Faithful fan sends friendly note

Wanda Backus Kelly’s 25-year collection of Herstory calendars.

Ending Herstory: The Canadian Women’s Calendar after more than 40 years of publishing was a difficult decision to make, and has been especially disappointing to our fans who buy our calendar annually.

When Wanda Backus Kelly read that the Saskatoon Women’s Calendar Collective was unsure of 2016’s format, she sent us this photo of her collection, along with a wonderful message letting us know how much the calendar means to her:

Hi Ladies,

I am taking a moment, wringing out the last few glorious bits of holiday time, to switch over from last year’s HERSTORY daybook, as I have done at this time of year for 25 years now, to the new edition. Although I ordered it back in the summer, and have had it sitting on my desk for a while now, it’s usually only at this time of year, after the mayhem of the holidays begins to subside that I can take the time to wax nostalgic on the past year, transfer all the dates from the year-ahead section at the back of the past year’s into the new book, mark out dates I already know in advance, and generally get a head start on planning and organizing my precious time going into the next year.

However, as I looked through the 2015 edition, taking time as I like to, meeting all of the women for each week, and reading about changes to your cooperative at the end of the book, I am saddened and shocked, although not terribly surprised, to read that you’re unsure of 2016’s format. Hence, I am inclined to share with you the quarter century’s worth of paper HERSTORYs I have used, kept and valued.

Comparing a well-loved calendar to a fresh, new copy.

Next I’ve taken a pic of what HERSTORY looks like when I first start of the year with it: new, crisp, clean and as-yet unadulterated with my appointments, ongoing rants, anecdotes, lists and general daily ramblings. Then, you can see what the poor thing looks like 365 days later: purse-worn, tea-stained, wearied and weathered – I think I must adopt the same appearance by year end, too!

HERSTORY has been a part of my life since a friend of my mother’s first introduced her to this calendar, as a gift one Christmas. My mom passed it on to me, as she kept her world organized on the ever-present beside-the-phone church calendar, and knew I liked to keep, smaller, portable versions at the ready in my purse. I have faithfully used your calendar since that first one was gifted to me in 1991. HERSTORY 2015 makes it 25 in total.

More than just an appointment book, I have used your calendar as a diary, confidant, confessor, counselor and budget spreadsheet. My best friend is under strict orders to find the box I store them in and burn them immediately, should I come to some premature and unfortunate end, because, beside herself and to a lesser degree my long-suffering spouse, these daybooks hold truths I’d prefer not to have laid bare to the likes of my children, or heavens knows where else for that matter! While I completely understand the turn of the tides in the ways in which people keep track of daily appointments, and manage their time, I wanted you all to know, for what it’s worth to you, that I still very much value and use a paper daybook, and that I would hope you’ll find some way to continue to publish the paper version for 2016. I doubt I’d find a similar organizer that both inspires and organizes in the same way your collective has created this product. All the best for 2015 – here’s hoping I can continue to add more HERSTORYs to my collection.

The members of the Saskatoon Women’s Calendar Collective were so happy to hear from Wanda, and we want to hear from you, too! What are your memories of the Herstory calendar? 

This week in Herstory: Annie Maude McKay

Annie Maude (Nan) McKay via the U of S Centennial Scrapbook.

Herstorian Ashleigh Mattern reflects on writing this week’s profile about Annie Maude McKay, and the help she received from historian Duff Spafford, who died in May 2014.

I first learned about Annie Maude (Nan) McKay from University of Saskatchewan historian Duff Spafford. He and I were both Sheaf alumni, although separated by decades. He’d worked at the U of S student newspaper in the 1950s, and I’d only finished my run at the paper in 2011. Along with several other outstanding alumni, we were tasked with organizing the Sheaf’s centennial celebration in 2012.

Duff worked tirelessly to dig up stories about interesting alumni from the early years, and he quickly brought Nan to my attention.

When Nan graduated in 1915, she became the first Métis and the first Aboriginal woman to graduate from the U of S, and in 1916, the SRC chose Nan, an alumnus, to fill in at the Sheaf while so many students were stationed overseas during the First World War, making her the first female editor at the U of S paper.

Nan was large in my mind when I met with the Saskatoon Women’s Calendar Collective in the fall of 2012 to help plan the 2014 issue. She would be the first woman I would research and write about for Herstory: The Canadian Women’s Calendar, sparking in me a new interest in history and feminism.

I fell in love with Annie, this woman I would never meet. She died the year after I was born. A librarian, an alpine hiker, a hockey player, and a Roughriders fan. Would we have been friends had our paths crossed? I like to think so.

In many ways, I owe my fledgling career as an amateur historian to Duff Spafford. He had a passion for history that was infectious, and if he hadn’t already shown me how exciting history could be, I may never have joined the Herstory collective.

Duff Spafford died on May 14, 2014. He was one of the many people who touch the pages of Herstory indirectly. While I haven’t been a part of the collective long enough to know for sure, I wouldn’t be surprised to find out if he’d had an influence on the publication in previous years as well.

This week in Herstory, we feature a profile of Annie McKay, an amazing woman who set the stage for future generations of women during her time at University of Saskatchewan. A woman who might not have been featured in the pages of Herstory without the help of one Duff Spafford.

Duff Spafford, via the U of S Archives digital project “A Tribute to Duff Spafford.”

Herstory 2015 launch a hit!

We had an amazing time at the Herstory 2015 launch on Thursday, Oct. 30! Many supporters came out to McNally Robinson in Saskatoon, including one of Herstory’s founding members, Erin Shoemaker. We’re so glad to have shared the evening with them all.

Cutting the cake with Herstorians both current and former, including founding member Erin Shoemaker front and centre!

A close up of the delectable celebratory cake!

Yvonne Hanson makes open remarks to a packed crowd!

Kristine Flynn reads about the amazing Thelma Finlayson, who celebrated her 100th birthday this year.

A fond farewell to the SWCC and Herstory: The Canadian Women’s Calendar

After more than 40 years of creating an annual calendar, the Saskatoon Women’s Calendar Collective has decided to cease publication of Herstory: The Canadian Women’s Calendar.

This was not an easy decision for the current collective! But with falling sales, and a trend toward using online applications in place of print calendars, we thought this might be the best course of action.

We are deeply grateful for the work the first five members began when the collective formed in 1972: Thanks to June Bantjes, Beth Foster, Gwen Gray, Colleen Pollreis, and Erin Shoemaker. More than 70 women have since been involved with the calendar, from various backgrounds and of various ages, bringing a wide range of perspectives and experiences.

The SWCC sought to make history, as defined by traditional academics, more reflective of the lives and achievements of the women who helped shape Canada — and it succeeded. At times, Herstory has hit bestseller status in Canada, and has become a staple of research library bookshelves.

This may be the end of the Herstory calendar and the SWCC as it has been known in the past, but we are also entering into a new era. The collective plans to rename and reform, launching as a new but familiar entity in 2016.

We’re considering many new possibilities for our brand, but one thing will remain constant: We will still be dedicated to telling and celebrating the lives and stories of Canadian women.

Until then, stay tuned to the Herstory blog, Facebook page, and Twitter feed for regular updates and news, and join us at the last launch on Thursday, Oct. 30 at McNally Robinson in Saskatoon.

-Ashleigh Mattern, on behalf of the SWCC

From the archives: Thérèse Casgrain (Herstory 1974)

Thérèse Casgrain in 1942.

Thérèse Casgrain is best known as the first woman to be elected the leader of a political party in Canada. From 1982 to 1990, and again from 2001 to 2010, the Thérèse Casgrain Volunteer Award was given to volunteers “whose social commitment and persistent efforts have contributed significantly to the well-being of their fellow Canadians” (Canadian Encyclopedia). From 2004 to 2012, an image of the Casgrain award medal also ran on the reverse of the Canadian $50 note, alongside the Famous Five sculpture by Barbara Paterson. The dissolution of the Casgrain award and the removal of the medal from the bank note has led to criticism of the Harper government.

Thérèse Casgrain [July 10, 1896-Nov. 3, 1981] entered the public sphere during the federal election of 1921 when she conducted a highly successful campaign for her husband who was prevented from doing so by illness. She became sole president of the Provincial Franchise Committee (later, the League For Women’s Rights) in 1928 – a position she held for 14 years. In November 1929 she appeared before the Dorion Commission which had been set up to look into such things as a woman’s right to her own earnings the right to bring law suits without her husband’s consent, etc. One of the main obstacles to winning suffrage in Quebec was the lack of support from rural French women. She was able to reach many of them through her radio program “Femina,” which was broadcast over French and English networks, and by speaking at conventions.

Following the war and the final achievement of the vote in 1940, she continued faithfully to press for child protection laws, prison reform, government appointments for women and amendments to the civil code. She became vice-president of the National Federation of Liberal Women and in 1948 resigned to join the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation Party. She soon became vice-chairperson of the national CCF executive and in 1951 was chosen Quebec Social Democratic Party leader, which she held until 1957 – the first… woman party leader anywhere in Canada.

When the NDP succeeded the CCF in 1961, Casgrain continued her active support, holding the position of national vice-chairperson. “I can’t imagine a woman who has the best interest of her children at heart not taking an interest in politics,” she says.