Essays in the History of Canadian Law: A Tribute to Peter N. Oliver.

Christopher English is a history lecturer at the Memorial University of
Newfoundland and a recent law-school graduate.

The editors of this collection note that its publication serves two purposes. It marks the appearance of the 67th title since 1981 in a series of scholarly studies under the Osgoode imprint: a remarkable achievement. And it honours the professional career and contribution of its editor-in-chief (1979–2006), Peter Nesbitt Oliver. As scholar, educator (professor of history at York University), editor, mentor, facilitator, and inspirer, Mr. Oliver made a special contribution toward assuring the place and future of legal history in Canada. He did not always agree with what was submitted to him, and his comments on manuscripts which were not yet of publishable quality might be acerbic, but he respected what practitioners had to say and bent over backward to support their research.

The contributors here are longstanding colleagues, former students, and collaborators whose respect and affection give special warmth to the collection. The 13 essays are grouped into four sections: criminal justice; the judiciary; legal thought and the legal profession; and new directions in legal history, a structure which reflects major areas of Canadian law in which Peter was interested and practised. In the depth of their research, the measured caution of their hypotheses and conclusions, and their sheer readability, these essays show their authors at the peak of their powers.

The informal full-page portrait at the head of this festschrift with its direct, quizzical, and tolerant expression, reminds me of the Peter of 1960. We had enrolled in a newly minted course on the philosophy of history at the University of Toronto. It was offered by the Department of Philosophy, there being not even an undergraduate course in historiography within the history department. The musings of Professor William Dray, the terms of art he employed, his informal conversational manner, and (to us) the lack of structure in his lectures intimidated some. Peter’s comment said as much about him as the course: “I’m not sure where we are going but it will be interesting to see how we get there.” Ave atque vale.