FLAUNT YOUR PERSON-A-LA-TEA! The ‘Persons’ Case and The Famous 5 It all started with Emily Murphy on her first day as a magistrate in an Edmonton courtroom. The defending lawyer challenged her right to make a decision in his client’s case because she was not a “person” according to the British North American Act. Emily Murphy carried on with the case, but that night she checked into the Canadian constitution and discovered that indeed women were not consistently defined as persons in the nation’s constitution. That was the beginning of her persons campaign. "The world loves a peaceful man," declared Emily Murphy, "but it gives way to a strenuous kicker." Murphy herself was a strenuous kicker, one who opened the path of reform in the legal landscape of Canada – she was the first woman magistrate in the British Empire. Emily firmly believed that women must be represented in the courts to protect and advocate for their needs. She also realized that unless women were involved in the process of making the laws, women’s voices would never be fully heard. To this end, she tirelessly pushed for women to be declared “persons”. Equality in law is what she demanded! Emily and her fellow activists Henrietta Muir Edwards, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney and Irene Parlby – known by the media as Alberta’s Famous 5 - guaranteed that women are represented in all levels of Canadian politics. Afternoon teas were an important outlet for women in the early years of western history. At first, they were mostly social, known often as “pink teas” because they involved women only, but eventually these gatherings were used to strategize and discuss issues of importance like suffrage. Only the hostess of the Pink Tea knew if there was an agenda or just pleasant conversation. This way, if opposition appeared, the organizer could change the subject! Emily always brought up issues. As Nancy Millar reflects from her research, Emily was not only known as a nuisance, she also broke decorum by not wearing gloves! How appropriate that today’s celebratory tea honours this tradition. On October 18th, 1929, a landmark decision was made. The face of Canadian politics was changed forever. This came as a result of the fourth submission of the Famous 5’s petition -this time to the Privy Council in Britain. Women were finally declared ‘persons’ under the law and thereby were granted the right to be appointed to the Senate. This ruling did not affect just women in Canada. It applied to all women in the British Empire! A truly historic moment. But the story does not end there. Four months later, the federal government picked its first female senator….Cairine Wilson, a well connected Liberal from Ontario, not Emily Murphy! She was completely worthy of the position, but she was not Emily! Oh, the Canadian establishment got even ……and it broke Emily’s heart! Today, we celebrate the courageous work of these women: Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby, Henrietta Muir Edwards and Louise McKinney. Now, it is our turn to rectify today’s inequities. As Nellie once said, “Never retreat, never explain, never apologize- just get the job done and let them howl!” The Hats and Their Artists Louise Chong: “BOUTON BOUTON” Margot van Lindenberg: “THE ELECTRON”
Anne Kirsten: “THE CHANGING WINDS”
Wendy Possmore: “THE FUTURE FIVE”
Shona Rae: “THUMBELINA’S TOP HAT”
Photography: Richard Manual For more photos of these artistic creations, visit www.aboundphotography.com/Non-Profit/Famous-5-Foundation/ |
The Famous 5’s attitude of perseverance is what kept coming to mind to Louise when she read about the Famous 5’s history. Like the Famous 5, Louise approached the design of her hat as a problem of symmetry, balance and texture to be solved through perseverance. She chose the theme of buttons since a button box was something every woman in the Famous 5’s day and age both had and used. She says: “It is a symbol of the common people. Originally in France in the 1200’s when buttons first emerged, it was a sign of prestige and power –the king had 13,000 buttons sewn on his suit and they were not allowed for the common people. My hat is about taking a common object and making it precious.” Louise has used vintage 20’s and 30’s buttons for decoration on the hat.
The Famous 5’s unbounded energy and the gift they gave future generations is what inspired Wendy in her creation. She immediately thought of children, bright colors, and a time in the future when ethnicity, religion and stereotypes no longer bog us down. She wanted to illustrate what issues those who take up the Famous 5 “chair” in future would be addressing and also underscore the playfulness needed to discover our world and worlds beyond. She chose to make Emily Murphy’s chair a theme as Barbara Patterson’s Monuments to the Famous 5 (situated at Olympic Plaza) invite viewers to participate by taking a seat in the chair Emily is standing beside.
“Thumbelina was one of the very first feminists”, explains Shona. In the tale by Hans Christian Anderson, Thumbelina (a tiny girl who sleeps in a walnut-shell cradle) is kidnapped again and again by would-be suitors who are taken with her beauty and her wonderful voice. She escapes them with the help of a swallow who takes her to a sunny field of flowers where she meets a tiny prince, the spirit of the flowers. He is the man of her own choosing and they live happily ever after. Shona takes up the Famous 5’s theme of “reaching high and splendid braveries” with the tall top hat – which now also women can wear.