Edward C. Shaw (1924-1982)

Physician, historian.

He was President of the Manitoba Historical Society from 1973-76 and chairman of the Macdonald House (Dalnavert) Completion Fund Committee.He was also Governer of Heritage Canada for the Prairie and Northwest Territories from 1974-79 and was instrumental in the decision of that board in September of 1976 to commit its initial $500,000 to the Albert Street Conservation Project in Winnipeg, the beginning of historic restoration to the Exchange Area district.

He held other official positions relating to history. He was president of the Charleswood Historical Society from February 1976-77. From 1973-77, he was vice-president of the Red River Valley Historical Society. This was an international society, including members from North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Manitoba. In 1974, he was vice-president of Red Riverland, North America, an international tourist promotion group for the entire Red River Valley. He was also vice-president of the Red River Valley Heritage Council of Manitoba, 1974-77. Other organizations to which he belonged were: the American Association of State and Local History (as an institutional member, 1972-77), the Champlain Society (by personal invitation of its president, Professor W. L. Morton), and the Association of Manitoba Museums. His professional memberships included the Canadian Medical Association (in which he served as chairman of the Archives Committee for the Manitoba Chapter), and the Canadian College of Family Practice.

Outside of history and medicine, Dr. Shaw wrote various articles for the Winnipeg Free Press, the Winnipeg Tribune and other publications and was a member of the Canadian Authors Association.

Dr. Shaw was born in Winnipeg. He married Margaret Elizabeth (nee Munro) in 1954 and they had five children: Janet, Sandra, Margaret, Irene, and Edward. His wife, Margaret became an active member of the Manitoba Historical Society as well. She served on the Programme Committee for a number of years. Their youngest, Irene, is currently (2004) on the council of the Manitoba Historical Society and is co-chair of the Society’s Historic Preservation Committee.

His vocation was medicine. At 16, he tested his aptitude for it by working as a night orderly for six months. Then, in World War II, he served overseas with the medical corps of the Royal Canadian Air Force. On his return he studied medicine at the Manitoba Medical College and graduated in 1955 as a general practitioner. He practiced in the River Heights area of Winnipeg for 25 years, and in many cases was the family doctor for a generation of patients in one family.

After the war, Dr. Shaw continued his involvement with the Air Force.He served overseas at #3 Fighter Wing C.A.F. in Zwiebrucken, Germany, in the summer of 1953 and was active in the R.C.A.F. Reserve, #17 Wing from 1955-64.He was awarded Canadian Forces Decoration in 1959. In 1960, he obtained his private pilot's license and retired in 1964 with the rank of Wing Commander.

His special love was history. An avid reader, his library eventually contained a large number of history books, some rare, particularly on the West and the Arctic. One book, Women of Red River, a gift from his eldest daughter to his wife, was of particular interest to him. In it he read of a stone house at St. Andrews, the original residence of an Arctic explorer, Captain William Kennedy, and his family. Intrigued and inspired by this information, he visited the historical house with his family in 1968 and subsequently purchased it. He began Red River House Museum as a private project. Dr. Shaw wanted it to reflect the cultural contributions of all Manitobans, especially Natives, as Captain Kennedy himself was born of a Cree mother and Scottish father. It was his centennial project and one to which he and his family devoted much time, energy, and research. His efforts brought Captain William Kennedy from relative obscurity to a figure of provincial, if not national significance. It is now the government-owned Kennedy House in the River Road Heritage Parkway at St. Andrews, Manitoba.

In 1974, a Provincial Historic Sites Plaque honouring the home of Captain William Kennedy was erected at Red River House. Dr. Shaw also receiveda Margaret McWilliams Medal (Manitoba Historical Society, 1972), a Pioneer Historian Award (Red River Valley Historical Society, 1973), and a Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal.

In tribute to Dr. Shaw’s passion for history, his family established the Dr. Edward Shaw Award in 1985 to encourage and support Manitoba Senior High students in their pursuit of historical knowledge.

His articles for the Manitoba Historical Society:

Captain William Kennedy
MHS Transactions, Series 3, Number 27, 1970-71 Season

The Kennedys - An Unusual Western Family
MHS Transactions, Series 3, Number 29, 1972-73 Season

Profile revised: 26 December 2008

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