Edith Archibald
Encyclopedia
Edith Jessie Archibald (1854–1936) was a Canadian suffragist and writer who led a group of Women's Christian Temperance Union (WTCU) members on raids of three illicit saloons in Cow Bay, Nova Scotia
.
and New York
, where her father, Sir Edward Mortimer Archibald
, was British Consul General. At the age of twenty Edith married her second cousin Charles Archibald, a mining engineer posted to Cow Bay and then Halifax
- where he became vice-president of the Bank of Nova Scotia. Living in Cow Bay with the help of servants and boarding school
, Edith raised four children. As a woman of means with relatively few housekeeping
and childcare
duties she had ample free time and used it to carry out social activism.
Superintendent of the Parlour Meetings Department, which encouraged social events in members' homes as a method of organizing temperance
activities and educating women. Enthusiastic about the benefits of Parlour Meetings, Edith surveyed the 54 local unions to find their assessment of the meetings, published a circular letter in the official national paper of the WCTU, and also printed it as a leaflet
. Edith Archibald realized that local action was necessary to achieve the national goals of the organization.
(VON). She was president of the Halifax Local Council of Women from 1896–1906 and president of the Halifax VON from 1897-1901. Edith battled for decades for women's right to vote and led a 1917 delegation
of women to convince Nova Scotia Premier George Henry Murray
not to block the suffrage
bill; the legislature finally granted this right in 1918.
She also found time in her later life to write poetry, short-stories and articles and was the author two books. Her first, published in 1924, was a biography of her father titled Life and Letters of Sir Edward Mortimer Archibald, K.C.M.G., C.B. The second, The Token, was a novel published in 1930. The story takes place after the American Civil War and features the exploits of one Angus McRory. In a review of the book, the London Morning Post declared it to be a work of a promising young writer, unaware the author was in her seventies at the time.
Cow Bay, Nova Scotia
Cow Bay is a community within Halifax Regional Municipality Nova Scotia on the Eastern Shore on Route 322 along the scenic Marine Drive.-History:...
.
Early life
Born in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1854, Edith Archibald belonged to a very prominent family with a history of public service. She received some of her early education in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where her father, Sir Edward Mortimer Archibald
Edward Mortimer Archibald
Sir Edward Mortimer Archibald, KCMG was a British diplomat, a lawyer and an office holder active during the transition to responsible government in the colony of Newfoundland....
, was British Consul General. At the age of twenty Edith married her second cousin Charles Archibald, a mining engineer posted to Cow Bay and then Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
- where he became vice-president of the Bank of Nova Scotia. Living in Cow Bay with the help of servants and boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
, Edith raised four children. As a woman of means with relatively few housekeeping
Housekeeping
Housekeeping is the act of cleaning the rooms and furnishings of a home. It is one of the many chores included in the term housework. Housecleaning includes activities such as disposing of rubbish, cleaning dirty surfaces, dusting and vacuuming. It may also involve some outdoor chores, such as...
and childcare
Childcare
Child care means caring for and supervising child/children usually from 0–13 years of age. In the United States child care is increasingly referred to as early childhood education due to the understanding of the impact of early experiences of the developing child...
duties she had ample free time and used it to carry out social activism.
WCTU
Edith Archibald became involved with the WCTU in the 1880s and served as MaritimeMaritimes
The Maritime provinces, also called the Maritimes or the Canadian Maritimes, is a region of Eastern Canada consisting of three provinces, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. On the Atlantic coast, the Maritimes are a subregion of Atlantic Canada, which also includes the...
Superintendent of the Parlour Meetings Department, which encouraged social events in members' homes as a method of organizing temperance
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
activities and educating women. Enthusiastic about the benefits of Parlour Meetings, Edith surveyed the 54 local unions to find their assessment of the meetings, published a circular letter in the official national paper of the WCTU, and also printed it as a leaflet
Leaflet
A leaflet in botany is a part of a compound leaf. A leaflet may resemble an entire leaf, but it is not borne on a stem as a leaf is, but rather on a vein of the whole leaf. Compound leaves are common in many plant families...
. Edith Archibald realized that local action was necessary to achieve the national goals of the organization.
Later accomplishments
She served as a leader in the National Council of Women of Canada and the Victorian Order of NursesVictorian Order of Nurses
The Victorian Order of Nurses is a non-profit charitable organization founded in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on January 29, 1897 created as a gift for Queen Victoria for the purposes of home care and social services. It is registered as a charity the Canada Revenue Agency, charity number...
(VON). She was president of the Halifax Local Council of Women from 1896–1906 and president of the Halifax VON from 1897-1901. Edith battled for decades for women's right to vote and led a 1917 delegation
Delegation
Delegation is the assignment of authority and responsibility to another person to carry out specific activities. However the person who delegated the work remains accountable for the outcome of the delegated work. Delegation empowers a subordinate to make decisions, i.e...
of women to convince Nova Scotia Premier George Henry Murray
George Henry Murray
George Henry Murray was a Nova Scotia politician who served as the province's ninth Premier for twenty-seven years, the longest unbroken tenure for a head of government in Canadian history. He was born in Grand Narrows, Nova ScotiaDespite his later political longevity, Murray's early political...
not to block the suffrage
Suffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
bill; the legislature finally granted this right in 1918.
She also found time in her later life to write poetry, short-stories and articles and was the author two books. Her first, published in 1924, was a biography of her father titled Life and Letters of Sir Edward Mortimer Archibald, K.C.M.G., C.B. The second, The Token, was a novel published in 1930. The story takes place after the American Civil War and features the exploits of one Angus McRory. In a review of the book, the London Morning Post declared it to be a work of a promising young writer, unaware the author was in her seventies at the time.