a cancer diagnosis received only two months before. Maria Tippett was an award-winning writer, specializing in Canadian art and artists biographies, most notably those of Emily Carr, Bill Reid, Frederick Varley, and Yousuf Karsh. Born and raised in Victoria, she attended Doncaster Elementary School, Victoria High School, and Simon Fraser University; she received her Ph.D. in History from the University of London. Among her awards and recognition was the Governor General's Award for English-language non-fiction for her Carr biography, and three honorary degrees, including a LL.D from the University of Victoria, granted in November 2006.

Special Collections and University Archives is the repository of Dr. Tippett’s archival fonds; her first accession of research materials arrived in 2009 and has been added to over the years. In May of 2023, I had the pleasure of visiting Dr. Tippett and her husband, Cambridge historian Dr. Peter Clarke, at their home on Pender Island. Over mint tea, fresh from the garden, we discussed their current writing projects and future accruals to Dr. Tippet’s archives.

The following is an excerpt from the citation read by Professor Juliana Saxton (Department of Theatre) on the occasion of Maria Tippett's Honorary Doctor of Laws by the Senate of the University of Victoria on November 14, 2006 (University Archives call number ARC LE3 V4j C5 2006):

In Making Culture [English-Canadian Institutions and the Arts before the Massey Commission, 1990], Dr. Tippett moved beyond traditional cultural boundaries, and brought “Canadian amateurism out of the closet and gave it both legitimacy and respectability.” She could not have done any of this had she not an innate belief in her own abilities and a resilience that would not allow her to give up on herself. What others could not or would not do for her, she did for herself, taking her education into her own hands and determining, and claiming, her future through her passionate interest in the arts, most specifically the visual arts. She stands as a model for all of us as one who is prepared to take responsibility for her actions and independence of thought. A scrupulous researcher and engaging writer, Maria Tippett examines and celebrates our cultural history to the great good fortune of artists, scholars and all Canadians: those whose past she honours by her writing, those present whom she challenges and informs, and those who, in the future, will know this place more intimately because of how she writes our world.

On behalf of UVic Libraries, our sincere condolences to Dr. Clarke and family, and the many friends and colleagues Dr. Tippett made over the years.