Agnes Macphail Bibliography
and Resource List

This resource is meant to provide a wide spectrum of available resources for researchers of all kinds who are interested in learning more about Agnes Macphail. The list that follows is by no means exhaustive or complete, so please feel free to contact the GHPL administrators by email with your suggestions for additions to the list.

Websites

About.com: Canada Online. (2007). Agnes Macphail. Retrieved May 30, 2007, from http://canadaonline.about.com/cs/womengov/p/agnesmacphail.htm

• Includes some links and a timeline of Macphail’s political history

Answers.com. (2007). Agnes Macphail. Biography. Retrieved June 3, 2007, from http://www.answers.com/topic/agnes-macphail

• A federated search result about Agnes Macphail, including information from Britannica Concise Encyclopedia, Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, and Biography

Black, N. (2007). Agnes Campbell Macphail. Canadian Encyclopedia Historica. Retrieved May 30, 2007, from http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1SEC823856

• Offers a biographical and political overview containing links to other Canadian Encyclopedia articles on organizations and biographies
• References (2) are French, and French & Stewart biographies

Brown, W. (1999). Agnes Macphail: The first woman elected to Canada’s House of Commons. Electoral Insight (November 1999) [Electronic edition]. Retrieved May 30, 2007 from http://www.elections.ca/eca/eim/article_search/article.asp?id=108

• Short essay about Macphail’s political and biographical history, focusing on her beliefs for reform of gender and penitentiary policies and practices
• Interesting facts included about '"McPhail" to "Macphail" name spelling and the fact that the family headstone is missing the “A”
• Bibliography includes National Film Board film, Crowley, Pennington, Russell, and Stewart & French

Canadian Christian Heritage Website. (2006). Agnes Macphail. Biographies. Retrieved June 3, 2007, from http://www.ccheritage.ca/biographies/agnesmacphail.php

• A biography written by Terry Crowley lifted directly and with permission from the book Canada: Portraits of faith (1998) by Michael D. Clark

Historica. (2005). Agnes Macphail. Historica Minutes. Women. Retrieved May 30, 2007, from http://www.histori.ca/minutes/minute.do;jsessionid=60CFC5A0F953E0B7CABF9FA0D38AF311.tomcat1?id=10212

• Features a one minute info-drama video about Agnes Macphail’s visit to Kingston penitentiary and her parliamentary bid for overhaul of the penitentiary system

Library and Archives Canada. (2000). Agnes Campbell Macphail. Celebrating Women’s Achievements. Women in Government. Retrieved May 29, 2007, from http://www.collectionscanada.ca/women/002026-826-e.html

• A brief overview of Macphail’s life and career
• Short bibliography includes biographies and official documents

Macphail, B. (2001). Agnes Campbell Macphail Website. Retrieved May 30, 2007, from http://www.clanphail.org/roots/agnes_mcphail/

• A personal multi-page website based on biographical and genealogical facts about Macphail and family history
• Contains a variety of photographs reproduced with and without permission (undetectable)
• Also points to the Agnes Macphail Award

National Farmers Union of Ontario. (2007). History of the N.F.U. Retrieved November 22, 2007 from http://www.nfu.ca/on/misc_files/History.htm

Staton, P. (2007). Agnes Macphail - First Woman Member of Parliament. CoolWomen. Retrieved May 30, 2007 from http://www.coolwomen.org/coolwomen/cwsite.nsf/0/35B5681AD8B50FC88525653F006D54B8?OpenDocument

• A biographical overview on a website that encourages and includes discussion by readers. Only one link to another CoolWomen article.
• Bibliography includes Nat’l Library of Canada, Nat’l Film Board film, County of Grey—Owen Sound Museum, Eminent Women of Grey County
• Other resources lists Crowley, Pennington, Bashevkin, Robertson, and Sharpe

Wikipedia. (2007). Agnes Macphail. Retrieved 14:44, May 30, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Agnes_Macphail&oldid=131909367

• A thorough article that includes many links to related topics within Wikipedia, includes some very accessible external links; bibliography is limited to Elections Canada documents

Local history

Grey County Historical Society. (1982). Township of Proton 1857-1982: A Historical Sketch. Owen Sound, On.: Stan Brown Printers, 61-63.

Harrison, K. (Ed.) (1992). Priceville and its Roots (Routes). Owen Sound, On. : Stan Brown.

Hubbert, M.Y. (1982). Little Schools of Grey. Heathcote, On.: Conestoga Press

• Contains photographs and reference to Agnes Macphail as a school child and as a teacher
• Also may be used to cross reference other photographs
• Suggests looking at the Gazetteer and Directory of the County of Grey, 1865-1866, by W.W. Smith for an earlier compilation of township school information

Hubbert, M.Y. (Ed.). (1986). Split Rail Country: A History of Artemesia. Stan Brown: Owen Sound, On.

Archives & Repositories

Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
www.collectionscanada.gc.ca

South Grey Museum, Flesherton, Ontario
www.greyhighlandsmuseum.com

Grey Root Museum & Archives, Owen Sound, Ontario
www.greyroots.com

Archives of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario
www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/index.html

Books

Carstairs, S. & T. Higgins. (2004). Dancing backwards: A social history of Canadian women in politics. Winnipeg: Heartland Associates Inc.

Crowley, T. (1990). Agnes Macphail and the politics of equality. Toronto: James Lorimer & Co.

Gibson, S.F. (1992). Agnes Macphail: Letters from the Commons. (J. Lowry, Illus.). Owen Sound, On.: Ginger Press.

• Poetry by S.F. Gibson, quotations from Agnes Macphail, illustrated by J. Lowry

Mann, D. (2007). Aggie's Storms. Port Elgin, On.: Brucedale Press.

• A book for young readers that recreates the childhood of Agnes Macphail

Pennington, D. (1989). Agnes Macphail: Reformer. Toronto: Simon & Pierre.

Pennington, D. (Ed.) (1989). A Brave & Glorious Adventure: The letters & speeches of Agnes Macphail. Toronto: Simon & Pierre.

Sharpe, S. (1995). Gilded ghetto: Women and political power in Canada. Toronto: HarperCollins.

• Looks at the halls of the parliament of Canada and the role of women in a world of male privilege and influence.

Stewart, M & French, D. (1959). Ask no quarter. Toronto: Longmans, Green and Co.

Wyatt, R. (2003). Agnes Macphail: Champion of the underdog. Boucherville, Que.: Marc Veilleux Imprimeur Inc.

Articles

Crowley, T. (1991). Agnes Macphail and Canadian working women. Labour/Le Travail, 1991 (28), 129-48.

French, D. (1967). Agnes Macphail: Parliament’s first lady. Family Herald 1(January 5), 38, 61, 63.

Gibb, A. (1986). Agnes Campbell Macphail People’s Advocate. Rural Voice (December), 24-27.

MacDonald, D. (Mar 31, 1993). Macphail took first steps toward politics of equality. Toronto Star. A19

Film

Historica. (n.d.). Women: Agnes Macphail. Historica Minutes. [Motion Picture]. Retrieved May 30, 2007, from http://www.histori.ca/minutes/minute.do?id=10212

Wescott, M. (1980). Canada Vignettes: Agnes Campbell MacPhail. [Motion Picture]. Toronto: National Film Board of Canada.

Dale, H. (1994). Heritage Series: Agnes Macphail. [Motion Picture]. Patrick Watson Productions.

Great North Productions. ([1999?]). The Canadians: Agnes Macphail M.P. [Motion Picture]. TorontoOn.: Magic Lantern Communications.

Radio

CBC Archives. (2006). Dec. 6, 1921 Canada's first female MP elected. Retrieved November 22, 2007, from http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-73-1994-12753-10/on_this_day/politics_economy/twt

CBC Archives. (2006). Should 18-year-olds vote? Retrieved November 22, 2007, from http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-73-1450-9557/politics_economy/voting_rights/clip5

Armitage, A. (1973). Those who led the way. (K. Morris Ann.) [CFOS Radio Series].

Agnes Macphail Writings

Articles
See:

• Farmers’ Sun
• Globe & Mail
• Dundalk Herald
• Durham Review
• Flesherton Advance
• Markdale Standard

Other

Macphail, A. [c.1953]. My Ain Folk. [Unpublished family history].

Macphail, A. [c.1950]. Untitled. [Unpublished autobiography]

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