Phyllis McKie
Encyclopedia
Phyllis Gertrude McKie, Lady McKie was a Canadian
historian
and photographer from Montreal
who died in 1983. She was born Phyllis Ross but became Phyllis Birks in 1929 upon her marriage to Gerald Walker Birks, a son of the Montreal businessman Henry Birks
. Upon her second marriage, in 1956 to the musician Sir William McKie, she became Lady McKie. She continued however to use the surname "Ross" for professional purposes.
Her principal work is perhaps The Seaflower Venture, a fictionalized account of the life of the 18th Century merchant Charles Robin
.
Her papers and photographs are in multiple locations: among them are the archives of the Société Jersiaise
; the Cambridge University Library
(Royal Commonwealth Society Library
); the Maritime History Archive of the Memorial University of Newfoundland
; and the Library and Archives of Canada
.
She was a great-aunt of the bass-baritone
Gerald Finley
, and her husband Sir William did much to encourage him in the early stages of his musical education.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
and photographer from Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
who died in 1983. She was born Phyllis Ross but became Phyllis Birks in 1929 upon her marriage to Gerald Walker Birks, a son of the Montreal businessman Henry Birks
Henry Birks
Henry Birks was a Canadian businessman and founder of Henry Birks and Sons, a chain of high-end Canadian jewellery stores....
. Upon her second marriage, in 1956 to the musician Sir William McKie, she became Lady McKie. She continued however to use the surname "Ross" for professional purposes.
Her principal work is perhaps The Seaflower Venture, a fictionalized account of the life of the 18th Century merchant Charles Robin
Charles Robin
Charles Robin was an entrepreneur from the Isle of Jersey.He was born in Saint Brélade, Jersey in 1743. By 1763, he was the captain of a ship working in the Newfoundland cod trade. In 1765, with his two brothers and two others, they formed a firm which developed fishing grounds off Cape Breton...
.
Her papers and photographs are in multiple locations: among them are the archives of the Société Jersiaise
Société Jersiaise
La Société Jersiaise is a scholarly society in Jersey which was founded in 1873, it promotes and encourages:* The study of the history, the archaeology, the natural history, the language and many other subjects of interest in the Island of Jersey...
; the Cambridge University Library
Cambridge University Library
The Cambridge University Library is the centrally-administered library of Cambridge University in England. It comprises five separate libraries:* the University Library main building * the Medical Library...
(Royal Commonwealth Society Library
Royal Commonwealth Society
The Royal Commonwealth Society is an international educational charity and a private members' club. Its mission is to support and promote the modern Commonwealth, its culture and core values...
); the Maritime History Archive of the Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland, is a comprehensive university located primarily in St...
; and the Library and Archives of Canada
Library and Archives Canada
Library and Archives Canada is a national memory institution dedicated to providing the best possible account of Canadian life through acquiring, preserving and making Canada's documentary heritage accessible for use in the 21st century and beyond...
.
She was a great-aunt of the bass-baritone
Bass-baritone
A bass-baritone is a high-lying bass or low-lying "classical" baritone voice type which shares certain qualities with the true baritone voice. The term arose in the late 19th century to describe the particular type of voice required to sing three Wagnerian roles: the Dutchman in Der fliegende...
Gerald Finley
Gerald Finley
-Career:He was born in Montreal and received his musical education in St. Matthew's Anglican Church, Ottawa, the University of Ottawa, King's College, Cambridge and the Royal College of Music in London, England...
, and her husband Sir William did much to encourage him in the early stages of his musical education.
External links
- The Société Jersiaise This website contains many of Lady McKie's photographs.
- The Maritime History Archive of the Memorial University of Newfoundland
- The Royal Commonwealth Society Library
- Library and Archives Canada