This series consists of records from Marcel Prud'homme's time as a student at the University of Ottawa in the faculty of social, economic and political science (B.A. 1953-1957), and at the University of Montreal where he completed a law degree (1959-1961). It also documents his activities in the Liberal party before his election as a Member of Parliament in 1964.
At the University of Ottawa, Prud'homme was very involved in student politics. He was president of his faculty for two mandates, editor of the French language student newspaper, La Rotonde, French-speaking vice-president of the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa, President of Entraide universitaire mondiale du Canada, and President of the Student Federation. He also developed an interest in following international politics. This series focuses on his student government activities, particularly two prominent events in which he was involved as Student Federation President.
One prominent event was a 1958 demonstration on campus in support of school integration. Led by Prud'homme, the demonstration on campus culminated in the burning of an effigy of the Arkansas governor, Orval Faubus, in protest of the governor's stand against school integration. The other prominent event was Prud'homme's resignation as President of the Student Federation over the forced resignation of three editors of the French student newspaper, La Rotonde, in 1958. The Dean of Students, Father Leonard Ducharme, asked the three students to submit their resignation for publishing a letter to the editor criticizing the university's administration. Following this incident, one of the three deposed editors was voted President of the Student Federation, and Prud'homme was named editor of La Rotonde. Letters, newspaper clippings, and photographs in the series document both events.
The series also documents Prud'homme's early political participation, including his work as president of the St. Denis Young Liberal Association (1958), president of the Young Liberals of Canada (1958-1962), and Director of Public Relations for the Young Liberals Federation of Quebec (1962-1964). It also documents his time as a law student at the University of Montreal.
This series contains correspondence, photos, student records and guides, yearbooks, newspaper clippings, student publications, Liberal Party publications and other materials.
![Fonds Marcel Prud'homme [supports multiples]](/images/equiv.png){kind=small}
