Elizabeth Oliver “Olive” Burgess

Photo of Olive Burgess riding a horse in front of her farmhouse.

Coverage Dates: 1915 to 1974

County: Bruce

Township: Arran

Lot: 13

Concession: A

Gender: Female

Year of Birth: 1896

Year of Death: 1980

Ethnicity: Scottish

Religion: Presbyterian

Occupation: Farm Woman

Relationships:

Father: William Burgess

Mother: Christina Thompson Rowand
Brothers: William “Noble,” diarist James “Rowand.”

Archive: Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre

Posted on Rural Diary Archive: Yes

Age During Diary: 19-29

Coverage: 23 years

Biography:

Elizabeth, often referred to as “Olive,” is active in her community. She runs a Sunday school at Burgoyne Presbyterian Church and volunteers at the Women’s Missionary Society. She also works tirelessly on her uncle Alfred’s farm which includes tying wheat during harvest season and hauling loose oats, often with her brother’s assistance. Elizabeth remains close to her family, remarking that one of her favourite pastimes is teaching some of her younger cousins how to quilt.

Front and back covers of Elizabeth Burgess' 1924-1925 diary. — Front and back covers of Olive’s 1924-1925 diary.

Images courtesy of the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre.

A transcript of her 1915-1917 diary is available at https://www.brucemuseum.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/A2012.087.013-Elizabeth-Oliver-Burgess-diary-1915-1917.pdf.pdf

Scanned copies of her handwritten diaries for 1918, 1920, 1924-1926, 1966-1972, and 1974 are available online at https://brucemuseum.pastperfectonline.com/archive/D4D9D3D2-0566-4F0D-946E-164127556622.

Copyright Notice: The diaries of Elizabeth Oliver Burgess are subject to copyright and may only be used for personal study, private research, or transcription for the Rural Diary Archive. Reproduction, scanning, or download for any other purpose, including publication, online display, or inclusion in a database other than the Rural Diary Archive will require permission of the copyright holder. Contact the Archives at the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre to discuss the procedure for permission requests.

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