January / February 2001 Vol. 33, no. 1

The Famous Five Exhibition at the National Library

Joni Waiser
Research and Information Services

EMILY FERGUSON MURPHY

Until 1929, one word denied women access to the Senate of Canada. The word "persons" in the British North America Act of 1867 did not, or so it seemed, include women, although, as persons, they were able to vote in all federal and most provincial elections.

Five remarkable Alberta women contested the interpretation of the word "persons" in the Supreme Court of Canada in 1928. The group consisted of Emily Murphy, initiator of the movement and its spokesperson; Louise McKinney; Henrietta Muir Edwards; Nellie McClung and Irene Parlby. Their first attempt was unsuccessful. But the following year, the Privy Council in Great Britain, which was still the highest appeal court for Canada, decided that "the word ‘persons’ in section 24 of the British North America Act includes members both of the male and female sex … and that women are eligible to be summoned to and become members of the Senate of Canada."

While commemorating this milestone in the history of women’s rights in Canada, an exhibition at 395 Wellington Street in Ottawa aimed to promote awareness of the "Famous Five", as the newspapers of the time labelled these enterprising women.

The Famous Five exhibition was a joint initiative of the National Library of Canada, the National Archives of Canada, the Department of Justice Canada and the Famous 5 Foundation. It coincided with the October 18, 2000, inauguration of the Women Are Persons! commemorative monument on Parliament Hill.

The display began with archival documents describing the legal process of the Persons Case. It then highlighted selective publications written by or about the women, providing insight into their interests and commitment to social causes. The exhibit concluded with an overview of the repercussions of their victory, from the appointment of the first woman to the Senate in 1930 to today.

The National Library’s collection includes extensive material on the life and times of the Famous Five, honouring their work and its relevance to present-day conditions. Drawing on this collection, the exhibition featured newspaper and periodical articles, dissertations, sound recordings, brochures, conference data, postage stamps, posters, as well as monographs paying tribute to the Famous Five and the Persons Case.

Biographies of the Famous Five and other women activists who have worked to improve the lives of Canadian women can be found on our Web site under Celebrating Women’s Achievements, www.nlc-bnc.ca/2/12/index-e.html.