Evelyn Craig Rusby Karyn Huenemann Canada's Early Women Writers Canadian Writing Research Collaboratory Born digital. English Born digital Life writing Biography Bibliography Evelyn Craig Rusby (1910-1972)
Image courtesy of Judith Schuett, daughter of the author.

A teacher and musician, Evelyn Craig Rusby published her poetry in several Toronto periodicals and two chapbooks.

 17 December 1910, Burlington, ON 19 January 1972, Toronto, ON Name at birth: Evelyn Craig Rusby Alternate names: Evelyn Rusby Welch Eve Lynne Acknowledgements

Our thanks to Judy Schuett, daughter of the author, for contributing the information for this entry.

Entry written by Karyn Huenemann

 Evelyn Craig Rusby (1910-1972)

Evelyn Craig Rusby was born in Burlington, ON, to Albert Edward Rusby (1874-1937), who owned a well-respected butcher's shop, and Mary Ann Christine Craig (1886-1964). She attended the University of Toronto, where she was a member of the Sigma Phi sorority, a "women's honorary and professional journalistic fraternity," but the extent of her work as a journalist—if any—is unknown. She self-published two books of poetry: Schoolday Impressions (1927), which includes what must be her high school graduation photo, and <XREF URL="https://ceww.wordpress.com/2018/07/05/spring-fever-by-evelyn-craig-rusby/" RESP="KME">Spring Fever</XREF>, which is dedicated to the Women's Press Club of the University of Toronto

Having graduated from the University of Toronto, Evelyn Craig Rusby worked as a teacher both before and after her 1947 marriage to Edmund Arthur Welch, a chartered accountant from Toronto. In 1940, she is registered on the voters list as a high school teacher in Burlington, ON, just north of Hamilton. After marriage, she moved with Edmund to Toronto, where she continued to teach music at local high schools, and Edmund worked as an accountant.

In addition to being a teacher and a poet, Evelyn Craig Rusby was an accomplished concert pianist. She played on CBC radio and at Massey Hall in the 1930s and 40s, and on Radio Colombia in Bogota from 1949 through 1951.

 Published Texts Poetry Schoolday Impressions (Burlington, ON: Author, 1927) <XREF URL="https://ceww.wordpress.com/2018/07/05/spring-fever-by-evelyn-craig-rusby/" RESP="KME">Spring Fever</XREF> (s.l.: Author, c1930) Periodical Contributions Canadian Poetry Magazine (Toronto) Toronto Globe and Mail Toronto Telegram Other Artistic Production Music

Piano

 Family and Relationships Father: Albert Edward Rusby (29 July 1874 – 30 October 1937)

Albert Edward Rusby was the second son of Leonard James Rusby, who immigrated to Canada in 1867 from England, and Julia Ann Van Every, of United Empire Loyalist descent. As a young man, Albert worked with his father in the family butcher shop, of which he eventually assumed full responsibility. Albert married Mary Ann Christine Craig (1886-1964) at St. Luke’s Anglican Church, Hamilton, on 28 April 1909, and they had one daughter.

 Mother: Mary Ann Christine Craig (26 December 1886 – 1964)

Mary Ann was the daughter of Thomas John Craig and his wife, Martha Jane Wilson. She married Albert Edward Rusby (1874-1937) at St. Luke’s Anglican Church, Hamilton, on 28 April 1909, and they had one daughter.

 Spouse: Edmund Arthur Welch (26 April 1915 – 29 November 1974) Marriage: September 1947, Hamilton, ON

Edmund was born in Toronto, ON, to Henry James Welch and Edith Wilhelmina Webster. Edmund married Evelyn Craig Rusby in 1947 in Hamilton, ON, after which the couple moved to Toronto, where Evelyn taught in music at local high schools and Edmund worked as a chartered accountant; he is listed as an accountant—rather than retired—on the voters list in 1974, the year he died.

 Children Judith Evelyn Ann Rusby (daughter) (b. 1948): m. Lloyd Schuett Religion Anglican Education

University of Toronto

 Awards

Employment and Volunteer Activities Employment

Concert pianist

High school teacher

Tangential Information

Archival Holdings Published Resources Canada, Selected School Yearbooks, 1908-2010. Canada, Voters Lists 1935-1980. <XREF URL="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/164501854" RESP="KME">Evelyn C. Rusby Welch</XREF>. Find a Grave. Web. 13 April 2018. Kew, Dorothy. The Story Behind the Nave Plaques: The Rusby Plaque (Digital document: Author, n.d.). Schuett, Judy. Comment on Canada's Early Women Writers project blog. 31 January 2012.