The mystery started when we encountered this photo in the family photo album of Irene Parlby’s grand-children, who had often tried to relate the photo to their memories of their grandmother. Others have seen the photo and also tried to relate the faces to those of the Famous 5.
The June 11, 1938 photo celebrating the unveiling of the plaque to the Famous 5 in the Senate lobby.
Front row (L–R): Mrs. Muir Edwards (daughter-in-law of Henrietta Muir Edwards), Mrs. J.C. Kenwood (daughter of Judge Emily Murphy), Prime Minister Mackenzie King, and Nellie McClung (one of the surviving members of the Famous Five).
Rear row (L–R): Senators Iva Campbell Fallis and Cairine Wilson.
The Reality…
When the Canadian Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs (BPW Canada) unveiled the bronze plaque in June 1938, three of the Famous 5 already had passed: Louise McKinney (Jul 1931), Henrietta Muir Edwards (Nov 1931), and Judge Emily Murphy (Oct 1933).
Nellie McClung was the only surviving Famous 5 member to attend in person, but Irene Parlby was able to attend by radio, with Nellie passing along remarks from Irene to the nation by radio (we’re working on digging up a full copy of the broadcast).
The plaque in the Senate lobby
Event program from the unveiling.
Read more and listen to the broadcast excerpt:
https://www.cbc.ca/archives/the-famous-five-and-the-persons-ruling-of-1929-1.4669584
Our Contest Winner!
We asked readers of our Newsletter 97.1 issue to identify who they thought was in the picture, and the closest to dispelling the myth was Shawna Y. They win some unique paraphernalia from our Famous 5 treasure trove.