In Tribute to Irene Mary Biss Spry

Abstract

Irene Spry died at her home in Ottawa on December 16, 1998, at the age of 91. In the week previous to her death, she learned that the University of Alberta Press and the University of Calgary Press had agreed to co-publish her book on nineteenth century Western Canadian history. She had been working on the book for almost 20 years. Hampered by failed eyesight, and using a crutch, she traveled off to the National Archives to do her research, lugging a large magnifying glass, until she was in her very late eighties.