Betty Bartlett Public History Experiential Learning Fund for Local History
This fund is used in a variety of ways to support experiential learning opportunities for students in Public History that relate to local history. These include professional development opportunities, workshops, site visits, guest speakers, and internships.
This fund will also be used to support up to two $500 Betty Bartlett Public History Experiential Learning Internships for Local History.
Betty Bartlett Public History Experiential Learning Internship for Local History
Awarded annually to undergraduate students enrolled on main campus who participate in an experiential learning opportunity with a heritage organization that focuses on local history. Preference will be given to supporting students enrolled in the Public History Minor Program. The fund may be used to grant up to two internships of $500 each to students who have completed experiential learning in Public History in the local community (e.g. internships, employment or volunteer work). Internships arranged through Western’s Social Science Internship Program are eligible. Students are asked to make their submissions to the Departmental Office in History by September 30, 2023 to HistoryAwards@uwo.ca. Students may submit an application for work conducted from the previous academic year, ie. September 1 – August 31. Applications consist of the application form, unofficial transcript, resume, and a letter from the student's experiential learning supervisor.
The Director and Internship Coordinator, M.A. Public History Program, or a designate, in consultation with the Chair of the Department of History, are responsible for allocating spending from the fund.
This fund was made possible through a generous endowment by Dr. Michael Bartlett (Western MA Public History Class of 2020), in memory of his mother, Betty Bartlett.
Effective Date: 2021-2022 academic year.
Internship value: 2 X $500
Application Form
Elizabeth A. (‘Betty’) Bartlett (nee Pearce), 1925-2019
Betty Bartlett was a baker’s daughter who grew up through the Depression in Toronto. Her father Harry was a First World War veteran, buried alive for 36 hours at Passchendaele – two of his mates did not survive the ordeal – and so was profoundly affected by war. Her grandfather was a blacksmith at the time when cars replaced horses.
That background stayed with her. Although she had firm moral strictures for herself, founded on Ontario Protestantism, she was always extremely cautious to judge others. She certainly giggled about the foibles of her students, for example, but never unkindly: she understood and enjoyed the fact that people are different.
After graduating with an Honours B.A. in History from the University of Toronto and attending teacher’s college, she was enticed to leave her first teaching job to marry David and travel immediately to England for two years. She returned to teach History and Latin at South Carleton High School (SCHS) in Richmond, Ontario in 1952, the school’s opening year. After a year in Pakistan, where they learned to enjoy scathingly hot food, Dave and Betty established a home in Manotick, south of Ottawa. She taught at SCHS until 1957, when her son Michael was born, and again part-time from 1967 to 1985 after her second son, Peter, started school.
As a teacher, she practiced student engagement, particularly with those unlikely to attend university. Starting from their practical learning needs, her local history class was born in 1980 – the only full-semester local history course offered across the Carleton Board of Education in its time. Her students never argued about English or Math on the school bus home, but there were some rather lively discussions about local history!
She was a very devoted spouse, caring for David on numerous occasions and particularly during the last year of his life as he succumbed to cancer. She cooked interesting food; nursed him tenderly; drove him to the hospital, often in the middle of the night. His earlier successful political campaigns relied on the support of her former students, and, particularly after he died, they brought her joy and practical support. Loyalty is a virtue that she celebrated.
She germinated her passion for history in both of her sons. Peter’s doctorate addressed the regulation of nineteenth-century insanity – a social history degree masquerading as a law degree. Mike celebrated his first year of retirement as a full-time student in Western’s Master of Arts Program in Public History. Betty was excited to hear about public history classes and assignments, often expressing the wish that she also were able to be a student in the program.
It is hoped that those supported by the Betty Bartlett Public History Experiential Learning Fund for Local History will be inspired to share her passion for local history and engagement.
