Book Description

Presents a collection of more than 350 biographical sketches of Canadian women, spanning three centuries. Each entry is contained on a single page, and presents a portrait of the woman. Many entries show a reproduction of the woman's handwritten signature. Woman are presented alphabetically by their married name, often including the woman's date of birth and marriage, as well as a description of her husband and his accomplishments, their children, and her membership in societies and organizations. Overall, the sketches celebrate women's primary roles as dutiful wife and mother and active community member. The majority of women Morgan features are white, upper-middle class, and married, those who prioritized traditional (i.e., heteronormative) family life. He also writes warmly, however, of women who were unmarried and forged successful careers in the arts - a fairly forward-thinking approach for the time. There is no question that Types of Canadian Women is a product of its time. Nonetheless, it provides a rare glimpse into the lives of women in Canada, recording many important milestones and achievements that otherwise may have been lost. For contemporary readers, the publication is exciting to peruse for its many familiar names: philanthropists Lillian Massey, of the Massey manufacturers of agricultural equipment, and Grace Redpath, of Redpath Sugar fame; war heroine Laura Secord; and author Catharine Parr Traill.18 True, Morgan draws attention to the men in women's lives. At the same time, however, he conveys respect for married women's contributions to family life and single women's career achievements alike, suggesting that value can be found in either path. His attitude was a progressive one for anyone - male or female - writing at the turn of the twentieth century.Book was published as the first of two volumes, but a second volume was never issued. Adapted from an essay by Tali Voron from the webpage, McGraw-Hill Ryerson Press Collection