Basterfield, Steward (1884-1954)

Steward Basterfield.

Saskatchewan Archives Board R-A10891

Steward Basterfield, chemist and administrator, was born in England in 1884. He studied at the Universities of Birmingham and London, where he received a BSc in 1908. In 1913 he came to Canada and undertook an appointment as instructor in chemistry at the University of Saskatchewan. Subsequently he completed his PhD at the University of Chicago and was appointed professor at the University of Saskatchewan, a position he held from 1920 to 1940. He was dean of Regina College (precursor of the University of Regina) from 1940 until his retirement in 1950. Basterfield became dean shortly after the college was moved to make way for RCAF training. After the war he oversaw the college move back to its own buildings. As enrolment expanded, courses were added, and for the first time the curriculum included first year engineering, commerce, and pharmacy. In recognition of his research in organic chemistry, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1933. Basterfield died in 1954. The Steward Basterfield Lectureship at the University of Regina is named in his honour.

Mark Vajcner