Opened in 1963, Massey College is a residential college for graduate students at the University of Toronto. The college was the brainchild of Vincent Massey, Canada’s first native-born Governor General, who wanted to create an intellectually stimulating milieu like the one he associated with the long-established colleges of Oxford and Cambridge. Massey College’s first master was the legendary Canadian novelist, playwright, and editor, Robertson Davies. Davies and his successors – Patterson Hume, Ann Saddlemyer, and John Fraser – fostered a dynamic community of students, scholars, and public intellectuals that thrives today under the mastership of Hugh Segal.

Written by Judith Skelton Grant, A Meeting of Minds is the definitive account of the college’s first fifty years, its many traditions, and the hundreds of fellows who have passed through its halls. Full of wonderful anecdotes about the college’s notable fellows and alumni, this history of Massey College takes the reader into the heart of one of Canada’s most important intellectual institutions.

Judith Skelton Grant is the author or editor of eight books, including the authorized biography of Robertson Davies. Her most recent book is A Bibliography of Robertson Davies (written with Carl Spadoni).

Judith Skelton Grant's profile page

‘Grant has a fascinating tale to tell… She has supplemented this written record with an impressive number of personal interviews. All this allows her to provide a richly textured backdrop to her story.’

LRC May 2016