Nellie McClung
by
Lauren Dugas
WHAT NELLIE ACCOMPLISHED
Nellie McClung accomplished many things in her life time. One of the most famous accomplishments was her help in getting the vote for women. Nellie McClung (nee Mooney) was Canada's first feminist. Nellie was acknowledged for her great quotes. Some say they always could count on Nellie for a great quote.
Nellie was also a part of the famous five. The famous five included Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Emily Murphy, and Louise McKinney. In 1927 the famous five submitted a petition for a re-interpretation of "Persons" under the British North America act. The famous five also got the Privy Council (in England) to rule in their favor to enable women to serve in the Canadian Senate.
Not only did Nellie do a lot for the women's movement, but she was a great writer. Nellie wrote many books, 16 to be exact. Nellie also wrote articles for many American and Canadian magazines.
FAMILY LIFE
Nellie was born on October 20, 1873 in Chatsworth, Ontario. Her mother was Letitia McCurdy Mooney, and her father was John Mooney. Nellie had five siblings, the eldest of them was Will, the others were George, Elizabeth (or Lizzie), Hannah and Jack. Nellie was the baby of the family. In the winter of 1881 (Nellie was 8) Lizzie died of pneumonia.
In Manitou, on August 25, 1896 Nellie McClung married Robert Wesley McClung (Wes). Robert was a druggist. In 1928, Nellie gave birth to her first child Jack McClung. In 1930, Florence McClung was born and in 1937 Horace was born. When Nellie McClung first met her mother-in-law Annie E. McClung, she thought she was the most ideal mother-in-law. Annie encouraged Nellie to write the first of her 16 novels, "Sowing Seeds in Danny". Annie McClung was the president of the Women's Christian Temperance Union (W.C.T.U.).
In 1911, the McClung family moved to Winnipeg with their four children, there her fifth child Mark was born. Then, in 1933, the family moved to Vancouver.
In 1909, Nellie McClung offered her house to E. Cora Hind, she spent eight days there. To E.Cora Hind, Nellie was a very busy woman and had a big silent husband.
Nellie viewed her marriage to Robert as a happy one. They would have so many happy times talking things over, so this way they would never get in each others hair.
HOW IT STARTED
Nellie was always the curious one while growing up. At a community picnic in the summer Nellie first questioned Women's rights, Nellie was having a fun time with her siblings. They had just announced a running race, Nellie knew that she could beat the boys to the finish line. Before the race could start Nellie was stopped by a hand, the hand belonged to the picnic coordinator. He told Nellie she wasn't allowed to race, Nellie questioned this he told her ladies were not allowed to run, she argued that she could beat any boy there. Still he told her to go, Nellie asked why, he told her it wasn't right for little girls to run and that it wasn't proper. Nellie was told to be quiet.
INTERESTING FACTS
 | Heroines even have heroines. Nellie McClung's heroine was E . Cora Hind, who was a writer for the Manitoba Free Press during Nellie's teen years. E. Cora Hind and Nellie McClung even became friends and Nellie even invited Mrs. Hind into her home. |
| With the help of Nellie McClung, Manitoba was the first province in Canada to give women the right to vote in 1916. |
| Some newspapers and magazines criticized Nellie for her views on equality. Some nicknamed her "Calamity Nell" |
| Nellie was so famous they named a school after her, it was called, "Nellie McClung Girls Junior High" |
| "The Famous Five" (Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Emily Murphy, and Louise McKinney) who in 1927 submitted a petition for a reinterpretation of "persons". Which now includes females as "persons" |
| "Sowing Seeds In Danny" was Nellie's first novel. Published in 1908, it was a national best seller. |
| Nellie was many things, such as a suffragist, reformer, legislator, author, feminist, lecturer, reader, entertainer, elocutionist, politician, mother, and a great women. |
| Nellie toured the United States and Canada as a effective speaker. |
| Nellie humored her audience with her humorous arguments. |
| Not only did Nellie write many books, but she wrote many short stories and articles for Canadian and American magazines. |
| Nellie was credited for her feminism and for her need for further progress. |
| As a young girl, Nellie questioned why girls weren't allowed to run. Some say this was where it all started. |
| Even though she became a teacher, Nellie only started school at the age of 10. By the age of 16 Nellie became a teacher. Nellie then taught until she married Robert Wesley McClung (1986). |
WHAT NELLIE SUPPORTED
Nellie McClung supported many things that made equality between the sexes. Nellie McClung also supported many issues with mothers and children. Nellie supported public health and dental health care for school children. Nellie also supported that married women should get property rights and that there should be mother allowances. Nellie McClung also felt that there was a need for further advances in economic independence of women.