Skip to main content

Sir Douglas Hazen Book Collection

The Sir Douglas Hazen Book Collection (HIL-SPECDH) contains his private library from Hazen Castle in Saint John. John Douglas Hazen (1869-1937), a prominent political figure in New Brunswick, trained as a lawyer, served as mayor of Fredericton and, in 1908 became premier and attorney general of the province. In 1911, Hazen participated in federal politics as a member in Robert Borden's Dominion cabinet and Minister of Naval Service during World War I. He also served as a Chief Justice of New Brunswick from 1917 to 1935.  

Hazen’s private library arrived at UNB in the fall of 1958.1  This library is incomplete. The New Brunswick Museum and other individuals may have removed materials from this collection prior to its donation to UNB.2 A fire on the estate in the 1950s may have also affected the holdings. The legal literature in Hazen’s library was selected by Dean William F. Ryan and moved to UNB Law School’s original location in Saint John.3

Lord Beaverbrook, UNB’s Chancellor (1947-64), was particularly interested in private papers of Canadian politicians as well as their book collections and sought out these materials to enrich the university library. Beaverbrook relied on cultural workers, such as J. Russell Harper, an art historian and curator of Lord Beaverbrook's art collection from 1957 to 1959, to source materials for his art collection and the Bonar Law-Bennett Library.4 Harper facilitated the donation of the Hazen’s books and private papers on Beaverbrook’s behalf in September 1958, when Sir Douglas Hazen’s daughter, Katie Mackay, and granddaughter, Hazen Mackay Scarth were disposing of his estate.5 The donation of the papers was solidified after the book donation following reassurances from Beaverbrook about suitable storage and preservation.6

The 122 items in this collection cover historical works on World War I, British and New Brunswick history, and military science with publication dates ranging from 1767 to 1937. Most of the titles can be gleaned in UNB WorldCat using the following location search: b8:HIL-SPECDH.

For Hazen’s private political correspondence (1911-1917), see Sir John Douglas Hazen fonds: MG H 13 in UNB Archives & Special Collections. For the Sir Howard Douglas family fonds (MC3251), contact Provincial Archives of New Brunswick. 

  • 1J. Russell Harper to Fowler’s Transport. Letters. September 23 and October 1, 1958. Sir Douglas Hazen Donor File. UNB Archives & Special Collections.
  • 2Hazen Mackay Scarth to Harper. Letter. September 18, 1958. Sir Douglas Hazen Donor File. UNB A&SC.
  • 3Harper to W. F. Ryan. Letters. September 24 and October 1, 1958. Sir Douglas Hazen Donor File. UNB A&SC.
  • 4J. Russell Harper Fonds: MG H 211, 1958. UNB A&SC.
  • 5Correspondence in Sir Douglas Hazen Donor File, UNB A&SC: Harper to Lord Beaverbrook. Letter. September 19, 1958; Beaverbrook to Mrs. Hugh Mackay. Letters. September 25 and October 1, 1958; Katie Mackay [Mrs. Hugh Mackay] to Beaverbrook. Letter. September 28, 1958; Hazen Mackay Scarth to Harper. Letter. September 18, 1958.
  • 6Ibid. Harper to Beaverbrook. Letter. September 19, 1958; Beaverbrook to Mrs. Hugh Mackay. Letter. September 25.