Mary MacKinnon

Professor Mary MacKinnon (1959–2010) was a distinguished economic historian and faculty member at McGill University's Department of Economics. She held a BA (Honours) in Economics from Queen’s University and a D.Phil. from Nuffield College, Oxford, where her groundbreaking work on the English Poor Law earned the EHA Gerschenkron Prize. At McGill, she became an influential teacher, colleague, and administrator, serving as Associate Dean of Arts (2006–2009) and driving significant physical and academic improvements in the Faculty of Arts. Her research focused on historical labor markets, economic policy, and migration patterns, with notable contributions to Canadian economic history, including studies on 1920s–30s unemployment, migrant adjustment, and frontier schooling systems.

Education:

• BA (Honours) Economics, Queen’s University
• D.Phil., Nuffield College, Oxford University

Research emphasized meticulous empirical analysis of economic conditions and policies in historical contexts. Her work bridged macroeconomic trends with granular data, exemplified by her analysis of historical wages, prices, and the socio-economic impacts of migration. She collaborated widely, including with scholars like Christopher Minns and Kris Inwood, and her legacy includes fostering young researchers through active engagement at academic conferences and mentoring.

Awards:

• EHA Gerschenkron Prize (PhD Dissertation)

Administrative contributions included revitalizing McGill’s Arts faculty infrastructure, earning her the informal title “Dean of Space.” Her intellectual curiosity and collaborative spirit left a lasting impact on the academic community.