Head and shoulders image of Dr. Herman H. Ferns, head, Department of Mathematics, 1928-1931, 1934-1962.

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. Herman Harvey Ferns was born 24 December 1894 in Jaffa, Ontario. He attended the University of Saskatchewan, graduating in 1927 with a special Governor-General's Gold Medal as most distinguished graduate. Dr. Ferns received a PhD from the University of Toronto in 1933. His first appointment to the U of S faculty was as an instructor in mathematics in 1928. Dr. Ferns was promoted to professor in 1941 and was head of the Mathematics Department from 1946 until his retirement in 1962. Dr. Ferns was director of the Summer School from 1949-1959. He served as adviser to veterans of World War II and was active in the Canadian Officers’ Training Corps for many years. Dr. Ferns played an important role in persuading leading artists to contribute their talents to the development of a program of summer art classes at Emma Lake, which in turn was a major factor in the establishment of a strong community of artists in Saskatchewan. Dr. Ferns was president of the Faculty Club and was active in numerous community organizations such as the Canadian Institute of International Affairs. He received an honourary Doctor of Laws degree from the U of S in May 1976. Dr. Ferns died in Saskatoon in December 1976. The Dr. Herman Ferns Memorial Scholarship is open to a student entering their third year of an honours degree in Mathematics or a combined honours degree in Mathematics and a second subject.