Fonds MS-2-128 - Samuel R. Balcom fonds

Samuel Rosborough Balcom was a prominent Halifax businessman, politician and a member of Dalhousie's Board of Governors for over thirty years. Born 24 March 1888 in Port Dufferin, Nova Scotia, to Elizabeth (Bollong) and Henry Jonas Balcom, he was educated at the Halifax Academy. Later he studied arts and medicine at Dalhousie University (1907-1911) before enrolling in the Maritime School of Pharmacy (1914-1915). In 1915 he married Elizabeth Vera Rankin.

Balcom founded the retail and wholesale drug business MacLeod Balcom Ltd., which later became Balcom-Chittick Ltd. He was active on the city's Board of Trade, serving as president from 1949-1951. He went overseas with the Dalhousie University Medical Unit in World War I and served as Officer Commanding, Medical Stores and Chief Medical Stores Inspection Officer during World War II. Balcom played an active role in his community, sitting on the board of many local organizations. In 1950 he entered federal politics when he won a local by-election and became Liberal MP for Halifax, a position he held until his defeat in 1957. He also had a close relationship with Dalhousie University, serving on the Board of Governors for over three decades and receiving an Honorary Doctor of Laws in 1969. He died in 1981 at age 93.