Victoria’s Read

Louise Crummy McKinney. Born Frankville, On , Sept 22nd  1868. Died July 10, 1931.

One of 10 children of an Irish immigrant farmer, Louise obtained a good education graduating from the Ottawa Normal School (Teachers’ College). In 1886 she joined her sister in the west where she met and married James McKinney. The young couple started life together in Ontario but in 1903, along with their son, Willard, they settled in Claresholm Alberta. Here the couple helped organize the local Methodist Church. In 1925 they embraced church unification as the United Church of Canada.

Louise was a social activist and became an organizer of not only local and provincial but national and international Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) promoting temperance and a Christian lifestyle. She had a major role in the 1915 Alberta provincial campaign to ban alcohol which made Alberta the 2nd province to adopt prohibition.
Two years later, she was the 1st women to be elected to the Alberta Legislative Assembly. This was the 1st Alberta provincial election in which men and women could vote. Louise ran for the Non-Partisan League candidate in a hotly contested race. She believed strongly that liquor and brewing companies influenced the major political parties through their donations.  Mckinney was sworn into parliament and is therefore considered the “1st female legislator in the British Empire!”. An impressive debater, she perused prohibition and fought for laws to aid immigrants, widows, the disabled and separated women. She ran but was defeated and became semi retired. In 1929, she was the 2nd woman to sign the famous “Persons” Act which lead to women in Canada being able to be considered “persons” She is one of the group now called “The Famous Five”.

She died at Claresholm, her old legislative territory at the age of 63. Her gravestone simply reads “Mother”. Among many honours, in October 2009, the Senate voted to name McKinney and the rest of the Five Canada’s first “honorary senators. She is also one of the women in the Famous Five statue that is situated on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

By Dawn Monroe. www.famouscanadianwomen.com

 Private Lowry, CWAC, tightening up the springs on the front of her vehicle, Chelsea & Cricklewood Garage , England, July 7, 1944

The Canadian Women’s Army Corps (CWAC) was established on August 13, 1941, in response to a shortage of personnel caused by the increase in the size of Canada’s navy, army and air force. At first the organisation was called the Canadian Women’s Auxiliary Corps and was not an official part of the armed forces. On March 13, 1942 the women were inducted into the Canadian Army and became the Canadian Women’s Army Corps. They wore a cap badge of three maple leaves, and collar badges of the goddess Athena.

A February 1943 CWAC advertisement in the Edmonton Journal noted that prospective recruits had to be in excellent health, at least five feet tall and 105 pounds (or within 10 pounds above or below the standard of weight laid down in medical tables for different heights), with no dependants, a minimum of Grade 8 education, aged 18 to 45 and a British subject, as Canadians were at that time. Since women were not allowed to enter in combat of any kind the CWACs worked as secretaries, clerks, canteen workers, vehicle drivers and many other non-combat military jobs. They were only paid 2/3 of what the men were paid in the same occupation (this figure later became 4/5).

CWACs served overseas, first in 1942 in Washington DC and then with the Canadian Army in the UK. In 1944 CWACs served in Italy and in 1945 in north-west Europe, usually as clerks in headquarters establishments. After VE Day, more served with Canadian occupation forces in Germany. In all, approximately 3000 served Canada overseas.

While no members of the CWAC were killed due to enemy action, four were wounded in a German V-2 missile attack on Antwerp in 1945.

By the end of the war 21,624 CWACs had served in the ranks. In August 1946 the CWACs were disbanded but were reconstituted on March 22 1948. The CWACS were disbanded for good in 1964.

Source: wikipedia.org

Marie Thérèse Forget Casgrain. (10 July 1896 – 3 November 1981)

Thérèse Casgrain was a feminist, reformer, politician and senator in Quebec, Canada.

She was raised in a wealthy family, the daughter of Lady Blanche MacDonald and Sir Rodolphe Forget. She married Pierre-François Casgrain, a wealthy Liberal politician with whom she raised four children.

Casgrain led the women’s suffrage movement in Quebec prior to World War I. She founded the Provincial Franchise Committee in 1921 and campaigned for women’s rights and for the right to vote in Quebec elections, a right that was not won until 1940. From 1928 to 1942, she was the leader of the League for Women’s Rights. In the 1930s, she hosted a popular radio show Fémina. In the 1942 federal by-election, she stood as an “Independent Liberal” candidate in the Charlevoix-Saguenay riding, the same seat formerly held both by her father and by her husband.

Following World War II, she left the Liberal Party and joined the social democratic Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). In 1948, she became one of the federal vice presidents of the CCF. She led the Quebec wing of the party, the Parti social démocratique du Québec, from 1951 to 1957 through three provincial elections using her position as a platform to campaign against the government of Maurice Duplessis. She was therefore the first female leader of a political party in Canada.

In the 1960s, she became a campaigner against nuclear weapons, founding the Quebec wing of Voice of Women. She also was a founder of the League for Human Rights and the Fédération des femmes du Québec. In the 1960s, she was president of the Quebec wing of the New Democratic Party, the CCF’s successor.

In 1967, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and in 1974, she was promoted to Companion.
In recognition of her achievements, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau appointed her to the Canadian Senate in 1970, where she sat as an independent for nine months before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75.
In 1985, Canada Post honored Thérèse Casgrain with a postage stamp. She also was commemorated in 2004 on the back of the new Canadian $50 bill.

Olga Alexandrova Kulikovsky. Born June 1882 at Peterhof Palace, near Saint Petersburg, Russia.

 Died Nov 24, 1960 in Toronto Ontario.

Grand Duchess and sister to Czar Nicholas, Olga Kulikovsky made her society Debut, saying she felt like an animal on display! Married to Duke Peter Alexandrovich of Oldenberg, she was never comfortable. Speculation was that Peter was homosexual. It was also in 1901 when she was appointed the Commander-in-Chief of the 12th Akhtyrsky Hussar Regiment of the Imperial Russians Forces, a relationship endearing and lifelong.

Olga’s many charitable works included founding a hospital. Here, doctors taught her medical treatment and care.
In 1903, she was introduced to a Blue Cuirassier Guard Officer, who was eventually appointed as an Aide-de-Camp for her husband. Gossip abounded. Peter seemed satisfied to have Nikolai Kulikovsky live at the family home rather than provide a divorce.

During World War I, Olga cared for wounded near the Russian front. Her service was awarded with the Order of St. George and reverence of the troops. In 1916, the Czar annulled her marriage and finally on November 16, 1916 she married her Nikolai.

1917. Royal family members were under arrest! Olga celebrated the birth of a son, Tikhon while under arrest in the Crimea. When the Allied Army took over the area, Olga and her family escaped to the Caucasus area where, in April 1919 a second son, Guri, was born. November that year they fled again. By Easter 1920 they took refuge in Denmark, Here, Olga was secretary and companion to her Danish mother.

In the 1930’s there were annual vacations with Swedish Royalty and Olga began to sell some of her paintings to help charities.

After World War II, Russian allegations against the family forced them to flee again. By the summer of 1948, Olga and her family, now including daughters-in-law, grandchildren and her Russian maid, arrived in Canada. They purchased a 200 acre farm in Halton County, Ontario. Olga grew food, did shopping and cared for her ailing maid. She also cared for a paralyzed Nikolai, selling jewellery to raise funds for his care. He died in 1958 and in 1960, Olga was buried beside him in Toronto. Officers of the Akhtyrsky Hussars and the Blue Cuirassiers stood guard at her funeral.

Olga’s paintings, shown internationally, continue to help fund The Russian Relief Program founded by her son Tikhon.
By: Dawn Monroe. famouscanadianwomen.com

Beatrice Gladys Lillie. Born Toronto, Ontario, May 28, 1894. Died , Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire England, January 29, 1989.

Beatrice Gladys Lillie had her start in the business by performing on stage with her mother and her sister Muriel as The Lillie Tri. Bea had a ‘sweet’ voice and when singing, would add jokes between songs until she was better known for the jokes than her music.

In 1914, her mother moved the family to London, England where they debuted in London’s famous west end theatre district. Within 10 years, Beatrice would debut in New York City.
She married Sir Robert Peel and became Lady Peel in January 1920. Beatrice continued her career and professionally she became known as Bea Lillie and well renowned for her gift of satire. She had one son, Robert Peel. Beatrice and Robert separated but never divorced. Lord Peel died in 1934 and her son was killed in action 1942. 

Beatrice would boast a successful recording career with many recordings made with songs specifically written for her. Today she can even be located performing on the internet site Utube. She touched on work in the movies but did not concentrate in this medium. Her first film, ‘Exit Smiling’ was with Jack Pickford, the younger brother of the famous Canadian actress, Mary Pickford. Retro film festivals often screen the film. The film ‘On Approval’ was done in 1944 and put Beatrice at the top of her game.  In WW ll, she was an energetic and popular entertainer for the troops.

She won a Tony in 1953 for the revue ‘An Evening With Beatrice Lillie’ with which she toured worldwide. In 1954, she earned the Sarah Siddons Award for her work with Chicago theatre.
She has a star on Hollywood Boulevard, the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame.

By 1948, she entered into a controlling “friendship” with a younger man, John Philip Huck. While he may have been controlling, she was cared for after she retired from the stage in 1971 because of Alzheimer’s disease. John  Huck died within two days of Beatrice in January 1989.

Beatrice Gladys Lillie was never forgotten in her home town of Toronto. On the 100th anniversary of her birth in 1984, the Parkdale Clinic on Queen Street, was named in her honour.

Submitted by Dawn Monroe. famouscanadianwomen.com

When retiring to the bedroom, prepare yourself for bed as promptly as possible. Whilst feminine hygiene is of the upmost importance, your tired husband does not want to queue for the bathroom, as he would have to do for his train. But remember to look your best when going to bed. Try to achieve a look that is welcoming without being obvious. If you need to apply face-cream or hair-rollers wait until he is asleep as this can be shocking to a man last thing at night.

When it comes to the possibility of intimate relations with your husband, it is important to remember your marriage vows and in particular your commitment to obey him.

If he feels that he needs to sleep immediately then so be it. In all things, be led by your husbands wishes. Do not pressure him in any way to stimulate intimacy. Should your husband suggest congress then agree humbly, all the while being mindful that a mans satisfaction is more important than a woman’s. When he reaches his moment of fulfillment, a small moan from yourself is encouraging to him and quite sufficient to indicate any enjoyment that you may have had.

Should your husband suggest any of the more unusual practices, be obedient and uncomplaining but register any reluctance by remaining silent. It is likely that your husband will then fall promptly asleep so adjust your clothing, freshen up and apply your night-time face and hair care products.

You may then set the alarm so that you can arise shortly before him in the morning. This will enable you to have his morning cup of tea ready when he awakes. 

“I must admit that I am a little old fashioned when it comes to my role as a wife but I have to say that this is extreme! If this article doesn’t get your back up, It should make you wonder what else was taught back then in our schools!” Thanks Jessie.

Mar 29, 1842-Apr11, 1913

Dr. Amelia Yeomans and her daughter Lillian were the first women physicians in Winnipeg. She was born in Montreal and married Dr. Augustus Yeomans at the age of eighteen.

When he died in 1878, Amelia decided to join her daughter Lillian at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor to pursue a career in medicine. At that time, medical schools were still closed to women in Canada. Lillian graduated in 1882 and obtained her Manitoba licence on September 22, 1882. Amelia obtained her M.D. degree in Michigan in 1883, and was registered in Manitoba on February 23, 1885.

Both Dr. Yeomans specialized in “Midwifery and the Diseases of Women and Children.” There was plenty of work for them in Winnipeg. During the 1880s Winnipeg was being transformed from a frontier town into a bustling metropolis. Many social ills followed this rapid growth. Dr. Amelia Yeomans could not sit and watch the misery that many women faced, especially immigrant women. In response, she visited the city’s slums, toured factories and prisons, treated the deprived and dispossessed and exposed the conditions to the rest of society.

Dr. Amelia Yeomans thought that giving women the right to vote was another way of curing social ills. This was a very unpopular cause at that time. Not only were most men totally opposed to granting women the right to vote but they were also convinced it would cause the disintegration of the family. Despite all her efforts, women did not get the vote in her lifetime and prohibition was not legislated until 1916. However, her efforts paved the way for both.

When she retired in 1906, Winnipeg was no longer the wicked city she encountered when she first moved here. When she died in 1913, over two hundred women had graduated from medical schools throughout Canada. The City of Winnipeg recognized her important role in our history by dedicating a plaque to her on the Broadway median at Hargrave Street.

Lillian Yeomans
June 23, 1861-Dec 9, 1942

Myrtle Alice Cook McGowan. Born Toronto, Ont Jan 5, 1902. Died Mar 18, 1985 in Elora, Ont.

A shy and quiet child, she loved to participate in sports and excelled in track as a high school student which lasted on through to her adult years.
 

At 15 years of age, she was named to the women’s national track team. She won six Canadian Championships in the 60 yard and 100 yard events between 1927 and 1930.

Recognition of her prowess in running came in the 1928 Olympics, the first Olympic Games to allow women to compete. Myrtle was one of a team of six women to represent Canada. The press would call them “the Matchless Six”. At the Halifax Olympic trials, she had set a world record in the 100 meters but unfortunately at the games themselves, Myrtle was disqualified from this event after two false starts. She still ran the anchor leg of the 400 m relay and it was not only a Gold medal run but the event set a new world record of 48.4 seconds! The “matchless Six” returned home as heroes, welcomed with ticker tape parades in Canada’s two largest cities, Toronto and Montreal.

In April 1929, Myrtle moved to Montreal to begin her career as a sports columnist for the Montreal Daily Star newspaper where she worked for 44 years. She was a leader and organizer, working for recognition of women in sport and to establish the Montreal Major Ladies’ softball league, the Montreal Major Ladies’ Hockey League and a branch of the Canadian Ladies’ Athletic Club.

She was even called upon to teach running techniques to the members of the Montreal Royals, a professional men’s baseball team and  served in World War ll as a track coach of the Canadian Armed Services.

From 1932 to 1972, Myrtle served on almost every British Empire/Commonwealth Games Committee and Canadian Olympic Committees.

Myrtle Cook became known as “Canada’s First Lady of Sport” and for her numerous achievements and lifelong contribution / dedication to promoting women’s sport she has been elected into the Sports Halls of Fame for Montreal, the Province of Québec, The Canadian Olympics and Canada.

Submitted by Dawn Monroe. famouscanadianwoman.com

Henrietta Louise Edwards (née Muir).  Born Dec 18, 1849. Died Nov 10, 1931.

As a young woman, Henrietta Muir studied art in New York. Back in Canada she had her work shown at the Royal Canadian Academy.

In 1876, Henrietta married medical doctor Oliver Cromwell Edwards. The family would reside in the Northwest area of Saskatchewan where Edwards was the first doctor to serve the area. The couple along with their three children lived an active life in Ottawa throughout the 1890’s.

Henrietta had long been a social activist, supporting political rights for women, public libraries, missionary societies, mother’s allowance, basic equal rights for women and penal reform. She worked with Lady Aberdeen and others in Ottawa to found the National Council of Women of Canada in 1893 and the Victorian Order of Nurses in 1897.
Shortly after  the turn of the century, the family settled near Lethbridge, Alberta. 

In 1905, she had been the major spokesperson and first president of the Alberta Local Council of Women and had helped organize each of the local chapters in the province.

In 1908, at the request of the Canadian Government, she prepared a summary of Canadian laws pertaining to women and children.

After her husband’s death in 1915, she relocated to Fort Macleod Alberta where she became chair to the Alberta Laws Committee. 

In 1917, she had compiled handbooks on legal matters, affecting women for both the national perspective and later a more detailed publication centered on Alberta which was republished in 1921. 

At the age of 80 she was still “fighting for the cause” and traveled to Edmonton, Alberta at the invitation of fellow social activist , Emily Murphy in the summer of 1927.

Henrietta became one of the “Famous Five” women who took the Person case to England and had Canadian women declared ‘persons’ under the law. Canadian women, as ‘non-persons’ had no rights to own land, serve in government and had very few legal rights prior to 1929. 

Henrietta Edwards died just short of her 82 birthday in Fort Macleod, Alberta.

Submitted by Dawn Monroe. famouscanadianwomen.com

This is the story of women who were ground-breakers. These brave women from the early 1900s made all the difference in the lives we live today.

Remember, it was not until 1920 that women were granted the right to vote.

The women were innocent and defenseless, but when, in North America, women picketed in front of the White House, carrying signs asking for the vote, they were jailed and by the end of the first night in jail, those women were barely alive.

Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden’s blessing, went on a rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted of ‘obstructing sidewalk traffic.’

Lucy Burns

They beat Lucy Burns, chained her hands to the cell bars above
her head and left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping for air

Doris Lewis

They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her
head against an iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her cellmate,
Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack.
Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging,
beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the brave women.

Thus unfolded the ‘Night of Terror’ on Nov. 15, 1917,
when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his guards to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson’s White House for the right to vote.

For weeks, the women’s only water came from an open pail. Their food–all of it colorless slop–was infested with worms.

 Alice Paul

When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her to a
chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured liquid into her until she vomited.
She was tortured like this for weeks until word was smuggled out to the press.

All women who have every voted, have ever owned property, have ever enjoyed equal rights need to remember that  this year, 2009 is the 80th Anniversary of the Persons Case in Canada,
which finally declared women in Canada to be Persons!