CA-K264Culture & sport

Isabella Valancy Crawford, poet

A portrait of Isabella Valancy Crawford, published around 1919. Isabella Valancy Crawford · Caswell, Edward S. (Edward Samuel), 1861-1938 · Photo source · Photo licence: Public domain. Resized for display; item previews may be cropped. The image remains under the licence shown.

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Irish-born Isabella Valancy Crawford (1850–1887) came to Canada as a girl, settled in Peterborough and supported her family by writing after 1875. Largely unknown in her short life, she is now considered one of the finest Canadian poets of her generation, best remembered for the long poems “Malcolm’s Katie” and “Old Spookses’ Pass.”

Scope & context

Her literary significance, not a full bibliography.

Sources behind this record

Isabella Valancy Crawford (1850-1887) National Historic Person ↗

Parks Canada

Historical importance; plaque text