A quick look at Emily Murphy

Born in Cookstown, Ontario in 1868, Emily Ferguson Murphy was the third of six children of Isaac Ferguson, a wealthy landowner and businessman.

In 1887, Emily married Arthur Murphy, an Anglican minister, and they moved west. Emily was a natural leader and had a strong interest in the protection of women and children. Her work for women's rights was strongly supported and encouraged by many rural women and, after several setbacks, she pressured the Alberta government into passing the Dower Act in 1911. This Act protected a wife's right to a one-third share of her husband's property. Emily actively organized women; she founded the Federated Women's Institute for rural women and later became a member of the Equal Franchise League, where she worked with activist Nellie McClung to obtain the vote for women.

Her dedication to the protection of women and children frequently brought Emily before the courts which was unusual for a woman in the early part of the 20th century. Despite facing disdain and ridicule from men, she was appointed the police magistrate for the city of Edmonton in 1916, becoming the first woman magistrate in the British Empire. In the courts, she was frequently exposed to the problems with drugs and narcotics, resulting in her writing copious articles advocating changes to the laws.

These articles were published in 1922 as The Black Candle, under her pen name, Janey Canuck. Her writings led to legislation governing narcotics that was not changed until the 1960s.

Amember of what is now known as the Famous Five (together with Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney, McClung, and Henrietta Muir Edwards) carried the Persons Case to the Privy Council in England where, on October 18, 1929, the decision was handed down that women were persons qualified to become members of the Senate of Canada. Emily Murphy was still involved in social activism and research when she died in 1933.

Source: www.collectionscanada. gc.ca