Joseph-Clovis-Kemner Laflamme (1848 - 1910)

Geologist Biography

Born on September the 19th, 1849 in the village of Saint-Anselme in Lower Canada, Joseph-Clovis-Kemner Laflamme was the son of a farmer, David Laflamme, and his wife Josephte Jamme. He lived in Saint-Anselme, and then the neighboring village Buckland, where the local priest taught him the basics of Latin.

In 1862 Lafamme was admitted to the “petit seminaire” of Quebec where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1868. During this time his keen interest in science was already being remarked upon. He was then accepted into the large seminary at Quebec where he received a grounding in theology.

In 1873, immediately following his ordination as a priest, he commenced his doctoral studies.

Known by his colleagues to be particularly gifted, he began to lean towards the teaching of science, specifically in the area of natural history. At the same time he followed courses in science at Laval University which brought him to participate, in 1874 ,in the Congress of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, held in Hartford, Connecticut.
In 1875 he saw himself elevated to a post at the University teaching physics, and he was also named professor of mineralogy and geology. It was in 1877 that he left Quebec to attend the “summer school of geology” at Harvard University in Massachusetts, with the aim of perfecting his scientific grounding in theoretical and practical aspects of the geosciences.

On his return he pursued his career in teaching at the University of Laval in such diverse subject areas as physics (until 1893), botany (until 1900) and geology, which he taught until his death in 1910. This latter subject he taught at both the university and the high school (petit seminare).

In 1881 he published a reference manual for teaching geology which was entitled “Elements of Mineralogy and Geology”, a work that was reprinted four times.
In 1880 Laflamme proposed some novel and very progressive ideas for the reform of the teaching of science; ideas that were not put into practice until the 1920’s. Of note, he suggested a modification of the two years of science taught within the philosophy course and the enlargement of the scientific program within the bachelor’s degree. He also proposed the creation of professional schools where students could prepare themselves for different industrial and scientific careers, such as civil engineering.

He developed the concept of state-sponsored loans or bursaries for students seeking to increase their knowledge overseas. Laflamme also proposed introducing the teaching of science in elementary school grades.

His academic responsibilities never ceased to grow. He held the post of principal of the “petit seminaire” at Quebec between 1881 and 1883.

He was named dean of the faculty of arts from 1891 to 1909. Following this he was appointed Superior of the Seminary and Rector of the University (Laval) on two occasions, 1893 – 1899 and 1908 – 1909.

Laflamme’s reputation outside of the university sphere grew by his many presentations to established institutions such as Medical Society of Quebec, Canadian Institute of Quebec and Literary and Historical Society of Quebec.

Excellent in the art of popularizing technical subjects, Laflamme made engaging presentations that very effectively introduced science to both his students and the public at large.

In addition, he took advantage of the public’s curiosity to promote various scientific novelties of the day such as the phonograph, static electricity generators, magic lanterns, x-rays, and the telephone.

Right from the start of his professional career Laflamme demonstrated an interest in new scientific discoveries, and on many occasions he represented the University of Laval at congresses and expositions around the world. Thus, he participated in the Electricity Exposition in Paris (1881), the Congress of the British Association for the Advancement of Science (1884), the International Congress on Geology held in Washington (1891).

He represented Canada at the Congress of Geology at St. Petersburg, Russia (1897), and he was involved in the development of the Congress of the Americas held in Quebec in 1906. Laflamme was a member of many learned societies.

He held the post of president of the Royal Society of Canada (1891). He was also a member of the Brussels Scientific Society, the French Society for Physics, the Geological Society of France, and the Geological Society of America. He received the title of “protonotaire apostolique” from Rome in 1893 and he was awarded a knighthood in the Legion d’honneur (France) in 1898. Joseph-Clovis-Kemner Laflamme passed away on the 6th of July, 1910 in Quebec City.

Laflamme, by his involvement in so many academic and scientific arenas, became known as a popularizer and educator, without peer. He worked in these disciplines in order to make known the recent scientific and technological discoveries, and he prepared the ground for significant academic reforms that would come about in Quebec in the 20th century.

He was without doubt the father of geology in the Province of Quebec.