Senior Family, -1989

The bulk of this fonds concerns the teaching and research activities of Elinor Senior. Elinor (Nellie) Kyte Senior was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia. She attended McGill University and graduated with a B.A. degree in 1952. During her days at McGill, Senior was the chief staff writer for the student newspaper, the McGill Daily. She married Hereward Senior in 1954 and had four children. After working as a journalist with the Montreal Star she embarked on an academic career in Canadian history. She graduated with a M.A. degree from Memorial University in 1959 with a thesis on the evolution of Orangeism in Newfoundland, 1863-1885. She graduated from McGill with a Ph.D. in 1976 with a thesis on the British military garrison in Montreal. An avid writer, Senior wrote poetry, short stories, and novels. She specialized in Canadian military history, writing many articles, book reviews, and entries for the Dictionary of Canadian Biography. She authored three books on the military in 19th century Montreal and a history of the city of Cornwall. She was the editor of the Cannon's Mouth, the newsletter of the Canadian Military History Group from 1984-1989. In conjunction with her husband Hereward Senior she also had research interests in Orangeism and the Loyalists as well as a commitment to the Monarchist League. She taught Canadian history courses at McGill, St. Francois Xavier, and Acadia as well as courses on police institutions at Marianopolis College. She was Professor of Military and Strategic Studies at Acadia University when she died in 1989.

Revised on July 17, 2024, by Leah Louttit-Bunker