Elizabeth Roberts MacDonald facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elizabeth Roberts MacDonald
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| Born | Jane Elizabeth Gostwycke Roberts 17 February 1864 Westcock, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Died | 8 November 1922 (aged 58) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
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| Language | English |
| Nationality | Canadian |
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Samuel Archibald Roberts MacDonald
(m. 1896) |
| Children | 3 |
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Elizabeth Roberts MacDonald (born Roberts; February 17, 1864 – November 8, 1922) was a Canadian writer. She wrote many different kinds of stories and poems. She also wrote essays and books for children. Elizabeth often wrote articles for newspapers in Canada and the United States. She was also a leader in the movement for women's suffrage in Canada. This means she worked to help women get the right to vote.
Early Life and Education
Elizabeth Roberts MacDonald was born Jane Elizabeth Gostwycke Roberts. She was born on February 17, 1864, in Westcock, New Brunswick. Her father was Reverend Canon George Goodridge Roberts. He was a kind and educated gentleman. Her mother was Emma Wetmore (Bliss) Roberts.
Elizabeth had three brothers: Charles G. D. Roberts, William Carman Roberts, and Theodore Goodridge Roberts. All of them became famous writers. Their family was known for their many contributions to Canadian literature.
In winter, the family often gathered around a big table in the living room. They would read aloud stories or poems they had written that day. They often had lively discussions, but everyone was always friendly. Their parents helped them make final decisions on most topics. This informal way of learning helped them a lot. In summer, they loved to meet in the garden with their cousin, Bliss Carman. Elizabeth wrote about this beautiful garden in her book, Dream Verses and Others.
Elizabeth went to the Collegiate School in Fredericton. She also studied English, French, and German at the New Brunswick University.
Writing Career and Activism
For a short time, Elizabeth MacDonald taught at the Halifax School for the Blind in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She later returned home because of ongoing health issues.
For many years, she wrote for different magazines. Her poems appeared in famous magazines like The Century Magazine and Outing. Some of her poems include "Voices," "The Spell of the Forest," and "White Magic." She also wrote pleasing short stories. These stories were often about romantic or ideal topics. She was also a powerful essay writer.
Perhaps her best writing was her book for children, Our Little Canadian Cousin. In this book, she tells stories about the lives of Canadian children. The stories are very engaging and show many different sides of children's lives.
In 1899, she worked with her brothers, William and Theodore, on a book called Northland Lyrics. Her poems in this book were highly praised by poetry lovers. Another book of her poems, Dream Verses and Others, was published in 1906.
In 1896, Elizabeth married her cousin, Samuel Archibald Roberts MacDonald. They moved to British Columbia. There, Elizabeth became very active in the Equal Suffrage movement. This movement worked to give women the right to vote. She was the first president of the Women's Suffrage Society of Nelson, British Columbia.
Later, her family moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba. Elizabeth worked as a special writer for the Winnipeg Telegram newspaper. In 1915, she moved to Ottawa, Ontario, with her sons, Archibald G. MacDonald and Cuthbert Goodridge MacDonald. She had a daughter, Hilary, who sadly lived for less than a year.
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Elizabeth MacDonald was an important member of the Canadian Authors' Association. She also held leadership roles in many other groups. These included the Women's Press Club in Winnipeg and Ottawa. She was also involved with the Ottawa Women's Citizen Association. She was president of the Women's Suffrage Association in Nelson, British Columbia. She also held a life membership in the Women's Auxiliary of the Anglican Church. She was also the treasurer of the Women's Citizens' Association at one time. She was a member of the Anglican church.
Later Life
Elizabeth MacDonald passed away in a hospital in Ottawa on November 8, 1922. She was 58 years old. She died from problems after an accident at home where she broke her hip.
Her son, Cuthbert, also became a writer, just like his mother. Cuthbert's son, Théodore Macdonald, was a Canadian polymath. This means he was an expert in many different subjects. He was a professor of mathematics and also worked to protect human rights.
Selected Works
- An unnamed collection of poems in booklet format was published by MacDonald's father, 1888
- Northland Lyrics, 1899 (with William Carman Roberts and Theodore Goodridge Roberts)
- Our Little Canadian Cousin, 1904
- Dream Verses and Others, 1906
