1911 Pair of Letters Between Sir Robert Falconer, U of Toronto to Ontario Premier Sir James P. Whitney, Ontario Premier, Discussing Hungarian Count Apponyi

On offer is a pair of two letters between Sir Robert Alexander Falconer (1867-1943), President of the University of Toronto and Sir James P. Whitney (1843-1914), Premier of Ontario.

The first letter is handwritten and signed by Robert Falconer to Sir James P. Whitney. It is dated in Toronto, Feb., 21, 1911. In the letter, Falconer informs Whitney that the Hungarian Count Albert Apponyi (1846-1933) would be giving a lecture in Convocation Hall at the University and invites him to a luncheon for the Count at 1:00pm. Falconer writes:

"...As you know, Count Apponyi is one of the most outstanding statesmen in the Austro-Hungarian empire having for years championed the rights of Hungary. He comes of an old family and is said to be an orator of exceptional power..."

The second letter is an unsigned, typewritten letter representing Whitney’s reply, on the same day. Sir Whitney (or someone in his office) politely declines the invitation. 

BIO NOTES:

Sir Robert Falconer is most recognized, for his 25-year tenure as president of University of Toronto (1907-32). A royal commission appointed to investigate all aspects of the university had found administrative chaos and low morale. It recommended a complete constitutional reorganization and implicitly a new president in 1906. To the surprise of many, the 40-year-old Falconer was asked to replace James Loudon. Much of Falconer's time and energy for the next 2 decades was given to executing the recommendations of the 1906 commission. He inherited a collection of colleges; he left behind him an integrated university that led the country in industrial and scientific, as well as humanistic, research.

Count Apponyi (1846-1933) was a Hungarian statesman whose political philosophy blended the conservative traditions of his background with Hungarian nationalism. Entering the Hungarian Parliament in 1872, Apponyi remained a member of it, with one short exception, until 1918. As Minister Minister of Religion and Education of Hungary, Apponyi introduced changes in the school curricula that were greatly resented by the non-Magyars for their Magyarizing tendencies.

Sir James P. Whitney (1843-1914) was the conservative Premier of Ontario from 1905 until his death in 1914. 

The first, handwritten letter measures 5 x 8 inches folded, 2 pp., signed, red seal of University of Toronto. The second, typed letter measures 8.5x11 inches. Both overall G.