Ted Russell (Canadian politician) facts for kids

Ted Russell (born June 27, 1904, died October 16, 1977) was a very important person from Newfoundland. He was a talented writer, a dedicated teacher, and a politician who helped his community.

Ted Russell's Life Story

Early Life and Education

Ted Russell was born in Coley's Point, a place in Conception Bay, Colony of Newfoundland. His parents were Edward Russell and Sarah Jane Kelly. He went to school in Coley's Point and later at Bishop Feild College. After finishing high school at just 16 years old, he immediately started working as a teacher.

Teaching and Public Service

During the 1920s and 1930s, Ted taught in many small communities across Newfoundland. He also studied at Memorial University College at different times. Later, he became a magistrate, which is like a judge who handles smaller legal cases. In 1943, he took on a new role. He became the head of a government group that helped set up and support "co-operatives" across Newfoundland. These were groups where people worked together to share resources and help each other.

Joining Politics

In 1949, Newfoundland became part of Canada. After this big change, Ted Russell decided to enter politics. He worked in Joey Smallwood's government for two years as the Minister of Natural Resources. However, he didn't agree with some of Smallwood's plans for industry. Because of this, he left the government and politics soon after. For a few years, he worked selling insurance. Then, he went back to teaching, first in high schools and later at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Ted Russell: The Writer

The "Uncle Mose" Stories

Even though he hadn't written much creatively before, Ted Russell started something special in 1954. From 1954 to 1961, he wrote and told stories on CBC Radio. These stories were set in a made-up Newfoundland village called Pigeon Inlet. Ted used the voice of a character named "Uncle Mose" to tell them.

The stories were full of interesting and fun characters. They were usually positive and hopeful, but also showed real life. Many of them were "tall tales," which are exaggerated stories. But some were based on Ted's own experiences living in rural Newfoundland. These stories were not just for fun. They also talked about important issues of the day. They even gave helpful information to people who were getting used to big changes in their government.

Books and Plays

Two books of these "Uncle Mose" stories were published in the 1970s. Three more books came out in the 1980s. Ted Russell also wrote several radio plays. His most popular play was The Holdin' Ground. This play was even made into a television show. It still airs sometimes on the Newfoundland TV station NTV as part of its "Captain Atlantis" show.

Music Albums

After Ted Russell passed away, two music albums were released. Both albums featured stories taken from his popular CBC Radio programs.

• The Chronicles Of Uncle Mose - 1979
• Uncle Mose From Pigeon Inlet - 1981

In 2011, Ted Russell was recognized as a "Person of Provincial Significance." This means he was an important person in the history of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Ted Russell's Family Life

Ted Russell married Dora Oake in 1935. They had five children together. Two of their children became well-known in their own fields. Their daughter, Elizabeth Miller, became a famous scholar. She is known for her work on the book Dracula and the historical figure Vlad the Impaler. Their son, Kelly Russell, became a popular musician from Newfoundland.