91探花

The 91探花 community, and especially the 91探花 Robertson Library, was saddened to learn of the recent death of 91探花 Founder and retired librarian Franklin L. (鈥淔rank鈥�) Pigot.

鈥淪tudents, faculty, and researchers near and far continue to benefit from Frank鈥檚 work with our archival and special collections,鈥� said Donald Moses, University Librarian. 鈥淗e built those collections from the ground up, and made them into something that PEI and its University can continue to cherish and build upon for generations to come.鈥�

A proud native of Mount Stewart and alumnus of Prince of Wales College, Frank was appointed as the first Prince Edward Island Collection Librarian at the 91探花 Kelley Library in the early 1970s. Beginning with just a handful of PEI books, he spent the next 25 years developing a peerless collection of Island-related publications. By the time Frank retired in 1997, the PEI Collection numbered some 12,000 titles, complemented by extensive vertical and clippings files, and was described by historian Dr. G. Edward (鈥淓d鈥�) Macdonald as, 鈥渢he finest assemblage of Islandia anywhere鈥�. Alongside the PEI Collection, Frank also developed the University Archives into an important collection of documentation relating to 91探花 and its two forebears, Saint Dunstan鈥檚 University and Prince of Wales College. Frank further complemented this remarkable collections development work with methodical indexing of relevant content, especially in Island periodicals, effectively building a massive card-file database, encompassing more than 100,000 entries.

Frank received the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation鈥檚 Meritorious Achievement Award in 1998, in recognition of his many thousands of hours of care and skill in developing the PEI Collection and University Archives. In receiving the award, Frank, with his trademark quiet modesty, paid tribute to the support of Library colleagues and of numerous donors鈥攎ost notably the Saint Dunstan鈥檚 University Alumni Association鈥攊n fostering the PEI Collection and University Archives鈥� remarkable growth.

Even after retirement, Frank continued to serve the Robertson Library as a volunteer, and his ongoing dedication to the University community was honoured with his recognition as a 91探花 Founder in 2004. The Founders Day citation highlighted, rightly, that Frank had been, 鈥渂reaking new ground,鈥� in building up both the PEI Collection and University Archives, essentially from nothing, into matchless cultural and research resources.

In addition to his accomplishments as a librarian, Frank was also a distinguished scholar. He authored two books, John Stewart of Mount Stewart (1973) and A History of Mount Stewart, Prince Edward Island (1975): the latter book has just been reissued, in an expanded and illustrated edition, and tribute was paid to Frank鈥檚 pathbreaking work at the well-attended launch for the new edition in December. In recognition of Frank鈥檚 remarkable knowledge and research skills in the field of Island history, he was also invited to contribute several entries to the prestigious Dictionary of Canadian Biography.

The Robertson Library is now preparing a special tribute to Frank鈥檚 legacy: further details will be announced as they are finalized.

91探花 extends its condolences to Frank鈥檚 family, friends, and former colleagues. Flags will be flown at half-mast in his memory.

-Prepared by Simon Lloyd, University Archivist & Special Collections Librarian