Florence Robina Monkman Daryn Wright Canada's Early Women Writers Canadian Writing Research Collaboratory Born digital English Born digital Life writing Biography Bibliography Florence Robina Monkman (1908-1987)
Image from Alan Creighton and Hilda M. Ridley, eds. A New Canadian Anthology (Toronto: Crucible, 1938).

The work of Ontario poet Florence Robina Monkman appeared in many periodicals and anthologies.

 24 September 1908, Bruce, ON 19 October 1987, Willowdale, ON Name at birth: Florence Robina Monkman Alternate names: Florence Robina Heney F. Robina Monkman Robina Monkman "The Classical Kid" "Picardie"

Entry written by Daryn Wright

 Florence Robina Monkman (1908-1987)

Florence Robina Monkman, commonly referred to as Robina, was born in Bruce, ON, to William Hay Monkman (1868-1941) and Elizabeth Marjory Fletcher (1881-1941). She married George Nelson Heney. The date and location of their marriage remain unknown, and it is uncertain whether or not the couple had any children.

One of Robina's earliest known published poems appeared in Creative Young Canada: A Collection of Verse, Drawings and Musical Compositions by Young Canadians from Seven to Twenty Years of Age in 1928. She would have been twenty at the time, making her one of the oldest contributors to the collection. Robina's later poetry was published in periodicals such as Canadian Poetry Magazine and Crucible. Her poem Close in Our Caverned Fastness was published in the Crucible in 1936 as part of Poets in Paradise, a poetic dialogue amongst "Pedagogue" (Muriel L. Jenkins), "The Duchess" (Verna Loveday Harden), "The-Smartest-of-them-all" (Muriel Jenkins's father), and "The Classical Kid" (Robina); Robina's poem is the only original piece in the narrative. Robina's poetry garnered her first place standings in poetry competitions across the country, including many in the Montreal Poetry Yearbook competitions.

When her parents, William and Elizabeth Monkman, both died on 30 June 1941, Robina wrote a poem in their memory entitled Finale, which was published in the Toronto Star on 15 July 1941. She later wrote an elegy for them, also published in the Star, on 30 June 1973. Robina herself died on 19 October 1987 in Willowdale, ON.

 Published Texts Periodical Contributions Canadian Poetry Magazine (Toronto) Crucible (Toronto) Toronto Star (Toronto) Other Publications Anthologized in: Marty, Aletta E., ed. Creative Young Canada: Collection of Verse, Drawings and Musical Compositions by Young Canadians from Seven to Twenty Years of Age (Toronto: Dent, 1928). Williamson, W.M., ed. The Eternal Sea: An Anthology of Sea Poetry (Toronto: Longmans, Green, 1946). Creighton, Alan, and Hilda M. Ridley, eds. A New Canadian Anthology (Toronto: Crucible, 1938). Canadian Authors Association. Profile: A Chapbook of Canadian Verse. 1946. Ed. Poetry Craft Group of the Ottawa Branch Canadian Authors Association (Ottawa, ON: Poetry Craft Group, 1946). Family and Relationships Father: William Hay Monkman (12 August 1868 – 30 June 1941)

William Hay Monkman was born in Arran, ON, to Robert Barnabus Monkman (1832-1913) and Keziah Poole (1833-1926). He married Elizabeth Marjory Fletcher (1881-1941) on 2 April 1907. They had one daughter together: Florence Robina Monkman. William died on 30 June 1941, the same day as his wife, Elizabeth. Robina later wrote a brief elegy for them, published in the Toronto Star on 30 June 1973.

 Mother: Elizabeth Marjory Fletcher (June 1881 – 30 June 1941)

Elizabeth Marjory Fletcher was born in London, England in June 1881 to Joseph Fletcher (b. 1836) and Eliza Matilda Bracey (1842-1935). She immigrated to Ontario in 1885. On 2 April 1907, Elizabeth married William Hay Monkman (1868). The couple had one daughter: Florence Robina Monkman. Elizabeth died on 30 June 1941, the same day as her husband, William. Robina later wrote a brief elegy for them, published in the Toronto Star on 30 June 1973.

 Spouse: George Nelson Heney (b. 3 October 1905) Marriage: unknown date, unknown place

George Nelson Heney was born in Toronto, ON, to George Henry Heney (1855-1930) and Jennie Eliza Darch (1862-1932). He married Florence Robina Monkman (1908-1987), although it is unknown whether the couple had any children together. According to census records, he worked as a surveyor.

 Religion Residences

Bruce, ON (c1908)

Ching, ON (c1921)

Toronto, ON (c1945)

Willowdale, ON (c1987)

 Education Awards

Honourable mention for A Sailor's Grave Inland, Short Poem Competition, Montreal Poetry Yearbook Contest (Canadian Authors Association, 1930)

1st place for Poplar of the Plain (Nora Harvey-Jellie), Award for Translation, Montreal Poetry Yearbook Contest (Canadian Authors Association, 1935)

1st place for Prayer for the After Years, Montreal Poetry Yearbook Contest (Canadian Authors Association, 1936)

1st place (awarded an original oil painting by Lillian Hingston) for Madonna Lilies, Best Flower Poem Competition, Montreal Poetry Yearbook Contest (Canadian Authors Association, 1936)

1st place for A Song for the Admirals, Canadian Poetry Magazine Awards (Canadian Authors Association, 1937)

Honourable mention for Ebb Tide, Best Maritime Poem Competition, Montreal Poetry Yearbook Contest (Canadian Authors Association, 1938)

1st place for The River, Canadian Poetry Magazine Awards (Canadian Authors Association, 1938)

1st place for Rupert Brooke at Rest, Montreal Poetry Yearbook Contest (Canadian Authors Association, 1939)

Honourable mention for Drake of Devon, Best Ballad Competition, Montreal Poetry Yearbook Contest (Canadian Authors Association, 1940)

Honourable mention for For a Dead Airman, (Poetry Society of Winnipeg, 1942)

Honourable mention for Winter Moon (Canadian Authors Association, Ottawa Branch, 1946)

Alberta Scouten Memorial Award for Shuttered Heart, Lyrics Competition, Alberta Poetry Yearbook Contest (Canadian Authors Association, 1947)

3rd place, Donald G. French Award (1956)

Honourable mention for Wounded Gull, Best Bird Poem Competition, Montreal Poetry Yearbook Contest (Canadian Authors Association)

Honourable mention for Ravaged City, Sonnet Competition, Montreal Poetry Yearbook Contest (Canadian Authors Association)

 Employment and Volunteer Activities Archival Holdings Dorothy Choate Herriman fonds, Trent University, Peterborough, ON (photographs and poetry clippings, folders 2 and 5) Published Resources 1911, Census of Canada. Canada, Voters Lists, 1935-1980. Creighton, Alan, and Hilda M. Ridley, eds. A New Canadian Anthology (Toronto: Crucible, 1938). Lonardo, Angela, et. al. Literary Awards in Canada 1923-2000. Web. 5 August 2016. Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1801-1928. Ontario, Canada Births, 1869-1913.