Adelaide Plumptre
Encyclopedia
Adelaide Wilson Plumptre (1874–1948) was a Canadian activist, diplomat, and municipal politician in Toronto
.
She was born Adelaide Proctor in Surrey, England and studied at Somerville College
, Oxford University. There she met and married H.P. Plumtree, the vice-principal of the theological college. They moved to Toronto in 1901 when he accepted the position of principal at Wycliffe College
. Upon arrival she took a job at Havergal College
, an elite Anglican girl's school.
H.P. Plumtree became an important figure in the local Anglican church, rising to become rector of St. James Cathedral. Adelaide Plumptre became a committed activist in an array of different causes. She was active in the YWCA
, a founding member of Girl Guides of Canada
, and active in the women's movement and the Canadian Council of Women. She was most involved with the Red Cross. She became Director of Supplies of the Canadian Red Cross in September 1914 and remained in that role for the whole of the First World War. She took the lead in organizing the logistics of the Red Cross' wartime relief efforts across Canada and overseas. She also directed the communications and recruitment of the Red Cross, writing much of the material herself. She was the first woman named to the executive of the Canadian Red Cross, In 1918 she was appointed by the federal government to be chair of the Woman's War Council.
In 1926 she was elected to the school board. She served on the board for nine years, and became the first woman elected chair of the Toronto Board of Education. In 1931 she was made Canada's official delegate to the League of Nations
in Geneva, one of only two women to be a delegate to the League. She was also the Canadian delegate to the International Red Cross meeting held in Tokyo in 1934.
In 1936 she became the third woman ever elected to Toronto City Council
. On city council she was a committed activist for the city's poor. In 1941 she attempted to become the first woman to win a seat on the powerful Board of Control
, but lost by only a few hundred votes. During the Second World War she resumed her work with the Red Cross and led the Prisoner of War Bureau. She was awarded a CBE
in 1943.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
She was born Adelaide Proctor in Surrey, England and studied at Somerville College
Somerville College, Oxford
Somerville College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, and was one of the first women's colleges to be founded there...
, Oxford University. There she met and married H.P. Plumtree, the vice-principal of the theological college. They moved to Toronto in 1901 when he accepted the position of principal at Wycliffe College
Wycliffe College
Wycliffe College is an Anglican Church of Canada seminary federated with the University of Toronto. It is evangelical and Low church in orientation. On the other hand, the University of Toronto's other Anglican college, the University of Trinity College is Anglo-Catholic in outlook. While being an...
. Upon arrival she took a job at Havergal College
Havergal College
Havergal College is an independent boarding and day school for girls from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Named for English hymn composer, author and humanitarian Frances Ridley Havergal, the school was founded in 1894 by a group of men led by The Honourable H...
, an elite Anglican girl's school.
H.P. Plumtree became an important figure in the local Anglican church, rising to become rector of St. James Cathedral. Adelaide Plumptre became a committed activist in an array of different causes. She was active in the YWCA
YWCA
The YWCA USA is the United States branch of a women's membership movement that strives to create opportunities for women's growth, leadership and power in order to attain a common vision—to eliminate racism and empower women. The YWCA is a non-profit organization, the first of which was founded in...
, a founding member of Girl Guides of Canada
Girl Guides of Canada
Girl Guides of Canada - Guides du Canada is the national Guiding association of Canada. Guiding in Canada started in 1910 and was among the founding members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 1928. As of 2006, the association had 116,206 members.-History:Mary Malcolmson...
, and active in the women's movement and the Canadian Council of Women. She was most involved with the Red Cross. She became Director of Supplies of the Canadian Red Cross in September 1914 and remained in that role for the whole of the First World War. She took the lead in organizing the logistics of the Red Cross' wartime relief efforts across Canada and overseas. She also directed the communications and recruitment of the Red Cross, writing much of the material herself. She was the first woman named to the executive of the Canadian Red Cross, In 1918 she was appointed by the federal government to be chair of the Woman's War Council.
In 1926 she was elected to the school board. She served on the board for nine years, and became the first woman elected chair of the Toronto Board of Education. In 1931 she was made Canada's official delegate to the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
in Geneva, one of only two women to be a delegate to the League. She was also the Canadian delegate to the International Red Cross meeting held in Tokyo in 1934.
In 1936 she became the third woman ever elected to Toronto City Council
Toronto City Council
The Toronto City Council is the governing body of the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors....
. On city council she was a committed activist for the city's poor. In 1941 she attempted to become the first woman to win a seat on the powerful Board of Control
Toronto Board of Control
Toronto Board of Control was a part of the municipal government of Toronto, Canada from 1904 until its abolition in 1969 and served as the executive committee of Toronto City Council. It consisted of four councillors elected city wide and was presided over by the mayor. Each voter could vote for up...
, but lost by only a few hundred votes. During the Second World War she resumed her work with the Red Cross and led the Prisoner of War Bureau. She was awarded a CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
in 1943.