Seraphin Marion

Seraphin Marion (1896–1983) was a Canadian professor, historian and literary critic.

Biography Marion was born in Ottawa on November 25, 1896. He was a vocal advocate of francophone rights outside Quebec. Marion graduated from the University of Ottawa with a BA in 1918 and MA in 1922. After receiving his doctorate from the Université de Paris, he taught French at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario (1920-1923). From 1926 to 1954 he taught French and French-Canadian literature at the University of Ottawa, later being named professor emeritus. He authored 20 studies, including a nine-volume collection entitled Les Lettres canadiennes d’autrefois (published between 1939 and 1958). He served as head translator and later as director of historical publications at the Public Archives of Canada (1923-1953). He was a member of the Royal Society of Canada (1934), the Académie canadienne-française and the Société des Dix (1962). Séraphin Marion died in Ottawa on November 29, 1983.

Honours He was awarded the Académie de Lutèce Gold Medal (1933), the Conseil de la Vie Française en Amérique Silver Medal (1972), officer of the Order of Canada (1976) and member of the Ordre de Saint-Grégoire-le-Grand (1982).

Legacy The Séraphin Marion primary school in Ottawa, Ontario and Séraphin Marion street on the University of Ottawa campus were named in his honour. The Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Montréal awards the Prix Séraphin-Marion annually.

Works French Travelers Relations in New in the seventeenth century, 1923 A pioneer in Canada, 1927 Leafing our writers. Study of Canadian literature, 1931 Following in the footsteps of our writers, 1933 Canadian Letters of yesteryear, 1939–1958 Literary Origins of Canada French, 1951 Top Canadian French facts, statements and commentaries by Anglophones, 1972