The McGill University Archives will host a series of lectures this fall to celebrate UNESCO’s inscription earlier this year of the John Peters Humphrey Fonds on its Memory of the World International Register. Held by McGill, the archives include the Canadian jurist and McGill law professor’s early handwritten drafts of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). UNESCO’s recognition places Humphrey’s work among the world’s most significant documentary heritage.
The early drafts of the declaration were rediscovered at McGill by former Law Librarian John Hobbins. Other materials in the fonds include Humphrey’s correspondence with Eleanor Roosevelt, lecture notes, speeches and records of his decades of human rights advocacy in Canada and abroad.
“Having records recognized on the International Register is an incredible honour. The bar is very high,” said McGill University Archivist Anthea Seles. “The Humphrey fonds demonstrate the evolution of human rights concepts, shaped by diverse cultural perspectives. At a time of instability, they serve as a touchstone for humane and just treatment across the world.”
Adopted in 1948, the UDHR is now the most translated document in the world and a cornerstone of international human rights law. Humphrey, the UN’s first Director of the Division of Human Rights and later McGill’s Dean of Law, played a pivotal role in shaping the Declaration and advancing Canada’s contributions to global human rights.
A Canadian legacy recognized globally
First inscribed on the Canada Memory of the World Register in 2023, the Humphrey fonds was nominated internationally by the Canadian Commission for UNESCO (CCUNESCO) in partnership with McGill. The nomination was approved by UNESCO in April.
“With this inscription, Canada’s role in advancing human rights takes its place on the world stage,” said David Schimpky, Director of Secretariat, CCUNESCO. “This archive documents John Peters Humphrey’s pivotal role in developing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It reminds us of Canada’s ongoing responsibility to uphold this enduring legacy.”
The Humphrey fonds now joins 11 other Canadian entries on UNESCO’s international register.
Celebrating with lectures and dialogue
To mark the recognition, McGill, in collaboration with CCUNESCO, the International Council on Archives and the Friends of the McGill Library, will host a three-part lecture series this fall:
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Oct. 1, registration is now open): Danielle Hughes (UN Archives, Geneva), John Hobbins (McGill Librarian emeritus) and Prof. Rebecca Adami (University of Stockholm) will explore Humphrey’s role, Eleanor Roosevelt’s committee and the influence of women from the Global South.
- Archives and Human Rights (Oct. 22, registration is now open): Featuring Jones Lukose (International Criminal Court Archives), David Crane (former UN prosecutor for Sierra Leone) and Prof. Monica Tenaglia (Federal University of Pará) will speak on archives as tools for justice, accountability and truth.
- Law and Human Rights (November 26, hybrid): The event will be hosted by the Friends of the Library as the F.R. Scott Lecture, and will focus on legal history and human rights.
“The recognition of these archives is not only about preserving history,” Seles emphasized, “it is about showing how documentary heritage underpins accountability, justice and our shared vision of human dignity.”
About the Canadian Commission for UNESCO
The Canadian Commission for UNESCO (CCUNESCO) promotes UNESCO’s values in Canada and brings Canadian expertise to the international stage. CCUNESCO operates under the authority of the Canada Council for the Arts and guides activities aligned with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.