In the quarter century between the 1890s and the 1920s the Canadian society was transformed. 1 During this period the country grew in population, in the number of provinces and in national maturity. It experienced an influx of non-English speaking immigrants, the industrialization and urbanization of its economy, and the opening up of the West. These three major changes had profound influence on the social fabric of the nation. The established Anglo-Saxon dominance in the country appeared threatened and pressure for change upset the traditional political, religious and educational arrangements of the society.
This paper relates the changes that have occurred in historiography over the last couple of decades to the present state of writing on the history of higher education in Canada. The existing bibliography has laid the groundwork and the 'new' history offers the means by which the complex relationships between society and institutions of higher learning can be synthesized. A few examples of the kinds of questions that need to be asked and of some assumptions that need analysis are given. By looking at all phases of universities - professors, students, women, administrative and academic matters; by using quantitative as well as qualitative research techniques; by consulting government, church, local and business sources as well as university material; and by analyzing and critiquing the newer historians of higher education can help Canadians understand the traditions and mores of individual institutions as well as the collective impact of higher education on the society. ; Ce travail relate les changements qui ont eu lieu en historiographie durant les dernières décennies et jusqu'à l'état actuel des écrits sur l'histoire de l'éducation supérieure au Canada. La bibliographie existante a servi de fondement et la "nouvelle" histoire offre un moyen de synthétiser les relations complexes entre la société et les institutions d'enseignement supérieur. L'étude inclut quelques exemples de questions et de présomptions qui méritent l'attention. En examinant la vie universitaire sous tous ses aspects - les professeurs, les étudiants, les femmes, les affaires académiques et administratives; en utilisant des techniques de recherche quantitatives aussi bien que qualitatives; en consultant le gouverne-ment, l'eglise, les sources locales et les affaires aussi bien que le matériel universitaire; et en analysant et en critiquant, les nouveaux historiens de l'éducation supérieure peuvent aider les Canadiens à comprendre les traditions et les coutumes des institutions individuelles aussi bien que l'impact collectif de l'éducation supérieure sur la société.
