Monday, October 19, 2015

Women are Persons!

October 18th is Persons Day in Canada. This annual celebration commemorates the historic ruling made by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council of Great Britain (the highest court appeal at that time) on October 18, 1929 which declared that women are "persons" under Canadian law and qualify to become members of the Canadian Senate. 

This milestone victory for Canadian women's rights was led by Emily G. Murphy, Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby, Henrietta Muir Edwards, and Louise McKinney who became known as the Famous Five.

The Women are Persons! Monument in Olympic Plaza, Calgary, Alberta (photo taken in 2012)
The bronze statues of the Famous Five were erected to commemorate their historic win of the "Persons" case. Nellie McClung (left) shows Irene Parlby (right) the newspaper headlines announcing the court's decision in favour of the Famous Five. Not pictured: Emily G. Murphy

The Women are Persons! Monument in Olympic Plaza, Calgary, Alberta (photo taken in 2012)
Henrietta Muir Edwards (left) and Louise McKinney (right) celebrate with a tea party (my kind of gals!)! The bronze cups and and saucers were a nod to the "pink teas" held by suffragists so that they could get together and plan their campaign for female equality without getting disrupted by the opposition.

The Women are Persons! Monument in Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario (photo taken in 2015)
Emily G. Murphy (left) invites the Ottawa tourists to take a seat and join the Famous Five. I would definitely join them for a cup of tea!

As a tribute to the Famous Five's pink teas, I am sharing some of the pink teawares in my collection. The Fiestaware pink teapot was an online purchase from a few years back.

This teacup once belonged to a friend of a woman that I met at work. I never actually met the friend (who was downsizing her collection) so I was touched that she gifted me such a beautiful teacup!

I love the soft pink shade and and pretty yellow flowers.

I think that the Colclough backstamp is from the late 1940s.

Let's raise our teacups to the Famous Five for championing the rights of Canadian women!

The following 6-minute video presents a nice summary about the "Persons" Case (first 2 minutes) and the Famous Five (last 4 minutes).

I'm joining the following parties this week:
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27 comments:

  1. Kelly-AnneOctober 19, 2015 at 10:36 AM

    Oh Margie...you share such interesting things...just love your sweet tea cup! So gorgeous!
    Hugs to you!

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  2. StephOctober 19, 2015 at 1:21 PM

    Some day I want to see these statues!

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  3. Brenda Leyland @ Its A Beautiful LifeOctober 19, 2015 at 1:59 PM

    Yes, I am all in favour of raising a cuppa for the Famous Five. We salute and thank them for their trail-blazing role in changing women's lives for the better.

    Wishing you a beautiful week ahead...
    Brenda

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  4. kitty@ Kitty's Kozy KitchenOctober 19, 2015 at 4:10 PM

    Thank you for the history of Persons Day, Margie. I'll raise my teacup for that, too! Your pretty fiesta ware teapot looks so pretty with your gifted teacup.

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  5. Judith @ Lavender CottageOctober 19, 2015 at 5:18 PM

    Goodness, I'd never heard of this day before. I have been enjoying the episodes of Murdoch Mysteries with the suffragettes pushing for the rights of women and to vote.
    I'll raise a pink teacup as well in honour of this important historical event.

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  6. Marilyn @ MountainTopSpiceOctober 19, 2015 at 6:09 PM

    It was quite interesting to read your sharing of the history behind Person's Day, and the fact that tea cups were involved! I just loved your gorgeous pink teapot and the pink flowered tea cup - they are just lovely! Have a blessed and wonderful "Person's Day". :)

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  7. Sandi@ Rose Chintz CottageOctober 19, 2015 at 6:43 PM

    I'll join you with my pink teacup in saluting those ladies. What an interesting post, Margie! Your teacup is really pretty. I have a few Colcloughs and they're all wonderful little treasures. The pink teapot is cute too. Thanks for sharing this with us and coming to tea.

    Autumn blessings,
    Sandi

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  8. Bernideen October 19, 2015 at 6:54 PM

    Margie:
    I have seen that same Colough teacup before. It is lovely. The statues are so wonderful as a tribute to those women. What a lovely theme you choose. I am so glad you shared.

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  9. Martha's FavoritesOctober 19, 2015 at 7:08 PM

    Great post my friend. Love the tea pot and the tea cup. It just makes it all complete. Have a great week. Blessings, Martha

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  10. JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes)October 19, 2015 at 10:04 PM

    Amazing how thinking has changed - and glad of it. Your pink teapot is so cute - love the cups too.

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  11. The Charm of HomeOctober 19, 2015 at 10:09 PM

    That is a great story with the tea!

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  12. Gina @ VictorianWannaBeOctober 20, 2015 at 12:06 AM

    Hi Margie, Thanks for the history lesson, that was interesting. Your teacup looks nice with that Fiesta ware teapot.
    Thanks so much for your recent visit and comment on my blog.
    Have a great week,
    Gina

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  13. Nora @ Teacup TalesOctober 20, 2015 at 12:43 AM

    Thank you for sharing about Persons Day. I definitely learned something. I like how the legislators named the day Persons instead of Women's Day. The name really captures the spirit of the law. You did such a nice job combining the meaning of the day with your pretty floral teacup and pink teapot.

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  14. Nora @ Teacup TalesOctober 20, 2015 at 12:43 AM

    Thank you for sharing about Persons Day. I definitely learned something. I like how the legislators named the day Persons instead of Women's Day. The name really captures the spirit of the law. You did such a nice job combining the meaning of the day with your pretty floral teacup and pink teapot.

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  15. Parsimonious Décor DarlingOctober 20, 2015 at 4:31 PM

    Such an interesting read, thank you for sharing the story of these brave women! Lovely tea to have on this meaningful day.

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  16. Mrs.TOctober 20, 2015 at 9:17 PM

    How interesting! Such an important moment in history!

    I love your pink Fiestaware teapot. Looks lovely with the floral teacup.

    Thanks so much for stopping by to see my autumn treasures. Please visit my kitchen table anytime!

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  17. Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. OlsonOctober 21, 2015 at 12:03 AM

    What a wonderful thing to celebrate! The bronze statues are wonderful. I adore your pretty pink teapot and the teacup is such a sweet gift to receive!
    hugs,
    Jann

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  18. quakerhillfarmOctober 21, 2015 at 9:53 PM

    Beautiful tribute! I love your teacup and teapot! so pretty. Have a great week, Lynn

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  19. September VioletsOctober 23, 2015 at 9:48 AM

    I love these bronze statues commemorating this triumph for women. Did you have your photo taken sitting in the chair? It would be fun to take your own teacup, set it on the table and savour that historic moment ;)
    Wendy

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  20. Antiques And TeacupsOctober 23, 2015 at 7:04 PM

    I do love the history...and the sculptures! Fiesta watre is so homey, isn't it! Love the Colclough...I have always liked that pattern! Thanks so much for linking to Tuesday Cuppa Tea!
    Ruth

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  21. Rosemary and ThymeOctober 23, 2015 at 10:11 PM

    Oh my. I have never heard of this. What an interesting piece of history. Such brave and outstanding women. It is great to see that they were honored with the bronze statues.

    Love your pretty tea cup.

    Have a lovely weekend.

    Janet

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  22. Bernideen October 24, 2015 at 11:51 AM

    This was one of my featured blogs this week! Congrats!

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  23. SueOctober 24, 2015 at 1:57 PM

    A very informative post thanks for sharing!
    Your tea china is so lovely!
    Blessings,
    Sue

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  24. Michele M./ Finch RestOctober 25, 2015 at 9:31 PM

    That's so interesting, Margie! I never heard of these gals - thanks for the "Learnin," ma'am!

    That's a gorgeous teacup - I used to own one like that but sold it years ago - makes me wish I hadn't for sure! : - )

    Hugs! ♥

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  25. Michele M./ Finch RestOctober 25, 2015 at 9:31 PM

    That's so interesting, Margie! I never heard of these gals - thanks for the "Learnin," ma'am!

    That's a gorgeous teacup - I used to own one like that but sold it years ago - makes me wish I hadn't for sure! : - )

    Hugs! ♥

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  26. Jill HarrisonOctober 28, 2015 at 10:41 AM

    Goodness! well I am glad to hear they decreed that "women are persons" !! Have a great week and thank you so much for stopping by my blog this week.

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  27. Blue Jeans And TeacupsOctober 29, 2015 at 9:09 PM

    I really enjoyed this post. The video was excellent, and that statue featuring a tea toast is awesome.

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