S. Mack Eastman, who became the University of British Columbia's first professor of history, was born in Oshawa, Ontario. After completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto, Eastman used fellowships to study at the University of Paris (1908-1911) and Columbia University (1911-1912). During these years he developed a keen interest in international affairs. After leaving Columbia, he went to Calgary College where he taught history and introduced International Studies into the curriculum. Eastman moved to UBC in 1915 and remained at the university until 1925 (with a brief interruption between 1916 and 1918 for war service). In 1919, he became head of the Department of History, holding the position until 1925 when he resigned to work in the International Labour Office in Geneva. He fled Europe after the collapse of the Western Front (1940) and returned to Canada taking a position at the University of Saskatchewan. Eastman retired to Vancouver in 1949 and became actively involved in the United Nations Association of Canada and the Canadian Institute of International Affairs.
From the description of S. Mack Eastman fonds. 1912-1968. (University of British Columbia Library). WorldCat record id: 606456726
