David Beers Quinn and the USA
Professor Norman Thrower
Although the press of duties here at the University of California Los Angeles prevents me from attending the memorial meeting honouring Professor Quinn, I wanted to put down some thoughts about him, particularly in respect to the United States. As with many persons of Irish extraction he had a special understanding of this country. Many of his most important scholarly contributions had to do with North America, a continent he visited frequently. It was especially appropriate that he had a long-term relationship with Saint Mary’s College in Maryland. Since its colonial foundation, that State has perhaps a greater Irish ‘presence’ than any other part of the country.
Beyond this, Professor Quinn was a welcome visitor at campuses and other institutions across this Continent. With his wife, Alison, he informed and charmed audiences from California to New England. He helped us to celebrate many events here including: the Drake Quadricentennial in California, ’79; the Raleigh Quadricentennial in North Carolina, ’82; and the Columbus Quincentenary, nationwide, ’92. He always had something appropriate to add to the proceedings as a distinguished lecturer and otherwise.
To members of the Hakluyt Society in America he was a goodwill ambassador; and to those who were involved in contributing to its publication series, he was particularly helpful as President and generally. He and Alison were genial hosts in Britain when Americans visited London, Liverpool and other U.K. locations. He once told me that it was in port cities that he had had his most important appointments – Southampton, Liverpool, Baltimore! Appropriately.
As past-president of the Society for the History of Discoveries, I am sure I speak for that newer, sister institution, when I say how much we miss David and Alison Quinn. We are, however, consoled by the fact that we have happy memories of both of them, and that their work lives on through their publications. U.C.L.A.’s Winter term ends in mid March with examinations but I shall be with you all in spirit. 
