author
Emily F. (Emily Ferguson) Murphy
1868–1933
A bestselling Canadian writer who also became a groundbreaking magistrate, she brought sharp observation and strong opinions to both her books and public life. Writing as "Janey Canuck," she helped shape conversations about women’s rights in early 20th-century Canada.
1 Audiobook
Seeds of Pine
by Emily F. (Emily Ferguson) Murphy
About the author
Born Emily Gowan Ferguson in Cookstown, Ontario, in 1868, she grew into a well-known Canadian writer, journalist, and reformer. She published popular books under her maiden name and the pen name Janey Canuck, including travel and social commentary that connected with a wide readership.
Murphy is also remembered as a public figure: in 1916 she became the first woman magistrate in Canada and in the British Empire. She later played a leading role in the campaign that led to the 1929 Persons Case, which recognized that women were legally "persons" eligible for appointment to the Senate in Canada.
Her legacy is important and complicated. Alongside her work for women’s legal status, historians also note that she supported harmful eugenic ideas that caused real damage, so she is remembered today both for landmark advances and for the serious limits of her views.