B. Mabel Dunham

One of Canada’s most noted authors, B. Mabel Dunham, was always conscious of the value of history and enriched Canadian literature with her books: The Trail of the Conestoga;Toward Sodom; The Trail of the King’s Men; Grand River and Kristli’s Trees.

Dunham was born on a farm near Harriston. Her family moved to Berlin when she was six. She was educated at Central (Suddaby) School and Berlin High School, taught in Berlin briefly, and then attended Victoria College, Toronto, and McGill University, Montreal, where she completed a course in Library Science. Dunham was librarian of the Kitchener Public Library from 1908 until her retirement in 1944, the first trained librarian to be in charge of a public library in Ontario.

She was a member of the Canadian Club and the University Women’s Club, serving as president of both.

Dunham was the only woman in the original membership of the Waterloo Historical Society and later served as president.