Drs. Kenneth and Alice Hamilton

Throughout their distinguished careers, Drs. Kenneth and Alice Hamilton made important contributions to the culture and community at The University of Winnipeg.

Kenneth was born in England where he obtained a MA in English literature and PhDs in theology and philosophy. Alice was born in Bedford, Nova Scotia, and grew up in a hotel opened by her grandparents in 1907. She won the Eddy Travelling Fellowship for Women from Dalhousie University and enrolled in a doctoral programme on medieval literature at the University of London in 1936.

Alice and Kenneth met in the Reading Room of the British Museum and discovered that, among their many things in common, he had also grown up in a seaside hotel. They were married in 1943 and moved to Nova Scotia, where Alice taught at Dalhousie and the Union Theological Seminary, while Kenneth was a minister in the community of Elmsdale.

In 1958, the family moved to Winnipeg and Kenneth joined the Faculty of Theology at United College (now UWinnipeg), while Alice taught in the Department of English — specializing in the work of authors Geoffrey Chaucer, Samuel Beckett, and John Updike. Kenneth became known as the "publishing professor," having for a long time written a book a year. The husband and wife also co-authored six books together, including three on John Updike.

Kenneth was a gifted watercolour artist and began exhibiting annually in the University's Library Mezzanine and donating the proceeds to Library Acquisitions. After 15 Exhibits, the Mezzanine was re-named the "Kenneth and Alice Hamilton Galleria."

Alice Hamilton retired in 1979, the same year she won the prestigious Clifford J. Robson Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence. UWinnipeg's Department of Religion and Culture annually presents the Kenneth M. Hamilton Scholarship to a student displaying excellence in the academic study of religion. The award was established in 1982 to honour Kenneth's 24-year career in the department. 

Kenneth passed away in 2009 and was predeceased by Alice in 1991.